Podcasts about her broadway

Melissa Errico is a Star! She's an exquisite singer, actress and Tony Award nominated Broadway Star. Her Broadway successes include “My Fair Lady” (Eliza Doolittle) and “Les Miserables” (Cosette). She's done solo concerts and cabarets around the world. She's an acclaimed interpreter of Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand. She's also a New York Times columnist writing about the twists and turns in her life as a performer. And she's a mother to three teens and the wife of tennis star Patrick McEnroe. Her newest project is “The Story Of Rose” about an Italian immigrant living through WWI.My featured song is “The Gift (Juliet's Song)”. Spotify link.---------------------------------------------The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries!For more information and other episodes of the podcast click here. To subscribe to the podcast click here.To subscribe to our weekly Follow Your Dream Podcast email click here.To Rate and Review the podcast click here.—----------------------------------------Connect with Melissa:www.melissaerrico.com—----------------------------------------ROBERT'S RECENT SINGLES:“MOON SHOT” is Robert's latest single, reflecting his Jazz Rock Fusion roots. The track features Special Guest Mark Lettieri, 5x Grammy winning guitarist who plays with Snarky Puppy and The Fearless Flyers. The track has been called “Firey, Passionate and Smokin!”CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL VIDEOCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS____________________“ROUGH RIDER” has got a Cool, ‘60s, “Spaghetti Western”, Guitar-driven, Tremolo sounding, Ventures/Link Wray kind of vibe!CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL VIDEOCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—--------------------------------“LOVELY GIRLIE” is a fun, Old School, rock/pop tune with 3-part harmony. It's been called “Supremely excellent!”, “Another Homerun for Robert!”, and “Love that Lovely Girlie!”Click HERE for All Links—----------------------------------“THE RICH ONES ALL STARS” is Robert's single featuring the following 8 World Class musicians: Billy Cobham (Drums), Randy Brecker (Flugelhorn), John Helliwell (Sax), Pat Coil (Piano), Peter Tiehuis (Guitar), Antonio Farao (Keys), Elliott Randall (Guitar) and David Amram (Pennywhistle).Click HERE for the Official VideoClick HERE for All Links—----------------------------------------“SOSTICE” is Robert's single with a rockin' Old School vibe. Called “Stunning!”, “A Gem!”, “Magnificent!” and “5 Stars!”.Click HERE for all links.—---------------------------------“THE GIFT” is Robert's ballad arranged by Grammy winning arranger Michael Abene and turned into a horn-driven Samba. Praised by David Amram, John Helliwell, Joe La Barbera, Tony Carey, Fay Claassen, Antonio Farao, Danny Gottlieb and Leslie Mandoki.Click HERE for all links.—-------------------------------------“LOU'S BLUES”. Robert's Jazz Fusion “Tone Poem”. Called “Fantastic! Great playing and production!” (Mark Egan - Pat Metheny Group/Elements) and “Digging it!” (Peter Erskine - Weather Report)!Click HERE for all links.—----------------------------------------Audio production:Jimmy RavenscroftKymera Films Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comEmail Robert - robert@followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:Website - www.projectgrandslam.comYouTubeSpotify MusicApple MusicEmail - pgs@projectgrandslam.com 

In this week's special episode, Joel Crump is chatting with Grammy and Tony Award nominee AnnMarie Milazzo! AnnMarie has recently released The Shape of Things: Songs From Joy The Musical, a concept album inspired by Joy, the powerful and uplifting new musical based on the life of trailblazing businesswoman and inventor Joy Mangano. The album is written and performed by Milazzo. Her Broadway credits include Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, If/Then, Finding Neverland, Once on This Island, 1776, Almost Famous, and A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical! Indulge in Broadway buzz like never before with "The Weekly Dose of Joel: Everything Broadway and More." This podcast, brought to you by the Broadway Podcast Network and Broadway Time, delivers the latest news, theater history, and exclusive interviews with Broadway stars, all in one podcast! Don't miss out on your front-row seat to the magic of Broadway! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textJam Fam, you are in for a treat today!  Today's episode is one of living your best life, following your dreams, advocating for yourself and doing things that make you feel good.  We so lucky to have Kimberly Marable with us today, currently starring on Broadway in Chicago!Kimberly Marable has spent over 15 years as a working actor. Her Broadway appearances include CHICAGO (Velma Kelly), THE LION KING (u/s Nala, Shenzi, Sarabi) and SISTER ACT (u/s Deloris van Cartier). She was an original cast member of the TONY and GRAMMY Award winning musical HADESTOWN on Broadway where she understudied Persephone and a Fate.  Her National and International Touring credits include HADESTOWN (Persephone), THE BOOK OF MORMON, SISTER ACT (standby Deloris van Cartier), DREAMGIRLS, HAIRSPRAY, and THE WEDDING SINGER (u/s Linda). Kimberly has performed at regional theaters including The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, The Signature in Arlington, VA and Arkansas Repertory Theatre ("The Rep") in Little Rock, AR; and has participated in the pre-Broadway development of HADESTOWN, PAL JOEY with Marin Mazzie & Patina Miller, and THE WANDERER with NKOTB's Joey McIntyre, which made its world premier at Papermill Playhouse. She has appeared on CBS' FBI & BULL, NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series, and numerous television specials, including the 85th & 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades and the 73rd Annual TONY Awards. Kimberly is the voice of Lorelai in the Netflix Anime series, CANNON BUSTERS and does promotional voice overs for various tv networks. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Kimberly earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Theater modified with Sociology from Dartmouth College. She was an adjunct professor for the Theatre Program at Drexel University. In 2012, Kimberly co-founded Broadway Serves, an affiliate program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which provides theater professionals with community service opportunities. She serves as the Vice Chair on the Advisory Committee for the Entertainment Community Fund's Looking Ahead program, is on the Entertainment Community Fund's Human Services Committee, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.We hope you enjoy today's conversation with the incredibly talented, Kimberly Marable.Thank you for listening Jam Fam! Make sure you follow us across social media and don't forget to like and subscribe anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts!Facebook: JAM Joe and Michelle's Dance PodcastInstagram: jam_dance_podcastTwitter: @jamdancepodcastEmail: jamdancepodcast@gmail.com

Heads up - this episode has lots of profanity! Lea DeLaria has never been one to hold back—and thank goodness for that. From making history as the first openly gay comic on late-night TV to her unforgettable role as Big Boo in Orange Is the New Black, Lea's fearless authenticity has paved the way for countless others. In this episode, she takes us through her groundbreaking comedy career, her love affair with jazz and theater, and the unyielding passion that fuels her activism. Along the way, we dive into hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, her creative process, and the ways she continues to use her platform to fight for LGBTQ+ representation. Lea shares the origins of her famous brunch series at 54 Below, her experiences blending stand-up and music into a signature performance style, and her advice for embracing rejection in the entertainment industry. She also reflects on the highs and lows of her journey, reminding us all to keep pushing forward with humor, heart, and a little bit of rage when needed. This episode is equal parts inspiring, entertaining, and unapologetically Lea. Lea DeLaria is an award-winning comedian, actress, jazz singer, and LGBTQ+ activist. She made history in 1993 as the first openly gay comic to appear on a late-night talk show with her debut on The Arsenio Hall Show. Her Broadway credits include On the Town (1998), The Rocky Horror Show (2000), POTUS (2022), and a national tour of Chicago as Mama Morton. Lea is best known for her SAG Award-winning role as Big Boo in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. A celebrated jazz musician, she has released several albums, blending comedy and music into her performances. Lea continues to champion LGBTQ+ representation in the arts and hosts a monthly brunch series at 54 Below in New York City. Connect with Lea: Website: leadelaria.com Instagram: @realleadelaria TikTok: @realleadelaria Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out this podcast replay of our SDCF Panel: The Journey from Dancer to Choreographer with Mayte Natalio, Adesola Osakalumi, and Ellenore Scott. This conversation focuses on career transitions or expansions, specifically for dancers who have shifted or added choreography to their artistic practice. We hosted this panel at Sunlight Studios in February 2024. This video and audio was recorded by Michael Weir supported by the Maria Torres Emerging Artists Foundation. Transcript available upon request. Ellenore Scott (she/her) is a BIPOC, New York based choreographer and director. Through her work, Scott values lifting diverse voices in her community while creating a joyous space where the creative process can bring as many people in as possible. Her Broadway credits include Grey House, Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors, Titanique (Lucille Loretel Nomination), I Can Get It For You Wholesale. Other choreography credits include: So You Think You Can Dance?, Single All the Way (Netflix). In 2023, Scott co-directed The Lonely Few, a world premiere rock musical at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, CA that will transfer to Off-Broadway's MCC Theatre in Spring of 2024. Scott's work has also been seen at The Bushwick Starr, The Old Globe, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. In 2020, Scott was a finalist for the SDC Breakout Award for the first ever TikTok Music Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical which raised over $2 million for The Entertainment Fund. As a performer, Scott appeared in numerous television shows (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Smash, The Blacklist, Glee! to name a few) and was a finalist and All-Star on So You Think You Can Dance? Scott is the Artistic Director of ELSCO Dance, a contemporary-fusion dance company. Mayte Natalio: Broadway: Suffs (spring 2024), For Colored Girls… (Associate Choreographer). Off-Broadway: Measure for Measure (The Public Theater, Mobile Unit). Regional: The Winter's Tale (DTC, Public Works), Into the Woods (Barrington Stage Company), Love in Hate Nation (Two River Theater), Hair (The Old Globe), Kiss My Aztec (Hartford Stage), How to Dance in Ohio (Syracuse Stage). Adesola Osakalumi: is a Bronx native, Bessie Award-winning, Drama Desk-nominated Choreographer and Actor. Inspired by his family's dance company Africa 1 Dance Theater, he began performing at an early age and was immediately captivated by popping, locking, and all diasporic hip-hop dance styles. He began training seriously at every opportunity possible while maintaining a strong presence in the New York club scene where these styles flourished. Selected Choreographic credits include: Fall For Dance/Jam On The Groove 3 For 30 (City Center),Skeleton Crew (Broadway MTC), Cullud Wattah, Coal Country, Othello (Public Theater), runboyrun, Eyewitness Blues (NYTW), Good Grief (Vineyard), Jam on the Groove (Minetta Lane) and the film School Of Rock. Upcoming: The Hippest Trip (Soul Train Musical) Associate Choreographer & Dance Consultant and Syncing Ink (Victoria Theater) Spring 2025.  As an Actor: Skeleton Crew, Fela!, Equus (Broadway), runboyrun (NYTW), Syncing Ink (Flea/Alley Theater) and the films Red Pill, IBRAHIM, Enchanted, Across the Universe, and Sex and the City 2. TV: "Endgame", “Ice”, Blue Bloods. Awards: Bessie Award Recipient, Drama Desk Recipient. I give thanks to my Ori, Ancestors, and Family for their constant support and love. adesola.com IG @adesolaosakalumi.

Julie Halston is one of New York's busiest actresses and was the recipient of the 2021 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for her advocacy on behalf of The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Her Broadway credits are numerous, including Tootsie, Hairspray, Gypsy, Anything Goes, and The Twentieth Century. She received the Richard Seff Award for her acclaimed performance in You Can't Take it with You and has garnered four Drama Desk nominations for her Broadway and off-Broadway work. Miss Halston was a founding member of Charles Busch's legendary theatre company and co-starred with Mr. Busch in many productions including TheDivine Sister, Red Scare on Sunset and The Lady in Question. They starred together in the independent feature film, The Sixth Reel. In addition, Miss Halston recently completed the independent feature films, Intermedium and Simchas and Sorrows and Chosen Family with Heather Graham. Television credits include a recurring role on the latest “Gossip Girl”, guest roles on “The Good Fight”, “Almost Family” and “Divorce”. In addition, she has reprised her role of the popular character , Bitsy Von Muffling on the Sex and The City reboot, “And Just Like That” on MAX. Miss Halston's web series, Virtual Halston was a pandemic hit with over 40 YOUTUBE. In this episode, Julie shares rehearsal room stories ranging from terrible to beautiful, her start as an actress and thoughts on living to the fullest.  Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Julie Halstoon Youtube Series OUR TOWN Tickets Tickets to see Marylee in Stories From The Stage with PBS Boston

From Broadway to classics, on stage and in concert, Lisa Vroman has established herself as one of America's most versatile voices. She starred on Broadway, LA and SF as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera and garnered theater critics' awards for her portrayal. Her Broadway debut was in Aspects of Love and she was the first to play both Fantine and Cosette in Les Misérables. She has starred in major productions as Marian Paroo in The Music Man, Lili Vanessi in Kiss Me Kate, Birdie in Regina, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Anna 1 in The Seven Deadly Sins, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Laurey in Oklahoma, Anna Leonowens in The King and I, Mary Turner in Of Thee I Sing and Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella. Lisa appeared on PBS as Johanna in the Emmy Award winning production of Sweeney Todd and was featured in the London Royal Gala, Hey! Mr. Producer. She has played, sang and danced opposite Dick Van Dyke as Mary Poppins at the Hollywood Bowl Disney's 75th, and played the role of Maria Callas in Terence McNally's award-winning play, Master Class. Lisa is a frequent guest with symphonies including SF, Nashville, Philadelphia, Dallas, Utah, St. Louis, Houston, Pacific, Atlanta, Hong Kong, Cleveland, National, Florida, Cleveland, BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops, Philly Pops, and the NY Pops. She is a graduate of the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam (BM, Hon. Dr. of Music, Minerva Award), Carnegie-Mellon University (MFA), and is a George London Competition winner. Lisa has become an active mentor and sought-after clinician with many colleges and universities across the country and around the world. She has acted as a judge in both the Lotte Lenya Competition for the Kurt Weill Foundation and UCLA's Walter Jurmann Competition, and regularly performs Weill's music with symphonies throughout the country. Recent performances have included symphony concerts celebrating the music of George Gershwin, and her 2024 Bistro Award-winning cabaret, “Ingénue…Ingé-not-so-new!”, in NY. www.lisavroman.com Lisa also gave us the scoop on the upcoming "Broadway and Beyond" benefit for the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation. It's happening on July 14th at the Marines Memorial Theater, and it's set to be a night filled with incredible talent and heartwarming performances, all for a good cause. Trust me, you won't want to miss this intimate look into Lisa's world and the wonderful community she's part of. Head over to reef-sf.org for more details on the event. Let's support the arts together! Contact Ray at Green Room on Air: greenroomonair@gmail.com Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) Visit Green Room On Air website: http://greenroomonair.com Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raysgreenroom/

Kate Chapman is, and always has been, very busy.  Her Broadway performing credits include Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Pajama Game, Sweet Smell of Success, Saturday Night Fever; also, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs. Claus for 5 seasons), Shakespeare in the Park, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, many others.  A 24-year member of the Tony Award-honored Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV), Kate sings with BIV at many events each year, works with BIV's outreach programs at Covenant House and The Ronald McDonald House, and contributes as the organization's copywriter.  Kate holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Boston University), a Master of Arts in Health Arts and Sciences (Goddard College), and is a Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and Life Coach (Wayfinder Life Coach Training).  Her first book, A Pixie's Prescription: A Fun Toolkit for a Feel Better Life, is available on Amazon.  Kate's YouTube channel (Kate Chapman) has lots of Broadway and uplifting content including her YouTube series Little Kate on the Prairie.  Listen to this episode of The MOVEMENT Movement with Kate Chapman about learning how to move without moving. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How movement, whether it's running or dance, should be enjoyable. - Why people should be paying attention to the connection between their hips and feet. - How it's important to listen to your body so you can give it what needs to thrive. - How there is a deep connection between the body and brain that shouldn't be ignored. - Why people need to discover how to be curious about life to get in touch with their essential self. Connect with Kate: Guest Contact Info Facebookfacebook.com/KateChapmanHealth Links Mentioned:thekatechapman.com Connect with Steven: Websitexeroshoes.com jointhemovementmovement.com Twitter @XeroShoes Instagram @xeroshoes Facebook facebook.com/xeroshoes  

We had a very open, VERY AF conversation with the incredible Tina Satter.   Tina's an Obie and Drama desk winning playwright and director, and (sometimes) teacher at Adult Film. Her Broadway produced play ‘Is This a Room', was adapted into the critically acclaimed feature film ‘Reality' with Sydney Sweeney.   We go in depth on Tina's writing, and directing process.   Finding a personal connection to Chekhov, and how the hell she gets her students to leave a 2 day workshop with close to fully formed plays. Also advice to a hypothetical writer who's written a great feature.  Now what? We talk details on getting her movie ‘REALITY' made as a first time director.   And then we talk a little shit about actors not acting.  And the secret, relatively non woo woo way to turn intentions into reality.   Also.  David saw a rehearsal of @AdultFilm production of the Seagull.  Gives thoughts.   Enjoy. Time codes: 4:00 Tina's workshops, how she structures them, and deconstructing how she works into her teaching. 6:45 How Tina's teaching process developed and using prompts. Using personal themes and experiences in work.   9:10 Using gestures 10:10 Specific physical behavior in direction being freeing vs limiting 14:00 Finding secret codes during rehearsal process 14:30 Tina's journey, path to theater, and creative inspirations 19:30 Brooklyn College playwriting program 22:30 Knowing what to write about 27:00 Tina's play ‘Seagull (Thinking of You)' Discovering her way into Chekhov. 31:00 Experience doing a Q&A for ‘Reality' for a Russian audience.  33:56 ‘Reality' discussion begins 35:21 Cinematographer Paul Yee having seen ‘Is this a Room' on broadway from which ‘Reality' was adapted.  36:00 The play vs the movie 40:02 “Boring trap” in Chekhov, a lot of classic texts and application to ‘Reality' Making what's seemingly passive on the page active.   41:50 Nuanced acting w repetitive dialogue.  44:30 Reality's involvement in the process 46:30 The process of actually making ‘Reality'.  From reading transcript to making the film. 51:10 Pushback on being first time director?  52:30 Tina's non traditional path to making her first feature.   55:30 Dealing with resentment and developing “why not me attitude” 56:30 The process of doing.  57:30 Advice to writers who've written a feature.  Now what…  1:01:00 AF training center by necessity.   1:01:45 Intentionality and creative/energetic output.   1:05:00 Actors not acting.   We have to do the thing.   1:08:30 Tina's relationship with setting intentions “Intentions with actions”  1:13:50 Writing in the age of cell phone addiction  1:14:40 Tina coming back to Adult Film??? 1:15:15 David sits in on Seagull rehearsal (Opening may 10!!!) How Ryan is feeling with the process, acting. David tells semi unhinged story.

A renowned choreographer, director, and educator, Camille A. Brown gives us a rundown of her artistic journey and the challenges and triumphs she faced in the world of dance and theatre. She looks back on her early experiences and influences, particularly her introduction to dance through her mother. From concert dance to musical theatre, she reveals how she got the courage to pursue her passion despite facing skepticism and stereotypes as a black female choreographer in a field dominated by males, including reaching out to mentors like Diane McIntyre and Marlee Ciorri for guidance. Camille's Broadway directorial debut with “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow Is enuf” was a success, earning her Tony nominations for Best Direction and Best Choreography. She shares her emotional journey working on a beloved work and the value of staying true to your artistic vision. Her latest project, "Hell's Kitchen: The Musical" opens up new challenges and opportunities for Camille, such as her approach to the choreography and working with Alicia Keys' music. With her continuous success, she imparts simple but valuable advice to aspiring artists: to believe in the possibility of all things. Camille A. Brown is a widely acclaimed choreographer, director, educator, and storyteller. She has a total of 62 award honors to her credit so far, including three Tony Award nominations. Her 2016 TED-Ed talk, “Camille A. Brown: A Visual History of Social Dance in 25 Moves” was chosen as one of the most notable talks of the year by TED curator Chris Anderson. Her Broadway credits include “A Streetcar Named Desire”, “Once On This Island”, “Choir Boy”, “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf”, and now, the upcoming production of “Hell's Kitchen: The Musical”. Connect with Camille: Website: www.camilleabrown.org Instagram: @camilleabrown Facebook: @camilleabrownanddancers Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com My personal Instagram: @alanseales Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edie Falco is a television, film and stage actor whose roles on HBO's Oz, Showtime's Nurse Jackie and the iconic HBO series The Sopranos have earned her multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards. She currently stars in the hit Peacock series Bupkis as Pete Davidson's mother. Her Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning play Sideman, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune, ‘Night Mother, and The House of Blue Leaves, for which she received a Tony Award Nomination. Off-Broadway she's appeared in The Madrid, This Wide Night, The True, and Morning Sun. Her work in feature film includes Cost of Living (American Film Institute's Best Actress Award), Laws of Gravity (Independent Spirit Award nomination), Sunshine State, Landline, Hurricane, The Funeral, The Addiction, Freedomland, The Land of Steady Habits, Judy Berlin, and the Avatar sequels. …as well as indie film pioneer Hal Hartley's classics The Unbelievable Truth and Trust, which also starred my late wife Adrienne Shelly. Edie and I intimately chat for an hour about childhood, life, family, addiction, her illustrious career, The Sopranos, a possible Nurse Jackie re-boot, Trump and politics, the Knicks, her animal-welfare work and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Hello Family,There are moments when you see God's smile. I have the immense pleasure of introducing a true entertainment phenom, Icey Parks.With a remarkable career spanning over three decades and nearly 90 projects to her name, Icey carries the legacy of her legendary parents, Costume Designer and Dancer Judy Dearing, and Dancer and Educator Professor John Parks. Their collective work has played a pivotal role in shaping the very essence of Black theater on Broadway.While you might not be familiar with her name just yet, today, you're in for a treat as you get to know Icey Parks and her incredible journey. Much like many remarkable women, Icey immerses herself in her craft, allowing her work to speak volumes.Her Broadway credits include iconic productions such as 'Fosse,' 'Hairspray,' 'The Color Purple,' and 'The Wiz.' It's no wonder that the film and television industry eagerly welcomed her on set. Her journey started with shows like 'New York Undercover' and 'Oz' led her to remarkable appearances on 'Taxi' and 'Boardwalk Empire.' Now, she's part of the highly anticipated revival of 'The Color Purple,' produced by none other than Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.Today, Icey Parks graciously takes us behind the scenes of her incredible career and shares her captivating story in this exclusive interview. But her passion doesn't stop at her career; she's also a devoted mom who believes she's only just begun.It's an absolute honor to introduce and welcome Icey Parks to the Black Women Amplified podcast. Icey, thank you for being here with us today!"I hope this is to your satisfaction! If you have any further requests or need additional adjustments, feel free to let me know.Support our Power Partner:Vital Body is a scoop of nutrition. 8 fruits and vegetables, prebiotics, probiotics, 21 vitamins and minerals. Visit www.vitalbody.com/monica~use the code: Monica20 and receive 20% off of your order.The Self-Love Journal book is available on Amazon. Purchase here: https://amzn.to/46FdkPAThe Self-Love Journal digital download is available: https://monicawisdomhq.podia.com/the-self-love-journal/buy#thecolorpurple #theequalizer #oprah #iceyparks #film #theater #television

Broadway star Kimber Elayne Sprawl (@kimberelaynesprawl) joins us this week on Out of The Closet Sports. On the heels of Wicked's 20th Anniversary, Kimber discusses her groundbreaking performance as Wicked's first Black Nessarose. Her Broadway resume is extensive but it's her love of Tennis that led to her first billboard! Kimber and Zach spent some of the early days of their friendship bonding on the tennis court. And now these two actors examine the relationship between acting and sport. Then it's out to the woodshed with Margaret Court. And in Gametime, we test our knowledge of sports-themed Broadway shows. So, if you're ready for an entertaining and informative listening experience, join us on "Out of the Closet Sports." We promise to bring you engaging conversations, personal stories, and a fresh perspective on LGBTQ experiences in the world of sports. Don't miss out!

Katie was born and raised in Houston, TX. Best known for her role as Glinda the Good in the Broadway production of Wicked, she was also Glinda in the first national touring company of Wicked. Her Broadway debut was as Clara Johnson in The Lincoln Center Theatre's production of The Light in the Piazza directed by Bartlett Sher. Also, as Clara, she appeared in the first national touring production of The Light in the Piazza. Her Broadway credits also include Hannah Campbell in Allegiance and Ellen in Miss Saigon. She will be seen this fall as Beth in Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway following a run earlier this year at NYTW. On camera, she can be seen in roles on CBS' The Good Wife and NCIS: New Orleans, as well as the independent film Maybe There's A Tree. She also performed as Clara in the PBS national broadcast of Live from Lincoln Center: The Light in The Piazza.  In regional theatre she is recognized for her role as Cathy Hiatt in The Last Five Years at the Long Wharf Theatre. For this role she was awarded the Connecticut Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in 2014.  She was also seen in the East Coast debut of Craig Lucas' play Prayer For My Enemy as Marianne Noone at the Long Wharf Theatre Company directed by Bartlett Sher. Clarke appeared in the staged concert of Parade as Mrs. Phagan conducted by Jason Robert Brown at Lincoln Center.     She lives in New York with her husband and family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tony winner Stephanie J Block is In The Frame ahead of her upcoming concerts, discussing her career and highly anticpated return to London! Stephanie started out in the world of US regional theatre, playing roles such as Polly in Crazy For You, Nellie in South Pacific, Sarah in Guys & Dolls, Fanny in Funny Girl, Nancy in Oliver! and many more. She went on to create the role of Elphaba in the original workshops of Wicked. Stephanie later understudied Elphaba during Wicked's pre-Broadway premiere in San Francisco and went on to open the show's first US tour as Elphaba before transferring to the Broadway production to universal acclaim. Stephanie is celebrated for her many iconic performances on Broadway. Her Broadway credits include playing Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz, Grace O'Malley in The Pirate Queen, Judy Bernly in 9 to 5, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Edwin /Alice in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Trina in Falsettos.Stephanie won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Star Cher in The Cher Show. She recently returned to Broadway as The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods, which she also took on tour across the US.Some of Stephanie's further theatre credits include playing Grizabella in Cats (Muny), Sheryl in Little Miss Sunshine (off-Broadway) and most recently she starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard to huge acclaim at the Kennedy Center. Stephanie  co-hosts and co-produces Stages Podcast with Marylee Fairbanks and is about to release her first Christmas album, Merry Christmas Darling. On Sunday 29th October Stephanie is playing two highly anticipated solo shows at Cadogan Hall in London. Stephanie will be joined by music director Ben Cohn, who was recently worked on Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway.In this episode, Stephanie discusses family life, her London shows and how she once almost played Elphaba in the West End. She also delves into her history with Wicked, reflects on The Cher Show and shares her thoughts Sunset Boulevard... plus lots more! You can see Stephanie J Block at Cadogan Hall on Sunday 29th October 2023. For info and tickets, visit www.cadoganhall.com.Hosted by Andrew Tomlins  @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Fans of Broadway and the hit Disney film series "Frozen" won't want to miss this episode of The People of Penn State, as we're joined by Broadway and Theatre Actress, Caroline Bowman '14! Caroline is currently starring in Disney's "Frozen" North American Tour as the role of Elsa. Her Broadway credits include Elphaba in "Wicked" and Nicola in "Kinky Boots" (Opening and Closing cast). During our conversation with Caroline, she discussed being a part of the renowned musical theatre program at Penn State, why she wanted to pursue a career in acting, getting her start on Broadway, what it's like playing a character as popular as Elsa, working alongside her husband Austin Colby on stage, and more. She has been seen on tour and around the world in "Evita" (Eva Perón, Helen Hayes Award Nominee), "Spamalot" (Lady of the Lake), "Grease" (Rizzo), and "Fame - The China Tour" (Carmen). Caroline has also performed with multiple symphonies including the North Carolina Philharmonic, the Dayton Philharmonic and in numerous cabarets and concerts in and around New York City, including her own solo show. Having graduated from Penn State in 2010 with a BFA in musical theatre,  she was one one of 10 honorees to receive the University's 2014 Alumni Achievement Award, which recognizes alumni 35 years of age and younger for their extraordinary professional accomplishments.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Caroline through her website or on social media:InstagramXFacebook----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

Marja Harmon plays Angelica Schuyler on the "And Peggy" tour of Hamilton. Her Broadway credits include Book of Mormon, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and New York City Center's Merrily We Roll Along. She starred as Nala in the national tour of The Lion King, as well as regional productions of Aida, Ragtime, Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Grease, and more. Her TV appearances include God Friended Me, Murphy Brown, and Jessica Jones. Stay up-to-date with Marja by visiting her @marjaharmony on Instagram or her website at marjaharmon.me.

J. Smith-Cameron is an Emmy and Tony-nominated stage, film, and television actress who most recently starred as “Gerri Kellman” on HBO's SUCCESSION. She can be seen starring in the Peacock film THE YEAR BETWEEN, as well as the miniseries WACO: THE AFTERMATH on Showtime. Her film credits include VENGEANCE, 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD, HARRIET THE SPY, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME and MARGARET. On tv she's had recurring roles on RECTIFY, TRUE BLOOD and DIVORCE and has appeared in countless others. Her Broadway credits include Lend Me a Tenor, Our Country's Good, Night Must Fall and After the Night and the Music. Her extensive Off-Broadway work includes As Bees in Honey Drown, for which she won an Obie Award, Fuddy Meers, The Starry Messenger, Sorry, Juno and the Paycock and Peace for Mary Frances. I LOVE this chat! J shares her journey from childhood through the season finale of SUCCESSION. It's a master class in acting and a truly fun-filled conversation with fascinating insights, funny anecdotes and inside tidbits from one of the most beloved, successful television shows of all-time. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Jesmille Darbouze. She's appeared on such shows as Jessica Jones and The Mysteries of Laura. Her Broadway credits include the revival of Kiss Me Kate and Betrayal. She can currently be seen in the new Broadway production of A Doll's House, opposite Jessica Chastain. The road that led to attending Carnegie Mellon and the relationships made, having years of survival jobs, her first Broadway show (being an offer!?), the blessings of being a mother and much more! Follow Before The Break - on Instagram at @beforethebreakpodon Twitter at @b4thebreakpodhttps://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/Follow Jesmille -on Instagram at @jesmilledFollow Tom -on Instagram at @imtombythewayhttps://www.tommybeardmore.com/Follow Adam -on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlohttp://adamdecarlo.com/Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!XR MOTIONExperience the Future of Digital Art with XR Motion! 3D, VR, AR, AI, NFT, Motion GraphicsListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Becoming a Master Communicator with Renee Marino!"Taking the time to improve your communication skills will only serve you in every relationship, no matter how deep or casual the relationship may be."Renée Marino is a professional communication coach who helps people create genuine connections in their life and business by balancing new school technology with ol' school simplicity. She also uses her well-rounded experience of communicating through various mediums to train companies, organizations, schools, and universities in strengthening their communication skills. Renée played the role of Mary Delgado, in the film Jersey Boys, directed by Clint Eastwood. She has been featured in People.com's “Ones to Watch,” Variety, and The Huffington Post. Her Broadway credits include Pretty Woman: The Musical, West Side Story, Jersey Boys, Chaplin, and Wonderland. She has toured North America with Cats, Disney's High School Musical, and Jersey Boys. As a coach, keynote speaker, and longtime performer, Renée Marino has inspired people worldwide with her energy, relatability, and authentic spirit.In this episode, you will learn the following:1. The importance of Virtual Etiquette.2. Three ways to get in communication with yourself.3. Why it's smart to ditch perfectionism and how you can.4. Key strategies and tactics to claim who you want to be.5. How & why speaking up can lead to incredible opportunitiesResources:Grab Renee's Free Tips: "21 Ways to Use Communication to Increase Business Opportunities" HERE.Buy her book: Becoming a Master Communicator by Renee MarinoConnect with ReneeOther episodes you'll enjoy:The Science of Happiness Part 2: How to Create a More Purposeful and Meaningful Life with ExerciseThe Science of Happiness Part 3: How to Create a More Purposeful and Meaningful Life with MediationConnect with me:Instagram: @midlifeinparadiseFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawndfleming/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnfleming/Website: https://www.lifeinparadisepodcast.comLoved this episode?Leave us a review and rating hereSupport the show

Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren We sit down with singer and actress Rena Strober, the voice of Esmeraude, a member of the villainous Black Moon Clan, on the anime series Sailor Moon. Her Broadway credits include the role of Cosette in Les Miserables and a national tour of Fiddler on the Roof, playing Tevye's oldest daughter Tzeitel. Recent television credits include characters on the Netflix animated series Dogs in Space. Rena is currently on the circuit promoting a film adaptation of her one-woman show, Spaghetti and Matzo Balls, about how she rediscovered her Jewish roots – from the Catskills to Broadway to an infamous Italian restaurant in Spanish Harlem. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm2419128/ Rena's Websitehttps://www.renastrober.com/ Rena's Film & TV Reelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7P3KJMqA84 Rena's Animation & Video Game Reelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg-OLSM6COw Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Cool Shul Cultural Communityhttps://www.coolshul.org/ Atheists Unitedhttps://www.atheistsunited.org/

Julie Benko is a Broadway star who is no stranger to the world of musical theatre. One of her first big gigs was booking the national tour of the Broadway musical. Spring Awakening. In this production, she was in the ensemble and understudied the roles of Wendla and Ilse. Her Broadway debut, was in the very iconic, Les Miserables where she starred as Cosette along side Brennyn Lark (featured in earlier this season). Prior to this engagement, she also toured the country in the ensemble for the 25th anniversary national tour. Next stop in the world of Benko's career was sharing her Jewish heritage in the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof. In this show, she was in the ensemble and understudied Hodel and Chava. This production included Broadway legend, Danny Burstein, rising superstar, Jessica Vosk and Season 1 podcast guest, Dee Roscioli. Now, fans can catch her every Thursday night (or standing by) in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl where she is playing Fanny Brice. Benko was the original stand by for the lead role which was originated by Beanie Feldstein and co starred Ramin Karimloo and Jane Lynch. This past summer she got the chance to play Brice full time on Broadway before actress, Lea Michele came into the role, and Benko now plays the role every Thursday evening and on nights that Michele calls out. Benko is truly a wonderful addition to the musical theater business and she truly is....... the Greatest Star (see what I did there?!) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jayme-starr/support

In this episode, Jennifer talks to Sarah Dacey Charles about her 30-year acting career, what has sustained her long journey, and what keeps her coming back. They get into heart conversations around redefining expectations as an actor and putting things into perspective. Sarah reminds us to keep our eyes on our own paths and the importance of surrounding ourselves with community.    About Sarah: Sarah Dacey Charles' 30-year acting career spans Network TV, Broadway and Film. Sarah recently guest starred on The Blacklist. She is also featured on Prodigal Son, House of Cards, Jessica Jones, & Law & Order: SVU to name a few. Her Broadway and National Touring credits include Les Miserables, 9 to 5, The Musical and Sunset Boulevard. Favorite theatre roles include Vivian Bearing in Wit, Fosca in Passion, and Gloucester in King Lear. Her film portrayal of Barbara Stanwick earned Sarah the LIFF Best Actor Award. MFA from UC, Irvine.   Sarah's IG: @sarahdaceycharles Sarah's Website: www.sarahdaceycharles.com Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! https://appt.link/jenniferapple Monologue Sourcing Promo Link! https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo Learn more: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast EAC IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective  EAC TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective EAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/ Check Out Our Merch! https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com

Broadway star Felicia Boswell is currently making her West End debut as Faye Treadwell in The Drifters Girl.The musical tells the story of The Drifters and the truth about the woman who made them, Faye Treadwell. As their manager, Faye fought for three decades alongside her husband to turn the vocal group into a global phenomenon. Felicia joined the production in July, taking over the role from Beverley Knight.  The Drifters Girl completes its run in London later this week, ahead of a UK tour which is set to launch next year. Felicia made her Broadway debut as Felicia Farrell in Memphis The Musical, and went on to play the role in the musical's US tour to huge acclaim. Her Broadway credits also include playing Diana Ross in Motown The Musical and Josephine Baker in Shuffle Along.Some of Felicia's other credits include Dreamgirls (US tour) and Emojiland (off-Broadway). Just a few of her US regional credits include playing Celie in The Color Purple, the title role in Medea, Mimi in Rent, The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods, Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar and the title role in Aida. Felicia has  worked on screen and appeared in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE. She's an Emmy winner for Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE, a two time Helen Hayes winner for Memphis & Jelly's Last Jam and a Broadway World winner for Memphis. As she prepares to say goodbye to The Drifters Girl and London (for now..!), in this episode Felicia discusses how it felt to make her West End debut, her path to Broadway, why what is meant for you won't pass you by and so much more.  The Drifters Girl runs at the Garrick Theatre until 15th October. Visit www.thedriftersgirl.com for info and tickets. Visit Felicia's website www.feliciaboswell.com and follow her on Instagram: @feliciaboswell Hosted by Andrew Tomlins. @AndrewTomlins32  Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts.  

Mary Illes has had a storied Broadway, touring and international acting career. Her Broadway performances include The Phantom of the Opera, The Music Man revival (with more than 80 performances as Marian, I might add), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Steel Pier, and She Loves Me.  Internationally, she was in the original Toronto company of Sunset Boulevard with Diahann Carroll, directed by Trevor Nunn, and she played the Gumbie Cat and Griddlebone in Cats/Paris in French, and Cats/Vienna in German. Mary was also an original company member in the Anastasia 1st National Tour in 2019, where she understudied and performed the role of the Dowager Empress. Select Off Broadway credits include: Fidler Afn Dakh at National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, directed by acclaimed actor/director Joel Grey, Noel Cowards' After the Ball at Irish Rep, and four shows for New York City Center's Encore Series.  When not performing, she teaches voice in New York, and is a founding teacher for the Joffrey Ballet Summer Musical Theater Workshop. Check out her work at www.maryilles.net

Kate Chapman is a performer, writer, visual artist, teacher, and coach. Her Broadway performing credits include Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, Pajama Game, Sweet Smell of Success, Saturday Night Fever; also, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs. Claus for 5 seasons), Shakespeare in the Park, Lincoln Center and countless others. A 24-year member of the Tony award-winning Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV), Kate sings with BIV at many events each year, works with BIV's outreach programs at Covenant House and The Ronald McDonald House, and is the organization's copywriter. Kate holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Boston University), a Master of Arts in Health Arts and Sciences (Goddard College), and trained with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Wayfinder Life Coach Training.   Kate is an exuberant spirit who combines her Broadway talents with health and life coach training to help people explore play and make them feel better. We had a very fun conversation that sometimes wanders into different directions!   We speak at length about Kate Chapman's Broadway career and the physical expectations placed on her throughout, whether or not those expectations kept her healthy (spoiler alert: they didn't). However, because of her Broadway career, Kate was invited to be a part of Broadway Inspirational Voices in her late 20s, discovering gospel music and becoming involved in BIV's outreach programs that use music to support and inspire homeless and runaway youth, as well as sick children and their families.   Kate found Goddard after training with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). She studied the self-healing model, medical anthropology (“how did we get to…a very harsh medical system that deals with quieting symptoms and not causal issues?”), and how talk shows are created.   Kate wrote A Pixie's Prescription: A Fun Toolkit for a Feel Better Life, available now on Amazon. Her friend told her “it's a wonderful toilet read.” In the book, Kate explores aspects of her life that she tries to keep at the forefront that make her feel better (such as curiosity, play, relationships, home environment, health, exercise, education). She illustrates each aspect with an anecdote from her life, such as learning play from Marvin Hamlisch (composer of A Chorus Line, Sweet Smell of Success).   For more about Kate visit the following: Kate's website: www.thekatechapman.com A Pixie's Prescription: A Fun Toolkit for a Feel Better Life: https://www.amazon.com/Pixies-Prescription-Toolkit-Feel-Better/dp/0692285563 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KateChapman Kate Chapman Health: https://www.facebook.com/KateChapmanHealth Recommendations: Covenant House: https://www.covenanthouse.org/ Broadway Inspirational Voices: https://broadwayinspirationalvoices.org/ Nancy Norbeck, Follow Your Curiosity: https://fycuriosity.com/noticing-our-patterns-with-kate-chapman/

(Airdate 7/26/22) Her Broadway career spans 31 seasons and she has appeared in prestigious film and television projects, now LaChanze is producing not one but two Broadway shows this fall. The iconic triple threat shares her personal story, her artistry and her quest for diversity and authenticity in theater with podcast host Dominique DiPrima. This is an up close portrait of a legendary performer. Please stay connected with Dominique on IG & Twitter @diprimaradio.

With a career spanning decades, Marylouise still finds joy in acting and is now starring in Brian Watkins' new play "Epiphany" as Morkin at Lincoln Center Theater. She chronicles her journey of pursuing her dream of becoming an actress, from switching majors and going to grad school to getting a day job and attending an acting school, and eventually moving to New York during the 70s. She recalls what it was like doing free theatre in New York in the 70s and then gradually taking acting seriously. She talks about doing TV and movies, getting the role of Morkin for “Epiphany” and how she connected with her character immediately, and the theatrical experience she hopes the audience will get from the play. Marylouise Burke is an actress who has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway plays, including "Ripcord", "The Broken Pitcher", "Kimberly Akimbo", "Fuddy Meers" where she won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Gertie, and the latest one, Brian Watkins' “Epiphany”. She has also appeared in various films and television shows including "Sideways" where she played Phyllis, the lead character's mother, "Ozark", "30 Rock" "The Blacklist", "Fringe", “Hung”, and "New Amsterdam". Her Broadway credits include "Into the Woods", "Is He Dead", "Inherit the Wind", "True West", and "Fish in the Dark". Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast TheTheatrePodcast.com Alan's personal Instagram: @alanseales Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matty and Kikau talk to Broadway producer Sally Cade Holmes! You can follow Sally Cade on TikTok @sally.cade SALLY CADE HOLMES is a two time Tony Award-winning producer and thought leader committed to making challenging and innovative entertainment with broad appeal. She believes that brave, accessible, social justice-minded storytelling will make the world a better place. Her Broadway producing credits include Hadestown (Tony Award), The Inheritance (Tony Award / GLAAD Media Award), Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination), and Anastasia. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Puffs. Past credits include Nubia (featuring the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race), Boy Gets Violent (Ars Nova's AntFest), Summer Valley Fair (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Ryan J. Haddad's Hi, Are You Single (2015 Hot! Festival and 2016 Under The Radar) and Here's Hoover (directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers). Music provided by Joshua Hegg

Tanairi Sade Vasquez is a Broadway veteran who has been able to in some of the most beloved shows to hit New York City. Her Broadway debut was in West Side Story, which is a show she has admired and dreamed of being apart of for as long as she can remember. Other Broadway credits of hers include On Your Feet!: The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, Gigi which starred Vanessa Hudgens, and last but not least, Hamilton. Additionally, Vasquez was featured in the 2021 West Side Story film which was directed by the legendary, Steven Spielberg. During that experience, she had the opportunity of meeting and working with Rita Moreno, who she has looked up to as an influence when it comes to the theatre and entertainment industries. Vasquez hopes to keep performing in such beloved shows in the future. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jayme-starr/support

Sally Cade Holmes is a two time Tony Award-winning producer and thought leader committed to making challenging and innovative entertainment with broad appeal. She believes that brave, accessible, social justice-minded storytelling will make the world a better place. Her Broadway producing credits include Hadestown (Tony Award), The Inheritance (Tony Award / GLAAD Media Award), Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination), and Anastasia. Her Off-Broadway credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Drama Desk, Drama League & Outer Critics Circle Awards) and Puffs. Past credits include Nubia (featuring the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race), Boy Gets Violent (Ars Nova's AntFest), Summer Valley Fair (New York Musical Theatre Festival), Ryan J. Haddad's Hi, Are You Single (2015 Hot! Festival and 2016 Under The Radar) and Here's Hoover (directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers). She spent the early part of her producing career as Associate Producer at Tom Kirdahy Productions (White Rabbit Red Rabbit, The Jungle, It's Only A Play) where she was mentored by Tom Kirdahy and the late Terrence McNally. Prior to that, she served as Producing Associate at Williamstown Theatre Festival where she worked on Broadway and off-Broadway productions of The Bridges of Madison County, Fool for Love, Living on Love, The Old Man and The Old Moon, and The Visit. Sally Cade holds a Masters Degree in Arts Administration with an advanced certificate in Arts Enterprise from Boston University. She received her BS in Theatre Studies with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Evansville. Currently, Sally Cade is a Guest Teaching Artist at Furman University where she teaches an Advanced Seminar in Creative Leadership. She is developing several new theatrical works. @sally.cade | www.sallycadeholmes.com

Nikka Graff Lanzrone is a musical theater performer who has starred in all different types of shows in the Big Apple. Her Broadway debut was in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. In this show, she starred alongside icons in the community such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patti LuPone, and Laura Benati. Her most recent show that Nikka did on Broadway was the current revival of the hit Broadway musical, Chicago where she played the rebellious Velma Kelly. (The role played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the film) Getting to perform songs like All that Jazz and Cell Block Tango while doing Fossee choreography on a Broadway stage was a huge dream of hers and is something that she'll never forget.  Fun Fact: Nikka's parents are also Broadway performers. They met originally doing Grease together (in the original company) and her mom, Ilene Graff was the first Sandy replacement.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jayme-starr/support

For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/_j3JLZPWDF0 Patti D'Beck is a long-time veteran of Broadway and regional theatre. Her Broadway credits as Associate Choreographer, Supervisor, Dance Captain, and Actor include the original productions of Applause (Lauren Bacall), A Chorus Line, Seesaw, Pippin (Ben Vereen), Evita, The Will Rogers' Follies, My One and Only (Twiggy and Tommy Tune), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and the Broadway revivals of Annie Get Your Gun (Bernadette Peters), Bells are Ringing (Faith Prince), and Grease! (Rosie O'Donnell, Lucy Lawless). In 2016 Ms. D'Beck collaborated with Jeff Calhoun on the world premiere of Frank Wildhorn's musical Mata Hari in Seoul, So. Korea. Patti also choreographed the opening number for the 1997 Tony Awards and served as assistant or associate choreographer to Tommy Tune and Graciela Daniele on many productions. She has directed and choreographed many stars including Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Brooke Shields, Lucy Arnaz, Reba McEntire, Keith Carradine, Sandy Duncan, Lucy Lawless and many, many more. This past fall she worked with American Dance Machine to recreate Will Rogers' Follies ‘Our Favorite Son', which she helped create on Broadway. She also was part of a panel for Dancers Over 40, honoring Tommy Tune and Kevin Winkler's new book. In 2022 she will be directing NUNSENSE, starring Sally Struthers at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, she works at the VCU Center for Patient Safety and Human Simulation as a Standardized Patient (SP). As an SP, Patti portrays patient scenarios in order to instruct and train medical students, residents, and fellows in the art of critical thinking, patient safety, team interaction, decision making, clinical techniques and communication.  

Learn How to Move Without Moving   – The MOVEMENT Movement with Steven Sashen Episode 117 with Kate Chapman   Kate Chapman is, and always has been, very busy.  Her Broadway performing credits include Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Pajama Game, Sweet Smell of Success, Saturday Night Fever; also, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mrs. Claus for 5 seasons), Shakespeare in the Park, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, many others.  A 24-year member of the Tony Award-honored Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV), Kate sings with BIV at many events each year, works with BIV's outreach programs at Covenant House and The Ronald McDonald House, and contributes as the organization's copywriter.    Kate holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Boston University), a Master of Arts in Health Arts and Sciences (Goddard College), and is a Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and Life Coach (Wayfinder Life Coach Training).  Her first book, A Pixie's Prescription: A Fun Toolkit for a Feel Better Life, is available on Amazon.  Kate's YouTube channel (Kate Chapman) has lots of Broadway and uplifting content including her YouTube series Little Kate on the Prairie.    Listen to this episode of The MOVEMENT Movement with Kate Chapman about learning how to move without moving.   Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How movement, whether it's running or dance, should be enjoyable. - Why people should be paying attention to the connection between their hips and feet. - How it's important to listen to your body so you can give it what needs to thrive. - How there is a deep connection between the body and brain that shouldn't be ignored. - Why people need to discover how to be curious about life to get in touch with their essential self. Connect with Kate: Guest Contact Info Facebook facebook.com/KateChapmanHealth   Links Mentioned: thekatechapman.com    Connect with Steven: Website xeroshoes.com jointhemovementmovement.com Twitter  @XeroShoes Instagram  @xeroshoes Facebook  facebook.com/xeroshoes

In this episode Lisa chats with Broadway actress Arielle Jacobs about being married 4 days before the global pandemic shut down the world and spending her honeymoon in lockdown and how that allowed her the space needed to focus on her vision of the future."I think that I always had a vision that I would do more than just performing. But I think now I have now it's really, really, really clear. And very close on the horizon."Arielle shares how being called "sweet" or told that she "sounds like a twelve-year-old" when she speaks in her normal voice affects her confidence,  and how having been afflicted by Bell's Palsy helped to clarify the true meaning of beauty & expression. You'll learn about Arielle's the important life lesson learned from Wicked castmate Fred Applegate, and the exciting new musical she's starring in and so much more! Arielle Jacobs made her Broadway debut starring opposite creator Lin Manuel Miranda. In the final Broadway cast of the four time Tony and Grammy Award winning musical In the Heights. Her Broadway career continued with starring roles in Wicked, Rent, High School Musical and Into the Woods, where she performed opposite Emmy nominated actor Titus Burgess. She was most recently seen on Broadway as Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin praised as compelling and radiant by Variety magazine, and powerful by the New York Times, she has been called one of the greatest theatre artists of our generation with a powerful voice who could sing her way to world peace.@ArielleJacobs

"Let the healing begin in the theater!" -CBLisa speaks with actress Cassie Beck who is currently starring in Heidi Schreck's What the Constitution Means to Me which is the first straight play to return to the road. Cassie shares her new practice of truly trusting the process, navigating fear of criticism, her relationship with perfection and treating her performances like a meditation.  BioActress Cassie Beck plays series regular Courtney Thacker on the newly released series reboot of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER for Amazon Prime. Her Broadway credits include the recent revival of THE ROSE TATTOO, original cast member of THE HUMANS , PICNIC and THE NORMAN CONQUESTS. She has developed, created and performed premiere leading roles at Playwrights Horizons, Manhattan Theatre Club, Atlantic Theatre, Roundabout and has guest starred on TV in  POSE for FX, HBO's HIGH MAINTENANCE, CBS's ELEMENTARY, and CHICAGO MED on NBC. During the pandemic, she recurred on NBC/Peacock's original sitcom “Connecting” and opposite Mark Wahlberg in this Fall's feature film JOE BELL. She is currently on tour ​​with Heidi Schreck's Award winning play “What the Constitution Means to Me”.

Renée Marino is a professional communication coach named by Yahoo Finance as one of the “Top 10 Communication Coaches to Follow in 2021!” She was the co-host of Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi's first-ever virtual “World Summit'' and has spoken, performed, and been interviewed on thousands of live and virtual stages, including Dean Graziosi's podcast The Dean Graziosi Show. Renée helps people create genuine connections in their life and business by balancing new school technology with ol' school simplicity. She also uses her well-rounded experience of communicating through various mediums to train companies, organizations, schools, and universities in strengthening their communication skills. Renée can be seen as the female lead, Mary Delgado, in the film, “Jersey Boys,” directed by Clint Eastwood.She has been featured in People.com's “Ones to Watch,” Variety, and The Huffington Post, which stated: “The Broadway star—who is basically Tina Fey's celebrity doppelganger— is a scene-stealer. ‘Jersey Boys' pops whenever she's onscreen.” Renée wrote and performed her solo show, I Am Me, Because of Three, to sold-out venues in NYC and LA and received rave reviews. Her Broadway credits include Pretty Woman: The Musical (dance captain/assistant to the choreographer), West Side Story (Rosalia), Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado), Chaplin, and Wonderland (ensemble). She has toured North America with Cats, Disney's High School Musical, and Jersey Boys. Her television credits include Regina on Fox's Weird Loners and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.Renée Marino's book "Becoming a Master Communicator” releases Jan. 2022 and is now available for pre-order by visiting BecomingaMasterCommunicator.com. For more communication hacks, please visit ReneeMarino.com or follow Renee on social media. She's @CoachReneeMarino on Facebook, @iamreneemarino on Instagram, and @Reneemarino on Twitter.

Renée Marino is a professional communication coach named by Yahoo Finance as one of the “Top 10 Communication Coaches to Follow in 2021!” She was the co-host of Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi's first-ever virtual “World Summit'' and has spoken, performed, and been interviewed on thousands of live and virtual stages, including Dean Graziosi's podcast The Dean Graziosi Show. Renée helps people create genuine connections in their life and business by balancing new school technology with ol' school simplicity. She also uses her well-rounded experience of communicating through various mediums to train companies, organizations, schools, and universities in strengthening their communication skills. Renée can be seen as the female lead, Mary Delgado, in the film, “Jersey Boys,” directed by Clint Eastwood. She has been featured in People.com's “Ones to Watch,” Variety, and The Huffington Post, which stated: “The Broadway star—who is basically Tina Fey's celebrity doppelganger— is a scene-stealer. ‘Jersey Boys' pops whenever she's onscreen.” Renée wrote and performed her solo show, I Am Me, Because of Three, to sold-out venues in NYC and LA and received rave reviews. Her Broadway credits include Pretty Woman: The Musical (dance captain/assistant to the choreographer), West Side Story (Rosalia), Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado), Chaplin, and Wonderland (ensemble). She has toured North America with Cats, Disney's High School Musical, and Jersey Boys. Her television credits include Regina on Fox's Weird Loners and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. As a coach, keynote speaker, and longtime performer, Renée Marino has inspired people worldwide with her energy, relatability, and authentic spirit. Renée's forthcoming book, "Becoming a Master Communicator: Balancing New School Technology with Ol' School Simplicity" will be released in January. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.ReneeMarino.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-aidan-byrne0/support

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/UaBfYF7z0QsCOFFEE WITH THE PLAYHOUSE | Charlayne WoodardThese morning chats are a way to connect with us, virtually, every month as our very own Christopher Ashley shares behind-the-scenes stories, interviews artists and previews what is new and next at the Playhouse.Listen in as Christopher talks to Charlayne Woodard, playwright and co-star of The Garden, the world-premiere play that opens our 2021/2022 Season. Charlayne is a two-time Obie Award winner and a Tony Award nominee. Her Broadway credits include Ain't Misbehavin' (original cast) and Hair (revival), and she has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions, such as "Daddy", Hamlet, WAR and The Substance of Fire. Her La Jolla Playhouse credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Night Watcher (actor and playwright), Pretty Fire (actor and playwright), The Good Person of Setzuan and Shout Up a Morning, among others. She plays Rhonda in this season of HBO's In Treatment and has had recurring roles on Pose, Prodigal Son and Sneaky Pete in recent years. She has also starred in the movies Glass, Sunshine State, Unbreakable and The Crucible, to name a few.Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more behind-the-scenes videos, interviews and more!FOLLOW USFacebook: @LaJollaPlayhouse https://facebook.com/LaJollaPlayhouse/Instagram: @LaJollaPlayhouse https://instagram.com/LaJollaPlayhouse/Twitter: @LJPlayhouse https://twitter.com/LJPlayhouseWebsite: https://lajollaplayhouse.org/#CharlayneWoodard #TheGarden #LaJollaPlayhouse #BroadwayAtHome #POSE #Diana #ComeFromAway

Multiple Award-winning Broadway actor Natascia Diaz has performed professionally since the age of nine. Growing up in New York City, she began her training at The School of American Ballet where she was hand-picked by Jerome Robbins and librettist Arthur Laurents to perform the role of Anita in both the National and International tours of West Side Story garnering Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award and St. Louis's Kevin Klein Award. Her Broadway credits include Paul Simon's The Capeman, and leading roles in Seussical, and the 2004 revival of Man of La Mancha, in which she also understudied the role of Aldonza, performing the role opposite Brian Stokes Mitchell. She is well known to DC theatre audiences, having won two Helen Hayes awards, and appearing often at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, MetroStage and other notable venues. She is also featured in the Broadway Documentary Film, Every Little Step, about the auditions for the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line.

Here's a quote for you:  “I had two suitcases, an acoustic guitar, a bible and $170 and I moved to New York.  And that was the beginning of it all.”Our guest in this episode is Celisse Henderson.  Through grit, determination, and honing her skills, along with a personality that is infectious and generous, she's made a career on Broadway, on television, and in music.  Her Broadway days saw her in touring productions of the hit musical Wicked, and Godspell and others.  She's done television, appearing on 30 Rock and Electric Company.  And in music, she found her passion for guitar later in life, leaving Broadway for the time being, but landing gigs playing with Melissa Etheridge, Joss Stone, Lizzo, Trey Anastasio, Mariah Carey, and many others.   We'll talk about her influences, like soul singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, her experiences getting to, and being on, Broadway, and her thematic approach to life from a perspective of sharing and giving.  It is my pleasure to introduce Celisse.  =================================SPECIAL THANKS- to Erica McGill for introducing Celisse and me.  Thank you!=================================CELISSE HENDERSON- Website:  http://celissehenderson.com/now/- Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/celissemusic/=================================BRENTON HUND PODCAST   - Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/brentonhundpodcast- Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/brentonhundpodcast/- Email:  brentonhundpodcast@gmail.com=================================SOCIAL MEDIA BY:  The Social Sweetheart- Website: https://www.socialsweetheart.co- Email:  thesocialsweetheart@gmail.com=================================LOGO DESIGN BY: Taylor Hembree- Website:  https://taylorhembree1993.wixsite.com/ohokmedia

It was an absolute delight to speak with Annaleigh Ashford today on how she constructs a character, her advice for auditioning, and her favorite memories of performing in Legally Blonde. Annaleigh Ashford is a Tony Award-winning actress for theatre, film, and television. Her Broadway credits include: Sunday in the Park With George, You Can’t Take It With You (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award), Sylvia, Kinky Boots (Clarence Derwent Award, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Wicked, Hair, Legally Blonde the Musical. Off Broadway: Sunday in the Park with George (Encores!), Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park), Rent (New World Stages), Dogfight (Second Stage). Betty on Showtime’s critically acclaimed Masters of Sex. Other TV/Film: Bad Education, Unbelievable, Younger, Late Night, Annaleigh Ashford Live from Lincoln Center, American Crime Story: Versace, Second Act, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Law & Order SVU, Smash, Unicorn Store, Sex and the City, Better Off Single, Top Five, Rachel Getting Married, Frozen. Upcoming for Annaleigh: B Positive (CBS); American Crime Story: Impeached. To catch Annaleigh in her latest role, follow her on Instagram @AnnaleighAshford. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stage and TV actress, Karen Ziemba, has appeared in 11 Broadway shows. Her Broadway debut was in A Chorus Line as Diana Morales. Later, she played Peggy Sawyer, the lead in 42nd Street. Other Broadway roles include Polly Baker in Crazy for You, Roxie Hart in Chicago, and Belle Hagner in Teddy & Alice. Karen […] The post Karen Ziemba, Tony Winning Broadway and TV Actress-Episode #154 appeared first on Storybeat with Steve Cuden.

For the video edition, click here and subscribe: https://youtu.be/ARwBzYj0iF0 PENNY FULLER most recently appeared on Broadway as the Dowager Empress in ANASTASIA, and as MOTHER in the revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with Jake Gyllenhaal. Her Broadway career began starring on BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, the musicals CABARET, REX, and APPLAUSE (Tony nomination for her “Eve Harrington"), The DINNER PARTY (Tony nomination for her “Gabrielle"), DIVIDING THE ESTATE, three SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK productions, and A NEW BRAIN at Lincoln Center. Television work garnered her 6 Emmy nominations and the EMMY AWARD for ELEPHANT MAN. Since 2007 has been singing in cabarets directed by Barry Kleinbort. He wrote a one woman musical for her: 13 THINGS ABOUT ED CARPOLOTTI seen Off Broadway and in Los Angeles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Fuller https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0298323 https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/penny-fuller https://www.playbill.com/person/penny-fuller-vault-0000095263 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/penny_fuller https://beverlyhillbillies.fandom.com/wiki/Penny_Fuller http://www.filmreference.com/film/94/Penny-Fuller.html https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Penny-Fuller/nm0298323

In Part 14 of The Visceral Voice's new limited series, Christine and Kimberly listen to "The Voice Of: The Rockette."Purdie Baumann is a former member of the world famous Radio City Rockettes, where she performed for eight consecutive years. Her Broadway tour credits include traveling the country with Young Frankenstein choreographed by Susan Stroman. Purdie can been seen dancing in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as Martin Scorsese's films Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman. Look out for Ms. Baumann in the upcoming made for Netflix movie Tick Tick Boom directed by Lin Manuel Miranda. Purdie is currently working as an expert Microblading Artist in the New York and New Jersey areas. You can follow Ms. Baumann on instagram @purdiebaumann and @purdiebrows. Be sure to check out my Self-Care Membership, courses, and events at www.thevisceralvoice.com! And follow us on Instagram!Are you willing and able to becoming a Supporter of The Visceral Voice Podcast to help keep this podcast running? Please click here.

In the 2nd of 3 episodes on Hildegard of Bingen, Bee sits down with Grace McLean—a musician, singer, actor, writer, composer and much, much more! She is the front woman of the band Grace McLean and Them Apples. Her Broadway and off-Broadway credits include Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Alice by Heart, Sleep No More and Cyrano. She is also a Writer in Residence at the Lincoln Center Theatre, where she wrote the book, music, lyrics and composed the orchestrations for In the Green, a new musical about our lady of the month: Hildegard of Bingen!You can find more about Grace and her work online at www.gracemclean.com and on Instagram @thatgracemclean !Thank you so much for listening to DOTS! If you like what you hear, please Subscribe and leave us a 5 Star Rating and a Review on your podcast platform!Connect with us further online at www.divinespark.co, on Reddit and IG @divinesparkmedia and @beescolnick, and consider supporting our artists on Patreon www.patreon.com/divinesparkmedia ! Just $1/month goes a long way to continuing our work! THANK YOU!

For the video, click here: https://youtu.be/IvMUoyYbfzQ Ann Morrison is an award-winning actress, writer, teacher and director for over 40 years. Her Broadway debut in Merrily We Roll Along garnered her the 1982 Theatre World Award, and she did her first OBC LP recording for RCA. 25 years later (2007) Harold Prince brought her back to Broadway for LoveMusik. She sang in a Sondheim celebration Children and Art at the New Amsterdam Theater and at the Merrily Reunion Concert at Laguardia High School. On London's West End she originated the title role in the musical PEG (based on “Peg O’ My Heart”). Nationally, she has starred in Sondheim on Sondheim, Moving On, Into the Woods, Peter Pan, Guys & Dolls, Cabaret, Oliver! Sunset Boulevard, On A Clear Day, Anything Goes, Can Can, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Good News, Embarrassments, Anyone Can Whistle, On The Verge, Noel & Gertie, Shadowlands, Ruthless!, I Do, I Do! Little Shop Of Horrors, Chess, Blithe Spirit, Of Thee I Sing, Driving Miss Daisy, plus many many more. The quintessential solo artist, Ann has performed as a cabaret artist in major venues across the country, most recently at Feinstein's/54 Below in NYC. Ann plays herself in the 2017 documentary Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened. Ann is the very proud mother of singer/composer/actor/music producer Huck Walton. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Morrison https://www.annmorrison.net https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/ann-morrison/ https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ann-morrison-92256

An episode for Sondheim fans! This week, we turn our focus to Sondheim Unplugged, one of the most popular and long-running series presented at Feinstein's/54 Below. A celebrated New York event since 2010 (It's a Hit!), the show features some of Broadway and cabaret's most dynamic voices, accompanied by piano only, delving into the musical world of Broadway's master composer. In December 2020, Sondheim Unplugged was recorded and streamed as part of 54 Below Premieres, the club's new streaming series. God, That's Good! We are joined by creator and host Phil Geoffrey Bond and performer Lucia Spina.   Phil Geoffrey Bond created Sondheim Unplugged, the long-running, award-winning monthly series, in 2010 and has served as its producer and host ever since. His novel, The Last Year at Low Tide, is currently available on Amazon from Chess Books as are his other titles — My Queer Youth, Small Town Confessions, The Fall of Mrs. Parsons, The Disney Diaries, and All the Sad Young Men. Phil has served as Director of Programming for The Duplex Cabaret Theatre, The Laurie Beechman Theatre as well as Feinstein's/54 Below, where he later became Director of Original Programming. He is the recipient of seven Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets (MAC) Awards, two Backstage Bistro Awards, a Broadway World Award, and a Nightlife Award. Lucia Spina made her Broadway debut with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti) in 2006. Her Broadway credits include Kinky Boots (original cast), South Pacific, Legally Blonde (Enid), and Les Miserables. Off-Broadway, she originated roles in Silence! The Musical (Catherine/Senator Martin) and Fugitive Songs. She toured the country with Legally Blonde, and her regional work includes credits at Goodspeed Opera House, Long Wharf Theater, Baltimore Center Stage, Barrington Stage, Milwaukee Rep, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and The Hangar Theater, as well as Sunday in the Park With George (Nurse/Mrs./Harriett) and Anyone Can Whistle (Osgood) at the Ravinia Festival (Lonny Price, director; Paul Gemignani, musical director). She has sung with the acclaimed American Pops Orchestra and has graced cabaret stages all over New York City garnering her Best Female Vocalist for BroadwayWorld's 2015 Cabaret Awards. www.luciaspina.com Sondheim Unplugged premiered online Saturday, December 26, 2020, and is available on-demand through January 23, 2021. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.54below.com/Sondheim.  View clips from the show: Natalie Douglas sings “Losing My Mind” https://youtu.be/j9FLx8Z4Qfg Telly Leung sings “Being Alive” https://youtu.be/viXRnxui0Uc All music clips in this episode are from Sondheim Unplugged at Feinstein's/54 Below, filmed on December 5, 2020: “Being Alive” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, featuring Joe Goodrich on piano “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Lucia Spina “Marry Me a Little” cut from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Nicholas Rodriguez  “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Lucia Spina & Nicholas Rodriguez  “Something's Coming” from West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Darius de Haas  “Losing My Mind” from Follies, music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Natalie Douglas  “Being Alive” from Company, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Telly Leung  “Anyone Can Whistle” from Anyone Can Whistle, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by T. Oliver Reid Instrumental from “Beautiful Girls” from Follies, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, featuring Joe Goodrich on piano   Credits This podcast is hosted by Nella Vera and produced by Grace Benigni, with support from the Feinstein's/54 Below marketing staff. Original artwork by Philip Romano. Follow Nella on Twitter at @spinstripes  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diana DiMenna is an award-winning theater and film producer and philanthropist. Her Broadway credits include the record-breaking play What the Constitution Means to Me, and the newly announced, Thoughts of a Colored Man, where she’s co-producing with others including Samira Wiley. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yfm/message

akaRadioRed welcomes two smart, savvy creatives. Yi Zhou is a polyglot artist whose video works have been shown at Shanghai Biennale, Venice Biennale, Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. As an influencer, she endorses global brands including Levi's, Clarins and Shiseido. In 2011, she founded her personal brand company YiZhouStudio in Shanghai and Hong Kong and in 2018 in LA. She is developing her first feature film, Stars and Scars, as director. yizhouworld.com Sarah Dacey Charles's 30-year acting career spans Broadway, Film and Network TV. Her Broadway and National Touring credits include Les Miserables, 9 to 5, The Musical and Sunset Boulevard. On TV, she has played principle roles on House of Cards, Jessica Jones, Madame Secretary, Elementary, Law & Order: SVU, FBI and more. For her portrayal of Barbara Stanwick in the indy film, Agnes Moorehead is God!, Sarah won the LIFF Best Actor Award. sarahdaceycharles.com Join akaRadioRed for Read My Lips: Brainy Creativity.

akaRadioRed welcomes two smart, savvy creatives. Yi Zhou is a polyglot artist whose video works have been shown at Shanghai Biennale, Venice Biennale, Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. As an influencer, she endorses global brands including Levi’s, Clarins and Shiseido. In 2011, she founded her personal brand company YiZhouStudio in Shanghai and Hong Kong and in 2018 in LA. She is developing her first feature film, Stars and Scars, as director. yizhouworld.com Sarah Dacey Charles’s 30-year acting career spans Broadway, Film and Network TV. Her Broadway and National Touring credits include Les Miserables, 9 to 5, The Musical and Sunset Boulevard. On TV, she has played principle roles on House of Cards, Jessica Jones, Madame Secretary, Elementary, Law & Order: SVU, FBI and more. For her portrayal of Barbara Stanwick in the indy film, Agnes Moorehead is God!, Sarah won the LIFF Best Actor Award. sarahdaceycharles.com Join akaRadioRed for Read My Lips: Brainy Creativity.

Kirsten Wyatt is an award winning actress hailing from Clarksburg, WV. Her Broadway credits include Annie (Lily St. Regis), A Christmas Story the Musical (Crusty Elf/Mrs. Schwartz), Elf (Santa's Elf), Shrek (Shoemaker's Elf), Grease (Frenchy, 2007 revival), High Fidelity (Anna), The Pajama Game (Poopsie), Urinetown (Little Becky Two Shoes) and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy/Sally standby). Favorite regional roles include Agnes Gooch in Mame at the Goodspeed Opera House for which she won a Connecticut Critics Circle Award, Ellie Mae Chipley in the San Francisco Opera production of Show Boat, Charity in Sweet Charity, Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong and Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. Kirsten's TV credits include Blue Bloods, Naked Brothers Band, As the World Turns and All My Children. Kirsten has her own coaching studio and is on staff at Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver’s Actor Therapy. She is a proud graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is the creator and host of the web series Broadway Nosh. www.kirstenwyatt.net

Laura Bell Bundy steps into the Batter’s Box for Episode 34 of Break a Bat! Laura Bell is as well-rounded performer as there is in the game. Throughout her career, she's seen phenomenal success on stage, on screen, as well as in the recording studio as a singer-songwriter. Her Broadway credits include the Tony-winning Hairspray in which she originated the role of Amber Von Tussle, as well as the musical version of Legally Blonde, in which she originated the role of Elle Woods and earned a Tony nomination of her own for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. On screen, she co-starred in FX's Anger Management, and as a musician, she earned a CMT Music Awards nomination for 'Breakthrough Video of the Year' for her hit single Giddy On Up. In this episode, the boys dive into Laura Bell's passion for telling stories with music, moving to the other side of the camera as a creative with some exciting new projects in the works, and how the stage is her comfort zone. A big part of her success is attested to constantly changing as a performer, with full recognition of the ability to make adjustments after "every game you play," - and as discussed, one of the ultimate separators between a good and great baseball player. This conversation was super interesting for the Break a Bat! team, as it really dove into the psyche and processes of an All-Star performer as much as any other episode we've done to date. Hosted by Al Malafronte with appearances by Chris Katzmann (co-creator) and Alan Seales (producer) Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network  Edited by Matthew Hendershot Connect with Laura Bell Bundy on Instagram: @laurabellbundy and Twitter: @laurabellbundy Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast

Jeanna de Waal steps into the 'remote' Batter's Box with host Al Malafronte and producer Alan Seales for Episode 29 of Break a Bat! At the time of the Broadway shutdown, Jeanna had just begun previews for Diana: A True Musical Story, in which she was stars as Princess Diana. Jeanna takes the boys through what she's doing to stay on her game during quarantine, and her excitement for Broadway's eventual return. These routines and emotions are not unlike those of a Major League Baseball player awaiting the start of the 2020 season. Her Broadway career spans over a decade, with other credits including American Idiot and Kinky Boots. She is also the co-founder of Broadway Weekends, a theatre camp for adults which is currently conducting online classes and workshops for those who need their performing fix! Hosted by Al Malafronte  Produced by the Broadway Podcast Network  Edited by Matthew Hendershot Connect with Jeanna de Waal on Instagram: @thebigdewaal and Twitter: @thebigdewaal Connect with Broadway Weekends online at: www.broadwayweekends.com and on Instagram: @broadwayweekends Connect with Break a Bat! on Instagram: @break_a_bat_podcast

Diana DiMenna is an award-winning theater and film producer and philanthropist. Her Broadway credits include Girl From The North Country, What the Constitution Means to Me; Network; Three Tall Women; Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812; Bright Star; A Doll's House, Part Two; Meteor Shower; and The Humans (national tour). To keep up with Diana . . . go check her out on instagram @dianadimenna.   This week’s #SongwriterOfTheWeek is Kinosian and Blair! If you enjoyed the outro song in this episode, check out their website www.kinosianandblair.com and youtube channel www.youtube.com/kinosianandblair. Enjoy and thank you for coming back to our new season! Keep up with me @KenDavenportBway on Instagram. Check out my blog for daily content: www.theproducersperspective.com This episode was produced by Mary Dina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chaka Khan: Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Activist Chaka Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953 into an artistic, bohemian household in Chicago, Illinois.  Bohemian, is not a word used much anymore but it by definition means "socially unconventional, but involved in the arts, or in an artistic way.  Chaka/Yvette was the eldest of five kids born to Charles Stevens and Sandra Coleman, Yvette described her father as a beatnik and her mother as "able to do anything." She was raised in the Hyde Park area, which has been called "an island in the middle of the madness" of Chicago's rough South Side housing projects.  Her sister Yvonne later became a successful musician in her own right under the name Taka Boom. Her only brother, Mark, who formed the funk group Aurra, also became a successful musician. She has two other sisters, Zaheva Stevens and Tammy McCrary. Yvette was raised as a Catholic, and attributed her love of music to her grandmother, who introduced her to jazz as a child. Yvette soon became a fan of rhythm and blues music as a preteen and at eleven formed a girl group, the Crystalettes, that included her sister Taka.  In the late 1960s, Yvette attended several civil rights rallies with her father's second wife, Connie, who was a strong supporter of the movement and joined the Black Panther Party after befriending fellow member, activist and Chicago native Fred Hampton in 1967.   Though many think that she was given the name Chaka while in the Panthers, she has made it clear that her name Chaka Adunne Aduffe Hodarhi Karifi was given to her at age 13 by a Yoruba Baba. In 1969, she left the Panthers and dropped out of high school, having attended Calumet High School and Kenwood High School (now Kenwood Academy).  Chaka began to perform in small groups around the Chicago area, first performing with Cash McCall's group Lyfe, which included her then-boyfriend Hassan Khan. Chaka and Hassan married in 1970.   Chaka was asked to replace Baby Huey of Baby Huey & the Babysitters A great singer and tight band   (CLIP)  Baby Huey Hard Times   After Huey's death in 1970. The group disbanded a year later.     While performing in local bands in 1972, Chaka Khan was spotted by two members of a new group called Rufus and soon won her position in the group (replacing rock n roll singer Paulette McWilliams). The group caught the attention of musician Ike Turner who flew them out to Los Angeles to record at his studio Bolic Sound in Inglewood, California. Ike wanted Khan to become an Ikette; she declined stating she was "really happy with Rufus. But Ike's attention was certainly a boost."     Early on, Chaka caught the attention of music icon Stevie Wonder, who penned her first smash hit with Rufus, “Tell Me Something Good.”   (CLIP).   TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD   The single from the group’s 1974 platinum-selling album, Rags to Rufus, earned Chaka her first GRAMMY® Award. With Chaka as the group’s dynamic center, Rufus became one of the most popular acts around selling out shows throughout the country and dominating the airwaves with hit after hit with songs such as “You Got the Love,” which Chaka co-wrote   (CLIP).  YOU GOT THE LOVE   “Once You Get Started,”    (CLIP).  ONCE YOU GET STARTED   “Sweet Thing,”   (CLIP) SWEET THING   “Everlasting Love,”   (CLIP). EVERLASTING LOVE   “Do You Love What You Feel?”   (CLIP). DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU FEEL     The biggie “Ain’t Nobody” Chaka’s second GRAMMY Award-winning song with Rufus. Is up...   Rufus and Chaka Khan racked up five RIAA certified gold and platinum albums during their time together.   Rufus keyboardist David "Hawk" Wolinski wrote the song around a repeating synthesizer loop backed by a Linn LM-1 drum computer; however, John J. R. Robinson, the band's drummer, played real drums for the recording session. The band did a democratic vote and they decided to include the song in their album repertoire. Once the song was recorded, Warner executives wanted to issue another song as the album's first single. AND  Wolinski threatened to give the song to American singer Michael Jackson and American producer Quincy Jones for Jackson's album Thriller, if the song was not the lead-off single. The label relented and "Ain't Nobody" was issued and hit number one on the R&B chart for the week ending October 15, 1983.  It was also the song included on the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Breakin'.   The song is performed in the key of E♭ minor with a tempo of 104 beats per minute in common time. Khan's vocals span from G♭3 to E♭5 in the song.   (SONG)  AINT NOBODY   This is the Old School Rewind Podcast this week featuring Chaka Khan..   so we just played Ain't Nobody,  It was inevitable that a singer with Chaka’s star power would eventually venture out on her own. In 1978, Chaka blazed onto the music scene as a solo artist with the release of the smash hit “I’m Every Woman” written by Ashford & Simpson.   (SONG). I'M EVERY WOMAN     Thats Chaka Khan with her first solo hit "I'm every woman."  This is Aaron Goodwin and the Old School Rewind Podcast. From the 35 acres and a microphone farm we tribute the old school..   This week it's Chaka Khan and she has now Paired with the late producer extraordinaire, Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler), her catalog grew even more impressive with hits such as “Clouds,” “Papillon,” and “What ‘Cha Gonna Do For Me?” It was during this time that Chaka began pursuing her love of jazz. She and Arif brilliantly re-worked the classic song “Night in Tunisia” with the song’s originator, Dizzy Gillespie, on trumpet. Chaka also recorded an album of jazz standards titled Echoes of an Era, which featured such luminaries as Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White. Her crowning achievement in jazz was the GRAMMY® Award-winning tune, “Be Bop Medley.” The song’s album, titled Chaka Khan, also won a GRAMMY® for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.     However, anyone else would be winded..  not Chaka as the biggest and best was yet to come. And , the song that made Chaka Khan a household name and propelled her to superstardom the world over was “I Feel For You,” written and first performed by Prince.   (Clip) Prince I FEEL FOR YOU   This chart-topping, GRAMMY® Award-winning song also made music history. Released in 1984, it was the first R&B song to feature a rap, and rapper, which was the best to ever touch a mic.  Grandmaster Melle Mel.    Khan's version featured a supporting cast including guitar, drum programming, bass guitar, keyboards and arrangement by Reggie Griffin; bass synthesizer and programming by The System's David Frank using an Oberheim DSX sequencer, which was connected to his Minimoog via CV and gate; and chromatic harmonica playing by Stevie Wonder.  The song also uses vocal samples from Wonder's song "Fingertips" (1963). The repetition of Khan's name by Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin, who then decided to keep it.[7]   This version of the song sold more than one million copies in the US and UK, and it helped to relaunch Khan's career. The song hit No. 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from the weeks of November 24, 1984 to December 8, 1984.[8] The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 26 weeks and became one of Billboard's five biggest pop songs of the year for 1985. The single reached No. 1 on both the US dance[9] and R&B charts in late 1984, remaining atop both for three weeks each.[10] In addition, the song also reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] While touring with Prince in 1998 in support of her collaborative album, Come 2 My House, Khan and Prince performed "I Feel for You" as a duet.   Let's jam Chaka  and her biggest with Melle Mel   (SONG) Chaka khan I FEEL FOR YOU     This is the Old School Rewind Podcast. Aaron in your ears with the candy from the early 80's that was oh so sweet.   Old school dance r and b..    We're up to another marvel from David Foster as we feature the single "Through the Fire" is a song recorded by this weeks feature artist.   Yvette Marie Stevens, or  Chaka Khan through the fire is  from her sixth studio album, I Feel for You (1984). The David Foster-produced track was the third single from the album and reached number 60 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts It was one of the few Khan hits to cross to the Adult Contemporary chart. The music video was filmed at Los Angeles' Union Station.  Now in top demand, Chaka lent her voice and producer skills to two of the biggest hits of 1986, Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” (clip) and Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love.”(clip) Both were GRAMMY®-winning songs.   David Foster revealed in his 2011 PBS concert The Hit Man Returns if you heavens seen that. You need to. 5 snaps a stars whatever tomatoes . A killer dvd    David foster super producer says  that "this was the only melody that he ever wrote with someone in mind and that the working title of the piece was actually called "Chaka" because he was very confident that Chaka Khan would perform the song.    The song was sampled by Kanye West on "Through the Wire", the breakout single from his 2004 debut album, The College Dropout.   (CLIP) Kanye Through the wire   The Chaka khan podcast. Old school rewind with Aaron e Goodwin.  Now in top demand, Chaka lent her voice and producer skills to two of the biggest hits of 1986,       The Old School Rewind Podcast comes to a close with Chaka mentions past 1986ish which is our primary focus on the rewind   In 1995, she made her musical theater debut on London’s West End, where she starred in Mama I Want to Sing. In 2002 she traveled to Las Vegas, where she starred in Signed, Sealed Delivered, a critically-acclaimed musical based on the music of Stevie Wonder. Her Broadway debut came in 2008 when she took over the role of Sofia in Oprah Winfrey’s musical The Color Purple.   Chaka’s emotive vocals can also be heard on a number of soundtracks, including Clockers, Set It Off, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Miami Vice, White Knights, Moscow on the Hudson, Disappearing Acts, Waiting to Exhale and Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, as well as Tyler Perry hits Madea’s Family Reunion and Meet The Browns.   From the Chaka khan website,,  During her career, she has collaborated with a long list of artists in diverse genres. Collaborators have included Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Steve Winwood, Mary J. Blige, George Benson, Larry Graham, the London Symphony Orchestra and countless others. Chaka has received a steady stream of accolades for both her artistry and philanthropy. In June 2012, she was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, joining previously inducted music greats such as Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Bonnie Raitt, George Harrison, B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Donna Summer and Kathleen Battle. In 2011, she was honored for her legendary career with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the same year, Chaka was honored with the United Negro College Fund’s An Evening of Stars Tribute. The program, which was televised on cable networks and broadcast stations in more than 40 cities nationwide, featured tribute performances by Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Ledisi, El Debarge, Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Ginuwine, Chaka’s brother, Mark Stevens, and her daughter, Indira Khan, among others. In recent years, Chaka also received the Soul Train Legend Award (2009), the BET Lifetime Achievement Award (2006), the GRAMMY® Honors Award from the NARAS Chicago Chapter (2006) and the World Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award (2003). In 2004, Chaka received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music. Chaka’s autobiography, Through the Fire, was published by Rodale Books in 2003 and is currently being adapted into a screenplay.   Despite her busy schedule, Chaka has always made time to support and uplift her community. She has a deep commitment to women and children at risk, which led her to establish the Chaka Khan Foundation in 1999. Initially, the foundation focused primarily on public awareness campaigns around the diagnosis, intervention, and available family resources and the search for a cure for autism. Her efforts were particularly aimed at communities of color and other underserved communities, where awareness about this disorder is low. Her work in this area was inspired by her nephew who has autism and who Chaka describes as “gifted and beautiful and so full of life.” She later expanded the mission of the foundation to focus more broadly on women and children at risk. In July 2012, Chaka received the McDonald Corporation’s 365Black Award, honoring her for her leadership of the Chaka Khan Foundation.   Chaka also is an entrepreneur. In 2004, her line of gourmet chocolates, Chakalates, was sold in 20 Neiman Marcus stores around the country. Plans are underway to re-launch her signature brand of chocolates nationally and internationally. She currently is introducing Khana Sutra, a fragrance line for men, women and the home. The line also includes candles, and room and linen sprays. With a new svelte look, a new album, and a great enthusiasm for her new and expanding activities in music, philanthropy and entrepreneurial ventures, the 10-time GRAMMY® Award-winner is looking forward to a celebration of a lifetime.    From the about button on Chakas website.. Chaka Khan is one of the world’s most gifted and celebrated musicians, with a rich musical legacy. The 10-time GRAMMY® Award-winner is  A songwriter, actor, author, philanthropist, entrepreneur and activist, Chaka Khan has influenced generations of recording artists. She has the rare ability to sing in seven music genres, including R&B, pop, rock, gospel, country, world music and classical. Affectionately known around the world as Chaka, she is revered by millions of fans as well as her peers for her timeless, classic and unmatched signature music style and ability. The late, great Miles Davis often said, “She [Chaka] sings like my horn.” And the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin says, “[Chaka] is a one- of- a -kind, premier vocalist.”   Throughout her legendary career, Chaka has released 22 albums and racked up ten #1 Billboard magazine charted songs, seven RIAA certified gold singles and ten RIAA certified gold and platinum albums. Chaka’s recorded music has produced over 2,000 catalog song placements. “I am honored and blessed to celebrate 40 years in music and entertainment,” says Chaka. “I am so humbled by the love, support and gracious spirit of my fans worldwide and the continuous support my peers have shown over the years. Throughout my 40-year career, I have been through the fire a few times over and I’m still here as a living testament to God’s love and grace. Next year, I will be celebrating 40 years in the business and 60 years on earth, which equals one hundred percent Chaka.”   I'll see you next week from the 35 acres and a microphone podcast farm...      (SONG) Chaka khan   love of a lifetime

Hello and welcome to episode 27 of Sing! Dance! Act! Thrive!Today we have Broadway and Symphony Star Capathia Jenkins. I love this line from her bio that says “This woman who grappling with two dueling passions each with a strong grip: acting and music, yet she refuses to pick one because they both represent her soul. Capathia approaches a song the same way she approaches a script, like an artist. She looks for the nuances, the secret hidden within the notes or text. She seeks the melody, harmony and rhythm. She asks herself: what am I trying to say? What do I want my audience to experience with me? She wants to take her audience on a journey.Her Broadway theatre credits include Newsies, The Civil War, The Look of Love, Caroline, Or Change and Martin Short-Fame Becomes Me.Her Television credits include 30 Rock, the Practice, Law & Order SVU, the Sopranos, Law & Order. She can be seen in the film ‘Musical Chairs’ and heard on the film soundtracks of Nine, Chicago, and Legally Blonde 2.An active concert artist, she has appeared with orchestras around the world including the Toronto Symphony where she is a featured performer in James Bond: The Music Oct 15th and 16th. Next she performs a tribute to Aretha Franklin with various orchestras across the US.I hope that you enjoy it, she has a lot of great advice for up and coming performers.It was so great chatting with Capathia and I am looking forward to seeing the show on Tue. If you are in Toronto check out tso.ca for all the upcoming concerts. For links and transcript for this show visit http://singdanceactthrive.com/027

Brittney Johnson a Tisch alum has had tremendous success in her acting career. Her Broadway credits include: Wicked (Glinda, certain performances); Sunset Boulevard (Ensemble); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Ensemble, Shirelle, Little Eva); Les Misérables (Eponine); Motown: The Musical (Swing & replacement). In Los Angeles: Dreamgirls, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (Lorell Robinson); Tropicana Las Vegas: Mamma Mia! (Lisa). Westchester Broadway Theatre: Ragtime (Sarah). Toronto, ON: Les Misérables (Eponine, Ensemble) The Really Useful Group, Ltd, Mirvish Productions. US National Tour (25th Anniversary): Les Misérables (The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Innovation Studio, Philadelphia, PA, Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theatre, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and 67 other venues). Weathervane Theatre (Whitefield, NH) Ragtime (Ensemble, Sarah's friend), Hair (Tribe), South Pacific, and Bye, Bye Birdie. Awards - 2016, nomination: Ovation Award: Lead Actress in a Musical Dreamgirls - Lorell Robinson. Follow her on Twitter @sunnybrittney

Chloe Campbell made a name for herself performing in London in four West End musicals. Since making a leap across the pond, she performed in the Chicago company of Hamilton and the national tour of In The Heights. Her Broadway credits include the short-lived Tuck Everlasting and the just-closed production of King Kong. Here’s our conversation... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics: Air Jordans, Whitney Houston, Sade, The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   1985 Notes   General Snapshots   1.    President: Ronald Reagan   2.    Jan – In Hollywood,  California, the charity single "We  Are the World" is recorded by USA for  Africa. The  single raises money to combat the  ongoing famine in Ethiopia. The  American act consists of high-profile  performers, including Michael  Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner,  Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.   3.    Jan – The newest music video channel, VH-1, begins broadcasting on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV. The first video played is Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".   4.    Mar – WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.  In the main event, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by over one million viewers through closed-circuit television, making it the largest pay-per-view showing of a wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.   5.    Apr – Coca-Cola changes its recipe and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.   6.    Aug - Ryan White who was expelled from Western High School in Indiana is allowed to attend his first day of classes via telephone.   7.    Sep - The Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, USA.   8.    Oct  – The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in U.S. stores. By 1988, industry observers stated that the NES's popularity had grown so quickly that the market for Nintendo cartridges was larger than that for all home computer software.  The NES was released two years after the North American video game crash of 1983, when many retailers and adult consumers regarded electronic games as a passing fad. With the NES, Nintendo also changed the relationship between console manufacturers and third-party software developers by restricting developers from publishing and distributing software without licensed approval. This led to higher-quality games, which helped change the attitude of a public that had grown weary from poorly produced games for earlier systems.   9.    Nov - Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.   10.    Open Comments:   11.    Top 3 Pop Songs   12.    1    "Careless Whisper"    Wham!   13.    2    "Like a Virgin"    Madonna   14.    3    "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"    Wham!   15.    Grammy Awards   16.    Record of the Year: Quincy Jones (producer) for "We Are the World"   17.    Album of the Year: Phil Collins (producer & artist) for No Jacket Required   18.    Song of the Year: Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (songwriters) for "We Are the World"   19.    Best New Artist: Sade   20.    Top 3 Movies   21.    Back to the Future   22.    Rambo: First Blood Part II   23.    Rocky IV   24.    Other Notables:  The Color Purple / Out of Africa / Cocoon / The Jewel of the Nile / Witness / The Goonies / Spies Like Us / The Breakfast Club / Brewster's Millions / St. Elmo's Fire /  Krush Groove   25.    Top 3 TV Shows   26.    The Cosby Show   27.    Family Ties   28.    Murder, She Wrote       29.    TV Debuts   30.    Sep - What's Happening Now!! / Stir Crazy   31.    Black Snapshots   32.    Feb -  Whitney Houston releases her debut  album – Whitney Houston.   33.    Mar  – Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first-round knockout.   34.    May - Michael Jordan is named as the NBA's "Rookie of the Year."   35.    May – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayor Wilson Goode, the  first African American to hold that office,  orders police to storm the  headquarters of the black liberation/back-to-nature group MOVE to end a stand-off over serving arrest warrants. (Due process?!?!)  The police drop 2 explosive devices into the headquarters, killing 6 adults and 5 children, and destroyed an additional 61 residental homes in the resulting fire. The survivors filed a civil suit against the city and the police department, and were awarded $1.5 million in 1996.   36.    Jul - The final episode of The Jeffersons airs. (1975-) 10 yrs   37.    Aug - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids  (1972-) 13 yrs   38.    Nov - Ebony Man: EM  Magazine launches   39.    Best Comedy Recording: Whoopi Goldberg - Original Broadway Show Recording   40.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Aretha Franklin for "Freeway of Love"   41.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for In Square Circle   42.    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Commodores for "Nightshift"   43.    Economic Snapshot   44.    Avg. Income = $22,138   45.    House = $99,331   46.    New Car = $9,531   47.    Avg. Rent = $375   48.    Tuition at Harvard = $9,800   49.    Movie Ticket = $2.75   50.    Gas = $1.20   51.    Stamp = $0.22   52.    Socilal Scene: “Money, it's gotta be da shoes!” - Mars Blackmon   53.    The Air Jordan I was originally released in 1985 and is almost single-handedly responsible for modern-day sneaker culture. Michael Jordan originally wanted to sign with either Converse or Adidas. But Converse declined and according to a Wall Street Journal article published in 2015 so did Adidas. Still MJ was not convinced. Only when Nike, thinking they had nothing to loose, offered to give MJ his own shoe- and clothing line did he change his mind. This was unheard of at the time, no NBA player had an entire product line named after them. As the first basketball player with his own signature shoes Jordan would immediately become the king of basketball sneaker advertising. Just to be on the safe side Nike worked an out-clause into the contract: if Air Jordans didn’t earn Nike $3 million in the first 3 years, or if Jordan didn’t make the NBA All-Star Game in his first three years, Nike could dump him. Jordan was voted into the All-Star Game as a Rookie starter and the "Air Jordan 1" shoe made Nike $130 million in 1985 alone. The rest is history.   54.    Open Comments:   55.    The pushback and common critisisms   56.    Extremely superficial materialism is one of the only ways that many black Americans express a sense of self worth.    57.    When you live in a society where nobody has a savings account, or a college degree, or has traveled abroad, having a fresh pair of sneakers and a gold chain shouldn't be your version of keeping up with the Joneses.   58.    Liking shoes is as much of a "black thing" as liking chicken is a "black thing". Everyone likes both of these things.   59.    Open Comments:   60.    It became popular in the late 80s for people with moderate or low incomes to wear clothing adorned with the names and logos of luxury, high-end brands. Then all the luxury brands started making their own low-end, logo-covered versions. You wear your favorite sports team to affiliate yourself with them. It's the same thing with Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Jordache, Guess, Wrangler, Levi, Gitano, Bonjour, Sasson, etc., it's a way of signalling.   61.    Question: We went from tailored suits and dresses to baggy jeans and yoga pants. From afro's and braids to fashioned bandanas and bleached blondes. From the stylish Supremes and Tempations to tatooed  faces and pireced everytginhg. - What do you think is at the root of our decisions? Are we victims of advertising?   62.    Music Scene   63.    Black Songs from the Top 40 (No Lionel Richie showed up!)   64.    5    "I Feel for You"    Chaka Khan   65.    6    "Out of Touch"    Hall & Oates   66.    12    "Easy Lover"    Philip Bailey and Phil Collins   67.    17    "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   68.    20    "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   69.    22    "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   70.    23    "Saving All My Love For You"    Whitney Houston   71.    26    "Cool It Now"    New Edition   72.    28    "Loverboy"    Billy Ocean   73.    29    "Lovergirl"    Teena Marie   74.    31    "Oh Sheila"    Ready for the World   75.    32    "Rhythm of the Night"    DeBarge   76.    38    "Neutron Dance"    The Pointer Sisters   77.    40    "Nightshift"    Commodores   78.    Vote:   79.    Top RnB Singles   80.    Jan - "Operator"    Midnight Star   81.    Jan - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   82.    Feb -  "Mr. Telephone Man"    New Edition   83.    Feb - "Missing You"    Diana Ross   84.    Mar - "Nightshift"    The Commodores   85.    Apr - "Back In Stride"    Maze featuring Frankie Beverly   86.    Apr - "Rhythm Of the Night"    DeBarge   87.    May - "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   88.    May - "Fresh"    Kool & the Gang   89.    May - "You Give Good Love"    Whitney Houston   90.    Jun - "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)"    Freddie Jackson   91.    Jul - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)"    Loose Ends   92.    Jul - "Save Your Love (For #1)"    René & Angela   93.    Aug - "Freeway of Love"    Aretha Franklin   94.    Sep - "Saving All My Love for You"    Whitney Houston   95.    Sep - "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   96.    Sep - "Oh Sheila"    Ready For the World   97.    Oct - "You Are My Lady"    Freddie Jackson   98.    Oct - "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   99.    Nov - "Caravan of Love"    Isley-Jasper-Isley   100.    Dec - "Don't Say No Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   101.    Vote:   102.    Top RnB Albums   103.    Jan - New Edition    New Edition   104.    Feb - Solid    Ashford & Simpson   105.    Mar - Gap Band VI    The Gap Band   106.    Mar p- Private Dancer    Tina Turner   107.    Apr - Nightshift    The Commodores   108.    Apr - Can't Stop the Love    Frankie Beverly and Maze   109.    May - The Night I Fell in Love    Luther Vandross   110.    Jun - Whitney Houston    Whitney Houston   111.    Jun - Rock Me Tonight    Freddie Jackson   112.    Nov - In Square Circle    Stevie Wonder   113.    Vote   114.    Featured Artists: Whitney Houston and Sade   115.    Whitney Elizabeth Houston, @22 yrs old: Singer, actress, model, and producer, Whitney Houston is one of the world’s most successful female entertainers of all time.   116.    Born and raised in Newark NJ,  she is the daughter of Grammy-award-winning gospel singer, Emily “Cissy” Houston and John R. Houston, who managed his daughter’s production company.    117.    Childhood & Early Life   118.    She was no stranger to the entertainment industry, having come from a line of singers and actresses. Not only did her mother’s vocal group, the ‘Sweet Inspirations’, sing backup for Aretha Franklin, but her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick are also renowned singers, as well as her godmother, Darlene Love. She began performing in her church’s gospel choir as a soloist at the age of eleven and learned to play the piano. While attending Catholic school, she took voice lessons from her mother, with whom she would occasionally perform in nightclubs.   119.    Career   120.    In 1977 (@ 14 yrs old), she was a backup singer for Michael Zager Band’s single ‘Life’s a Party’ and the following year she sang on Chaka Khan’s single ‘I’m Every Woman’. She was offered an opportunity to sign with a recording company, but her mother declined so she would finish high school. In the early 1980s, (@17 yrs old), she worked as a model, appearing in several magazines including, ‘Seventeen’, where she became the first African American to be featured on the cover. She also took on acting gigs appearing in TV show episodes such as, ‘Gimme a Break’, while continuing to develop her vocal skills. In 1983,(@ 20yrs old) she was signed with ‘Arista Records’. President Clive Davis spent the next couple years assembling lyricists and producers to balance her gospel-like sound with contemporary melodies. In 1985, her debut album, ‘Whitney Houston’ gradually became the number one selling album of her career.  She went on to win two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards.   121.    Open Comments:   122.    A Hot Mess   123.    On February 11th, 2012, Whitney Houston (@ 48 yrs old) was found facedown in a bathtub.  Weeks later, an autopsy report would contribute Houston’s death to accidental drowning, heart disease and cocaine use. There were additional traces of a muscle relaxant, Xanax, marijuana and an allergy medication in the singer’s system.    124.    The sad, secret life of Whitney Houston: From a secret lesbian relationship to a decades-long struggle with drugs, five years after singer’s death, a new film ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’ examines what caused her tragic downfall - Tara Brady [Jun 12, 2017] https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-sad-secret-life-of-whitney-houston-1.3105861   125.    Selected quotes from the article:   126.    What exactly killed Houston? Why did she drown? How did she drown? Was she simply overwhelmed by the controlling demands of her formidable mother, Cissy Houston, Svengali Clive Davis, and her record company, Arista? Did the aftermath of her toxic and co-dependent marriage to Bobby Brown send her spiralling? Or was it the dissolution of her decades-old lesbian relationship with her assistant Robyn Crawford? It’s complicated, as documentarian Nick Broomfield discovered.  “In the end I think the divide between who she was and what her public persona was became more and more difficult,” says  documentarian Nick Broomfield. “And she just went down,    127.    The imploding relations between Houston, Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford. Brown told Us Weekly magazine that Houston was bisexual and that she once had an affair with Tupac Shakur. He went on to say that Houston kept her relationship with Crawford hidden because of Cissy. “I really feel that if Robyn was accepted into Whitney’s life, Whitney would still be alive today,” Brown told the magazine. “She didn’t have close friends with her anymore.”   128.    From Cissy’s notorious 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey:  “Would it have bothered you if your daughter was gay?”  “Absolutely,” Cissy snapped back. “You wouldn’t have condoned it?” continued an incredulous Oprah. “Not at all.” ...“I didn’t particularly like [Crawford],” Cissy told the talk show queen. “She just spoke too much, disrespectful sometimes, like she had something over Nippy (Houston’s nickname), and I didn’t like that at all. She was all right, she turned out to be all right, I guess. That was her friend.”   129.    Houston and Crawford first bonded while they were teenagers working at a community centre in East Orange, New Jersey. When Houston’s modelling career began to take off, she’d face bullying in school, and Crawford, who was originally a friend of Houston’s older brothers Michael and Gary, would frequently come to the rescue. When Houston moved out of her family home, she shared her first apartment with Crawford. Deep into Houston and Brown’s 14-year marriage, Crawford remained a fixture in Houston’s domestic arrangements.   130.    Houston’s marriage to Brown, understandably, made for an uneasy romantic trinity. In Derrick Handspike’s unauthorised 2008 biography, Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But . . ., the author quotes Brown as saying: “Now I realise Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married. I believe her agenda was to clean up her image while mine was to be loved and have children. “Whitney felt she had to make rumours of a lesbian affair go away. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn’t go too well with her image. In Whitney’s situation the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation whether it was true or not.”   131.    Supermarket tabloids did a brisk trade during the 1990s by peddling the idea that Houston’s life spiralled into addiction after she married Brown. She was the gospel-singing good girl – the church-going daughter of Cissy and a cousin of Dionne Warwick. He was a bad boy who, aged 20, when they first met, had already been shot and stabbed in the shoulder. Their tumultuous marriage (from 1992 to 2007), characterised by drug use, infidelity and a costly entourage, was seldom out of the headlines. But contrary to popular belief, Brown did not introduce his troubled wife to cocaine. Houston first dabbled with drugs with her brothers, Michael and Gary, as a teenager. The truth is that Houston was always as “street“ as her R&B star husband. But that part of her personal history didn’t fit with what Broomfield calls “the Whitney character”.  As Pattie Howard, Houston’s backing vocalist, notes: “People may not know it but Whitney was from the ‘hood’. They wanted to present her as the princess. And that’s what white America was presented with.” Kenneth Reynolds, who worked in marketing for Arista Records recalls that: “Anything that was too black sounding was sent back. We wanted Joni Mitchell. We wanted Barbra Streisand. ” “She was very carefully groomed for nearly two years before the first album came out,” explains Broomfield. “So every aspect of her was carefully considered. She was a major project. A lot of money was spent on her. Anything that was too R&B was out. They didn’t want a female James Brown. That was not part of their vision. Which, of course, was a very successful vision.”   132.    In 1989, just as Houston topped 25 million in album sales and surpassed the Beatles’s record with seven consecutive number one hits, she attended the Soul Train awards where, in response to her “white” music, she was roundly booed. Pre-Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, “crossover” was synonymous with cultural betrayal. People shouted “Oreo” – brown on the outside, white on the inside – as her nomination for Best Female Vocalist was announced. “It’s not a good feeling,” says Houston, in Can I Be Me. “It’s horrible and kind of funny. You think: ‘Are they booing me?’ And you have to sit there and be cordial and smiley. And you feel like: ‘Oh my God’.” Kirk Whalum, the saxophonist who toured with Houston for more than seven years recalls that night, which coincidentally, was the first time she met Brown. “It was devastating [for her],” says Whalum.   133.    By the end of the 90s, Houston found herself at the centre of a perfect storm of ongoing racial friction, marital troubles and drug abuse. Friends, unable to watch Houston’s decline, began to drift away. Her father, John, died in 2003, but not before his management company, John Houston Entertainment LLC, filed a $100 million lawsuit against his own daughter. Months before his death, he made a public appeal on the syndicated show, Celebrity Justice: “You get your act together, honey, and you pay me the money that you owe me.” Robyn Crawford’s departure in 2000, too, prompted a new, crippling dependency on crack-cocaine and other substances. - “Robyn was the one who was keeping her together,” says writer Allison Samuels. “That’s when drugs became so important to her.”   134.    Open Comments:   135.    The Smooth Operator -Helen Folasade Adu, professionally known as Sade (@26 yrs old)   136.    Sade is an internationally renowned, multi-Grammy award winning singer who is known for her smooth, melodic vocals and the seamless incorporation of different styles of music. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on January 16, 1959. Her father Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer of economics, and her mother Anne Hayes, a district nurse, had met in London. Sade was the couple’s second child. Shortly after her birth, Sade’s parents separated and she and her brother followed their mother to Colchester, Essex, England. There, the children were raised by their mother as well as their maternal grandfather. Upon finishing her education at Clacton County High School in Colchester, she enrolled at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London to pursue fashion and design. After completion of her program, she worked as a model and menswear designer.    137.    Sade entered the music scene around 1980 when she started singing harmony for Arriva, a Latin funk band. She joined another funk band called Pride and was a background singer for the group. Pride garnered much attention from record companies due to their performances around London. Eventually Sade and fellow bandmates, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denma, and Andrew Hale signed a deal with the U.K. division of Epic Records and formed the band Sade. In 1984 the band’s debut album, Diamond Life, was released to much critical success and was bolstered by singles such as “Hang On to Your Love” and “Smooth Operator.” The band followed up their debut with their next album, Promise, which was released the following year. “The Sweetest Taboo,” a single from Promise, was on the U.S. Hot 100 for six months. She was awarded the Grammy for best new artist of 1985.    138.    Open Comments:   139.    Selected quote about her sound   140.    Let's get this into context. With Sade it's unlikely there will ever be a full, naked baring of the soul. In terms of contemporary icons, it's better to listen to Mary J for stories of drama and shattered devotion. But Sade, today, is all about the acknowledged presence of absence. What's missing in her music is as important as what's present. - The Fader   141.    A small, yet important, fact: When Sade signed her first record deal with Epic in the early '80s, she accepted a small advance, worth ~$70,000 in exchange for an unusually high cut of sales for a new artist—15 percent. It was a deal that ended up proving immensely lucrative, and it has freed her from many of the commercial demands that often encumber artists. Put simply, she only works when and how she wants to. As one executive at her label, Epic, put it to me: "Who's going to argue with a woman who's sold 50 million albums? She's more powerful than anyone working at the label, including the [President]." - The Fader   142.    Question: Does the Sade sound ever wear out?   143.    The Movie Scene   144.    The Color Purple/Film synopsis   145.    An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.   146.    Review by Roger Ebert   147.    Returning to "The Color Purple" after almost 20 years, I can see its flaws more easily than when I named it the best film of 1985, but I can also understand why it moved me so deeply, and why the greatness of some films depends not on their perfection or logic, but on their heart. The movie may have inconsistencies, confusions and improbabilities, but there is one perfect thing at its center, and that is the character of Celie, as played by Whoopi Goldberg. "Here is this year's winner for best actress," I wrote in my original review, and that should have been true, but although "The Color Purple" had 11 nominations, it won not a single Oscar. When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That's what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own. I am not female, I am not black, I am not Celie, but for a time during "The Color Purple," my mind deceives me that I am all of those things, and as I empathize with her struggle and victory I learn something about what it must have been like to be her.  - Roger Ebert   148.    Selected Quotes   149.    In Honor of Its 33rd Anniversary, Here Are 10 Life Lessons I Learned From the Color Purple - By Melissa Kimble Dec 18, 2018 [https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a25616715/the-color-purple-quotes-anniversary/]   150.    I was born a few years after the film was released. However, I can credit much of my self discovery to the many times I’ve watched it. My favorite quotes from the movie taught me valuable lessons about Black womanhood, faith, and self love. And these 10 are the ones I’ll never forget.   151.    “Girl, you oughta bash Mister’s head open and think about heaven later.” By Oprah Winfrey - In a film where women are treated like inferiors, Sofia breaks the mold by refusing to be her husband's punching bag. This scene-stealing monologue, with its rage filled entrance by the O of O, is an act of defiance—especially one committed in early 20th century Georgia. It was powerful and necessary to see a Black woman go against the grain on screen. And to me, it was a call to action to be fearless.   152.    "I'm poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here! I’m here!" By Whoopi Goldberg - What a victorious statement this was by Celie, who, up until this point, had spent most of her life feeling unworthy and invisible. It reminded me that even with our flaws and imperfections, we still deserve to show up in our own lives.   153.    "Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble." By - Whoopi Goldberg - With these words, Celie breaks a cycle of abuse from Mister and sticks up for herself. I interpreted this line as a sign that I don’t have to carry the weight of people who have caused my pain; life will take care of everything.   154.    “Miss Celie, why you always covering up your smile?” By Desreta Jackson - Growing up, I was very insecure about my smile. And when Shug Avery posed this question to Miss Celie, it also made me turn to myself. When Shug encourages Celie to smile, I learned that there’s no need to cover up my own   155.    Open Comments:   156.    Featured Artist   157.    Caryn Elaine Johnson, a.k.a. Whoopi Goldberg (@ 30 yrs old): an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, Broadway star, political activist, author and talk show host, she is one of the most successful and established African American actresses of her time.    158.    Born and raised in Manhattan, she is one of 14 entertainers ever to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. What differentiates Goldberg from her contemporaries is the excellence that she portrayed in all the mediums of entertainment, be it television, theatre, films or radio.    159.    Childhood & Early Life   160.    Her mother was a nurse and a teacher while her father served as a clergyman. She was raised in the Chelsea-Elliot Houses by her mother alone after her father disbanded the family when she was young. She studied until her teen years and later dropped out of school. Her started acting started at a young age. It was during her stage performance that people complimented her by saying that she looked like whoopee cushion. It was from there that she took the stage name Whoopi and adopted Goldberg as her surname to sound more Jewish.    161.    Career   162.    In 1974, (@ age 19) she moved to California and thereafter lived in various cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. It was during this time that she honed her acting skills and developed her talent as a stand-up comedian.  However, soon thereafter, she returned to New York and started receiving training under acting coach Uta Hagen. Her first ever appearance on screen was for William Farley’s feature, ‘Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away’ in 1982 (@ 27). In 1983, she created, starred and directed a ‘The Spook Show’, a one-woman show that addressed the issue of race in American but in a unique and innovative style. Next, she created other off-Broadway productions such as ‘Little Girl’ an African-American child obsessed with having blond hair and ‘Fontaine’ a junkie who also happens to hold a doctorate in literature. The innovative presentation and sense of wit and style in her shows impressed director Mike Nicholas who offered to take ‘The Spook Show’ to the Broadway. The show which ran for 156 performances, met with much acclaim both commercially and critically. It went on to earn her a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. The eye-catching performance and amazing positive reception of the show earned her attention of the Hollywood bigwigs. It helped her bag a role in the Steven Spielberg film, ‘The Color Purple’, released in 1985. The movie met with resounding success, clutching 11 Academy Awards nominations and she won her first Golden Globe award.   163.    Open Comments:   164.    Oprah Gail Winfrey , a.k.a. Oprah Winfrey (@ 31 yrs old): Talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist.   165.    Childhood & Early Life   166.    Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on a small family farm, to an unwed mother who had a short relationship with a soldier stationed nearby, Oprah grew up in dire poverty, and was primarily raised by her grandmother. Sexually abused and mistreated as a child, Winfrey rose above adversity to focus on her primary and high school education.    167.    Career   168.    When she was still a teenager, the local CBS television station in Nashville, Tennessee offered her a job as a co-anchor. She turned it down three times. At age 19, Oprah Winfrey said yes after the fourth offer. She failed the interview, but instead was offered a job as a full-time reporter for a Baltimore television news channel. She did poorly as a reporter, and by age 22 she was fired from the news division. The director of the station gave Winfrey a boost by selecting her to anchor a morning talk show entitled ‘People are Talking’. For the next seven years, her talk show enjoyed excellent ratings. In 1981, (@ 27) she moved to Chicago to host a talk show entitled ‘A.M. Chicago’. Four years later, (1985) after a tremendous boost in the ratings, the producers changed the name to ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. She caught the attention of Quincy Jones, a Chicago native, and he cast her as Sofia for the first movie he produced, 'The Color Purple'. The following year ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was broadcast nationally.    169.    Open Comments:   170.    TV Scene:   171.    Featured Actor: Phylician Ayers Allen, a.k.a Phylicia Rashad is an Emmy-nominated American actress, singer, and director.   172.    Her multi-faceted career began with Broadway before she branched into television and films. She is best remembered for her character as Claire Huxtable in the NBC sitcom ‘The Cosby Show’, which ran for eight years. The series brought Phylicia much deserved recognition, also earning her two Emmy nominations. Phylicia, however, is immortalized for her rich performances on the stage as an artist. She starred in several lavish musicals and dramas, all praised highly by critics. She became the first African American actress to walk away with a Tony Award for her performance in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘Raisin in The Sun’.  Subsequently, she was venerated within the African American acting community at the NAACP Awards, where she was called ‘The Mother’ of the Black Community. Her other popular plays include ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, ‘August: Osage Country’, and ‘Gem of the Ocean’. She has tried her hand at stage direction and has successfully directed hit plays at prominent stages. Over the course of her career, Rashad has starred in several television series and voiced many characters. Her prolific output continues to be on the rise as she is still an active part of the entertainment industry.   173.    Childhood & Early Life:   174.    Phylicia Rashad was born Phylician Ayers Allen on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas to Vivian Ayers and Andrew Arthur Allen. Her mother was a prize-winning poet and artist, while her father was a reputed orthodontist. She has three siblings: Andrew Arthur Allen Jr., Debbie Allen, and Hugh Allen. Phylicia was raised in the United States and Mexico. She studied at Howard University, Washington D.C. and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre in 1970. During her university days, she was inculcated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.   175.    Career   176.    After graduating with a degree in theatre, Phylicia immediately joined the Negro Ensemble Company in New York. She toured the city and was seen in several plays under this troupe. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1972 and she was seen in several minor roles for hit musicals, including ‘The Wiz’ (1975) and ‘Dreamgirls’ (1981). In 1978, Rashad tried her hand at something new by releasing the concept album ‘Josephine Superstar’, an album that was based on Josephine Baker’s life. She decided to embark on an alternative career in television owing to the scarcity of good roles given to her. In 1982, after moving to television, Rashad landed a recurring role in the series ‘One Life to Live’ as Courtney Wright, a publicist. In 1984, Phylicia Rashad was roped in to play the role of Clair Huxtable, an attorney, in the hit comedy ‘The Cosby Show’. The show starred Bill Cosby in the lead role and Phylicia played his wife. The series ran for over eight years and was a critical and commercial success. Phylicia’s role as Clair proved to be the highest point in her career, earning her two Emmy Award nominations.   177.    Open Comments   178.    Question: Is she a good actor? Do you buy her in other roles?   179.    Vote: Best Pop Culture item/event for 1985

Topics: Air Jordans, Whitney Houston, Sade, The Color Purple, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Phylicia Rashad (Bonus Artist: Luck Pacheco)   1985 Notes   General Snapshots   1.    President: Ronald Reagan   2.    Jan – In Hollywood,  California, the charity single "We  Are the World" is recorded by USA for  Africa. The  single raises money to combat the  ongoing famine in Ethiopia. The  American act consists of high-profile  performers, including Michael  Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner,  Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross.   3.    Jan – The newest music video channel, VH-1, begins broadcasting on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV. The first video played is Marvin Gaye's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".   4.    Mar – WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden.  In the main event, Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeated Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The attendance for the event was 19,121. The event was seen by over one million viewers through closed-circuit television, making it the largest pay-per-view showing of a wrestling event on closed-circuit television in the United States at the time.   5.    Apr – Coca-Cola changes its recipe and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula is back on the market in less than three months.   6.    Aug - Ryan White who was expelled from Western High School in Indiana is allowed to attend his first day of classes via telephone.   7.    Sep - The Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, USA.   8.    Oct  – The Nintendo Entertainment System is released in U.S. stores. By 1988, industry observers stated that the NES's popularity had grown so quickly that the market for Nintendo cartridges was larger than that for all home computer software.  The NES was released two years after the North American video game crash of 1983, when many retailers and adult consumers regarded electronic games as a passing fad. With the NES, Nintendo also changed the relationship between console manufacturers and third-party software developers by restricting developers from publishing and distributing software without licensed approval. This led to higher-quality games, which helped change the attitude of a public that had grown weary from poorly produced games for earlier systems.   9.    Nov - Microsoft Corporation releases the first version of Windows, Windows 1.0.   10.    Open Comments:   11.    Top 3 Pop Songs   12.    1    "Careless Whisper"    Wham!   13.    2    "Like a Virgin"    Madonna   14.    3    "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"    Wham!   15.    Grammy Awards   16.    Record of the Year: Quincy Jones (producer) for "We Are the World"   17.    Album of the Year: Phil Collins (producer & artist) for No Jacket Required   18.    Song of the Year: Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (songwriters) for "We Are the World"   19.    Best New Artist: Sade   20.    Top 3 Movies   21.    Back to the Future   22.    Rambo: First Blood Part II   23.    Rocky IV   24.    Other Notables:  The Color Purple / Out of Africa / Cocoon / The Jewel of the Nile / Witness / The Goonies / Spies Like Us / The Breakfast Club / Brewster's Millions / St. Elmo's Fire /  Krush Groove   25.    Top 3 TV Shows   26.    The Cosby Show   27.    Family Ties   28.    Murder, She Wrote       29.    TV Debuts   30.    Sep - What's Happening Now!! / Stir Crazy   31.    Black Snapshots   32.    Feb -  Whitney Houston releases her debut  album – Whitney Houston.   33.    Mar  – Mike Tyson makes his professional debut in Albany, New York, a match which he wins by a first-round knockout.   34.    May - Michael Jordan is named as the NBA's "Rookie of the Year."   35.    May – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayor Wilson Goode, the  first African American to hold that office,  orders police to storm the  headquarters of the black liberation/back-to-nature group MOVE to end a stand-off over serving arrest warrants. (Due process?!?!)  The police drop 2 explosive devices into the headquarters, killing 6 adults and 5 children, and destroyed an additional 61 residental homes in the resulting fire. The survivors filed a civil suit against the city and the police department, and were awarded $1.5 million in 1996.   36.    Jul - The final episode of The Jeffersons airs. (1975-) 10 yrs   37.    Aug - Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids  (1972-) 13 yrs   38.    Nov - Ebony Man: EM  Magazine launches   39.    Best Comedy Recording: Whoopi Goldberg - Original Broadway Show Recording   40.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Aretha Franklin for "Freeway of Love"   41.    Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for In Square Circle   42.    Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Commodores for "Nightshift"   43.    Economic Snapshot   44.    Avg. Income = $22,138   45.    House = $99,331   46.    New Car = $9,531   47.    Avg. Rent = $375   48.    Tuition at Harvard = $9,800   49.    Movie Ticket = $2.75   50.    Gas = $1.20   51.    Stamp = $0.22   52.    Socilal Scene: “Money, it's gotta be da shoes!” - Mars Blackmon   53.    The Air Jordan I was originally released in 1985 and is almost single-handedly responsible for modern-day sneaker culture. Michael Jordan originally wanted to sign with either Converse or Adidas. But Converse declined and according to a Wall Street Journal article published in 2015 so did Adidas. Still MJ was not convinced. Only when Nike, thinking they had nothing to loose, offered to give MJ his own shoe- and clothing line did he change his mind. This was unheard of at the time, no NBA player had an entire product line named after them. As the first basketball player with his own signature shoes Jordan would immediately become the king of basketball sneaker advertising. Just to be on the safe side Nike worked an out-clause into the contract: if Air Jordans didn’t earn Nike $3 million in the first 3 years, or if Jordan didn’t make the NBA All-Star Game in his first three years, Nike could dump him. Jordan was voted into the All-Star Game as a Rookie starter and the "Air Jordan 1" shoe made Nike $130 million in 1985 alone. The rest is history.   54.    Open Comments:   55.    The pushback and common critisisms   56.    Extremely superficial materialism is one of the only ways that many black Americans express a sense of self worth.    57.    When you live in a society where nobody has a savings account, or a college degree, or has traveled abroad, having a fresh pair of sneakers and a gold chain shouldn't be your version of keeping up with the Joneses.   58.    Liking shoes is as much of a "black thing" as liking chicken is a "black thing". Everyone likes both of these things.   59.    Open Comments:   60.    It became popular in the late 80s for people with moderate or low incomes to wear clothing adorned with the names and logos of luxury, high-end brands. Then all the luxury brands started making their own low-end, logo-covered versions. You wear your favorite sports team to affiliate yourself with them. It's the same thing with Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Jordache, Guess, Wrangler, Levi, Gitano, Bonjour, Sasson, etc., it's a way of signalling.   61.    Question: We went from tailored suits and dresses to baggy jeans and yoga pants. From afro's and braids to fashioned bandanas and bleached blondes. From the stylish Supremes and Tempations to tatooed  faces and pireced everytginhg. - What do you think is at the root of our decisions? Are we victims of advertising?   62.    Music Scene   63.    Black Songs from the Top 40 (No Lionel Richie showed up!)   64.    5    "I Feel for You"    Chaka Khan   65.    6    "Out of Touch"    Hall & Oates   66.    12    "Easy Lover"    Philip Bailey and Phil Collins   67.    17    "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   68.    20    "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   69.    22    "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   70.    23    "Saving All My Love For You"    Whitney Houston   71.    26    "Cool It Now"    New Edition   72.    28    "Loverboy"    Billy Ocean   73.    29    "Lovergirl"    Teena Marie   74.    31    "Oh Sheila"    Ready for the World   75.    32    "Rhythm of the Night"    DeBarge   76.    38    "Neutron Dance"    The Pointer Sisters   77.    40    "Nightshift"    Commodores   78.    Vote:   79.    Top RnB Singles   80.    Jan - "Operator"    Midnight Star   81.    Jan - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   82.    Feb -  "Mr. Telephone Man"    New Edition   83.    Feb - "Missing You"    Diana Ross   84.    Mar - "Nightshift"    The Commodores   85.    Apr - "Back In Stride"    Maze featuring Frankie Beverly   86.    Apr - "Rhythm Of the Night"    DeBarge   87.    May - "We Are the World"    USA for Africa   88.    May - "Fresh"    Kool & the Gang   89.    May - "You Give Good Love"    Whitney Houston   90.    Jun - "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)"    Freddie Jackson   91.    Jul - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)"    Loose Ends   92.    Jul - "Save Your Love (For #1)"    René & Angela   93.    Aug - "Freeway of Love"    Aretha Franklin   94.    Sep - "Saving All My Love for You"    Whitney Houston   95.    Sep - "Cherish"    Kool & the Gang   96.    Sep - "Oh Sheila"    Ready For the World   97.    Oct - "You Are My Lady"    Freddie Jackson   98.    Oct - "Part-Time Lover"    Stevie Wonder   99.    Nov - "Caravan of Love"    Isley-Jasper-Isley   100.    Dec - "Don't Say No Tonight"    Eugene Wilde   101.    Vote:   102.    Top RnB Albums   103.    Jan - New Edition    New Edition   104.    Feb - Solid    Ashford & Simpson   105.    Mar - Gap Band VI    The Gap Band   106.    Mar p- Private Dancer    Tina Turner   107.    Apr - Nightshift    The Commodores   108.    Apr - Can't Stop the Love    Frankie Beverly and Maze   109.    May - The Night I Fell in Love    Luther Vandross   110.    Jun - Whitney Houston    Whitney Houston   111.    Jun - Rock Me Tonight    Freddie Jackson   112.    Nov - In Square Circle    Stevie Wonder   113.    Vote   114.    Featured Artists: Whitney Houston and Sade   115.    Whitney Elizabeth Houston, @22 yrs old: Singer, actress, model, and producer, Whitney Houston is one of the world’s most successful female entertainers of all time.   116.    Born and raised in Newark NJ,  she is the daughter of Grammy-award-winning gospel singer, Emily “Cissy” Houston and John R. Houston, who managed his daughter’s production company.    117.    Childhood & Early Life   118.    She was no stranger to the entertainment industry, having come from a line of singers and actresses. Not only did her mother’s vocal group, the ‘Sweet Inspirations’, sing backup for Aretha Franklin, but her cousins Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick are also renowned singers, as well as her godmother, Darlene Love. She began performing in her church’s gospel choir as a soloist at the age of eleven and learned to play the piano. While attending Catholic school, she took voice lessons from her mother, with whom she would occasionally perform in nightclubs.   119.    Career   120.    In 1977 (@ 14 yrs old), she was a backup singer for Michael Zager Band’s single ‘Life’s a Party’ and the following year she sang on Chaka Khan’s single ‘I’m Every Woman’. She was offered an opportunity to sign with a recording company, but her mother declined so she would finish high school. In the early 1980s, (@17 yrs old), she worked as a model, appearing in several magazines including, ‘Seventeen’, where she became the first African American to be featured on the cover. She also took on acting gigs appearing in TV show episodes such as, ‘Gimme a Break’, while continuing to develop her vocal skills. In 1983,(@ 20yrs old) she was signed with ‘Arista Records’. President Clive Davis spent the next couple years assembling lyricists and producers to balance her gospel-like sound with contemporary melodies. In 1985, her debut album, ‘Whitney Houston’ gradually became the number one selling album of her career.  She went on to win two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards.   121.    Open Comments:   122.    A Hot Mess   123.    On February 11th, 2012, Whitney Houston (@ 48 yrs old) was found facedown in a bathtub.  Weeks later, an autopsy report would contribute Houston’s death to accidental drowning, heart disease and cocaine use. There were additional traces of a muscle relaxant, Xanax, marijuana and an allergy medication in the singer’s system.    124.    The sad, secret life of Whitney Houston: From a secret lesbian relationship to a decades-long struggle with drugs, five years after singer’s death, a new film ‘Whitney: Can I Be Me’ examines what caused her tragic downfall - Tara Brady [Jun 12, 2017] https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-sad-secret-life-of-whitney-houston-1.3105861   125.    Selected quotes from the article:   126.    What exactly killed Houston? Why did she drown? How did she drown? Was she simply overwhelmed by the controlling demands of her formidable mother, Cissy Houston, Svengali Clive Davis, and her record company, Arista? Did the aftermath of her toxic and co-dependent marriage to Bobby Brown send her spiralling? Or was it the dissolution of her decades-old lesbian relationship with her assistant Robyn Crawford? It’s complicated, as documentarian Nick Broomfield discovered.  “In the end I think the divide between who she was and what her public persona was became more and more difficult,” says  documentarian Nick Broomfield. “And she just went down,    127.    The imploding relations between Houston, Bobby Brown and Robyn Crawford. Brown told Us Weekly magazine that Houston was bisexual and that she once had an affair with Tupac Shakur. He went on to say that Houston kept her relationship with Crawford hidden because of Cissy. “I really feel that if Robyn was accepted into Whitney’s life, Whitney would still be alive today,” Brown told the magazine. “She didn’t have close friends with her anymore.”   128.    From Cissy’s notorious 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey:  “Would it have bothered you if your daughter was gay?”  “Absolutely,” Cissy snapped back. “You wouldn’t have condoned it?” continued an incredulous Oprah. “Not at all.” ...“I didn’t particularly like [Crawford],” Cissy told the talk show queen. “She just spoke too much, disrespectful sometimes, like she had something over Nippy (Houston’s nickname), and I didn’t like that at all. She was all right, she turned out to be all right, I guess. That was her friend.”   129.    Houston and Crawford first bonded while they were teenagers working at a community centre in East Orange, New Jersey. When Houston’s modelling career began to take off, she’d face bullying in school, and Crawford, who was originally a friend of Houston’s older brothers Michael and Gary, would frequently come to the rescue. When Houston moved out of her family home, she shared her first apartment with Crawford. Deep into Houston and Brown’s 14-year marriage, Crawford remained a fixture in Houston’s domestic arrangements.   130.    Houston’s marriage to Brown, understandably, made for an uneasy romantic trinity. In Derrick Handspike’s unauthorised 2008 biography, Bobby Brown: The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But . . ., the author quotes Brown as saying: “Now I realise Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married. I believe her agenda was to clean up her image while mine was to be loved and have children. “Whitney felt she had to make rumours of a lesbian affair go away. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn’t go too well with her image. In Whitney’s situation the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation whether it was true or not.”   131.    Supermarket tabloids did a brisk trade during the 1990s by peddling the idea that Houston’s life spiralled into addiction after she married Brown. She was the gospel-singing good girl – the church-going daughter of Cissy and a cousin of Dionne Warwick. He was a bad boy who, aged 20, when they first met, had already been shot and stabbed in the shoulder. Their tumultuous marriage (from 1992 to 2007), characterised by drug use, infidelity and a costly entourage, was seldom out of the headlines. But contrary to popular belief, Brown did not introduce his troubled wife to cocaine. Houston first dabbled with drugs with her brothers, Michael and Gary, as a teenager. The truth is that Houston was always as “street“ as her R&B star husband. But that part of her personal history didn’t fit with what Broomfield calls “the Whitney character”.  As Pattie Howard, Houston’s backing vocalist, notes: “People may not know it but Whitney was from the ‘hood’. They wanted to present her as the princess. And that’s what white America was presented with.” Kenneth Reynolds, who worked in marketing for Arista Records recalls that: “Anything that was too black sounding was sent back. We wanted Joni Mitchell. We wanted Barbra Streisand. ” “She was very carefully groomed for nearly two years before the first album came out,” explains Broomfield. “So every aspect of her was carefully considered. She was a major project. A lot of money was spent on her. Anything that was too R&B was out. They didn’t want a female James Brown. That was not part of their vision. Which, of course, was a very successful vision.”   132.    In 1989, just as Houston topped 25 million in album sales and surpassed the Beatles’s record with seven consecutive number one hits, she attended the Soul Train awards where, in response to her “white” music, she was roundly booed. Pre-Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, “crossover” was synonymous with cultural betrayal. People shouted “Oreo” – brown on the outside, white on the inside – as her nomination for Best Female Vocalist was announced. “It’s not a good feeling,” says Houston, in Can I Be Me. “It’s horrible and kind of funny. You think: ‘Are they booing me?’ And you have to sit there and be cordial and smiley. And you feel like: ‘Oh my God’.” Kirk Whalum, the saxophonist who toured with Houston for more than seven years recalls that night, which coincidentally, was the first time she met Brown. “It was devastating [for her],” says Whalum.   133.    By the end of the 90s, Houston found herself at the centre of a perfect storm of ongoing racial friction, marital troubles and drug abuse. Friends, unable to watch Houston’s decline, began to drift away. Her father, John, died in 2003, but not before his management company, John Houston Entertainment LLC, filed a $100 million lawsuit against his own daughter. Months before his death, he made a public appeal on the syndicated show, Celebrity Justice: “You get your act together, honey, and you pay me the money that you owe me.” Robyn Crawford’s departure in 2000, too, prompted a new, crippling dependency on crack-cocaine and other substances. - “Robyn was the one who was keeping her together,” says writer Allison Samuels. “That’s when drugs became so important to her.”   134.    Open Comments:   135.    The Smooth Operator -Helen Folasade Adu, professionally known as Sade (@26 yrs old)   136.    Sade is an internationally renowned, multi-Grammy award winning singer who is known for her smooth, melodic vocals and the seamless incorporation of different styles of music. She was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on January 16, 1959. Her father Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer of economics, and her mother Anne Hayes, a district nurse, had met in London. Sade was the couple’s second child. Shortly after her birth, Sade’s parents separated and she and her brother followed their mother to Colchester, Essex, England. There, the children were raised by their mother as well as their maternal grandfather. Upon finishing her education at Clacton County High School in Colchester, she enrolled at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London to pursue fashion and design. After completion of her program, she worked as a model and menswear designer.    137.    Sade entered the music scene around 1980 when she started singing harmony for Arriva, a Latin funk band. She joined another funk band called Pride and was a background singer for the group. Pride garnered much attention from record companies due to their performances around London. Eventually Sade and fellow bandmates, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denma, and Andrew Hale signed a deal with the U.K. division of Epic Records and formed the band Sade. In 1984 the band’s debut album, Diamond Life, was released to much critical success and was bolstered by singles such as “Hang On to Your Love” and “Smooth Operator.” The band followed up their debut with their next album, Promise, which was released the following year. “The Sweetest Taboo,” a single from Promise, was on the U.S. Hot 100 for six months. She was awarded the Grammy for best new artist of 1985.    138.    Open Comments:   139.    Selected quote about her sound   140.    Let's get this into context. With Sade it's unlikely there will ever be a full, naked baring of the soul. In terms of contemporary icons, it's better to listen to Mary J for stories of drama and shattered devotion. But Sade, today, is all about the acknowledged presence of absence. What's missing in her music is as important as what's present. - The Fader   141.    A small, yet important, fact: When Sade signed her first record deal with Epic in the early '80s, she accepted a small advance, worth ~$70,000 in exchange for an unusually high cut of sales for a new artist—15 percent. It was a deal that ended up proving immensely lucrative, and it has freed her from many of the commercial demands that often encumber artists. Put simply, she only works when and how she wants to. As one executive at her label, Epic, put it to me: "Who's going to argue with a woman who's sold 50 million albums? She's more powerful than anyone working at the label, including the [President]." - The Fader   142.    Question: Does the Sade sound ever wear out?   143.    The Movie Scene   144.    The Color Purple/Film synopsis   145.    An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.   146.    Review by Roger Ebert   147.    Returning to "The Color Purple" after almost 20 years, I can see its flaws more easily than when I named it the best film of 1985, but I can also understand why it moved me so deeply, and why the greatness of some films depends not on their perfection or logic, but on their heart. The movie may have inconsistencies, confusions and improbabilities, but there is one perfect thing at its center, and that is the character of Celie, as played by Whoopi Goldberg. "Here is this year's winner for best actress," I wrote in my original review, and that should have been true, but although "The Color Purple" had 11 nominations, it won not a single Oscar. When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That's what the movies offer: Escapism into lives other than our own. I am not female, I am not black, I am not Celie, but for a time during "The Color Purple," my mind deceives me that I am all of those things, and as I empathize with her struggle and victory I learn something about what it must have been like to be her.  - Roger Ebert   148.    Selected Quotes   149.    In Honor of Its 33rd Anniversary, Here Are 10 Life Lessons I Learned From the Color Purple - By Melissa Kimble Dec 18, 2018 [https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a25616715/the-color-purple-quotes-anniversary/]   150.    I was born a few years after the film was released. However, I can credit much of my self discovery to the many times I’ve watched it. My favorite quotes from the movie taught me valuable lessons about Black womanhood, faith, and self love. And these 10 are the ones I’ll never forget.   151.    “Girl, you oughta bash Mister’s head open and think about heaven later.” By Oprah Winfrey - In a film where women are treated like inferiors, Sofia breaks the mold by refusing to be her husband's punching bag. This scene-stealing monologue, with its rage filled entrance by the O of O, is an act of defiance—especially one committed in early 20th century Georgia. It was powerful and necessary to see a Black woman go against the grain on screen. And to me, it was a call to action to be fearless.   152.    "I'm poor, Black, I may even be ugly, but dear God, I’m here! I’m here!" By Whoopi Goldberg - What a victorious statement this was by Celie, who, up until this point, had spent most of her life feeling unworthy and invisible. It reminded me that even with our flaws and imperfections, we still deserve to show up in our own lives.   153.    "Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble." By - Whoopi Goldberg - With these words, Celie breaks a cycle of abuse from Mister and sticks up for herself. I interpreted this line as a sign that I don’t have to carry the weight of people who have caused my pain; life will take care of everything.   154.    “Miss Celie, why you always covering up your smile?” By Desreta Jackson - Growing up, I was very insecure about my smile. And when Shug Avery posed this question to Miss Celie, it also made me turn to myself. When Shug encourages Celie to smile, I learned that there’s no need to cover up my own   155.    Open Comments:   156.    Featured Artist   157.    Caryn Elaine Johnson, a.k.a. Whoopi Goldberg (@ 30 yrs old): an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, Broadway star, political activist, author and talk show host, she is one of the most successful and established African American actresses of her time.    158.    Born and raised in Manhattan, she is one of 14 entertainers ever to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. What differentiates Goldberg from her contemporaries is the excellence that she portrayed in all the mediums of entertainment, be it television, theatre, films or radio.    159.    Childhood & Early Life   160.    Her mother was a nurse and a teacher while her father served as a clergyman. She was raised in the Chelsea-Elliot Houses by her mother alone after her father disbanded the family when she was young. She studied until her teen years and later dropped out of school. Her started acting started at a young age. It was during her stage performance that people complimented her by saying that she looked like whoopee cushion. It was from there that she took the stage name Whoopi and adopted Goldberg as her surname to sound more Jewish.    161.    Career   162.    In 1974, (@ age 19) she moved to California and thereafter lived in various cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. It was during this time that she honed her acting skills and developed her talent as a stand-up comedian.  However, soon thereafter, she returned to New York and started receiving training under acting coach Uta Hagen. Her first ever appearance on screen was for William Farley’s feature, ‘Citizen: I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away’ in 1982 (@ 27). In 1983, she created, starred and directed a ‘The Spook Show’, a one-woman show that addressed the issue of race in American but in a unique and innovative style. Next, she created other off-Broadway productions such as ‘Little Girl’ an African-American child obsessed with having blond hair and ‘Fontaine’ a junkie who also happens to hold a doctorate in literature. The innovative presentation and sense of wit and style in her shows impressed director Mike Nicholas who offered to take ‘The Spook Show’ to the Broadway. The show which ran for 156 performances, met with much acclaim both commercially and critically. It went on to earn her a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. The eye-catching performance and amazing positive reception of the show earned her attention of the Hollywood bigwigs. It helped her bag a role in the Steven Spielberg film, ‘The Color Purple’, released in 1985. The movie met with resounding success, clutching 11 Academy Awards nominations and she won her first Golden Globe award.   163.    Open Comments:   164.    Oprah Gail Winfrey , a.k.a. Oprah Winfrey (@ 31 yrs old): Talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist.   165.    Childhood & Early Life   166.    Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on a small family farm, to an unwed mother who had a short relationship with a soldier stationed nearby, Oprah grew up in dire poverty, and was primarily raised by her grandmother. Sexually abused and mistreated as a child, Winfrey rose above adversity to focus on her primary and high school education.    167.    Career   168.    When she was still a teenager, the local CBS television station in Nashville, Tennessee offered her a job as a co-anchor. She turned it down three times. At age 19, Oprah Winfrey said yes after the fourth offer. She failed the interview, but instead was offered a job as a full-time reporter for a Baltimore television news channel. She did poorly as a reporter, and by age 22 she was fired from the news division. The director of the station gave Winfrey a boost by selecting her to anchor a morning talk show entitled ‘People are Talking’. For the next seven years, her talk show enjoyed excellent ratings. In 1981, (@ 27) she moved to Chicago to host a talk show entitled ‘A.M. Chicago’. Four years later, (1985) after a tremendous boost in the ratings, the producers changed the name to ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. She caught the attention of Quincy Jones, a Chicago native, and he cast her as Sofia for the first movie he produced, 'The Color Purple'. The following year ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was broadcast nationally.    169.    Open Comments:   170.    TV Scene:   171.    Featured Actor: Phylician Ayers Allen, a.k.a Phylicia Rashad is an Emmy-nominated American actress, singer, and director.   172.    Her multi-faceted career began with Broadway before she branched into television and films. She is best remembered for her character as Claire Huxtable in the NBC sitcom ‘The Cosby Show’, which ran for eight years. The series brought Phylicia much deserved recognition, also earning her two Emmy nominations. Phylicia, however, is immortalized for her rich performances on the stage as an artist. She starred in several lavish musicals and dramas, all praised highly by critics. She became the first African American actress to walk away with a Tony Award for her performance in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘Raisin in The Sun’.  Subsequently, she was venerated within the African American acting community at the NAACP Awards, where she was called ‘The Mother’ of the Black Community. Her other popular plays include ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, ‘August: Osage Country’, and ‘Gem of the Ocean’. She has tried her hand at stage direction and has successfully directed hit plays at prominent stages. Over the course of her career, Rashad has starred in several television series and voiced many characters. Her prolific output continues to be on the rise as she is still an active part of the entertainment industry.   173.    Childhood & Early Life:   174.    Phylicia Rashad was born Phylician Ayers Allen on June 19, 1948, in Houston, Texas to Vivian Ayers and Andrew Arthur Allen. Her mother was a prize-winning poet and artist, while her father was a reputed orthodontist. She has three siblings: Andrew Arthur Allen Jr., Debbie Allen, and Hugh Allen. Phylicia was raised in the United States and Mexico. She studied at Howard University, Washington D.C. and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre in 1970. During her university days, she was inculcated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.   175.    Career   176.    After graduating with a degree in theatre, Phylicia immediately joined the Negro Ensemble Company in New York. She toured the city and was seen in several plays under this troupe. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1972 and she was seen in several minor roles for hit musicals, including ‘The Wiz’ (1975) and ‘Dreamgirls’ (1981). In 1978, Rashad tried her hand at something new by releasing the concept album ‘Josephine Superstar’, an album that was based on Josephine Baker’s life. She decided to embark on an alternative career in television owing to the scarcity of good roles given to her. In 1982, after moving to television, Rashad landed a recurring role in the series ‘One Life to Live’ as Courtney Wright, a publicist. In 1984, Phylicia Rashad was roped in to play the role of Clair Huxtable, an attorney, in the hit comedy ‘The Cosby Show’. The show starred Bill Cosby in the lead role and Phylicia played his wife. The series ran for over eight years and was a critical and commercial success. Phylicia’s role as Clair proved to be the highest point in her career, earning her two Emmy Award nominations.   177.    Open Comments   178.    Question: Is she a good actor? Do you buy her in other roles?   179.    Vote: Best Pop Culture item/event for 1985