Career As Stage Actress
In February 2006, she landed a lead role in Laterras R. Whitfield's touring dramatic comedy play Issues: We All Have 'Em, also starring Angie Stone, Dave Hollister, and Kim Fields. The play ended its run, but enjoyed rave reviews and high ticket sales. She also sang a jazz-tinged version of "Hark! Hear the Bells" on the VH1 Soul Train Christmas television special, and sang the same song on a special edition of the 40th Anniversary A Charlie Brown Christmas album.
In late summer 2006, London made her Los Angeles professional stage debut with a starring role in the retro musical "Beehive" at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood. Latoya and the show earned rave reviews. That same year, the cast was nominated by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for Best Ensemble Performance in their annual awards.
It was also announced in 2006 that London would be starring in an extended Chicago run as Nettie in the Oprah Winfrey-produced Broadway musical The Color Purple. Incidentally, American Idol winner and London's friend, Fantasia Barrino, starred as Celie, replacing La Chanze in the Broadway run of the show. Future American Idol star, LaKisha Jones would join the play, alongside London.
Read more about this topic: LaToya London
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“From a hasty glance through the various tests I figure it out that I would be classified in Group B, indicating “Low Average Ability,” reserved usually for those just learning to speak the English Language and preparing for a career of holding a spike while another man hits it.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“I love the people,
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“An actress reading a part for the first time tries many ways to say the same line before she settles into the one she believes suits the character and situation best. There’s an aspect of the rehearsing actress about the girl on the verge of her teens. Playfully, she is starting to try out ways to be a grown-up person.”
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