Interviews |

TRR Exclusive interview with Executive Director of the DC Chapter, Jeriel Johnson

Recording Academy D.C. Chapter Celebrates Inaugural Block Party

May 10, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Music

The Grammy Awards is an event we all look forward to. We get to see our favorite performers take the stage and give us an electrifying performance and walk the red carpet with style and grace. While this year’s Grammy Awards was held in Los Angeles, The Recording Academy is not just limited to the West Coast. The Recording Academy has a D.C. chapter, and I had the chance to speak with Executive Director of the DC Chapter, Jeriel Johnson about an Inaugural Block Party being held this evening. We discussed the Recording Academy, the musical guests, and the block party itself.

Lauren Beverly talks to "Pride and Joy" actress Krystal Drake

Krystal Drake Delivers Some “Pride and Joy” to DC

May 8, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Theatre

Actress Krystal Drake stars in the stage production “Pride and Joy,” which tells the story about Washington, DC’s own, the late, great Marvin Gaye. Krystal—whose credits include “Pippin,” “Black Nativity” and “Nubian Stories”—is set to take the stage as Anna Gordy Gaye at the National Theater. I had a chance to speak with Krystal about her upcoming performance, her role as Anna Gordy Gaye, and the music of Motown.

Dean on the Scene talks to actress/singer Alicia Witt about her acting and her 15,000 Days Tour

Alicia Witt Brings Her 15,000 Days Tour to Songbyrd

May 4, 2019 Dean Rogers Interviews, Music

Our next guest on THE INTERVUE has built both passions into a thriving business, balancing an acclaimed string of movie, television, and stage appearances with records like 2018’s 15,000 Days. Her fourth release as an independent songwriter, 15,000 Days is a sweeping, big-hearted record, its songs rooted in modern arrangements and timeless melodies. And now, this wonderful actress, singer, songwriter will be performing at the Songbyrd Music Cafe on May 9th. I had the honor of talking to the wonderfully talented Alicia Witt!

Lauren Beverly talks to Maryland's own Michael Ealy about his role in The Intruder

Michael Ealy Talks about “The Intruder”

May 2, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Movies

May 3^rd sees the release of “The Intruder,” starring Michael Ealy, Meagan Goode and Dennis Quaid. For those of you who love to be scared, you are in for a real treat. Not too long ago, Michael, who hails from Silver Spring, MD, was in town to promote the movie and I had the opportunity to speak with him about his experiences in the film, his work with Meagan and what he learned from working with Dennis Quaid.

Dean interviews the cast of new Hulu series "Ramy"

The Cast of Ramy Talking Life, Hilarity and the Pursuit of the First Season

April 25, 2019 Dean Rogers Uncategorized

On this edition of THE INTERVUE, I talked to the cast members of the new Hulu series “Ramy”. The new comedy, launched April 19th, tells the story of a twenty-something, first-generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. RAMY offers a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like being caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that thinks life has no consequences. I recently sat down with the star, creator and executive producer Ramy Youssef, comedian Steve Way who plays “Steve” and comedian Dave Merheje plays “Ahmed”

Intervue with Lou Ferrigno in preparation for this weekend's Awesome Con

Lou Ferrigno is Ready for Awesome Con 2019

April 24, 2019 Lauren Beverly Arts & Entertainment, Interviews

Lou Ferrigno is a legendary actor and bodybuilder who has won over fans since winning his first major title in 1973, and he’s kept going ever since. Many of us will remember watching him on “The Incredible Hulk” as the titular green character, a favorite of many Marvel fans. Ferrigno has taken on many roles, from a slave trader in “Star Trek Continues” to a starring as himself in “King of Queens.” Lou Ferrigno will be coming to the sixth annual Awesome Con, Washington D.C.’s version of Comic Con, where fans of pop-culture gather to celebrate comic books, collectibles, games, and cosplay this weekend at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. When I spoke with Mr. Ferrigno, I asked him about his work as an actor, his role as a Certified Deputy Sheriff for the Sheriff’s Department in Los Angeles and the projects he has in the works.

Our exclusive interview with reggae artist Etana

Getting to Know Etana the Strong One

March 25, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Music

Music has a way of inspiring us in more ways than one. In Etana’s case, her music has been the vehicle for change in her community. Although the reggae singer, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, is known for her thought provoking songs, she has also founded an organization that assists the youth of her community. I had a chance to speak with Etana via e-mail, and I had a few questions for her about her music, her philanthropy and what inspires her.

"It's really about modeling what I needed to see when I was younger, which was someone whose body looks like mine."

A Conversation with Shrill’s Lindy West

March 15, 2019 Cortland Jacoby Interviews, Television

As a fat woman, you could say that I have been hungry for positive fat portrayals of women in media. Since movies and TV rarely showed any normal depictions of fat women, I often went to books to read what I couldn’t see. That’s where I first came across writer and activist Lindy West.

In 2016 Shrill, West’s comedic memoir on fat shaming and coming of age as a woman in a world that wasn’t made for you, was published to critical acclaim. Now, a TV show based on her life and the fat and female experiences, also called Shrill, is coming to Hulu Friday, starring SNL’s Aidy Bryant and produced by Elizabeth Banks and Lorne Michaels. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to chat with Lindy by phone and talk about adapting her memoir, representation, fat people on TV and how comedy has grown in the last five years to include more diverse voices. Here’s our conversation:

Dean catches up with Ana Galeli with her new single "All Because of You"

Ana Galeli Drops New Single “All Because of You” Today

March 1, 2019 Dean Rogers Interviews, Music

On this musical edition of INTERVUE, I recently sat down with artist Ana Galeli to not only catch since our last interview in 2018 (Click here to read the first interview about her single “In the Moment”) but to talk about her latest dropping TODAY. “All Because of You” is a new love song with a twist that followers, old and new, will enjoy!

Our Exclusive Interview with Actor/Playwright Wallace Shawn

The Farpoint 29 Interview: Wallace Shawn

February 7, 2019 Lauren Beverly Arts & Entertainment, Interviews

Wallace Shawn is known to his fans for many of his works. Some of us grew up watching the classic film “The Princess Bride,” and some sit down in the evenings to turn on “Young Sheldon” to see Shawn as Dr. John Sturgis or watch the “Toy Story” films with our families to see his character, Rex the toy dinosaur interact with Woody and the gang. He’s not only known as an actor, but he also worked as a playwright as well, having composed works such as “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” “Evening at the Talk House” and “Our Late Night.” I recently spoke with Wallace and I had a few questions about his work as a playwright, his voice work and even about his time on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”