Seven years after working with Alicia Witt on Dune, David Lynch wrote the part of Donna’s sister Gersten Hayward specifically to help the then 14-year-old actress back in the door after she just moved to L.A. soon after earning her high school equivalency diploma.
Aware that she was a musical prodigy, David Lynch had her character play the piano for Leland Palmer’s “Get Happy.” She doesn’t quite remember how she ended up playing Boogie Woogie on the set, but David Lynch loved it, decided to film her and used the footage for the end credits of her episode (Episode 8, Season 2). Nowadays, we have multiple Roadhouse bands, but Alicia Witt was the first and only musical performer during the credit roll in the original series.
Alicia Witt’s version was included as a hidden track called “Credit Boogie” on the Twin Peaks: Season Two Music And More album —rewind past the beginning of track #1 to around -1:17— while Angelo Badalamenti’s take on Boogie Woogie, “Hayward Boogie,” is track number 5.
Glenn Miller & Tommy Dorsey – Boogie Woogie
Angelo Badalamenti – Hayward Boogie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iXsc252w-0
I had forgotten that Alicia Witt played Alia Atreides! What an weird first role…
Alicia Witt keeps showing up in my favorite shows – and I don’t watch very many – something strange going on here. “Justified” (Raylon, what the heck were you thinking?!?), TWD (boy was I pissed – only 1 episode), & TP. Amazing musical and acting talent, not to mention she’s drop dead gorgeous. Some people have all the luck…
I hope to see more of her on TP… but my fear is this was a cameo only.
But what is the purpose of this article at this moment? Will Alicia be back in “The Return”?
Sure… she already got back! I will only say this: look at the credits in part 11 😉