James Reynolds spends days of his
life playing cop on daytime drama
BY COURTNEY GA1LLARD
THE CHRONICLE
James Reynolds is not a police
officer but he has played one on tel
evision for the last 22 years. The
"Days of Our Lives" soap star, who
is best known as commander Abe
Carver, has appeared on camera
more than any other African-Amer
ican actor in daytime television. It's
a feat he never thought would mate
rialize since the Kansas native was
n't planning on making a living as a
soap actor.
"1 was excited to get the job, but
I thought maybe a year or so. No
longer," said Reynolds^
He credits fans for his charac
ter's longevity on the series and his
success on daytime television. Or
else, he says,.Abe Carver may never
have been resurrected. The police
commander was killed off and
brought back to life on the show
two years ago.
"I hope a lot of it is because the
audience responds to the character.
They really like and appreciate this
character," Reynolds said. "I cer
tainly hope I give everything I can
to Abe."
Reynolds spent nine years on
"Days" before joining the ca$t of
"Generations," which earned him
an Emmy nod for Outstanding Lead
Actor in a Drama Series. In 1991,
Photo by Kevin Walker
Actor James Reynolds is one of daytime's most recognizable faces.
his character returned to the fiction
al town of Salem on "Days" where
he received another Emmy nomina
tion and an NAACP Image Award
nomination for Best Actor in a Day
time Drama. Reynolds has been
awarded the Heroes and Legends
TV/Film Award, and he was voted
Outstanding Supporting Actor by
the Soap Chat Viewers Choice
Awards.
This year marks Reynolds' first
visit to the National Black Theatre
Festival, where he participated in a
panel discussion yesterday on
"African-American Performers in
Daytime Television." Reynolds
conducts soap-related seminars reg
ularly where he says he's quizzed
on the life of a daytime TV actor.
"The thing I'm amazed at is that
it's (the NBTF is) so large. It's
huge," said Reynolds.
While TV viewers may know
him from the small screen,
Reynolds is -no stranger to the the
atrical stage. He caught the acting
bug while studying journalism at
Washburn University, where he per
formed in countless dramatic pro
ductions and musicals. Reynolds
also spent time with a repertory
company in Colorado Springs,
Colo., before his television career
kicked off. He has guest starred on
"Seinfeld," "227" and "Highway to
Heaven." among other shows.
"I started in theater. I think for
actors it begins in theater,"
Reynolds said. "I think something
in them says they aren't really
actors until they step on the stage ...
Having grown up in theater, it's a
part of who I am. and it's a part of
the process and a strong part of
what I feel about the craft."
His theater ties renfain strong to
this day. He and his wife. Lissa
Layng, operate the Fremont Centre
Theatre in South Pasadena, Calif.
There he recently directed his son,
Jed. in "National Pastime" a play
about baseball legend Jackie Robin
son that received high critical
acclaim.
Despite his full schedule.
Reynolds still finds time to coach a
women's basketball team and run a
film and TV production company.
Free State Productions, outside of
Los Angeles.
Bringing the
DOWN LOW UP HIGH
Playwright hopes work will inspire faith community
to address sexuality, AIDS
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE
If there were an award for the most
clever marketing ploy to publicize a
play, Yvette Heyliger would win it -
hands down.
It is difficult for even the most
uninterested 2005 National Black The
atre Festival-goer not to pay attention
to the postcard-size fliers with the
bright yellow condoms attached to
them. Heyliger has been passing them
out this week to promote a reading of
her play "What Would Jesus Do?'
scheduled to take place today (Aug. 4)
at 11 am. at Union Baptist Church
(1200 Trade Street).
The play is mainly set in the black
chuich: It deals with a God-fearing
African-American family that is
rocked to its core when the wife/moth
er learns that she may have been
exposed to HIV by her bisexual hus
band.
Heyliger knows that the subject
matter is touchy since sexuality and
especially homosexuality are taboo
topics in many black families and
churches. She says she is willing to
take some heat if it means that the faith
community, especially, will be more
adamant in addressing the issue of
HIV/AIDS.
"I'm sure that I do step on some
toes," she said Monday. "I don't really
care about that. I care about preven
tion."
Heyliger, who had a recurring role
as Aunt Sarah on "The Cosby Show,"
began developing "What Would Jesus
Do?" a couple years ago. She had gone
to the late Tunde Samuel, the then
head of theater arts at Harlem's Nation
al Black Theatre, to ask his advice
about what subject matter she should
tackle in her next play. He told her that
the spread of HIV in the black com
munity was overdue some attention.
Samuel died a week after he gave
Heyliger that advice. Although Samuel
did not die of AIDS, Heyliger said she
felt compelled to follow through with
his suggestion.
"I felt like I had been left with a
mission," she said. Heyliger spent
months researching the problem. She
attended conventions, workshops and
HIV awareness rallies. At these events
she would often meet people who
faced circumstances similar to those of
her characters' in "What Would Jesus
Photo by Kevin Walker
Twins Yvonne Farrow (loft) and Yvefte Hoyligor have boon frequent
guests at the NBTF.
Do?" She won a grant from the New
York State Council on the Arts to write
the play.
She has spent the past several
months doing staged readings to get
audience feedback and generate inter
est in hopes of getting the financing
she needs to make "What Would Jesus
DoT' a full-fledged stage production.
?The NBTF reading should take her a
few steps closer to that goal.
Some big names are expected to be
on hand to read her play today, includ
ing Bill Cobbs, Janet Hubert and Lam
man Rucker. Heyliger's twin sister,
Yvonne Farrow, is slated to read the
part of the wife. The sisters run their
own entertainment production compa
ny. Twinbi/, which has brought two
productions to the National Black The
atre Festival: "Autobiography of a
Homegirl" in 2001 and "Hillary and
Monica" in 2003.
Black "straight" men who sleep
with other men are said to be on the
"down low." The term has become part
of pop culture. It has been alleged that
down low men are a key reason why
the number of black women with HIV
is so staggering. Others have com
plained that society's sudden obsession
with the down low has only further
strained black male/black female rela
tions. Heyliger says her play doesn't
Axploit the current down low phenom
enon or make judgments on the sexual
lifestyles that people choose.
"The man in my play is just some
one who straggles with his sexuality,"
she said. "It really doesn't matter who
you sleep with. It matters that you pro
tect yourself."
For more information about
Heyliger and her play, log onto
wwwjwinbiz torn .
Welcome Back
Photo by Jaemn Pin
Actor Malik Yoba wovci to fan? at ho
arrivoa at tho hotol Monday. Tho actor
firg t camo to tho fottival in 2003.
Beaty
from page A1
son's emerging career while behind bars. His pride
grew as Daniel's star rose higher and higher. Danny
Beaty traveled from Dayton, Ohio - where Daniel
Beaty was born and raised - to watch his son perform
live for the first time.
"To me he is just totally fantastic." the elder Beaty
said. Countless others agree. Daniel Beaty has received
a lot of attention at the 2005 National Black Theatre
Festival for his show, in which he plays 40 different
characters. But none of that compares to the closeness
that he now shares with his dad. It is a bond that he has
wanted for so many years.
"I used to not be able tfrwatch movies about fathers
and sons," Daniel Beaty said Monday. "1 remember
going to see 'He Got Game' and going into the bath
room afterward and just crying."
Daniel followed a very different path than his
father. Danny Beaty said he got his education from the
school of hard knocks, where hustlers were the profes
sors and petty crooks were the teacher's assistants.
Daniel earned his Ivy League degree with honors, pick
ing up one of Yale's top three graduation honors for his
creative and performing arts talent.
Danny Beaty said he never feared that his son
would follow in his footsteps. Daniel's mother. Shirley
McGee, is a strong, proud woman, more than capable
of keeping her kids (Daniel has a sister) on the straight
and narrow. Danny Beaty, who has been estranged from
Shirley McGee since their children were youngsters,
said he also never touted his criminal life around his
kids.
"When I would go visit them, 1 would put on a suit
and tie. I would play a role like I was something that I
wasn't," he said.
Despite his parents' efforts to keep him out of the
loop, Daniel said he always knew that there was some
thing off kilter.
"He was not around a lot. That let me know that
something isii't right." Daniel said. By the time he was
old enough to fully comprehend what that something
was, Daniel's desire for a relationship with his father
had grown into a constant longing that was often
painftil . In an attempt to dull that pain . he visited his dad
in prison during a holiday break from Yale.
"I needed to know who my father is," he said,
recalling tfiat visit. Letters back and forth followed that
initial visit. Daniel returned to see his father whenever
his school schedule would allow. It became clear to
Daniel that his father equally craved a bond with him.
"I discovered that this man loves me. The choices
he has made were never intended to hurt me," Daniel
said.
Danny Beaty does not ever want to miss an impor
tant event in his son's life. He credits Shirley McGee
with helping him to find God while he was behind bars.
"My answer was Christ," Danny Beaty said. "I had
a revelation and 1 cried like a baby. I have done a com
plete one-eighty."
Although the younger Beaty is the one getting
praise from everyone from show biz legends like Ruby
Dee to the New York Times, Daniel says his father is a
star in his eyes.
"I am so proud of him and the choices he is making
for his life now," DanieJ said.
"Emergence-See!" is being staged Aug. 4 -6 at J
p m . and 8 pm. at The Proscenium at N.C. School of the
Arts. Tickets, which are $35, can be purchased at the
site or at the ticket desk at the Benton Convention Cen
ter.
Pftoto by Kevin Walker
Daniel Beaty and his mother, Shirley McGee,
chat with Ruby Dee , who it a fan of Booty's.
Notes
Acting bug bites Nelson
Todd Nelson has joined a grow, ing list of names
- People Who Have Been Influenced to Follow
their Dreams by Mr. Marvtastic himself. Larry l^eon
Hamlin. Nelson, who was raised here in the city, has
recently moved
to New York to
pursue his dream
of being an actor
full time
He has
already found
some success,
with parts on
?All My Chil
dren" and
"Americas Most
Wanted" (the
show uses actors
to re-create
crimes).
Nelson clear
ly remember* the
day he mel Hamlin. Nelson, who had jusi become a
teenager, was taking a class at the Arts Council The
atre when he wandered to the ground floor of the
building and the office of Hamlin's N.C. Black
Repertory Company. He told Hamlin he wanted to
be an actor; Hamlin gave Nelson his first job
"He told me to go learn the Langston Hughes
poem 'Harlem,"' Nelson recalled. After that. Nel
son, who is now 2 1 , became one of the many young
people that Hamlin takes under his wings. Nelson
has come home for the NBTK It is a place that has
brought him good luck in the past. During the 1999
festival, a casting director spotted Nelson and hired
him for a part in the television movie "Shake. Rat
tle and Role."
Hamlin is giving Nelson a chance to shine at
this festival as well. He will co-host the Youth Tal
ent Show today and tomorrow along with actress
RacVen Larrymore Kelly. He is also working with
the festival's Youth/Celebrity Project.
She's Still Got It
Don't let her age fool you. Singing and
Broadway legend Linda Hopkins can move with
the best of them. Hopkins earned a round of
applause Monday as she arrived at the Benton
Convention Center for the Opening Night Gala.
The applause was not just because Hopkins,
who was discovered by gospel great Mahalia
Jackson, is a legend who has won both a Tony
and Drama Desk Award. Hopkins earned the
applause by dancing to the beat of the drums that
greeted celebrities. Hopkins performed her little
shimmy with ease, even though she uses walking
sticks these days to get around.
Inside the Convention Center, where Hop
kins received a Living Legend Award. Hopkins
reminded folks that she was 80-years-old. Hop
kins also told the 1 .000 or so people on hand for
the gala that she \tfll receive a star on the Holly
wood Walk of Fame in October, an honor that is
way overdue.
Janet Hubert and James Avery
Like old times
If the 2005 National Black Theatre Festival is
mistaken for a reunion of the sitcom "Fresh Prince
of Bel- Air." there is good reason. Among the
dozens of celebrities attending this year's festival
arc three of the leading stars of the popular show,
which aired on NBC for six seasons beginning in
?the fall of 1990.
Janet Hubert, who played mom Vivian Banks
on the show for the first three seasons: James Avery,
who played dad Philip Banks; and Joseph Marcel),
who played Geoffrey, the butler w ith the killer one
liners. are all in town this week for the festival.
Hubert and Marcell are the celebrity co-chairs
for the 2005 NBTF.
Hubert joked Monday about being back togeth
er with all of her old cast mates
"This is like a family reunion. I ain't seen my
husband in 1 2 years." she said during a news con
ference. generating laughs from a crowd of several
hundred. Marcell continued the laughfest by adding
that only NBTF mastermind Larry Leon Hamlin
had the power to pull most of the show 's cast back
together.
"NBC could nof"3o it. It took this man to do
it." Marcell said, pointing to Hamlin.