White will bring powerful voice back to NBTF
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Lillias White, or more specifical
ly, her voice, was the talk of the 2(X)I
National Black Theatre Festival.
White left crowds begging for more,
literally, with "From Brooklyn to
Broadway," a show that featured a
collection of songs crafted perfectly
for Whites voice. Those who could
not get CTKXigh of White two years
ago can get their fill during this year's
festival.
"Brooklyn to Broadway If picks
up where the other show left ofl.
White will again weave together sto
ries about people and places with a
collection of songs, some of which
will be familiar to everyone, while
some will be new to the ears of many
people.
White has wowed audiences and
critics everywhere she has taken the
show. The New York Times applaud
ed her for the "unflagging emotional
honesty" she displays while on stage,
and critic Rex Reed said White "can
hold a note longer than Carmen
McRac and sounds like a cross-polli
nation of Sarah Vaughn and Dinah
Washington."
With the "From Brooklyn to
Broadway" shows. White uses the
music to tell the story of how a girl
from Brooklyn - White is the daugh
ter of a Jamaican-bom father and a
South Carolina-bom mother - scaled
barriers to make it to the stages of the
Great White Way. But White not
only made it to Broadway, she con
quered it. In the industry, White is
known as a "triple threat." It is a title
she earned by w/nning the equivalent
of the Triple Crown in the theater
world: the Toiy. the Drama Desk
Award and thi Outer Critic's Circle
trophy. White earned all of those hon
ors by playing Sonja, a worn-out
prostitute, in "The Life." White also
picked up a People's Choice Award
for her work in "The Life."
White's other stage credits
include: "How to Succeed in Busi
ness Without Really Trying,"
"Dreamgirls," "Barnum." and "Once
on This Island." In the original "From
Br(X)klyn to Broadway," one of the
most popular segments of the show is
a melody White performs made up of
songs from all of her Broadway
shows.
White's television appearances
include "Law & Order." "NYPD
Blue." and "Sesame Street." for
which she won an Emmy.
She has appeared in films such as
"North." "Gloria" and the Jim Carrey
hit movie "The Grinch That Stole
Christmas."
White's CDs include "From
Brixiklyn to Broadway" and "Jazz
Alley to Shubert Alley."
White's "From Brooklyn to
Broadway II" will kick off the 2003
National Black Theatre Festival
immediately after the Aug. 4 Open
ing Night Gala. The shows chosen to
kick oft' the festival usually go on to
great success for the rest of the week.
In 2001. "The Jackie Wilson
Story...My Heart is Crying, Crying,"
kicked off the festival before break
ing box-office records throughout the
festival.
Tony Award-winner Lillias White.