Features

The Ru Report #130

Phenomenal Woman: Deborah Cox
Two singers in a row for Women's Herstory Month?

I promise it's for completely different reasons.

For the final column celebrating women this month, I wanted to highlight someone making an indelible mark in the theater world. And it just so happens that Miss Deborah Cox fits the bill. To a tee.

Out of all the young starlets that came up in the mid-90s, the Guyana-born, Toronto-reared belter was always one of my favorites. Upon meeting her at the height of her reign at number one on the Billboard charts with the ubiquitous power ballad turned club anthem, "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here," we hit it off really well, kicked it up and promised to keep in touch.

She seemed so unaffected by the trappings of being the latest Arista diva to go platinum-plus. No fur coats. No expensive sunglasses. No handlers. No bodyguards. No drama. She seemed to be the Anti-Celebrity during our first sit down encounter. Back then my office was just a few blocks from Arista's New York City headquarters and Miss Lady walked over to where I was, foregoing the standard town-car service that's commonplace while on the hit parade. She rolled solo and was so humble, honest and very, very sincere.

She knew how to leave an impression.

Nowadays, she's taking Broadway by storm as Disney's newest lead in the Grammy and Tony Award-winning Elton John/Tim Rice musical, "AIDA." And she's phenomenal. There have been several Aidas over the four year history of the show; Tony Award-winning inaugural diva Heather Headley; then came Nina Simone's heiress Simone Kelly; R&B chanteuse Toni Braxton followed; and then Destiny's Child's gospel tinged-God daughter Michelle Williams gave the role a try before the newest bronze beauty took over.

Deborah Cox has such a command of the stage in her brilliant Broadway debut. She's a breath of fresh air as Broadway's newest AIDA. Ms. Headley's shoes are hard to fill, but Miss Cox does one hell of a job trying them on. She's so good that Heather would be damn proud. After years and years of hard work, her showmanship has paid off. A New Broadway Star is born!!!"

The Ru Report caught up to Miss Cox earlier this week, while she was recovering from a bug. She had to take a couple of days off from the show because of inflamed vocal chords and swollen glands resulting from a lack of rest. She was at home in a gated community in Ft. Lauderdale with her husband/manager and her newborn baby son.

Here's what Deborah Cox shared with The Ru Report about her life, her love and her latest endeavor...

Playing Mommy...
Motherhood is amazing but soooo hard! Isaiah is now eight months and he's developing so fast. It was important for me to spend as much time with him as possible and I have been fortunate to be able to do so. I chose to do Broadway because of the schedule; I can be mommy by day and Deborah Cox by night.

Motherhood teaches you a lot about patience and how to juggle your time. I don't get as much sleep as I would like. But when I look at his little face and see that he developing into a beautiful human being, the long hours of feeding and sleepless nights are worth it. Motherhood has been good for me. I no longer get so anxious about things. I roll with the punches and that's it. What hasn't been done today can be done tomorrow! My husband [Lascelles Stephens] and I learned that having a child is a lesson in and of itself. There are so many important lessons that you can only learn through parenting, for example, as a parent, you tend to feel obligated to fix everything but sometimes there are no answers.

Shining In The Sunshine State...
I love it in Florida. I love coming home to that gorgeous weather. It's like being on vacation all the time! That's why I moved there. I moved to Florida for balance. I lived in California for seven years and while I was there it never felt like home to me. I was traveling most of the time touring etc. and when I came home I would feel like I was still working because almost everyone I encountered was in the business or trying to get into the business. I'm originally from the East Coast (Toronto) and I wanted to move back but to a place where it didn't snow and Florida was that place.

Parting Ways With Clive Davis' J. Records...

My last album The Morning After was four years in the making. A good part of that time was spent working out the logistics of the Arista/ J. situation. I chose to go with Clive out of loyalty and because he was the one who took a gamble on me. However, I believe that if that album had more promotional and marketing support, it would have done much better, so it was overlooked because no one knew it was there. The game has changed a lot and is still changing. I'm fortunate enough to still be in the game. I have no regrets. I have learned a lot and will move forward with new fervor.

The J Records experience didn't teach me anything that I wouldn't have learned if I was with another record label. Fact is that we're in a time where corporate mergers and Wall Street plays a greater role in the longevity of an artist than talent and artistic integrity.

The truth is that my record was scheduled to be released in June/July of that year and I felt that it was ready but they kept on pushing it back. I didn't want to come out in the fourth quarter but recording artists usually don't have control over these things.

Being Broadway Bound...
It has always been my dream to star on Broadway and this role is a very complex one but so rewarding. Only the best of the best get the opportunity to star on Broadway and this run is one that requires stamina. It's a great way to build up my acting chops every night. "AIDA" is a love story and a very consuming role. She is a warrior princess with a lot of passion when it comes to her people. She is also a very inspiring character for me.

The audition was awkward because I had friends in the business also going up for the role. I remember the room filed with about 10 people from Disney, the director, the choreographer, casting and the president, so it was nerve wrecking.

Seizing The Moment...
I did a touring play last year called "Love On Layaway" by David E. Talbert and it was an amazing experience. The cast consisted of Mel Jackson, Martha Wash, Lenny Williams and the supporting casts were awesome. That's when I decided that after I have the baby I'm going to take it on Broadway. Disney asked me to be Belle in "Beauty and The Beast" a couple years ago but I couldn't because of my schedule so I told my people to reach out and Disney said that they were looking for a new Aida. I loved the show when I saw it.

I saw Toni's last performance and Michelle's first performance. I loved the character when I first saw Toni in it. By the time Michelle was on, I was in rehearsals and watching from a different perspective. I was watching from a more technical perspective, like blocking, lighting, etc.

I think every person bring their own experience to the role. I try to be very truthful to the role by watching stories of strong black women. I have also been listening to a lot of African music to help me connect with the spirit of the piece.

Embracing AIDA...
I do feel like a Nubian Princess. Disney is a really great company to be involved with and the cast and crew and musicians have shown me so much love and respect through all of this.

The rehearsals grew very intense as the weeks passed. I remember I'd come in from rehearsal and Isaiah would look at me like, "Okay is it my time now?" Then I would have to leave to watch the show in the evening, So they were very long days.

The character is really built around the songs. So it is important to understand the sentiment of each song.

It's very different from what I was doing before. I love the songs in the show and love singing them because it is all about simplicity. You don't have to do a whole lot to get the point across. I understand who she is. She is not a riffing princess and she is not a chamber music singer either. She is a princess who has a strong soul. And that must be portrayed in the style of singing.

Pulling It Off...
I think the only pressure is being consistent night after night.

Right now I can only find advantages in doing this role. It allows people to see a more well-rounded artist. I sing many different styles in the show. I act. I do a fierce sword fight.

Looking Ahead...
I roll with the punches. I will be in the studio to start the new album. I have been asking about "Dreamgirls" for a while now. I would love to see that brought back to Broadway.

Stages
Thanks to one of her visionary producers, I got a chance to take my posse to go check out Sarah Jones' new show, "Bridge & Tunnel," down at the Bleecker Street Theater, last week. The media darling is a visual and vocal acrobat in this hilarious send-up of the inner workings of south Queens poetry slam. With an assortment of characters ranging from a natty dressed Hebrew gent, a very conscious Asian man, a street-savvy rap god, a Jamaican poetess and a Puerto Rican physically challenged Vietnam vet, "Bridge & Tunnel" is a melting pot of New York's most outspoken and introspective stories. Ms. Jones, who continues to win raves across the board in this latest show--her fourth to date, is being backed by none other than Miss Meryl Streep and The Culture Project. And now there's talk of a Broadway transfer. Backstage, Miss Jones and I relished in the possibilities of her bringing her brew of urban life to the Great White Way. Who knew? Just last year around this time, I met her at the fabulous party Russell Simmons hosted for his "Def Poetry Jam on Broadway." Three months later, the show won the Tony for Special Theatrical Achievement. "Bridge & Tunnel" would be a perfect follow-up.

Seems as though the never-ending machinery called Madonna isn't the only brazen British babe in the process of Re-Invention. How about Melanie Janine Brown a.k.a. Mel B. a.k.a. Scary Spice of the once ubiquitous pop tart group The Spice Girls making her way on the boards. The spiciest spice chick (who also recorded with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot) will make her debut in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical "Rent," on April 16.

Television veteran turned Broadway star (or vice versa) Roz Ryan is back on Broadway playing Matron Mamma Morton in the hit Broadway musical, "Chicago." She first got her feet wet in the role a couple of years back, before taking a lead role in the ill-fated vaudeville musical "One Mo' Time." Since then, she's been winning raves on the touring production between breaks of her WB sitcom "All About The Andersons." During her TV hiatus, she's shaking things up quite a bit at the Ambassador Theater.

Another "Chicago" diva, Miss Brenda Braxton (no relation to Toni) is sizzling on the stage as the murderous mistress of mayhem Velma Kelly. A Black one, at that. A fierce one, at that. One to really see, at that. This isn't Bren's first foray into the Velma role. The "Smokey Joe Café"'s alum appeared in the windy city musical back in 2002. She's been holding her own ever since. Now there's talk that she's involved in this new "Dreamgirls" production, that so many of us have been waiting for, for oh so long. She choreographed the 20^th Anniversary Concert, which starred Lillias White, Audra McDonald and Heather Headley, three years ago.

And lastly, "Little Shop Of Horrors, "Grease" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" follow a very short list of movie musicals that made a splash on Broadway. Now we're hearing rumblings of Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple in the works. The multiple Oscar nominated tour-de-force--based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name--may see the light of day as early as 2005. Actress-turned-theater wizard Regina Taylor ( "Crowns," "Drowning Crow") was initially appointed to helm the script. But that deal fell apart. So far, the only definite The Ru Report knows of is the incomparable La Chanze ("Once On This Island," "Bubbly Black Girl,") winning the lead role of Celie. I can't wait to see this.

Reeling Them In
As Women's Herstory Month comes to a close, the marketing wheels are just starting to turn for The Reel Women International Film Festival.

"What better time to introduce [this] than during Women's ‘Herstory' Month" announced Diana Means, the founder and executive director of the festival. "[This month] is a celebration of our contributions to the planet, and it is my goal that RWIFF continues that celebration with a film festival that documents the "reel" power of women."

The three-day seminar will take place in La La Land the last weekend in August at the Director's Guild of America. The fest promises to celebrate, recognize and support women working as directors, producers and writers. The festival is currently seeking entries directed by women, or written and produced by women. RWIFF will seek to raise the profiles of these films by increasing their chances for success in the theatrical marketplace.

Highlighted events will include a fundraising clinic, as well as a producers/directors' conference featuring established women directors and producers. A portion of the proceeds garnered from the festival will go towards scholarships for women majoring in film studies at accredited Southern California universities.

"The festival hopes to serve as a catalyst to increase the number of women working as directors, producers, and writers, and to encourage more diverse and powerful screen images of women, "cited Ms. Means in a statement.

Fiscal support for the festival is being provided by Third World Newsreel, one of the oldest non-profit alternative media arts organizations dedicated to the production, promotion, distribution and exhibition of social issue media made by and about people of color.

For more information regarding film submissions and festival details, feel free to log onto RWIFF.com

Never Ending ‘Journey'
Last week, the folks at VH1 finally got around to releasing their line-up for this year's "Divas" festivities. And my hunches were dead on. Superdiva Patti LaBelle will finally get her just desserts on the program, which airs live from the Las Vegas MGM Grand on April 18. But that's not all Ms. LaBelle is up to these days. On May 4, Def Jam Classics will release her newest album, titled Timeless Journey, featuring collaborations by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Troy Taylor, Bunny Sigler and loads of others. Guest appearances by Santana and Ron Isley are being ironed out at press-time.

The first single, "New Day," is doing well at AC radio and is setting up the album--her first studio opus in five years--very well. According to her publicist Patti Webster, the label is planning an all out blitz for the release, which coincides with her 60^th birthday on May 24.

On Sunday (March 28), Ms. LaBelle is on board to join the likes of Natalie Cole, Yolanda Adams, Ashanti, Shirley Caesar, Harry Connick, Jr., Ginuwine, Savion Glover, Anthony Hamilton, Fred Hammond and Choir, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Jesse L. Martin, Donnie McClurkin, Denzel Washington and Willie Nelson for the All Star Salute to The Apollo Theater's 70^th anniversary, being billed as "A Hot Night In Harlem" and slated air sometime in June. She will also appear on the American Salute to Ford Theater on Independence Day.

Before then, a slew of high-rated television shows such as "The Tonight Show" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is booked, along with features in Essence, In Style and Glamour magazines. Ms. LaBelle considers Timeless Journey one of the best albums of her career, says Ms. Webster. While performing in Phoenix a few weeks ago, her glam squad assembled for an extended stay so they can conduct the photo shoot for her album's art-work, in between her consistent touring regimen. Everyone who truly knows this exceptional talent knows that Ms. LaBelle makes her bread and butter on the road, by performing non-stop to sell out crowds across the country. This weekend, planning her next big touring jaunt--kicking off in the coming weeks, Ms. LaBelle is holding auditions.

Still no word on the recently rumored and long overdue reunion with former LaBelle members Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx, but it's not to be taken lightly.

Years ago, when Divas Live wasn't ‘jive,' Patti seemed like such a long shot.

It's finally happening. So let's not rule out the second coming of LaBelle.

Some Mo' Mo'nique
How about some mo' Mo'Nique.

The soon-to-be-defunct hit UPN sitcom, "The Parkers," may be in its last season, but the plus-sized star of the show hasn't rested on her laurels, and will continue to be a mainstay on the boob tube.

Last week it was announced that the Maryland area native and multimedia superstar will host this year's "BET Awards," broadcast live from the Kodak Theater on June 29. Danny Glover and The Isley Brothers will receive special honors.

But just before her sophomore turn hosting the awards, Mo'Nique will introduce the American public to a new breed of royalty as he hosts the Lifetime Television special "Queen for a Day," airing on May 27.

The show is based on the legendary series from the 50's and 60's but with a light-hearted twist. For the show, producers will sweep the nation, holding open auditions at which nominators will have the opportunity to convince the panel that their mother, sister, friend, co-worker, among others, should be "Queen for a Day." Once the four finalists have been selected, cameras will track the potential "Queens" and whisk them away to a Los Angeles studio where they will receive the royal treatment and have one last chance to make their case to the judges and studio audience. With the help of Mo'Nique, the judges and audience will cast the final vote for the one special woman about to win her dream package.

"Who doesn't want to sit on a throne and be crowned 'Queen for a Day?'," Mo'Nique commented about the show. "What a privilege to fulfill one lucky lady's dreams."

The original daytime series, hosted by Jack Bailey, aired from 1956-65 on NBC and later on ABC.

This is another feather in her ever-expanding hat. She started off as a stand-up comic, and later debuted on the small screen in the groundbreaking UPN sitcom, "Moesha." Her debut literary offering Skinny Women Are Evil(Atria) was an instant bestseller. She also serves as the host of the new and improved variety show "It's Showtime at the Apollo."

"Mo'Nique has such a fun and lively personality," commented Bill Brand, Lifetime's Senior Vice President, Reality Programming. "Her quick wit will add a wonderful dimension to the show. As a comedy 'queen' of primetime television, we know our finalists and viewers will connect with her!"

An "Original Queen Of Comedy," Mo'Nique has received numerous Image Awards, recently winning Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for "The Parkers."

She recently wrapped Beauty Shop and is currently filming Garfield: The Movie. Her next movie role is in Soul Plane, which opens in late May.

Stuff
Fanzine editrix Cynthia Horner is evolving. The celebrated veteran of the teen market publishing industry is the proud owner of her own media enterprise called Cynthia Horner Public Relations and will be in great company on April 22 when The Learning Annex presents its workshop titled "How To Publicize Anything...or Yourself" in New York City. Confirmed panelists--considered "successful experts in PR"--include J. Lo's flack Ken Sunshine and Rubenstein & Associates honcho Nancy Haberman, amongst others. Promising to cover topics like: What P.R. is and what it is not, The different types of P.R. available, Creative ways to market yourself or your firm, How to get your first paying job in P.R., How to maximize your time and money to get the best results, How to use volunteer work to build up a client list and How to make a career switch into--and out of--public relations, this should be a required course for all of these so-called "publicists" running around the town considering themselves such. A proud alum of the prestigious Pepperdine University, Ms. Horner has reigned supreme for close to 30 years as the editor of the urban music mainstay, Right On magazine.

Tennis superstar Serena Williams will guest star in an upcoming episode of Lifetime Television's popular series "The Division." On the show, which airs on April 25, she plays the role of Jennifer Davis, a young woman who, after missing for almost 20 years, is reunited with her family. A man is found dead in the Davis' neighborhood. As the pieces of the investigation come together, the Division discovers the dead man was part of a scheme to defraud the Davis family. Currently the #3 tennis player in the world, Ms. Williams is proving to be quite more than just a tennis player. Did you guys catch a glimpse of her in the Anniversary Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated? Hmmm. "I am such a fan of Lifetime," said Ms. Williams in a statement. "I love the movies for women, and my favorite television show is 'The Golden Girls.' Working on 'The Division' is a dream come true." Acting wise, she has appeared on episodes of "The Simpsons," "My Wife and Kids" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and is currently preparing to make her feature film debut in Beauty Shop.

Video View
Closing out Women's Herstory Month, The Ru Report would be remiss if we didn't highlight some great female friendly flicks that just arrived in home video format this week.

The luscious-lipped femme fatale Angelina Jolie took a leap of faith in the serious epic tale Beyond Borders, which was directed by Martin Campbell and co-stars Clive Owen, Teri Polo and Noah Emmerich. The Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award winner stars as Sarah Jordan, an American living in London in 1984 who embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to danger, heartbreak and romance in the far corners of the world.

Next up, my pal Bille Woodruff's feature film directorial debut Honey arrives at retail this week also. Starring Mekhi Phifer, Lonette McKee, Lil' Romeo, Joy Bryant, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot and the Euro-Mexican former TV star Jessica Alba in the title role, Honey centers on a dancer and choreographer working as a bartender and record store clerk until she gets that one break. Cameos from hip hop stars Ginuwine, Third Story, Sean Desmond, Tweet, and Jadakiss and Sheek of the L.O.X. round out the film, loosely based on the life and times of choreographer-to-the-stars Laurieanne Gibson. Bonus features on the DVD include commentary, outtakes, two exclusive music videos and the interactive "Make Your Move: Dance Like Honey" feature.

Lastly, Oscar winner Halle Berry's turn in the horror flick, Gothika is unleashed. The first American film directed by Mathiey Kassovitz and also starring Robert Downey Jr., Charles Dutton and Penelope Cruz, the film is about a criminal psychologist, who awakens to find herself a patient in her own institution with no memory of the murder she's apparently committed.

Notable/Quotable
"I think Donald Trump is the biggest winner. He's made so much money off of us."
--The newest Black diva of reality series Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth on who she thinks the real winner is of NBC's runaway hit, "The Apprentice."

All the women who are independent, throw your hands up at me!

The Ru Report concludes its celebration of Women's Herstory Month with our annual "Phenomenal Woman" series, which ran throughout the month of March. But we will continue to celebrate consistently.

Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com

©2003 The Ru Report™. All Rights Reserved~~P.O. Box #25 Bushkill PA 18324

« The Herbert Holla  In The Office Series »

The 2-Way

Replies: 1

Archives: