Features

The Ru Report #143

Funny Girl
Hazelle Goodman is too many things.

I mean, really.

Earlier in the week, while she was shopping at a health food store in the Fresh Meadows section of Queens, NY, I phoned her to play a quick game of Free Association and get her views on some current affairs. "You blowing up my cell phone minutes, boo," she quipped on the other end. "So make this quick!" Ms. Goodman, the stage and screen actress, is currently knocking them dead in her latest incarnation of the critically-acclaimed one-woman show "On Edge," which is playing at the downtown New York City performance space, HERE Arts Center, throughout the month of August.

In the show, which just clocks close to an hour and a half, Ms. Goodman brings to life over twelve colorful characters ranging from a ghetto girl discovering the benefits of Feng Shui (Feng Shay) to a ditzy blonde with a penchant for Black men and staying physically fit ("Confessions Of A Health Nut"). In one uproarious scene, the dreadlocked-clad thespian recreates a low-brow talk show ("Today's Woman") where two Latina siblings bicker over one's abusive derelict of a boyfriend. Elsewhere in the tour-de-force, she embodies the spirit of a condescending old Jewish woman who dishes the dirt about relationships while at a nail salon ("White Woman"). One of my favorite acts is Ms. Goodman playing a Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice-loving Black Republican trying to empower a flock during her Get Out Of The Ghetto rally ("Janet Wannabee"). It's pure genius.

"Life," she explains, "I get my inspiration from paying close attention to what's going on around me and keeping my ear to the curb--in short, minding folks' business."

"This newest production of 'On Edge' came when I took a break and really asked myself what do I want to say? How do I want to impact people? How can I make a difference?" she continues. "It also came out of my own frustration with our current political state, the sellout on love for lust, etc."

Some Free Association results--President Bush ("Duh!"), Colin Powell ("Help"), Iraq ("Let's bring the boys home").

"Injustice puts me on edge," she continues, "racial crimes, gay bashing, infidelity in love. Chile that's enough!"

The Trinidadian comic chameleon is an award-nominated funny-woman who lays claim to having her very own HBO special--dating back to 1995. The doting mother of a teenage aspiring actor made her film debut seven years ago playing a hooker named Cookie in Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry. She also has added her flavor to non-comical roles, in films such as Hannibal, and in the critically-acclaimed play, "The Vagina Monologues."

Outside of acting, the self-described Diva In Motion also volunteers at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Upstate New York where she heads up an arts program. "I love inspiring people to live their dreams," she says. "My work with the inmates really excites me because I get to bring love and hope to women who may never get a second chance to walk free."

"I have a writing workshop, "Journey Within," where through their writing they can boldly stand in the present, forgive the past and create a new future."

Work!

Other humanitarian efforts include a lifelong scholarship in slain African immigrant Amadaou Diallo's name at her alma mater City College of New York. In the most emotive act in the show, she brings the somber spirit of Diallo's mother in the wake of her son's untimely and unnecessary death at the hands of the New York Police Department.

Still making inroads to Broadway like other successful one woman dynamos Whoopi Goldberg, Elaine Stritch and Sandra Bernhard, she describes the producers at HERE as an "actor's dream." The name of the show is called "On Edge" for a reason. She has this uncanny ability to dig deep into the complexities of the human spirit with a grace and humor that leaves members of the audience moved and inspired. "I think people come to see me because they're being touched and they spread the word," she says, adding that "sell out audiences are great but whether there's one person or one thousand I'm always gonna give my all!"

Spoken like a true pro.

Don't walk … run to see this show!!!
(212) 868-4444, Here.org

Doing It; Paula Jai Parker
The Cleveland, Ohio actress just snagged the role of Rose, in the forthcoming HBO movie "My Life In Idlewild," directed by video lens-man Bryan Barber and starring OutKast. Ms. Parker, who punched things up in comedies such as Sprung, and Woo, has a list of recent acting credits that include more serious fare such as Spike Lee's latest, She Hate Me, Vanessa Middleton's directorial debut, 30 Years To Life, and the Joel Schumacher hit Phone Booth. According to her rep, the 33-year-old beauty is also currently in production of the feature film version of Disney's wildly popular animated series The Proud Family, playing the voice of Trudy Proud.

One of the hardest working actresses in Hollywood, Ms. Parker just finished filming John Singleton's newest flick, Hustle and Flow. On the set of the low-budget movie, which stars Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Ludacris, Isaac Hayes and rap group Three 6 Mafia, actor Anthony Anderson was arrested and charged with aggravated rape of an unidentified woman in his trailer. What a mess. Nevertheless, Ms. Parker is undeterred. Her varied career already spans more than 20 movies and 10 television series including the Emmy Award-winning series "NYPD Blue" and FX Television's "The Shield." It is evident that she has a great agent. The Howard University alum also earned a CableACE Award in 1994 as Best Actress in a Dramatic Special or Series for her work on the HBO anthology special "Cosmic Slop."

She is definitely doing it!

Quick Hits, Fast Facts
September will be a very busy month. Very busy.

For its September 2004 issue, GQ magazine names the 25 most stylish musicians of all time in an edition called Big Style. The hot list includes: Andre 3000, Beck, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Thelonious Monk, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Paul Simonon, Frank Sinatra, Pharrell Williams and Steve Wonder, amongst others. This issue of GQ" which is believed to be the leading men's general-interest magazine, is on newsstands nationwide starting August 24. Justin Timberlake graces the cover for a portfolio shot by fashion photographer Bruce Weber.

Lebron James is now the first superstar athlete to create his own sports drink: POWERADE FLAVA23, which will be available nationally beginning September 1, along with a unique promotional program featuring a LeBron James comic created by DC Comics. The 19-year-baller was said to be involved in every aspect of the creation of the drink, from choosing its "sourberry" flavor profile, to selecting its signature burgundy color and developing the unique package graphics (a stylized comic version of him soaring through the air). The comic, entitled "King James," will be available free with the purchase of three 32-ounce bottles of POWERADE at participating retail locations while supplies last. "Powerade gave me the chance to put my spin on things, and I love the way it turned out," he said in a statement. "I think all my fans will enjoy it too." Ka-ching!

Eve Ensler is on a mission. On the evening of September 13, the critically acclaimed playwright will mobilize a group of actors, singers, dancers, thinkers and leaders to come together at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem for a night of entertainment and political empowerment. V-Day's "V is For Vote" and Rock the Vote's "Chicks Rock, Chicks Vote" has teemed with The White House Project's "Vote, Run, Lead" and the Omega Institute for an titled: "Vaginas Vote, Chicks Rock." Rosario Dawson, Jane Fonda, Rha Goddess Vanessa Carlton, Susan Sarandon, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Gloria Steinem, Julia Stiles and Isabella Rossellini are lending their support for the cause, which uses the power of arts and activism to motivate and inspire all women-especially young women-to raise their voices and get out the vote to end violence against women and girls. According to studies, unmarried women are the "largest" group of people not participating in the democracy: 16 million unmarried women are unregistered voters and more than 22 million didn't vote in 2000. "The time has come to take that vagina power to the polls," said Ms. Ensler, founder of V-Day and playwright of "The Vagina Monologues" and "The Good Body." That has got to be the quote of the year. "Join us on the 13th for an evening of inspiration, imagination and amazing performances. Value your vagina--Vote!"

Tom Joyner has another feather in to add in one of his many hats. The hardest working man in radio is now an author. Mr. Joyner, arguably the most influential radio personality among African-Americans nationwide, is co-author of the latest of the best-selling Chicken Soup series--Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul, Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture One Story at a Time (HCI Books, $12.95). "This book includes stories of inspiration, humor and wisdom that everybody can relate to," said Mr. Joyner, whose syndicated radio show is aired in 115 markets and reaches more than eight million listeners. "It's the kind of book where you can take a big helping all at once or dip a little at a time." The entrepreneur and philanthropist, joins original Chicken Soup authors--Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen--as well as contributing author Lisa Nichols, in the upcoming release for the record-breaking book series. Slated for a September 14 release, a portion of book sale proceeds will benefit the Tom Joyner Foundation, which has raised more than $25 million to help keep students in historically Black colleges and universities to date.

Raven-Symone, star of Disney Channel's "That's So Raven" series, will release her Hollywood Records solo debut, This is My Time, on Sept. 21. Collaborators include Scott Storch, Kara DioGuardi, Diane Warren, Walter Afansieff, Matthew Gerrard and trip-hop artist/producer Tricky. The former "Cosby" show star co-wrote four songs on the album, including the title track. "I wanted to make an album that mixes new soul with alternative with hip-hop," Ms. Symone says of her latest foray into music. "I enjoy all different types of music, from Alanis Morissette to Janet [Jackson] and Jay-Z. I love the freedom to mix it all up, to create my own sound."

"I guarantee I'ma see ya when I see ya."

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