South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Erivo approached role with pride and respect
Actor hopes to do Franklin justice in NatGeo miniseries
NEW YORK — The Tony Awards could bring Cynthia Erivo another Emmy.
Days after the British performer belted Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” during a red carpet interview at the 2019 Tonys — explaining that it’s her guilty pleasure song — she got a call from the producers of the National Geographic series “Genius: Aretha.”
“I was like, ‘I beg your pardon,’ ” she continued. “In my head, I’m like, ‘There is another film happening, and I’m excited to see that, so what is this?’ ”
NatGeo had already completed series on Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso and wanted to focus on the life of Franklin, who died 2018.
When Erivo went to meet with the producers, she had a bit of an epiphany. “Nothing else was playing in the hotel, it was just mood music,” she said. “All of a sudden ‘Day Dreaming’ comes on as I go to sit down. I’m like, ‘Am I the only one that noticed that?’
“I was like, ‘Either you planned that or someone’s trying to tell me something,’ ” she said laughing.
Fast forward two years, and Erivo, 34, is playing the Queen of Soul in the eight-episode series debuting March 21. “Respect,” a film about Franklin starring Jennifer Hudson, will be released in August.
Erivo’s performance in Broadway’s “The Color Purple” won her a Tony, Emmy and Grammy, and she was a double Oscar nominee for “Harriet.”
This interview with Erivo has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What does Aretha mean to you?
A: She means the world to me. As a singer, I truly believe that my job is to communicate and tell the stories that sometimes are difficult for people to tell for themselves ... Aretha did that with her eyes closed. She had a wonderful way of communicating the things that she had been through, through song.
Q: She has this thing by which she can take someone else’s song and make it her own.
A: Totally, and it’s such a special thing. Not only does she take the song and make it her own, she takes the song, and you forget it was someone else’s. That to me, it’s a really special thing that she was able to do. I don’t know that people realize that “Respect” wasn’t her song first.
She finds messaging in
songs, in music that you didn’t realize were there in the first place. I don’t know how, but she always managed to find a way into a song that you didn’t know existed. I know that this might not be a popular opinion, but when she did her version of (Adele’s) “Rolling in the Deep,” I was like, “Huh, never heard this song like this before. Didn’t think about this song like this before.” At that point because she was an older woman singing this song, you’re like, all the experience that this person must have gone through to get to this point, I didn’t hear this before. Now I’m hearing it with her voice. She was one of a kind, truly.
Q: Did you get a chance to meet her?
A: I met her the first time when she’d come to a performance of “The Color Purple.” I didn’t know she
was there. When I saw her, I felt like an idiot because I was just in shock. There is Miss Aretha Franklin standing in front of me, and I’ve just finished singing a show in her presence, oh my goodness. How do I do this? She was funny and lovely. She sang the last line of “I’m Here” back to me. That was a moment I had to put my heart back together. I was like, “This is happening for real.” She was wonderful. When you meet someone like that, you don’t think they’ll remember your face. I met her again at the Kennedy Center Honors. … She remembered me. She said, “You’re the girl who was in that play. You can sing. You can sing.” I was like, “Yes that’s me. Thank you very much.”
Q: Were you hesitant to play her?
A: It’s about wanting
to make sure you do her justice (and) put as much truth in it as you possibly can. There is only one Aretha Franklin, so no one can be Aretha Franklin, but you can put as much grace and truth into the reenacting of her, the realization of her so you can tell the story in the right way. I guess if I wasn’t nervous, I wouldn’t care.
Q: How do you feel about the people who say, “Cynthia doesn’t really look like Aretha?”
A: No, in the same way that Diana Ross didn’t really look like Billie Holiday, but she did an incredible, incredible job when she did “Lady Sings the Blues.” ... I don’t think anyone does look like Aretha. If you found someone who looks like Aretha who couldn’t do the work, who can’t sing the songs, then that’s where you have a problem.
I’d rather someone that doesn’t look like her but can give me the essence.
Q: How has it been playing real-life icons?
A: It’s a huge honor and it’s part of what I want for my lifetime — to be able to tell these stories of women whose stories wouldn’t get the chance to be told, whose stories deserve to be told. The more I can do that whether it be Harriet, Aretha or a woman you don’t know about who I’ve done the research to find out about, I want to keep bringing these stories to the forefront because they deserve to be told.
Q: There’s been so much conservation about Black British actors taking roles away from Black American actors. What are your thoughts?
A: I hope we get to a place where we understand that my telling a story doesn’t mean the story can’t be told again. I think the way I tell a story is one version and this just should serve as the introduction to someone else going, “Oh I’m going to tell the story again.” We have many stories, many versions of the Marilyn Monroe story ... we have many versions of Abe Lincoln. There are so many versions of these stories, but our stories aren’t told over and over again. We don’t have that. I hope that this only serves as fire. We’ve had it told once, let’s tell that again. Let’s tell this part of the story. …
As a British actress, before I am that I’m a Black woman. My job is just to tell the story just as truthfully as I possibly can. That doesn’t have to be the only story that gets told. My version shouldn’t be the only version to get told. I hope many versions get told. … Hopefully outside of being the actress, I can create a space where the stories that we want to be told again get told again.
• $500 off monthly service fee for the first 24 months.
• $500 packing and moving allowance (credited in first month).
• Plus, two vouchers to our onsite salon!
Now’s the time to welcome new possibilities by making The Club your home. The rates for our health- and wellness-centered assisted living and memory care are truly all-inclusive, so you never have to worry about additional charges. Residents enjoy an uplifting, supportive environment with a licensed nurse available onsite 24 hours a day/7 days a week. And there’s no need to evacuate in case of a hurricane — residents at The Club enjoy air conditioning and other superior comforts in their ownsafe, climate-controlled apartments.
This is a list of reader-submitted events, virtual and in-person. CDC social distancing and other guidelines apply. Please use the contact information to verify details. All programs and activities are subject to change.
South Florida Classic Dog Show, final day,
7 a.m.-6 p.m. March 14. Presented by the Boca Raton Dog Club and the Palm Beach County Dog Fanciers Association. Hundreds of dogs and their owners strut their stuff in the show ring at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach bit.ly/2Ode4sV.
‘In Time of Protest’ art exhibition, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday through March 14. Curated by Rolando Chang Barrero, exhibit features “Louder,” by Aaron Schwartz, among others on display at the Miramar Cultural Center in the Ansin Family Art Gallery. 954-602-4525. miramarculturalcenter.org.
The Wizard of Oz, 3-4 p.m. March 14. Follow the yellow brick road to enjoy this musical live onstage at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Miami. 305-4449293. actorsplayhouse.org.
$25.
The Bronx Wanderers, 5:30 and 8 p.m. March
14. Tap into the sounds of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll. BackLot Live Series with entertainment under the starts at the all-new outdoor stage in the Lillian S. Wells Backstage Plaza. Seating allows for 6 feet between pods; tickets available in sets of
2, 4 or 6 at BrowardCenter. org or Ticketmaster.com. Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
$30-up.
ArtsGarage: Tas Cru & His Band of Tortured Souls, 7 p.m. March 14. Arts Garage, 94 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. 561-4506357. artsgarage.org.
$35-$40.
Love Letters by A.R. Gurney presented by West Boca Theatre Company, 7-9 p.m. March
14. Part of The Courtyard Series, this performance follows the journey of two lifelong friends. Levis JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Ave. South, Boca Raton.
561-558-2512. levisjcc.org/ culture/theater. $20. Open to the public.
‘Beyond the Shimmering Waters: Everglades & Immokalee Photography,’ current exhibit hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through May. History Fort Lauderdale, New River Inn, 231 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Docent guided tours at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. $7-$15. CDC guidelines apply. historyfortlauderdale.org.
Festival of the Arts Boca, 7-10 p.m. through March 16. Virtual performances by Florida-based artists are streamed only once. Access is free with advance registration. 561-571-5270. bit.
ly/37WUc44.
Into America’s Wild, March 16-18. This is a nonstop ride via kayak, bike, train, hot air balloon, zip line, kite and surfboard to some of the most remote landscapes of America, narrated by Morgan Freeman. AutoNation IMAX Theater, Museum of Discovery and Science,
401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. 954-467-6637. Times and prices vary. mods.org.
FAU Palm Beach Virtual Book Festival,
4 p.m. March 19-20. First Zoom panel: “World War II Heroines in the Shadows: Codes, Cunning and Covert Ops.” See other sessions, books and ticket info at fauevents.com or call
561-297-6124. Tickets $10 per session or 25 for all 4.
World Planting Day,
10 a.m. March 21. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center invites you to exercise your green thumb as the center virtually shares some fun and practical ideas about growing plants. For ages
10-adult. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton.
561-544-8605. facebook. com/GumboLimboNatureCenter. Free.
Dance class for kids with special needs, 10-11 a.m. through March 21. Classes designed for children with special needs while developing motor and social skills, strength, flexibility, body awareness, expressive language and more. Meg Segreto’s Dance Centre, 12900 W. State Road 84, Davie. 954-5305959. After first free class,
$5 suggested donation. Spring Garden Tea Party, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. March
24. Part of a Women’s Empowerment Series at Community Art Garden,
346 SW Sixth Ave., Delray Beach. Features motivational speaker Dani Spikes on “Wellness from Within.”
$35-$45 to benefit Milagro Center. Attendees encouraged to wear their favorite spring hat and mask. RSVP: rrodriguez@milagrocenter. org, visit MilagroCenter.org or call 561-279-2970.
Broward Center sensory-friendly ‘All Abilities’
Israel Small Group VIP Tours
series,
11 a.m. March 27. Families can enjoy virtural interactive theater games. Artist Jill Lustig will teach acting and improv techniques through a variety of games and activities. No prior experience required. Additional programs upcoming on April 17 and May 8. Visit BrowardCenter.org, and Facebook.com/ BrowardCenter. Free.
Charles & Jackson Pollock exhibit, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through March 28. Nearly 70 paintings and works on paper by older brother Charles, the exhibition presents a small, intimate selection of works revealing a Jackson Pollock little known to the general public. The Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6557227. fourarts.org. $10; children under 14 free.
Annual Broward County Waterway Cleanup, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends through March
28. Clean up any weekend (or every weekend). Online registration required. Download and use the Clean Swell app to record your activity. Community service hours available for students. Multiple Locations, see website for locations. 954-524-2733. waterwaycleanup.org. Free.
Play Readers’ Series: Race On The American Stage, 3-5 p.m. through March 28. Via Zoom from Fort Lauderdale. 954-6107263. bit.ly/3pfPzJi.
$15-$30.
The Blank Slate exhibition. Exhibit runs through March 29. Features new series by Domenic Esposito and select pieces of his signature work addressing the opioid crisis. Gallery open Tuesday-Saturday
11-6 p.m. or by appointment. The Box Gallery,
786-521-1199. TheBoxGallery.info.
Westfield Broward mall events: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Island SPACE Caribbean Museum every Thursday-Sunday through, March 30. Westfield Broward, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. westfield.
com/ broward.
Contemporary American artist Philip Haas: The Four Seasons,
10 a.m.-5 p.m. through March 31. Displayed in the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden, this group of painted fiberglass sculptures are inspired by the portrait series of the Italian Mannerist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6557227. fourarts.org. Free. Open weather permitting.
‘Biscayne Bay: Our Water, Our World’ exhibit, noon-5 p.m. through March 31. Features historic photographs, contemporary images and the Coral City Camera, provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the importance of protecting and preserving Biscayne Bay. Dade Heritage Trust,
190 SE 12th Terrace, Miami. 305-910-3996. dadeheritagetrust.org/ exhibits. Free.
NSU Art Museum extends exhibit. Ongoing. ”From Pencil to Paint” by William J. Glackens will remain until spring at the NSU Art Museum in Fort Lauderdale. See new exhibition with the South Florida Cultural Consortium and more virtual tours at nsuartmuseum.org.
Fort Lauderdale Parks & Rec hosts ‘Hot Pot Cuisines.’ 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays through April
5. Teens, 12-18, will learn to create international cuisines from different cultures while learning a lifelong skill. Riverland Park, 950 SW 27th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. fortlauderdale.gov/recreation.
954-828-5320. $30. Hyperreal Landscape: Mary Claire Becker & Taryn McMahon. Campus exhibition runs through April 7. Bailey Hall at Broward College, 3501 SW, Davie Road, Davie. 954-2016843. bit.ly/3acaTtU. Free with Eventbrite registration.
JazzAid Live, 8 p.m. April 10. Enjoy this streaming show for some cool (virtual) jazz while fundraising for World Central Kitchen by Chef Jose Andres. Presented by Pinecrest Gardens, at the Banyan Bowl Amphitheater, Miami. 305-669-6990. pinecrestgardens.org/ jazzaid. $15 a performance.
ArtServe’s ‘Changing Landscapes’ exhibit to boost environmental awareness, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday through April 22. Features ecologically thematic multimedia artwork. ArtServe,
1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-462-8190. artserve.org. Free.
In-person art classes at Coral springs Museum of Art, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m., days vary, through April 24. The winter and spring schedules for art classes and workshops are available for toddlers, children, teens, and adults. Coral Springs Museum of Art, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Suite A.
954-340-5000. Register at coralspringsmuseum.org.
$62-up.
Lincoln Road Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays through May 9. More than 100 dealers offer art, pottery, jewelry, paintings, furniture, rugs, sculpture, curios, books, posters, knickknacks, clothing and more. Lincoln Road Mall,
1100 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. 305-673-4991. antiquecollectiblemarket. com. Free.
‘The Black Print’ exhibit. See exhibit during mall hours, now through May 12. Includes works by artist Will Simpson and others. Photos provided by Michael X. Hugue. Westfield Broward, 8000 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.
Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival: Daily through May 16. Presented by the Levis JCC features over 50 films, plus Q&A webinars, and more.
561-558-2514. bocajff.org.
$4.99-$12 each or $59-up for packages; link good for
72 hours. Public welcome. Outdoor Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays through June. Features home decor, clothing, jewelry, handmade baked goods, etc. Just south of Aventura, on A1A,
9500 Collins Ave., Surfside.
305-923-2518. Free admission.
‘The Signing,’ represents the Founding Fathers re-imagined, on view through September, at Boca Raton Museum of Art. Artist Renee Cox dramatically recreates signers of the Constitution with modern-day women and men of color in a 12by 15-foot photograph intended to deconstruct stereotypes. 561-392-2500. See preview at bocamuseum.org.
Sandoway Discovery Series, 9:30-10 a.m. Ongoing weekly series of discovery, geared for families with children ages 3-5. Each 30-minute program will explore a different topic, from bugs to pythons, plants to butterflies. Sandoway Discovery Center,
142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. 561-274-7263. sandoway.org. $8.
Dancing with Ira Weisburd, 7-9 p.m. Mondays learn Israeli dancing; or practice line dancing 10:30
a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Balkin and international dancing, 1-3 p.m., Saturdays. Dance workshops online through
2021. Join at youtube. com/user/iraweisburd, from Kings Point in Delray Beach. 561-901-1200. Free for everyone over 18.
Enriched Life peer support group, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays through December. Weekly Zoom meeting to get your dose of ideas, conversations and lessons for living a more fulfilled and enriched life. Virtual, from Miami. 305-968-1257. myenrichedlife.com/workshops. Free.
Bring Butterflies Back, daily, weather permitting. Butterfly World features self-guided tours, gift shop, workshops and lectures with tips on gardening and planting host plants for butterfly caterpillars. Watch videos on YouTube at bit.ly/2CuyZ5e. Shop for gifts, plants, ladybugs or pupa. 954-977-4400. Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek. $22.50-$32.50. butterflyworld.com.
LGBTQ+ Teen support group. Ongoing, 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays. Meets via telehealth from the Faulk Center for Counseling, Boca Raton. 561-483-5300. Visit bit.ly/3990A8g for schedule of more support groups, including those for men, women, marital status and life issues. Teen group is free. Separate adult group meets at the same time for a monthly donation of $10.
Museum Tours. Ongoing, 1-3:30 p.m. daily. Spend a couple of hours exploring Fort Lauderdale’s rich history and finding out about the pioneer families. History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW 2nd Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-463-4431. historyfortlauderdale.org/ museum. $15. Free for military and children under 6.
Virtual exhibitions feature Space Shuttle Challenger. Ongoing. John Chakeres’s photos of the early years of the Space Shuttle program have been acclaimed worldwide. View “Into Orbit” and “First Fleet” sneak peeks on the Pompano Beach Arts YouTube channel at
bit.ly/36ALU2c or visit pompanobeacharts.org/ virtual-events. Free.
FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Ongoing. Offers tours, videos and educational activities. Lectures and presentations are open to the public for free. Must register. See bit.
ly/2H0OBPU.
Engage at GableStage with online theater series. Ongoing. World premiere short-form works by the finest local artists. Recordings online.
305-445-1119 or visit bit.
ly/39UsNiV or gablestage. org/engagegablestage-sun. Free.
‘Ask Hanna’ anonymous health chat. Ongoing. Submit queries anytime; answers provided
9-a.m.-5 p.m. South Florida PBS stations’ (WPBT & WXEL) Health Channel launched a free health counseling service. Live chat with health advisers who provide immediate responses. Ask Hanna is available online at askhanna.tv.
Ashanti Cultural Arts virtual classes & events. Ongoing. Features beginner hip-hop Saturdays 11-11:50 a.m.; advanced hip-hop Thursdays 6-7 p.m.; African dance Saturdays noon-1 p.m. and much more. Sponsored by the City of Pompano Beach and the Rotary Club. See ashanticulturalarts.org.
Kravis @ Home The Curtain’s Up! Ongoing. Digital stage features a lineup of curated concerts, talks, performances and arts education events. Virtual from West Palm Beach. kravis.org/athome. Free.
Broward Center online classes for all ages. Ongoing. Free classes include singing, acting, dancing and improv. Stay connected with this online series available anytime. You can also follow the Facebook page to access previous videos and content. For details, see browardcenter. org and click on Education@Home or visit bit.
ly/2EhNvxA.
Lifelong Learning Institute. Ongoing. Times and dates vary at Nova Southeastern University’s LLI. Features classes, presentations and programs for seniors via Zoom. Register for link at bit.ly/2Chw0wK. Call
954-262-8471 or email LLI@nova.edu. $30 a month or $15 each.
From The Frank to you: Virtual workshops & lectures. Ongoing. In this virtual classroom, guests of all ages can watch video art-making workshops, step-by-step craft tutorials, video lectures and storybook readings. New content added regularly. The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines. 954-392-2120. Visit thefrankgallery.org or bit.
ly/2FtWCfE. Free.
Peter London hosts PLGDC@HOME virtual series. Ongoing. Miami’s global dance company features artist talks, interviews with choreographers and experts, plus specialized education courses. PLGDC@HOME is streaming on PATREON. Subscriptions start at $10 a month. PLGDC.org or bit.
ly/3m6GZLz.
Broward Library’s Facebook collection. Ongoing. Includes videos curated for all ages. Consider a recorded Zoom performance by the Miami Children’s Museum; or a “Matter of Fact Show” with MODS. You can meet an engineer from the NASA Artemis Program, take a virtual tour of Flamingo Gardens; or celebrate the legacy of Stevie Wonder. Visit bit.ly/3igsmCP or broward.org/library. Free.
Malayan Tigers & Queensland Koalas.
Ongoing. Watch videos, Zoo talks and do at-home activities. Presented by the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Visit palmbeachzoo.org and click on Activities. 561-547-9453 or visit the Zoo’s page on Facebook.