#BetweenRiversideAndCrazy at SecondStage at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway in NYC.
Hollywood Dialect Coach, #Denise Woods says..."Run, don't walk to see this Pulitzer winning show written by #StephenAdleyGuirgis"
Beautiful People,
Once again cultural ambassador #KojoAde invited me to see the phenomenal broadway show, #BetweenRiversideAndCrazy.
It is a riveting show that took us on an emotional roller-coaster of joy, pain, healing and hope.
Joining me were my GodDaughter, Naima Dobbs, Deborah Ballard and her partner, Claude.
Designer #SakinaAnsariWilson (daughter of August Wilson) was beaming joy after the performance as she and renown actor/director Daniel Bryant reunited with their dear friend and master actor #StephenMcKinleyHenderson.
#Daniel Bryant said and I quote... #BetweenRiversideAndCrazy is "Beautifully written and wonderfully acted. Stephen McKinley Henderson is simply brilliant at holding the story while making it look so easy. "
Ater the show, I also reunited with Clinton Lowe (Common's talented, wonderful understudy as Junior). He was enthusiastically on hand with his parents to show his support. I am looking forward to seeing him hit the stage. Like Common, he is a compassionate, gracious man who brings his best in every situation.
#LizaColonZayas and #RosalColon are both brilliant actresses who through their ebullient personalities brought multidimensional characters to life and reminded us to "never judge a book by its cover".
#VictorAlmanzar #ElizabethCanavan and #MichaelRispoli do a beautiful job of revealing the duality of humanity and the struggle to fit in.
This Pulitzer winning show is Hot, Hot, Hot!
Between "Riverside and Crazy"
allowed me to witness the dramatic mastery of #StephenMcKinleyHenderson. He is simply magnificent with a sense of humor that made me laugh till I cried!
His character, Mr. Washington is a recent widower who is a delusioned, injured, retired NYC police officer. He knows knows what it's like to have experienced racism on his job.
He's a smart and sometimes belligerent manwho speaks in raw language we might not expect.
He is also an alcoholic and in his day might well have been a ladies man. When the Church Lady played by the sensuous and hilarious #LizaColonZayas comes to visit we see them both come to life in extraordinary ways.
Mr. Washington and his son Junior played by Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winner #Common (whom many of you know I highly admire, support & respect), and a few of Junior's friends live in a palatial rent controlled apt on Riverside Drive and of course the landlord has served an eviction notice.
Though we don't know the whole story of Junior who was recently released from prison, but in MY MIND he is a booster/thief, player/ladies man with a hot, sexy woman that he doesn't know if he loves but wants to keep for the time being. It also seems like he's been in therapy so he desperately wants to heal himself and his relationship with his father.
We do know that Junior is enrolled in City College and wants to turn his life around. Unfortunately, old habits are hard to break. Junior's girl friend played by #RosalColon is extremely affectionate and a little sex crazed.
Kudos to this tremendous Ensemble Cast, led by #StephenMcKinleyHenderson and the Entire Second Stage Team!
Thanks #KojoAde for a great night.
#BetweenRiversideAndCrazy at SecondStage at the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway in NYC Is a Must See Show!
Always, Melony 💫❤️💫
aka Miss Mellie Rainbow 🌈
https://playbill.com/article/at-73-years-old-stephen-mckinley-henderson-is-finally-playing-the-lead-on-broadwayfbclid=IwAR08xuMFyiNDU04eEY7Cefw9UTtmRyV5sWXl3GRTCyuLSTg526AAF4y3lSU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
