Why did you choose this role?
People have always told me to play this part, Sylvia, as long as I can remember…ever since I did another play by A.R. Gurney. I had never actually read the play or seen it. Just been told I would be perfect for it. New Years Eve I had my annual party, and I was in the grumpiest mood. I had withdrawals from not doing any stage since ‘Just 45 Minutes from Broadway’ had closed. After you run a play over 200 times, it’s in your blood and you’re used to going to the theatre every weekend, and then having ended it, I felt homesick in a strange way. A friend of mine, Cathy Arden, came to the party and had been in tears all day. She was playing the part of Kate in ‘Sylvia’ and she had been rehearsing for for weeks, but there was an issue with the actress playing Sylvia and the production was at a standstill. I jumped on the chance to play the part, I had always wanted to step into a show and have to put it up in a little amount of time-and the next day we started rehearsing and put the show up in twelve days. It was an amazing experience, and it’s a joy to do. The other actors were incredible and supportive and Gita Donovan the director was fantastic and finessed me right into the show.

Had you seen the original play before auditioning?
Nope! I was really glad I didn’t, because I was able to develop a great character based on my own pup, Garbo. She’s a cantankerous, lovable, stubborn, beautiful Shiba Inu, and I loved the fact that my preparation for the role was hanging out with her more!

Do you prefer plays or movies? Why or Why not?
Neither one can be fully experienced without experiencing the other…It’s such a necessity to do both-
the energy being returned to you in theatre from a live audience is incredible, learning to go with that energy and shift that energy and react off that energy. That’s something you don’t get with film, which is far more static. But then with film there’s those subtle nuances which you learn to mine without going over the top emotionally or physically, and those moments and that work is really necessary and difficult to get from the stage. But when you put the two together, the largess of theatre and the quick subtlety of film, you have a magical creative palate to chose from and can work everything into both mediums. It’s lovely. I love learning. I never stop learning something absolutely new every day. I’m so very, very thankful to have the opportunity to shift between both.

What’s next for you?
‘Just 45 Minutes…’ was filmed in Oct. We used the original cast and also pulled in Judd Nelson as the love interest, and it was so interesting to shoot. We had run the play so long I was worried there would be a flatness to our work, but I’ve seen the dailies and there is such a richness and delicious levels bursting out onto the film…I can’t wait to see the final product. It will probably be released Fall 2011. I’m also getting ready to film another movie, and looking forward to my annual Project Save Our Surf Fundraiser 2011: Surf 8 to 8, a twelve hour surfathon to raise money for Heal the Bay, which will be in Santa Monica this year on June 25th.

More about the play and how you can get tickets:

In this 1995 comedy by A.R. Gurney (“Love Letters,” “The Dining Room”), Greg and Kate are empty-nesters in the big city. On a walk in the park, Greg is adopted by Sylvia, a bouncy, frisky poodle mix. But Kate comes to feel that she is losing Greg to his adoring new best friend who just loves to be petted, scratched, and talked to. This imaginative twist on Greg’s midlife crisis leads to lots of laughs and some thoughtful insights into the nature of love, marriage, jealousy, and dogs.

Gita Donovan directs a cast that includes Cathy Arden, Frank Dooley, Steve Howard and Tanna Frederick (who recently completed work on a 10-month run in Henry Jaglom’s play “Just 45 Minutes From Broadway” and starred in his 2010 films “Irene in Time” and “Queen of the Lot”).

WHAT: ‘Sylvia,” a comedy.
WHO: Written by A.R. Gurney. Directed by Gita Donovan. A Sierra Madre Playhouse
production.
WHERE: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Abundant
free municipal parking behind theatre.
WHEN: January 14- February 19, 2011. Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. Dark on Sunday, January 16. The Gala Opening Night performance on January 14 will be preceded by a Champagne reception and light buffet at 7:15 p.m.
ADMISSION: $20. Seniors (65+) and students (13-17), $17. Children 12 and under, $12.
RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION: (626) 355-4318.
ONLINE TICKETING: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org

Interview by Shelia M Goss. Freelance writer and national best selling author of Hollywood Deception, Double Platinum, Delilah, Savannah’s Curse and more. www.sheliagoss.com  

Here is a clip of Lena Horne (1917 – 2010) in one of my favorite old movies:

Shelia M. Goss’ journey into the literary world began several years ago. She’s received recognition in Writer’s Digest and The New York Times. Her books have been on bestsellers lists such as the Dallas Morning News, Essence Magazine, and Black Expressions Book Club.


My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns (Violets are true), Paige’s Web, and Double Platinum are published under Kensington Books Urban Soul imprint. Be on the lookout for two new books in 2009 from Shelia – His Invisible Wife (July 2009) and her first teen book, The Ultimate Test (June 2009).

To read the rest of the interview, CLICK HERE.

The Raymond household got an early Christmas present as Usher and Tameka welcomed their new baby, Naviyd Ely Raymond, around 2:33 A.M. on Wednesday. The baby weighs in at 5 pounds and 13 ounces, according to Usher’s rep Simone Smalls of Simone Smalls Public Relations. To read more, go to Essence.com.

A lot of people don’t realize that you had a life in entertainment prior to being on the I Want to Work for Diddy show. Can you give them a brief overview of what you did prior to the show?
 
Wow, it’s really hard to sum it up and be brief but I’ll try my best.

Always keeping it real, your girl.
Poprah
 

Interview by Shelia M. Goss – entertainment writer and national best-selling author of Double Platinum, My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true and Paige’s Web. For additional info, visit www.sheliagoss.com.

I love to laugh but can’t tell a joke if you gave me the punch line. As I get older, I’m trying to enjoy life more–which includes laughing more. One man who could always make me laugh whenever I watched him in stand up or in a movie was Bernie Mac.  His laughter will be missed. 

Here are a few clips from some of Bernie Mac performances.

Warning: some profanity

This is a clip of Bernie Mac from The Kings of Comedy tour.

This is Bernie Mac talking about bad kids.

This is a clip of Bernie Mac from Friday.

This is a clip of Bernie Mac from House Party 3.

If you watched How to Be a Player, you probably remember this scene with Bernie Mac.

Read the LA Times article about Bernie Mac by clicking here.

After years of speculation, singer Beyoncé Knowles wed her longtime boyfriend, rapper Jay-Z, on Friday, a friend of the couple’s tells PEOPLE.

To read the article, CLICK HERE.

When it comes to celebrity weddings, I don’t know what all the secrecy is all about. If they did officially wed, congratulations!