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Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker

Dionne Figgins as Daisy Parker

 

 




Introduction to Dionne Figgins  1:03 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman.  Video Editing: Giovanni Borgeat.  Recorded:  3/10/2020, Miami Beach. 

 

DIONNE FIGGINS began her career as a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, dancing lead roles in Serenade, Four Temperaments, Agon, and Concerto Barocco, all by George Balanchine. She has also appeared as a guest artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Broadway Credits include Hot Feet, Memphis, Leap of Faith, and Motown The Musical. Regional credits include Sophisticated Ladies, The Wiz, Ray Charles Live, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Trip of Love, and Chicago. She is the co-founder of Broadway Serves, a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect theater professionals to community service opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad.

The videos below are organized by topic and run between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

 

SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 1:03 min.




Since you began your career as a dancer, when did you start singing professionally?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:   1:18 min.




What was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:  4:21 min.




How did you become aware of “A Wonderful World” and get the role of Daisy Parker?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:  2:21 min.




Having recorded video interviews with all the stars of the play, it’s evident that all of you are VERY invested in this play.

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:  3:42 min.




When you were researching the part, how much information could you find about Daisy Parker?

 

STRONG DRIVE FOR ACHIEVEMENT:  1:28 min.




The character of Daisy Parker is so rich that she deserves her own play.

 

UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:  4:22min.




Did the dialogue and dialects in the play ring true for you?

 

RESILIENCE:   0:46 sec.




Many Millennials make grammatical mistakes when they speak. I don’t know how that happened.

 

DEVELOP A VOICE:  4:13 min.




One of the great things about “A Wonderful World” is that we see Louis Armstrong through the eyes of four dynamic women, which should have even more resonance in the #MeToo era.

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:  5:26 min.




“Porgy and Bess” is one of my all-time favorite opera/musicals. “A Wonderful World” feels a lot like “Porgy and Bess” to me. What are your thoughts?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:  2:12 min.




As you know, “Porgy and Bess” was composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin (two Jews), and a libretto by DuBose Heyward. So I am glad to hear you say that an all-Black cast gives it authenticity, and that today the directors and choreographers are likely to be Black.