Delaware native to perform National Anthem with Pink at Super Bowl

How do you top performing alongside Michael Jackson at President Clinton's Presidential Inaugural Gala in 1992?

For Delaware native Alexandria Wailes, you climb on stage with Pink at Super Bowl LII with an expected 110 million people watching in the United States alone.

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The deaf actress has been selected to perform both the National Anthem with Pink and  "America the Beautiful" with "Hamilton" star Leslie Odom, Jr., in American Sign Language.

The hometown performer was contacted by the National Association for the Deaf long before the Philadelphia Eagles clobbered the Minnesota Vikings to make it to the big game. (No conspiracy here, New England Patriots fans.)

Wailes travels to Minnesota on Thursday to begin preparations for her unexpected big moment, following in the footsteps of other Super Bowl sign language performers such as Marlee Matlin, who has done it three times since American Sign Language was added to the performances in 1992.

If the whole thing seems like a dream to Wailes, it would be understandable. although this never really was a dream of hers. But that doesn't mean she's not excited about the unexpected opportunity.

"What a neat and fun thing to check off the bucket list!" says Wailes, 42.

And, yes, she will be nervous with millions of eyeballs on her.

"When I am not nervous going into any sort of performance situation, that is cause for concern," she says. "When I am nervous, the butterflies live in my bladder rather than my stomach. I think it's because I care about giving my best, every time. Once I start, I am fine."

While Wailes now lives and works out of New York City, her parents Marti and Dave Converse still live in Newark. And, yes, there are Eagles fans in the family, especially her younger sister Joy, who proudly wears an Eagles hoodie at her Newport home.

"I had a strong feeling the day before the game that the Eagles were going to win," says Marti Converse. "For it all to come together like this, it's like the planets are aligning. And with all the negative things in our world, we've just been filled with great joy."

Super Bowl LII will air on NBC Sunday, Feb. 4 with the game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wailes is expected to perform just ahead of kickoff.

The actress lost her hearing due to meningitis at the age of 13 months, but that didn't slow her down. She has acted on both stage and screen, landing on Broadway for the 2003 revival of "Big River," which won the show the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, and again in 2015 for Deaf West's production of "Spring Awakening."

In addition to her string of stage plays and musicals, she's also appeared on television with small roles on programs such as "High Maintenance," "Nurse Jackie" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." She has been co-starring and directing episodes of the YouTube comedy series "Don't Shoot the Messenger" in recent years.

Wailes' performances have taken her everywhere from Japan, India and Senegal to Australia and Romania. In recent years, she broadened her career to add American Sign Language consulting for the stage, television and film.

This spring, she will be director of artistic sign language for the Broadway revival of "Children of a Lesser God."

Wailes says her surprise call to perform at the Super Bowl is an example of hard work and perseverance paying off. And who knows, maybe she'll inspire a young person out there.

"If a deaf kid out there watches this ceremony and thinks about what is possible," she says, "I am honored and pleased to do just that."

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

IF YOU WATCH

WHAT: Super Bowl LII with Delaware native Alexandria Wailes performing the National Anthem in sign language

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4. Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m.

CHANNEL: NBC