You know when you see a play and there is a character whom you know so well that you hate them and love them at the same time? That is Michael Potts' portrayal of Turnbo in August Wilson's 'Jitney.' LaChanze More Quotes by LaChanze More Quotes From LaChanze 'Feeling Good' is a peek into my life through song. LaChanze my-life good song life That's capital L, small a - no space! - capital C, small h, a, n, z, e. LaChanze capital small space I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a darker hue. Let's start with 'Once on This Island': peasant girl. Let's go to 'The Color Purple': young girl, beaten. Let's go to 'Ragtime': Her baby's taken. LaChanze woman i-am women girl When I make people laugh and I get to laugh, it does my spirit good. LaChanze laugh good spirit people I'm an actress: I'm used to being independent, doing for myself. LaChanze doing being myself independent I always had a strong faith, and I always relied on God for a lot. LaChanze always strong faith god What I always liked best about myself was my resilience, especially in this business with all the 'no's,' the doors closed in my face. LaChanze face best myself business Time just goes on, and... it doesn't stop for anything. LaChanze stop anything just time In my house, we couldn't listen to 'Love to Love You Baby.' It was way too salacious back in the day. I remember my mom would turn the station off when that song came on the radio. But, of course, I played my album to death in my bedroom, with the door closed. LaChanze day you love death 'The Little Mermaid' is my favorite of the Disney animated features. And, I could not wait to see it on Broadway. LaChanze favorite little wait see I went to see 'Kinky Boots' to see my friend Billy Porter in his groundbreaking performance. But while backstage, I was hoping for a chance to meet this young, dynamic performer Annaleigh Ashford. Her comic timing was brilliant. And she is obviously a triple threat. LaChanze meet friend performance chance One of the greatest things about the theatre is how it can completely change the way you see the world around you. 'Dear Evan Hansen' did this for me. LaChanze me you change world I'm a theatre doll, and I've always - since I'm out of school - have always been on stage. LaChanze doll always theatre school I was born in St. Augustine, Florida. I lived there till I was about 13, and then my family moved to Connecticut. I finished school there, and then I went to college in Philadelphia and came to New York in '87. I wasn't finished with school - I left school to go on the road. LaChanze road new family school I believe in divine intervention. LaChanze i-believe-in i-believe divine believe I totally believe in opportunities. I don't believe in accidents. I just don't. LaChanze opportunities just accidents believe I believe that everything is divinely inspired. Bad things happen - they do - but I also think that when these bad things happen, there's an equal and opposite force that is happening, and there is good. LaChanze good think things-happen believe Who doesn't love Donna Summer's music? It was part of my childhood, always heard around the house. LaChanze childhood music house love As singers, we're always taught to sing forward and place everything in the front of our resonating chambers. Donna Summer always sang in that space and had it naturally. Her muscle memory, the way she was built - she was a natural singer. LaChanze memory place space way In my own one-woman show, 'Feeling Good,' I talk about my childhood and write a letter to my younger self in the show. The most important thing I would tell her is to trust my instincts. Just trust them. They're little whispers from God, I think. You've heard it a million times, but it's true: Listen to that inner voice. LaChanze good childhood trust god
