There is a slight chance that a friend of mine will get to interview Anika sometime in the next two weeks. From what she's been told, the article is supposed to introduce the readers to the Dreamgirl noone is really talking about.
Of course she has an idea of what she'll ask but I told her I'd post here to get some additional feedback on what you'd want to know about her.
Post your questions for her and I'll pass them along should this interview actually happen.
Thanks! I'll update when I know more. Updated On: 3/5/07 at 06:46 PM
"In theater, the process of it is the experience. Everyone goes through the process, and everyone has the experience together. It doesn't last - only in people's memories and in their hearts. That's the beauty and sadness of it. But that's life - beauty and the sadness. And that is why theater is life." - Sherie Rene Scott
Bill Condon mentioned that she improvised a lot and that he left as much of it as he could on the final cut, what were some of the portions she improvised (if she remembers)?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Are the Juliet/Sarah (in NYCO's Ragtime) rumors true? Not that she can answer that, but it's what I want to know.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Some additional info... this would be for a tiny local Harlem publication. I don't know if that helps you decide what to ask or not. Once again, I'll keep you updated.
In my opinion, I thought she was leaps and bounds ahead of Beyonce in Dreamgirls, and she stood up there with Effie but, obviously, as the smaller role of the two, was overshadowed by J-Hud.
"The nice thing about the rain is that it always stops... eventually."
If you could...Tonya Pinkins was an acting coach of mine and I embroidered Ms. Rose a change purse when I visited Tonya in Caroline that read "Change" and ANR. Ms. Veanne Cox took it from me and said she would pass it on. Not that I don't trust Ms. Cox (I adore her), but I've always wondered if she received it. Thanks!
Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/
Are there any actors that you'd really like to have the chance to work with?
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
1) Has your success in film been as fulfilling personally for you as your success in theater? Is it going to be hard for you to top "Dreamgirls" after having such film success on your relative early time out?
2) There are rumors you may be taking on the legendary role of Bess in the Broadway transfer of "Porgy and Bess" this coming season. Are there any truth to the rumors? If so, what drew you to the project and the role?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Does she feel that she was overlooked in all of the press for the movie Dreamgirls?
I would like to know if she is aware of how well received "Caroline or Change" (Which I saw her Tony Award winning performance in) was in London as opposed to how it was received on Broadway. Tony Kushner made his thoughts public and I wonder if she has any thoughts on it? And will she return to Broadway.
The interview went great and she was told that she WILL be hearing from them. I think they are just waiting to hear from one more person who will be coordinating this to finalize everything.