This week's edition of UPFRONT Inside the Entertainment Industry features iconic TV actor and Living Single star T.C. Carson, legendary model and actor Djimon Hounsou and rising talents Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Richard Phillips Jr.
Broadway Sensation Richard Phillips Jr is here to talk about starring in the revival of Caroline, or Change. The show is taking place now through January 9 at the historic Roundabout Theater and follows Caroline, an African American maid who works for a Jewish Family in 1963 Louisiana. The 12-year-old actor and singer also opens up about working with Broadway icon Billy Porter, creating a Mandarin Chinese curriculum and his hopes for the future.
New Orleans actor and singer Kelvin Harrison Jr. is here to chat about starring in the new musical Cyrano. In the film, Kelvin stars as Christian, a fierce soldier who finds himself in love with the town beauty, Roxanne. So, he enlists the help of Roxanne’s devoted friend and poet Cyrano De Bergerac, to help him express his love for her … only to find out that Cyrano is madly in love with Roxanne too. Kelvin talks about what attracted him to the role and being able to sing, which is his second love.
In addition to Kelvin, I also caught up with legendary model and actor Djimon Hounsou. He's starring in the new adventure, The King's Man and talked briefly about preparing for the role and the physical training he endured to create the film's elaborate fight scenes. Both conversations are part of the "Virtual AAFCA Roundtable Series."
Closing out the show is my conversation with actor and singer T.C. Carson. He's performing Sunday evening at City Winery Atlanta along with iconic TV star Malcolm Jamal Warner and acclaimed jazz guitarist, Doc Powell. The "sold-out" show promises to be an elegant mix of jazz standards, holiday classic and much more.
UPFRONT Inside the Entertainment Industry is produced and hosted by Ray Cornelius and is recorded from the campus of Clark Atlanta University. It is presented by the High Museum of Art.