A-LISTS theatre

MOYA ANGELA

DREAMS REALLY CAN COME TRUE!

by tony reverditto

Moya Angela is on tour in a fresh, modern and visually

spectacular version of Dreamgirls. Prior to getting cast in the demanding role of Effie, she was well prepped having recently come off a rigorous year in Disney’s The Lion King touring shows, in which she played Rafiki and Shenzi. Earlier in her career, she won two Encore Awards for her portrayal of Sara in Ragtime and Adapearle in The Wiz. She valiantly steps into the (Cinderella-like) journey she is experiencing while playing this role of a lifetime. Moya Angela capably joins the ranks of those who have played the classic role of Effie; Jennifer Holiday immortalized it on stage and Jennifer Hudson in the film.

Moya Angela as Effie in Dreamgirls

The Rage Monthly: Let me start by saying that I recently saw you in Dreamgirls at the Ahmanson Theatre in L.A. and you were fantastic.

Moya Angela: Thank you.

Rage: I really enjoyed it. You’re originally from Indianapolis. Are you still living there?

M.A.: I’m not really living anywhere. (She giggles) I was back there recently visiting my family though.

Rage: What was it like growing up there?

M.A.: It’s not really a small town. It’s about a million and a half

people. I grew up in a very diverse area; I was into show-choir a lot, so it was a very nice city to grow up in.

10

RAGE monthly | APRIL 2010

Rage: When did you first get interested in performing?

M.A.: It was kind of a slow start, I pretty much was always

trying to do what my older sisters where doing. So when they started leaving the nest, I decided that I really wanted to pursue singing.

Rage: What is the first production that you were in?

M.A: The very first one I most remember in high school was

Fiddler on the Roof. I was just in the chorus; the next was Wizard of Oz. But my first time doing a leading role in a show was The Wiz in Indianapolis. I came home from my first year in college for the summer and ended up getting that show. I also won an award for playing the role of Adapearle. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96