Entertainment

Sandra Varner Sits Down with Tika Sumpter

Published

11 years ago

December 12, 2013

Celebrity Profiles by Sandra Varner/Talk2SV

Tyler Perry’s latest film offering, A Madea’s Christmas, features Tika Sumpter, in this holiday comedy, set in a struggling Midwest community hit by hard economic times yet bound together by dedication and faith.

The synopsis describes the fast-paced, 90-minute romp thusly; Madea accompanies her niece, Eileen (inveterate funny lady Anna Maria Horsford), to pay a surprise visit to Eileen’s daughter, Lacy (the attractive and insightful Sumpter), who has mysteriously informed her that she is not coming home for Christmas.

Not hearing any of that, Madea and Eileen head to Buck Tussel, the small town where Lacy teaches grade school and lives on a farm with hubby, Connor (Eric Lively). The marriage has also been kept a secret from Eileen for fear of judgmental backlash.

The funny is sandwiched between the comedic antics of Larry the Cable Guy and Kathy Najimy as Buddy and Kim, Connor’s parents, straight from good-hearted, ol’ boy central casting, joined with Horsford and Perry for a barrage of quips, one-liners and signature Madea-isms.

During press interviews in New York, I sat with Sumpter–who centers The Haves and The Have Nots, Perry’s arrestingly good primetime drama on the OWN channel–to discuss the film and the future.

Your character in A MADEA’S CHRISTMAS is a very caring teacher with affinity for Bailey, a young male student torn between family commitments and his love of learning. What type of student were you?

T. Sumpter: I was a very happy student; friends with everyone; every group, whether they were the black jackets, or wore the long black trench coats to the cheerleaders, to the really smart people. I was just friends with everyone. Pretty much a B student but I was also president of my class for three years and the first black cheerleader on the squad. I was probably the glue that sort of brought people together if somebody didn’t like someone. I always felt people shouldn’t put down anyone else because they’re just like you.

It sounds as if Bailey, the student, could easily have grown into Lacy, the teacher.

T. Sumpter: Yes! That’s a good connection. That totally could be Lacy. Lacy is just trying to help people out, a school that she loves, the students that she loves and the town that she’s grown to love with her husband. She just wants things to be right but sometimes she goes about it in ways that are not the direct path to doing the right thing.

When we talk about choosing paths let’s talk about the path to love. You’re the perfect package: beauty, brains, successful and for some, they may find the whole of you a bit hard to get their arms around. Have you had a problem in that regard…getting the right relationship?

T. Sumpter: Well, thank you so much for thinking of me so highly. You know, it’s funny because I don’t want to say people are intimidated because I think that’s silly but I do think that I give off an, “I’m taken” kind of vibe, maybe. Maybe people think I’m not single because they’re thinking, ‘how could you not be single?’ To that, I go to bed by myself every night. Yeah, I mean, it would be great to share all of this with someone but, of course, they have to be the right person. They have to come correct as we may say. I would love to be able to share all of this with someone.

You do have a glossy veneer, I mean, you were a model. Did you feel any connection to Lacy and farm life?

T. Sumpter: It’s so weird because ‘you say’ a model but I modeled for K-Mart. I wasn’t like Naomi Campbell (laughter). When I think of model I think of Naomi, Cindy, and that whole era. My family is from North and South Carolina so I love being in the dirt. I love just wearing boots and hanging out, playing and laughing in the fields—that was how it was. We were laughing the whole time on set and it was easy, no pretentious vibe, nothing. That’s my kind of people and I like that.

Eileen and Lacy didn’t always agree on how she was living and who she chose to marry. Describe the relationship with your mother and advice she gave that seems to go along with you every step of the way?

T. Sumpter: My mom is like my backbone, she’s my best friend. You know, it was the things that she didn’t say, it was her actions that spoke way louder to me, she persevered through a lot; she didn’t complain about it, she did what she had to do for us, for her kids. I think that stuck with me. Times seeing the car break down and she had to make another way; when we didn’t have much food, she had to make a way; every time that she had to make a way, she kept going and that spoke volumes to me. I was a little girl and remember seeing it over and again so it was what she didn’t say.

With her example in front of you, what imprint are you making?

T. Sumpter: I’m still trying to make an imprint and trying to figure out what I am here to do? I know it’s a higher calling than anything I could ever dream of and I’m not just talking about money and success. I feel there’s a bigger reason why I am here and I get inspiration from women everywhere. Sometimes there’s a lot of negativity amongst women and sometimes we tear each other down or there’s even other people tearing us down, making us think we don’t deserve what we should get but, I want to inspire women across the world to be the best. You are your only ‘you’ and your only competition. Nobody else has your DNA, unless you’re a twin. I want to inspire others to just live their best life.

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Arts and Culture

Promise Marks Performs Songs of Etta James in One-Woman Show, “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley

“The (show) is a fictional story about a character named Etta, aka Lady Peaches,” said Marks. “She falls in love with Johnny Rhythm, leader of the Rhythm Players Band and headliners of Madam G’s Glitta Lounge.” Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

Published

11 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo Courtesy Of Promise Marks.

Special to the Post

It was “A Sunday Kind of Love” at the Black Repertory Group Theater in Berkeley on Saturday night, Dec. 7. The one-woman musical based on the music of Etta James featured the multi-talented singer Promise Marks

Marks, who wrote and directed the musical, also owns PM Productions.

Marks channeled the essence of Etta James, singing favorites such as “Sugar on the Floor” and “At Last.”

In between her soulful songs, Marks narrated impactful moments of the love story and journey of blues and forgiveness.

Marks sultry voice carried the audience back to an era that echoed with the power of Black music and a time of great change.

Marks said James shared love for the Black community by singing at gatherings during the Civil Rights Movement uplifting the people.

“She spoke to the movement, spoke to the people, and let her music speak for itself,” Marks said.

Backing the musical’s monologues, images and videos of Etta James are projected for the audience to view. While the production is fictional, Marks infused script with the unfairness and heartbreak James experienced while performing.

Marks performed gospel artist Donnie McClurkin’s “We Fall Down” as she narrated acts of reconciliation and forgiveness among the characters at Johnny Rhythm’s deathbed.

Marks, who regularly sings for the Miss America Pageant, was asked to perform as Etta James last year. “(At the event) a lady yelled out to me: ‘You’re Etta James!’ And then the audience went crazy. I said to myself, ‘I may have something here,’” she said.

Within 12 months, Marks created the musical production, which featured a dozen songs honoring “the great legacy of Etta James,” she said.

Marks says she was saddened to see how Etta James was often judged by the struggles in her life and wanted to offer attendees a more layered view.

“Etta’s life was so big. I want people to know that she was more than her drug addiction,” said Marks. “We can’t make that her legacy. Her catalog is too amazing. You can’t just be that and have the catalog that she (created). I don’t want the addiction to be the focus: I want her music, her element, her sassiness, and what she brought to be the focus – her woman-ness, that she was strong, and I wanted to honor that.”

Set Designer Nora Burnette says she created the set segments to mirror James’ life story. A set designer for BRG since 2016, she explained that her process of researching the scenario and the character serve as her inspiration for her design.

“I try to design a set as close to real life as possible so that the actress can deliver the performance sincerely,” said Burnette. “By creating the right setting, it helps the actors release the true essence of a character.”

The set brought the story to life and absolutely floored Marks. “Once Promise (Marks) saw the actual set, she understood my vision: ‘Wow, you get me. You get it,'” Marks told the designer.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins, Etta James, began her career in 1954 and gained fame with hits such “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.” She faced a number of personal problems, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album “Seven Year Itch.”

Co-producer and BRG Development Director, Sean Vaughn Scott, works with Overseer Production. According to producer Pamela Spikes, “Marks talent truly does Etta’s life story justice.”

Pam Jacobs of Hercules, a friend of Marks’ mom, Jackie Smith, said, Marks “was fabulous and sang all of those songs flawlessly.”

“I’m so proud of my daughter,” said Smith.

Marks, who has served as an instructor for BRG, will return on Feb. 21- 23 for an encore run of the musical.

“It’s an honor to be a part of the BRG (Black Repertory Group) family and continue our executive director Dr. Mona Vaughn Scott’s vision for the Black Repertory Group theater,” said Marks.

The Black Repertory Group Theatre is located at 3201 Adeline St., Berkeley, CA 94703. For information, visit: BlackRepertoryGroup.com

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Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

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5 days ago

December 13, 2024

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Black Talk Radio Network’s Recent Podcast Offers Perspective on Nov. 5 Election

“Time for an Awakening” is a Black Talk Radio Network program that runs on Sundays from 7-9 p.m. According to the program’s website, past guests have included Dr. Molefi Asanta, BaBa Ashra Kwesi, BaBa Runoko Rashidai, Dr. Leonard Jeffies, Michelle Alexander. Boyce Watkins, State of Black Farmers series and many others.

Published

1 week ago

December 8, 2024

Oakland Post

Dr. Gerald Horne, left, Obi Egbuna Jr., right. Courtesy image.

Special to The Post

University of Houston Professor of African American Studies Professor Dr. Gerald Horne and renowned speaker and advocate for Pan-African unity, Obi Egbuna Jr, were in conversation on the podcast “Time for an Awakening” hosted by Bro. Elliott and Bro. Richard on Dec. 1.

“Time for an Awakening” is a Black Talk Radio Network program that runs on Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

According to the program’s website, past guests have included Dr. Molefi Asanta, BaBa Ashra Kwesi, BaBa Runoko Rashidai, Dr. Leonard Jeffies, Michelle Alexander. Boyce Watkins, State of Black Farmers series and many others.

With the election in the rearview mirror, Horne, a historian, and author of “The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism” and “Jazz and Justice: Racism and the Political Economy of the Music,” raised the idea of a Black International Front Conference.

He described proposed locations and the need for independent political organizing in Black communities across the country, with a focus on local elections and alternatives to the direction of Black political leadership.

Joining the conversation in the second hour with valuable information was the External Relations officer to the Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Association, and former correspondent to the Herald, Zimbabwe’s national newspaper, Obi Egbuna Jr. A poet and playwright, Egbuna is most known for his passion in creating ties within and among the people and nations of the African diaspora.

He has organized chapters of the Pan African Student Youth Movement in St. Louis, Missouri, Seattle Washington, Charlottesville Virginia and Chicago, Illinois, Egbuna has also written several Resolutions to the United Nations covering a wide range of issues, including HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe and Police Brutality issues in the United States.

To listen to the podcast, please go to https://timeforanawakening.com/?powerpress_pinw=111154-podcast.

Sources for this story include Wikipedia and Time for an Awakening media.