re: Jennifer Holliday: 'What the public doesn't understand is that I actually created my role'- Page 4

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:53pm

i didnt mean it as an put-down!
i meant it as a title she should try to live UP to!

*a real diva wouldnt be on some tawdry show like INSIDE EDITION...

[Danielm]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:59pm

Jennifer Holliday is certainly not a one trick pony and she does more than make one song sound good. I once saw her sing "Wind Beneath My Wings" a song I detest--yet she made me love it. It is too bad she is so difficult (in the Michael Bennett biography she sounds like a total nightmare) because she is an amazing talent.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 8:04pm

Yes...Henry Krieger wrote the music to the 4 new songs appearing in the film. Beyonce Knowles helped with the lyrics to her solo "Listen" with other collaborators. Don't know the other lyricists who helped with the other 3 songs.

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 8:06pm

I have always thought that Miss Holliday was a Great Talent, but I never understood why her career stalled. Did she ever do Broadway again? Does she ever do concerts? I would love to see her!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 8:09pm

"He liked her personally, though--she talked about how the sudden rush into fame at such a young age had gone to her head and caused innumerable bad decisions and fractured friendships."

Oh, come on! That is crap. She is playing the blame game. Her fame didn't have everything to do with that stuff.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 9:50pm

I think that too many of the recent moviw musicals have been carbon copies of their broadway shows. It's good to see a fresh new cast in the roles. Chicago seemed to work :)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 10:39pm

"Did she ever do Broadway again? Does she ever do concerts? I would love to see her!"

She did Chicago for a summer, playing Mamma Morton. She does concerts a lot. I assume that's how she makes a living these days, is from concerts. She also still plays Effie every now and then.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 10:50pm

From broadwayworld.com...

Tony- and Grammy Award-winning Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday will be among the stars of On, Girl, a new song cycle that will be presented in a developmental "Uncharted" Series concert at Ars Nova (511 W. 54th St.) on December 5th at 8 PM.

Holliday, whose other Broadway credits include Chicago and Grease, will be joined by Soara-Joye Ross (Dessa Rose), Shayna Steele (Hairspray) and Sharon Wilkins (All Shook Up) for the musical.

On, Girl features music by Lewis Flinn and lyrics by Spring Awakening's Steven Sater. According to Ars Nova notes, the show is "an R&B-infused song cycle (that) follows 4 women through a journey of love, loss and getting on with it."

Visit www.arsnovanyc.com for tickets and more information.

[soulman83]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 12:54am

I have to say that i am pretty disturbed by the thread. I mean clearly it sucks to read something like this from jennifer holliday when dreamgirls is getting so much attention. I mean its an attempt at not being forgotten. The truth is, that she hasnt been forgotten. People sing "And i am telling you" all the time. Every big black woman apollo has sang it before. Bianca Ryan, etc. Everyone. Its a song that wouldnt have been without her voice. its that simple. I do think its rude to not give the original dreamgirls cameos (except for loretta who is in the movie). Its flat out rude. Especially, since the people connected to the film obviously went through an audition of about 800 people to find the perfect woman who is now jennifer Hudson. We all compared jennifer hudson to J. Holliday since the beginning. Ms. Holliday is kind of right about some of the things in the interview. I hope that they invite her to the premiere and she is honored and respected and acknowledged. The truth is, this musical would have never been what it is today if it wasnt for her input and her breathtaking performance in the show. Damn, it would have been great to have some interviews with the OBC and the movie cast sitting together on oprah. Bottom line, it would be a whole lot more special if they pull it all together. Soon everyone will be saying, well its not Jennifer Hudson who created the role and she cant do what jennifer did. blah blah blah. In fact, almost everyone interested in dreamgirls on this board brings up J. Holliday to compare her with jennifer hudson in the movie. lets not bash the woman...she isnt really that in the wrong here. i mean i would be pissed too. This show IS her. she is forever connected.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 4:26am

Obviousy an AMAZING contribution to the piece...I wll never dispute this as I am an enormous fan, BUT she originated and helped shape the role,as MANY in tony/theatre history have...Honestly, take a breath and grasp reality, enjoy the fame from what you have created and have an ounce of dignity as others make what you created MANY years ago live again... IN YOUR NAME, celebrating YOU...beyond that you reap what you sow...

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 10:21am

UPDATE FOR THOSE CLUELESS ONES:

Miss Bitter, er, Jennifer Holliday HAS been invited to the film's premiere and she has stated that she WILL be attending.

As she's always done once the spotlight is turned back to her, even if it's for a millisecond, she will apologize to everyone involved and will also make her peace with everything.

There WILL be an overslaught of photos of Jennifer Hudson and Miss Holliday, along with Miss Holliday praising Ms. Hudson's performance including her changing her tune regarding her "my performance is being copied" remark.

Love will be in the air as we see the original Broadway Dreams posing with the film-version Dreams.

Even though she's embarrassed herself via her comments, etc. Miss Holliday's will have won with this sad attempt at being remembered. Her "this time...Effie White's gonna win!" stance came true. She's one-step shy of almost being invited to the Academy Awards if she doesn't fu*k up again.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 10:43am

This whole thread is another example of the tabloid journalism mentality that has taken over the entertainment business. It was heartbreaking to see the inverview on TV. I was passing by the show when I saw her face and stopped (missing an excellent episode of Law and Order SUV) and was sickened, not by what she had to say, which was sad, but because the TV show was exploiting someone with obvious issues about the show and movie. She's well into her 40's and can't possibly play the role on film, yet the interviewer never mentioned this to her. She says she helped create the role, okay, fine. Very VERY rarely has ANY actor from the stage been asked to do the movie version. Those that have have usually owned a piece of the show and had bargaining power (note, this is the SECOND Bennett production we've had this discussion over lately).

I'm afraid Ms. Holliday is going to have to settle for whatever acclaim she derived 25 years ago and move on.

And as to why she's not in the movie, I'm sure the phrase "too difficult to work with" came up during the casting of the smaller roles. Loretta Devine, on the other hand, has had a good, long career (interestingly enough including playing a nutty diva on "Boston Public". I wonder who she based that role on?)

[kevs]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:13pm

I fear for Holliday's mental stability. Seriously. She's obviously delusional if she thought she should seriously be considered for the film role. And she's admitted she's attempted suicide and suffers from clinical depression. I feel really sorry for her. She seems to be stuck in the past, longing for her glory days. I wonder why she doesn't get up and do something creative? Why doesn't she write songs, or start a band or something? I mean, anything? I've suffered from depression, and I can't imagine living in the past for 25 years. Yeah, so life didn't turn out the way you wanted it to. Get up. Do something. Stop being so damn bitter.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:28pm

It's not as if she's done nothing for the past 25 years. She starred in two shows back in the 80s -- SING MAHALIA SING and HARLEM SUITE -- which toured, but never made it to Broadway. She's released five albums -- four r&b, one gospel and received a Grammy for a recording of Ellington's "Come Sunday" -- that she promoted around the country, but only sold modestly (her powerhouse voice, which can be electrifying live, has never fared well on mainstream radio -- with the exception of her Grammy-winning performance of "And I Am Telling You" which hit the top 40 and topped the r&b charts for 4 weeks). She's also had several dance hits that received a lot of play in clubs. She's been back to Broadway twice (CHICAGO and GREASE) and done several guest spots on tv (notably on "Ally McBeal"). She also wrote and starred in a musical bio of Bessie Smith, DOWNHEARTED BLUES, that played off-Broadway several years ago (and she performed a number from the show on Rosie to promote it). She's also done thousands of concerts and benefits over the last 25 years.

So, it's not as if she hasn't worked. It's just that nothing has been as acclaimed and high profile as her time in DREAMGIRLS in NY & LA.

[kevs]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 6:57pm

Yeah, I know she's worked. (Except I didn't know about GREASE-Who did she play? Teen Angel?) But I still get the impression that she's clinging to the past, because she's not really creating antything now. I thought-and I think it was you who posted it?-that her career now mainly consists of singing AITY at gay weddings. I guess that pays the bills, but that can't be fulfilling if that's all she's doing. Same goes for showing up to sing "The Song" with an orchestra or at a benefit. That seems to be all she does. Maybe there will be some renewed interest in her career with the movie, but I just don't see the drive.
Updated On: 11/29/06 at 06:57 PM

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 9:06pm

Sorry Daphne was NOt gracious when it camr ot thr RENT movie. She through a **** fit like NO OTHER. There wan an article on her webpage once, and it made her look like a totaly diva.

I can understand being hurt, but its the business. get over it...that's why people are told to grow a thick skin.

Plus Daphne's bitch ass has never even seen the movie. Now you tell me that's being gracious.