I've had many unprofessional moments in my years as a working woman. There was the time during my (brief) newspaper career that I fainted (I had forgotten to eat breakfast) while conducting an interview at the modest home of a just-returned-from-Iraq soldier and awoke reclining in the family's threadbare La-Z-Boy, where I was force fed a couple of pieces of Wonder bread and a glass of orange juice. Then there was the time, when I was an intern at Jane, that I got rained on so severely during my lunch break that my tank top — which, when dry, was totally safe to wear without a bra — became completely see-through. Completely. And for some reason, it took about 4 hours to become opaque again. I had no jacket, and the size-zero samples in the fashion closet wouldn't even fit over my head. Luckily, they liked that sort of thing at Jane (R.I.P.).
Yesterday was one of those unprofessional days. Why? Well, yesterday, Jossip Initiatives boss-man David Hauslaib and I went to a press event for Debbie Allen's all-black production of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Terrence Howard was there (whatevs — he had on a hat and a man-purse the whole time), as was Anika Noni Rose (very cute and pleasantly sassy), James Earl Jones (!), Giancarlo Esposito, Mr. Gaines, Debbie Allen, and…Phylicia Rashad.
Phylicia Rashad was where the unprofessional bit came in.
I didn't faint or conduct an inadvertent wet t-shirt contest or anything. Actually, I was probably the only one who knew how unprofessional I was being. But from the second Phylicia Rashad walked into the room, I found it completely impossible to differentiate the actual woman from Claire Huxtable. Since she was Claire Huxtable, I was Rudy. I shrunk down to 3-feet tall and sort of felt like I was in trouble when she was speaking to me. And maybe I was. Ms. Rashad-Huxtable has quite a didactic way of speaking; it's similar to the way Mr. Cosby-Huxtable speaks.
I was blessed to receive two Claire Huxtable-esque, which I've come to understand really means Phylicia Rashad-esque, monologues. The first was during the press conference, when I asked a question about whether or not the cast feels pressure because the movie is so beloved and the production is getting so much buzz. Her answer was followed by hearty applause from both the press (real journalistic, guys) and the cast. James Earl Jones made me repeat the question after it was all done. Oh, and she didn't break eye contact with me the whole time. I stared back — very wide-eyed and Rudy-esque.
We don't think like that in the theater. Theater is our original discipline. Theater is about discipline. Theater is about the discipline of having your entire instrument available in every moment. Theater is about the discipline of recreating anew what you did the day before. Theater is about people coming together. Interacting. Audience and performers and crew and production. It's community. We don't think about those things. That has nothing to do with who we are and what we are doing. That's why theater lives and that's why theater works.
Then, when the conference was over, we cornered her and asked her about how she felt about the election — it's public record that she donated to Barack Obama's campaign. She pretty much did not want to discuss any specific candidates — she was gently stern about this without expressing it directly, and since I'm five years old and she's like, my mom and all, I had to let it go. But without naming names, she gave me a very eloquent and strongly-delivered politics lesson, complete with August Wilson quotes (like last time, I stared, wide-eyed and Rudy-esque).
I'm excited about the people, because what it comes down to is the people. Will the people participate? Will the people step up? Will the people acknowledge the fact that as citizens we have not only the right but the responsibility to govern ourselves? That's what this nation is about… I'm talking about the people alright? I'm talking about the people, and that's all I'm talking about. [Ed -- read: she is not talking about Barack Obama]. No matter who you put in the Oval Office, they cannot do it alone. They cannot do it alone. It takes all of the people. August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. Aunt Esther. Beautiful line. She said, "The people that you see are calling on God, but they don't know. They need all the people." It takes all the people. And I heard some very wise person say that if we in this nation do not come together our country will never see another golden day. Now, I'm talking about the people. Y'all talk about what y'all want to talk about.
And just like that — in a flurry of voluminous black hair and key-lime green — Phylicia Rashad was gone. I was back to being a 5'7 adult. I look forward to seeing her again on Broadway when the show opens. I predict it will be amazing. And that's not just me sucking up to Phylicia-Claire.
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That production is going to be off the chain!! I cant wait to see it. Anika looks fabulous!
This lady has been an idol of mine since she was Claire Huxtable. I can only imagine how you felt talking her. Bump Halle Berry, Phylicia is the epitome of class, black beauty, sophistication and grace.
LOVED THIS!!!! Thanks I can TOTALLY hear her talking and her annunciation! Ruby Dee is like this as well… Thespians 24/7 in a good genuine way. I want to be Claire when i grow up!!!
Lauren - that's going to the top of the list of my fave posts of yours. You did a good job and made me literally laugh out loud. Props, mama!
Great post. I cannot wait to see the play.
But - you should have asked her about being married to the cop in the Village People and her infamous disco album she made before becoming the first lady of the theatah!
I totally forgot about that. I was too busy laughing at the image of Lauren passing out while interviewing somebody and being force fed Wonder Bread.
All this genuflecting to Phylicia (who was born Phylicia Ayers-Allen, let's remember) and no love for her sister (who's only directing the show)?
Oh, and you could also have asked her about the two shows she quit (the original productions of Dreamgirls and The Wiz, if I remember correctly) ever so professionally.
Anika is so underrated
http://gorgeousblackwomen.blogspot.com/
I love, love the idea of an all black cast for Tennessee William's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". But I just cannot see this Anika person playing "Maggie the Cat"!!! I just can't see it!! "Maggie the Cat" character is super, super sexy!! I don't find Anika the least bit attractive. I think Rhianna would be perfect for this part if she could act. Really she would be perfect because she reminds me of a black Elizabeth Taylor (when she was much younger of course). "Maggie", as far as I'm concerned, is the main character in this play/movie. Now, they hit the nail when they cast Terrence Howard for the "Brick" character. He's sexy and a bit of a jerk. Perfect!!! James Earl Jones as "Big Daddy"…..Splendid!! Can't wait to see it! Bravo Debbie Allen.
I saw Phylicia Rashad in Gem of the Ocean in Jersey before it went to Broadway a year ago and besides the fact that I loved her, I also got the same impression that Claire Huxtable and Ms. Rashad were essentially one and the same. The performance I attended had a q & a session afterwards and she just had such a presence that you couldn't help but be captivated by her. I remember her also saying something similar about the theater that day. She seems quite passionate about theater and I'm sure she will be awesome in this play just as she was in the Gem of the Ocean.
i'm not embarassed to say that as a teenager i had a oedipal thang going for ms ayers allen huxtable (wanted to "fubar" ahmad) rashad
and don't sleep on ms noni. she's a theater trained ACTRESS remember. sexy, girly, cerebral, crazy etc., she can play ita all. i doubt in a production of this magnitude they would dare miscast
Great post!!! I've always been told that "theatre people" have this "air" about them. I guess you could take Mrs. Rashad's comments two ways: as an eloquent dissertation of the inner workings of the theatre and its people or as an arrogant, long-winded way to blow you off.
@Txgal: I think you're not giving Ms. Anika enough credit. I think she can pull this role off. She's a Tony award winning actress. Rihanna? I don't think so. If you think about it, the only one with no stage experience is Terrence Howard. I think Debbie wanted to fill the play with an many theatre experienced people as possible. I'm looking forward to seeing this. It should be great!!!
I need to book a trip to NYC to see some Broadway productions. I'm seriously lagging on that. Theater on the West Coast is so lackluster for the most part.
I sure love a live show that's not all sangin' and dancin'! Did they announce who is gonna play Gooper and Mae? I've been looking everywhere and can't find a full "Cat" cast list. Yes blackmistressdiva come on! George Wolfe is re-staging The Colored Museum off-Bdway but it's only this weekend and next but maybe it will be extended. And the Harlem Classical Theater always does something breathtaking. Their new season starts in Feb, too, I think.
Giancarlo Esposito is Gooper and Lisa Arrindell Anderson is Mae.
Thank you so much for responding. This is gonna be damn good!
wow that was funny!