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“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; background-color: white;”> “I’ve performed on stages all over – including the world-famous Carnegie Hall,” singer and actress Jenifer Lewis said in front of a packed audience at Powell Symphony Hall at the annual Black History Month Program. “But even being on that stage doesn’t feel as good as being here on this stage right now.”
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>As she returned to the spotlight for the second half of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN UNISON Chorus concert, she was overwhelmed by the love and support shown in repeated resounding applause.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>Her sister Wilatreal Rice was in the chorus accompanying her, while her mother, brothers, sisters and other family members sat throughout the venue. She was eager to point them out – and give them credit for giving her the support and encouragement she needed to pursue her career.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>”I’m just a little girl from Kinloch,” she said as her eyes welled up and her body threatened to become overwhelmed with emotion.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>But just then, the sassy, spunky personality that has made her the unofficial designated black mama of Hollywood broke through instead.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>”People say to me, ‘Jenny, why you always play everybody’s mama?'” Lewis said. “And I say, ‘Honey, the type of money they pay me, I’ll play the daddy.'”
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>She offered guests a sample of her wit when she talked about her homecoming and how good it felt to be performing for an audience in St. Louis for the first time since she shot to national fame thanks to a steady stream of memorable performances on film and television.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>”I haven’t been on a stage in St. Louis since 1979,” Lewis said. “I was one of the stars of the hit touring show Eubie when it was at The Fox Theatre. Someone else might say I was a part of the chorus, but the point is it took me almost 35 years just to cross the street.”
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>It was a wonderful homecoming indeed for Lewis, who had already narrated the St. Louis premiere of the epic piece “Kabo Omowale” (Welcome Home Child) with IN UNISON during the first act prior to taking the stage as a soloist.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>The piece was a potpourri of black music ranging from ancient tribal sounds to hip-hop – and everything in between.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>”Every beat, heralding the cycle of existence,” Lewis said with fervor and conviction. “Each song an answered prayer come to life.” It was a fitting climax for the chorus. Under the direction of Kevin McBeth, IN UNISON gave audiences a healthy heaping of black pride, faith and humanity through selections such as “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “My Soul’s Been Anchored in The Lord” and “Bridge over Troubled Water.”
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>”I’ll bet Paul Simon has never heard his song like this,” McBeth commented as the audience rose to their feet following the selection.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>But the evening was even more special as Lewis – who is typically known for her strong supporting roles – was in the spotlight.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>She sang songs she revised to reflect her homecoming – like “As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Blvd. And paid tribute to the seemingly eternally smooth skin African Americans are known for in “Black Don’t Crack.” She jokingly said Tina Turner – another star with St. Louis roots – is 263 years old.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>Her emotional finale was “I know Where I’ve Been,” a song originally written for Lewis, who was slated to appear in the stage show, but contractual obligations prevented her from doing so.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>As she fought back tears, it was apparent she left her heart on the legendary stage of her hometown. And the unforgettable experience was capped off with an exchange of love for love as she bore witness to the rousing applause and ovation that immediately ensued.
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“font-size: 9pt; line-height: 125%; font-family: Verdana;”>When her performance was over it was apparent she was no longer that little girl from Kinloch, but a bona fide star with legitimate talent and undying affection from the city where it all began. “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;”>
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“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Night at the Symphony “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;” lang=”X-NONE” xml:lang= “X-NONE”>The St. Louis American “font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;” lang=”X-NONE” xml:lang= “X-NONE”>has teamed up with the symphony to offer a special evening (at a special price) “font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>our readers lang=”X-NONE” xml:lang=”X-NONE”>. “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;” lang=”X-NONE” xml:lang= “X-NONE”>St. Louis American Night at the Symphony
xml:lang=”X-NONE”>will take place on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. In honor of the occasion, $22 tickets will be available for all STL American readers. Tickets will be available through the Box Office at 314-534-1700 or stlsymphony.org/stlamerican. Simply ask for the special St. Louis American price when ordering. See you at the symphony!