By Victoria Looseleaf
They call her ‘Ms. Allen.’ And with good cause. She’s a force of nature and has been respected and beloved in the entertainment world for decades. The Leaf recently had the honor of writing a cover story for Dance Teacher Magazine about Ms. Allen, a sextuple-hyphenate (dancer/actor/choreographer/director/writer/producer) and all-around magnificent human being. (Click here to read the feature.)
And for KUSC-FM radio, The Leaf spoke to Debbie Allen about her storied career, including helming and choreographing Twist – An American Musical that recently ended its run at Pasadena Playhouse. The musical, btw, was composed by Grammy-winner Tena Clark, who also talks about working with the indomitable Ms. Allen in the interview. (Click here to listen.)
If, by chance, dear readers, some of you may not know of Debbie Allen, let’s just say that she earned a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Anita on Broadway in a revival of West Side Story in 1980, and is also the only actor to have appeared in Fame the movie, (also 1980), the television show (1984-87), and the remake of the film in 2009. She’s also been artist-in-resident at the Kennedy Center since 1995, where she has directed and, more recently, written, a host of memorable plays. As to smashing glass ceilings, Ms. Allen directed the first all-black cast of the 2008 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The groundbreaking production starred Ms. Allen’s sister, Phylicia Rashad, James Earl Jones, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose.
Ms. Allen also directs episodic TV, including Grey’s Anatomy and Hellcats. And the hits keep coming…including receiving an honorary doctorate from Spelman College (along with her sister and First Lady Michelle Obama). How cool is that! And finally, closer to home, Debbie Allen’s most enduring legacy may be her Los Angeles-based Debbie Allen Dance Academy, a wonderful organization whose students go on to succeed on Broadway, in films and…in life.
Debbie Allen, a mega-talent, keeps on keeping on, including giving back by passing her knowledge down from generation to generation, dance body to dance body.
All hail Ms. Debbie Allen!
