Chrystee Pharris » Press http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home Black People Shit Thu, 10 Aug 2017 22:51:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 www.juniorscave.com- interview http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-juniorscave-com-interview/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-juniorscave-com-interview/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 01:16:33 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=784 JC Interview Exclusive:

Chrystee Pharris

Chrystee Pharris
Photo by M. Neko Parham

She is young, talented, successful, extremely beautiful, and gifted sista. She is also one of my favorite entertainers on the planet. She is most notable for her portrayal of Simone Russell (2001-2004) in the hit NBC Series, Passion; a role that she took over from the original portrayal, Lena Cardwell. But, Chrystee Pharris had no problems taking the role of this signature character and making the role of Simone Russell her own. Chrystee also has other successful stories under her resume. In this exclusive interview, I spoke with Chrystee who allows us to enter into her world in this super cool spotlight. I hope everyone enjoys the outcome.

Isaac: Hi Chrystee, I wanted to first thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to complete this interview. Let’s get started with the interview. You are most notable for your portrayal of Simone Russell (2001-2004) in the hit NBC Series, Passion. How did you prepare yourself to take over the role of this signature character that was already established by Lena Cardwell?

Chrystee: Well, I knew it was going to be a challenge (lol) because I am also a soap watcher. I was a Young and the Restless fan, so I use to hate it when they would replace an actor with a new one and I never understood why…until I was a working actor and then I understood! I have more sympathy for actors who have to replace someone. It is not easy, but I must say the Passion fans were very excepting to my replacing Lena.

Before I took over I watched all the episodes I could get from my friends who watched the show religiously! Asked as many questions as I could think of about Simone, Whitney and Chad. From there, I made sure I made the character my own by putting my own life experiences in the situation. Everyone seems to like it, so I was blessed and grateful.

Isaac: What were the reactions from fans about your portrayal of Simone Russell?

Chrystee: The Fans were great! I love the fans of Passions! They have shown me so much love. Even to this day. I enjoy getting letters and emails from them and hearing how I have affected their lives. The years on Passions were my favorite. The cast was great, the fans were great…it was a great time in my life.

Isaac: Who was your favorite actor to work with on-screen in Passion and why?

Chrystee: They were all incredible. Working with the characters Kay and Whitney were great because I had most of my emotional scenes with them. I was able to go off on them! (lol) I can’t count how many times I slapped Whitney. It was always funny because as soon as the director yelled cut, Whitney (Brook Kerr) and I would always immediately, at the same time say, “I love you.” and hug after we had a fight scene. It was wonderful.

I also enjoyed working with the Vets on the show from Tracey Ross, to Rodney (played my mom and dad) those scenes were always great and emotional and I always loved doing the emotional scenes because if I was ever going through anything in my life, I was able to use the scenes to work through my personal struggles! I always walked off set feeling better when I was able to yell at someone because I dared not yell at someone in real life ;-) Lastly, Working with Ben Masters who played Julian was the best for me. He was a pro and and I knew he would always bringing his A game and I had to make sure I was bringing my A + game! I could not let someone look better than me! Ha! Ha!

Isaac: Did you have any inputs into how the character would play out on the show? If so, how?

Chrystee: The directors and the producers let me have control over my character which means they must have liked what I was doing otherwise they would have fired me, so thank God I was doing a wonderful job for them. The producers and directors were awesome. They would tell me when I was doing a great job and I trusted them when they had words of constructive criticism for me. It was a house of love on that set and it could not have been a better family to spend 3 years with.

Isaac: What was your favorite storyline for your character on the show and why?

Chrystee: I loved the one when I told Kay I would not sleep with Chad to get him. I loved that the writers wrote that for me. It is who Chrystee is and what I believe in. Although I am no longer married, I waited until marriage at 27 to have sex. I did not want to have to sleep with a guy just to get him to be with me. I wanted him to love me for me. But, more importantly I loved myself more. I had an older male friend tell me “Chrystee you teach a guy how to treat you. If he is trying too hard to get into your pants, (chasing me to get into my pants) he has no respect for you and as soon as you sleep with him, you will now be chasing him. He will no longer want to be with you if you give in to easily. Not all men are dogs, but you got to use wisdom on whom you let in your heart.

Don’t make excesses for him. There is no excuse for a man not treating you like a lady. Also, a man will show you who they are after 6 months, so don’t give it up to easy if you do decide to sleep with him. We don’t want that heart to be broken. Lastly, be conscious about making a decision about who you love. For example, if your father was not in your life in your beginning years, don’t try to replace that love that you didn’t have with your father with a man, just to be loved because he will use that to manipulate you and you will never feel complete. Be conscious, so that you know who you are getting involved with and you know why you are with that person. God will give you wisdom.” So, I followed that rule and I have done will. And although I am divorced, do to other reason, my ex always respected me and we are still friends till this day.

Isaac: Was it a difficult decision on your part to leave the show?

Chrystee: Yes, it was difficult to leave the show because I had built a family with the cast. They are my family. But, I had to step out on faith and do what God had told me to do and trust He had something else in store for me. And then I booked Scrubs! So yeah for faith and obedience.

Isaac: You most recently had a recurring role on NBC/ABC’s Scrubs as Kylie. How did this role come about? Did you have fun working on the series?

Chrystee: Working with the cast of Scrubs was sooooo awesome! Wow! They were so funny and creative. I had so much fun because the writers allowed me to go off script and say what I wanted! It was incredible. I enjoy being able to show my comedic side as an actor. I’m happy that Scrubs was able to stay on the air by moving to ABC.

Isaac: What do you find difference between this character and your previous one you played on Passion?

Chrystee: Well, one thing I can say Simone and Kylie were alike because they both believed in holding out on sex until they felt it was right. :-) Not allowing the pressure of someone else or friends telling Simone or Kylie or (Chrystee) to do it. Simone, never got the love she wanted from Chad, but Kylie-when she was finally ready, J.D. (Zack Braff) messed it up by talking about another woman (played by Heather Graham).

Isaac: You graduated from Emerson College located in Boston, Massachusetts with your B.F.A. in Theater. How has this degree helped you professionally?

Chrystee: I’m a working actress! I was so focused on what I wanted in life-being an actor-that I didn’t let anything or anyone stop me. It was not easy, but I fought through the doubt and visualized everyday where I wanted to be in life and my career and trusted my gut. Even when everyone else told me not to do something because they didn’t understand the vision or had the faith that I walk by it to see it come into fruition. If I listened to them, I would never be where I am today. God gives you the vision, not your friends etc. Therefore, I try not to share the vision with everyone. I have learned I don’t need anyone else’s approval when God has told me to do something. I trust He will complete it. But, I must add, I know I cannot do everything by myself so I use discernment with who I share my dreams and vision with and only partner up with people who think and have faith like I do.

Isaac: You have a fantastic website. How has having an official website helped you professionally?

Chrystee: Having a website has helped me to stay in touch with my fans. Getting emails from fans saying how I have touched their life is the biggest joy for me. March 2009, the website will be redone, so that fans with get to know more about me and know where they can catch me on TV, in person performing or doing my motivational speaking. They can also book me through chrysteepharris.com

Isaac: What is next for Chrystee Pharris? What are some up and coming projects that you are working on currently?

Chrystee: I have a few projects that are coming up. I have the launch of my new website in March. I have my one woman show, “In Search of O”, about waiting until marriage at 27 to have sex and the fantasy verse the reality of that experience. I will be performing March 29th at 3pm at Highways in Santa Monica, California, check website for that. I am also traveling around the country with my motivational speaking speaking to adults, young adults and children so I will be in Phoenix April 2009. And I started a non profit called “Truth is Not Betrayal” for young adults to talk about relationships, sex and sexuality especially dealing with abuse, any kind of abuse and expressing yourself though song, poetry, rap, dance, storytelling, etc. I will also share my story on the site. So many of our young people have been abused or are abusing themselves because they come from broken homes or they feel broken now just because. We need a place to talk about it and learn how to not only forgive the other person, but more importantly, forgive ourselves. So that we can live health, joyful and peaceful lives. I hope you will share your story on the site as well May 2009. You can go to www.chrysteepharris.com for more information, bookings, and May 2009, Truth is Not Betrayal website will be launched.

Many blessings to my fans. Thanks for your support.

–

Photo by M. Neko Parham

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]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-juniorscave-com-interview/feed/ 0 LA STAGE TIMES http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/la-stage-times/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/la-stage-times/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 01:12:04 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=782 LA STAGE TIMES

Ted Lange to Let Freedom Ring
at the Stella Adler

by Steve Julian | September 3, 2010

George Washington would have turned 114 the week some “black folks got together to protest slavery,” says playwright, director and actor Ted Lange. “This is 1846. Years before the Civil War begins and years after the American Revolution ends. Slavery is at its height. These black folks decide to do something to protest, something along the lines of the Boston Tea Party.”

They scheme to steal the uncracked Liberty Bell and ship it off to England where it can be stored until America abolishes slavery.

“The significance of the bell cracking later that year,” notes Lange, “is that you’re either on one side of liberty or the other. There were those who thought slavery should go on and those who thought it should end. The Liberty Bell becomes symbolic of the division in the country.”

The year 1776 has come and gone. South Carolina, one of the original 13 colonies, held out and precluded the end of slavery from inclusion in the Constitution. “And don’t forget New York,” says Lange. “It was the last to sign, which is typical of New York!” He laughs. “They’re always looking for a political end! ‘Well, let’s see how this turns out and then we’ll see about putting our names on it!’”

Ted Lange. Photo by Keven Major Howard

Ted Lange. Photo by Keven Major Howard

It was in New York, during a Broadway production of Hairspray, that Lange eventually would feel vindicated for writing Let Freedom Ring. We sit on the Stella Adler set with cast members Garrett Morris and Chrystee Pharris. The ensemble cast also includes Lou Beatty Jr., J.D. Hall, Christine Kludjian, Shani Shockley, William Christopher Stephens and Christopher O’Neal Warren.

“Sometimes I say to a person who happens to be white that something is true. They’ll look at me and tell me it’s not true. I say, ‘No, this is a fact. I read it.’ They say, ‘I don’t believe you.’ Now, they have no reason not to believe me. They just don’t believe me.”

This used to frustrate Lange. “I used to think it was just me. But the black guy in Hairspray sings this line, something like: ‘Why do people deny what I say I know is right?’ This is written by two white guys. They have observed white people doing this to black people. I say it’s something that’s been handed down. Certain white people feel superiority [over blacks].”

And that’s evident today every time you turn on the television, Lange believes. “Oh, baby. (He whistles.) I saw a thing recently that J.J. Abrams did a show with black leads and everybody’s saying, ‘Hey, that’s fantastic. That’s never happened.’ Well, Tim Reid did it years and years ago, a thing called Snoops. It ran after Frank’s Place went off the air. People forget.”

Lange recalls when Hollywood was planning to make the film Malcolm X in the ’70s. “You know who they wanted to play Malcolm? Marlon Brando.” Chrystee Pharris jumps in. “What! No way! Really?”

Lange continues. “I am not kidding you. They wanted Marlon Brando to play Malcolm X because that was the only way it was going to get a draw. And James Baldwin, who wrote the original screenplay, said ‘Over my dead body will you put someone white in the role of Malcolm X.’”

Garrett Morris may be best known for appearances in the 1970s on Saturday Night Live. “More to the point,” Morris says, “there’s the denying of actual physiology. There are a whole slew of African Americans who are so light you can’t tell they’re not white.” It’s a point of contention for Morris that blacks historically have been written out of scripts. Or worse, impersonated by use of black face.

Lange jumps in to say, “There are so many good people in Hollywood who are trying to bridge the gap between black and white. There are others who just don’t care. So you’re always dealing with this dichotomy.”

He considers himself fortunate. “For my part [as Isaac, the bartender] on Love Boat, they said, ‘Let’s get someone of color in there.’ They made a concerted effort. In other places, they don’t want to do it. You have Airbender with a white kid as the lead but there’s no story line to explain why he’s in the midst of Asians. At least in Karate Kid, they address why there’s a black character. That’s all I ask: address it! Don’t pretend it’s not there.”

Since his Love Boat days, Lange has kept busy acting, writing plays and creating a couple dozen webisodes, shot by Thom Marshall. Lange says penning Let Freedom Ring came by way of an accident. “I have a thing on You-Tube called Players at the Poker Palace. It was a way for me to vent my Hollywood frustrations.”

Lange put it to personal use. “I had actors say things we go through all the time as actors and, at one point, a black actor says to the white DP [director of photography], ‘Tell these guys about the movie you want to produce.’ The guy says, ‘Which one? The one about the black guy stealing the Liberty Bell?’ ‘No, no, the other one.’ ‘Oh, you mean the one about the black cowboy stopping the Ku Klux Klan.’ So it was just a joke in the middle of this thing but the actor playing the DP, Patrick Gorman, told me that’s a movie.”

Lange wasn’t interested. “It was just a one-line joke.” But he says the goading didn’t stop. Finally Lange acquiesced. “I said since everybody’s got a movie, I would write it as a play and know it would get done. I started looking at the Liberty Bell and thought, okay, if some black guys did steal it, who would those black guys be? I started doing research into 1846. After that, things just started falling into place.”

Lange held readings around his dining room table, in Omaha, then in New York. “It got to where everyone liked it except the woman playing [Pharris' character] the barmaid: ‘How come the black woman gotta do this? How come she can’t teach the white woman something?’ Good point. What would be relevant in that time? Quilting. Quilting was used as a way of communicating through the underground railroad. If I picked a woman who was an abolitionist and wants to learn about quilting, it fits right in. So they each give the other something they want.”

<p>Ted Lange, Lou Beatty, Jr. Shani Shockley,Christopher O'Neal Warren, J.D. Hall, and Garrett Morris</p>

Ted Lange, Lou Beatty, Jr. Shani Shockley,Christopher O’Neal Warren, J.D. Hall, and Garrett Morris. Photo by Mary Lange

Phariss says the same thing is true for her and Lange. “Ted always calls me right when I’m going through something in my life similar to what’s going on in his play.” She was going through a divorce when Lange asked her to play the slave, Oney Judge, in his play George Washington’s Boy. “And in this role,” she adds, “I love that Ted isn’t dealing just with race but also with the suppression of being a woman.”

Yet it’s race that colors this conversation. Morris points to the innumerable black actors shunned by Hollywood. Lange looks for a sense of optimism. And Phariss embraces the struggle that older generations have endured. “It makes me want to fight harder to make it. I want to make them [Lange and Morris] proud.”

Physically, Morris and Lange are dark-skinned African Americans. Phariss is much lighter skinned. Has her race hampered her career? “Of course,” she says. “There have been some incidents where someone told my representation that they’re ‘not going to go black.’ On the flip side, I’ve had some wonderful opportunities. But if I sat here every single day and thought about it, sure, I could get depressed and want to leave the business. I’m fortunate to be riding on the backs of guys like Ted and Garrett, knowing they went through all the struggles. I don’t have to go through as much.”

She points to being at the top of the call-list at CBS and ABC. Would she be there if she were as physically dark as her co-stars? “I’m sure because of my skin color; I am the Hollywood All American black girl. But even that doesn’t always work. I had a commercial where they loved me more than the others but the producer said they’d never go black as a lead.”

Lange nods. “It’s in the DNA, this superiority complex.” If some whites feel superiority in their DNA, I ask, what is in the DNA of the African American? “Survival,” Lange emphasizes. “Survival. We’ve survived to the point where we’re able to see a black president. I know back in 1961, nobody ever thought they’d see that in their lifetimes.” Garrett sounds off in agreement. “Now what’s in this guy’s [Barack Obama's] DNA? Survival? Perseverance?”

Let Freedom Ring is the second play in Lange’s American history trilogy. ‘It began with George Washington’s Boy and will conclude with a play about a black man who got away from Harper’s Ferry, where John Brown and others were caught. No one talks about Osborne P. Anderson, the man who escaped. But this is our history. This is American history. And this trilogy brings us to a time, from the Revolution, through slavery and the Civil War, to a point where we can elect a black President.”

]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/la-stage-times/feed/ 0 Los Angeles Women’s Theater Festival http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival/#comments Sat, 08 Feb 2014 06:20:02 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=705
December 2013

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The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival

in association with

The Fremont Centre Theatre

is proud to present

“FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST“

 

  

Kim Coles (Oh, But Wait, There’s More!)

From Left to Right: Chrystee Pharris, (In Search of O) Kiha S. Lee, (The Red Ribbon) and Clarinda Ross, (Spit Like a Big Girl)

  

WHO: Produced by Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festivaland the California Performing Arts Centre at Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT)

 

WHAT: ”FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST” A selection of the finest performances by female solo performing artists from the first 20 years of the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF)

 

WHERE: Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave. (at El Centro), South Pasadena, CA 91030. Ample free parking behind theatre.

 

WHEN: February 6 – February 23, 2014. Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm.

 

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

 

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

 

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 818-760-0408

 

As a kick-off  to the 21st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival in March, the Fremont Centre Theatre will co-produce a diverse roster of powerful encore performances by artists from years past.

For two decades now, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival has presented outstanding female solo performing artists from around the world. At Fremont Centre Theatre for three weekends only, audiences old and new will have a chance to see some of the Festival’s best performances.

 

Juliette Jeffers, ChocolateMatch.com

 

Here is a roster of the performances:

Weekend #1: February 6 – 9, 2014. Theme: “Resilience”

 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

 

SARIYAH IDAN (“Homeless in Homeland“)

A young Jewish-American woman’s struggle to understand her identity and the meaning of home through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 

Friday, February 7, 2014

 

BRENDA ADELMAN (“My Brooklyn Hamlet“)

Brenda Adelman’s tour de force personal story about what’s possible when you forgive the unforgivable.

 

INGRID GRAHAM (“The Passage“) (5-7)

This dance explores one woman’s journey to self-acceptance through gratitude and meditation.

 

Saturday, February 8, 2014

 

INGRID GRAHAM (“The Passage“)

See above.

 

ADA LUZ PLA (“Tracing My Lineage: A Story of a Puerto Rican Spitfire“)

A proud Puerto Rican woman shares the colorful array of Latin women in her life in this excerpted storytelling piece.

 

PAULINA SAHAGUN (“Nahuatl-Now What?“)

From the Mercado in Guadalajara to bad hair days in LA, there is only one question: Does she know how to make tortillas?

 

Sunday, February 9, 2014

 

CLARINDA ROSS (Spit Like a Big Girl)

This piece looks back on what a daughter learned from her college professor parents during her coming of age South, as well as her experience being the mother of a special needs child.

 

Weekend #2: February 13 – 16, 2014. Theme: “Love, Identity and Giving Voice”

 

Thursday, February, 13, 2014

 

VANESSA ADAMS-HARRIS (Who Will Sing For Lena?)

This poignant theatre piece chronicles the true story of the first and only woman to be executed in the state of Georgia.

 

Friday, February 14, 2014 (VALENTINE’S DAY)

 

JULIETTE JEFFERS (ChocolateMatch.com)

A woman shares her roller coaster journey with men as she explores online dating.

 

AMY MILANO (Dancing With Crazies)

One woman’s search for love and a place to call home.

 

Saturday, February 15, 2014

 

BARBARA COLE (Surviving Chrysalis)

One woman reconciles aging, motherhood, and career with her journey toward self-actualization.

 

KIHA S. LEE (The Red Ribbon)

The work deals with the realities of human nature. It reflects a woman’s experiences as a female, as an Asian living in a culturally-diverse society.

 

KAREN A. CLARK (The Women)

Karen A., through music, poetry and storytelling reflects on the women in her family, and particularly her mother who provided a “wow” factor.

 

Sunday, February 16, 2014 3PM

 

CHRYSTEE PHARRIS (In Search of O)

Storyteller Chrystee Pharris asks the question: What do you do at the age of 32 after reading every book, asking all the experts, and you still haven’t found your O?”

 

CECE ANTOINETTE (Watermelon: Git It While Its Hot)

This coming of age and rites of passage journey looks at one woman’s life growing up Black, female and spiritual in Dallas, Texas

 

Weekend #3: February 21 – 23, 2014. Theme: “Still Standing”

 

KIM COLES (Oh, But Wait, There’s More!)

This zany and at times irreverent solo show chronicles the ebb and flow of Kim’s show biz career with titillating inside Hollywood anecdotes and personal stories from her amazing world. (Ms. Coles is well-known as a TV star, with series regular roles on “Living Single,” “In Living Color,” “The Geena Davis Show,” and much more.)

 

Special added FREE event: “Meet and Greet the Artists” onSaturday, February 1 at 3:00 p.m. Hear the inspirations behind their one-person shows. Meet them over coffee and cookies and ask them questions in this kick-off to the February events.

 

The 21st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will take place at the Electric Lodge in Venice beginning March 27, 2014. For more information on the Festival, please call (818) 760-0408.

 

We hope to see you there!

 

  

Brenda Adelman, My Brooklyn Hamlet

]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival/feed/ 0 Los Angeles Women’s Theater Festival article http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival-article/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival-article/#comments Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:35:06 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=694  
January 2014

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The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival
in association with
The Fremont Centre Theatre
is proud to present
“FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST”
February 16th, 2014
Sundays, 3:00 p.m.
 
Fremont Centre Theatre 
1000 Fremont Avenue 
South Pasadena, CA 91030 

As a kick-off  to the 21st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival in March, the Fremont Centre Theatre will co-produce a dynamic roster of powerful encore solo performances by artists from years past. LAWTF will continue to highlight our diverse line-up of benefit performers with the thirteenth exciting performer spotlight below:

 

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Chrystee Pharris
“In Search of O”
Chrystee Pharris in “In Search of O”
 
A play about waiting until marriage at 27 to have sex and the fantasy vs. reality of that experience. What do you do after age 30…after reading every book…asking all the experts…and you still have not found your “O”?!

Chrystee Pharris blazed onto NBC-TV as Simone Russell on the hit daytime soap opera Passions. She returned to NBC at night creating passion with Golden Globe nominee Zach Braffon the hit show Scrubs as J.D.’S girlfriend, Kylie. This versatile alumn of also Emerson College in Boston has conquered feature films, theatre and is currently touring her hit one-woman show “In Search of O.”

 

Pharris performed in Let Freedom Ring with Garrett Morris, and Lady Patriot, both written and directed by Ted Lange. She also had the opportunity to perform the role of Rena in August Wilson‘s play Jitney with James Avery, Richard Brooks, andRussell Andrews. Pharris starred in Steppin’ directed by the late,Michael “Bear” Taliferro and My Girlfriend’s Back, with Malik Yoba.

 

Pharris tirelessly donates her time mentoring at women’s prisons and traveling the world from Compton to South Africa as an ambassador speaking to young people on everything from education to setting goals to plan a better future for themselves. For more information about Chrystee Pharris and her work visit www.chrysteepharris.com.

To see Chrystee Pharris in her solo performance of “In Search of O” and other dynamic solo shows, please join us for the first“FROM THE BEST OF THE FEST” performance benefit event co-produced by the Fremont Centre Theatre.

ADMISSION: $20 with advance reservation, $25 at the door. Students, seniors and groups of twelve or more, $15.

RESERVATIONS: (866) 811-4111 (toll-free).

 

ONLINE TICKETING: www.fremontcentretheatre.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  (818) 760-0408

 

We hope to see you there! 

]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/los-angeles-womens-theater-festival-article/feed/ 0 Watch Comic Short Film ‘The Takeover’ (The Old Switcheroo) http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/watch-comic-short-film-the-takeover-the-old-switcheroo/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/watch-comic-short-film-the-takeover-the-old-switcheroo/#comments Sat, 25 Jan 2014 18:00:40 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=691 FEATURES

BY SERGIO
FEBRUARY 16, 2013 10:20 AM

 

Here’s your look at filmmaker Shequeta Smith’s comic short film, The Takeover, which is a satirical racial takeoff on what used to be called the old switcheroo. 

Starring Chrystee Pharris and Lindsey Santefort, the film deals with “best friends Ashley, a Caucasian fashion designer, and Tisha, an African American comic book artist, who debate the difficulty of dating; each arguing that the other has it easier. After help from a friend and his potent espresso, the ladies trade places and experience the dating scene in each other’s shoes for 24 hours.”

A finalist in the Sundance Filmmaker’s Lab with previous experience in the music business, and on TV sit-coms and reality shows, Ms. Smith says that, the idea for the film came from actual conversations she had with one of her long time friends and former college roommates (who is white), about what would happen if they actually traded places.

In fact, she says that, just yesterday, she was interviewed by a reporter doing a piece on the film. However the reporter never once asked her about the racial undertones in her film, how the film came together, or even about her.

All he was interested in was in Santefort, the white actress, therefore proving her point in the film that black women are constantly being ignored.

 

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/watch-comic-short-film-the-takeover-the-old-switcheroo

]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/watch-comic-short-film-the-takeover-the-old-switcheroo/feed/ 0 www.northdallasgazette.com http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-northdallasgazette-com/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-northdallasgazette-com/#comments Sat, 25 Jan 2014 17:57:39 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=689 The Takeover: A short film online tackles interracial dating
March 4, 2013 By  

Less than 30 minutes, The Takeover is an interesting look at how white and black women feel and you might be surprised at what you discover when you look at things from both sides. The production value is outstanding on the flick.

With just over 15,000 YouTube and Vimeo hits, the interracial body swap flick, The Takeover, is proving to be the indie film that could take over the Web. Fueled by positive word of mouth from viewers on Facebook and Twitter, the film has rapidly been picking up fans and followers alike according to the filmmakers.

The Takeover is the story of best friends Ashley, a Caucasian fashion designer, and Tisha, an African American comic book artist, who debate the difficulty of dating in Los Angeles; each arguing that the other has it easier. After help from their favorite barista, Yoshi, and his exotic espresso, the ladies swap bodies and experience the dating scene in each other’s shoes for 24 hours. This hilarious short film presents an inventive, satirical story with a talented cast and great music from Grammy Winning artist PJ Morton.

 

The ending is rather Hollywood, but then aren’t many of us single black women still holding out hope our Denzel will come? Watch “The Takeover“ and tell us what you think about it.

 

]]> http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/www-northdallasgazette-com/feed/ 0 Former Passions Star, Chrystee Pharris Stars in the film “The Takeover” http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/bossip-com/ http://www.chrysteepharris.com/home/bossip-com/#comments Wed, 01 Jan 2014 23:06:05 +0000 Chrystee Pharris http://chrysteepharris.com/home/?p=512 The Movie

Best Friends Experience an Interracial Body Swap in Clever
New Comedy from Rayven Choi Films.

Rayven Choi Films announced the launch of their comical short film, The Takeover, that made its online world premiere debut just in time for Valentine’s Day, at www.thetakeoverfilm.com.

The Takeover is the story of best friends Ashley, a Caucasian fashion designer, and Tisha, an African American comic book artist, who debate the difficulty of dating; each arguing that the other has it easier. After help from a friend and his potent espresso, the ladies trade places and experience the dating scene in each other’s shoes for 24 hours. This hilarious short film presents an inventive satirical story with a fresh young cast, great music, and plenty of laughs, while posing the question: Is the grass always greener on the other side?

About the Cast

Main character Tisha is played by Chrystee Pharris, who starred in NBC’s Passions and Scrubs. The role of Ashley is played by Lindsey Santefort, an Orange County native and classically trained dancer, who has appeared on All My Children as well as the ABC hit series, Castle. The role of Garrett is played by Brooklynite Mykee Selkin, who has appeared on the Fox series, House as well as All My Children. Rounding out the cast, in the role of Yoshi, is San Francisco native and rising star Ruben Vernier.

About Rayven Choi Films

Rayven Choi Films was established in 2008 by screenwriter/producer Shequeta L. Smith, who began her career in entertainment as a College Representative for Def Jam/Roc-A-Fella Records. Since then, Smith has written numerous screenplays and worked on such hits as Everybody Hates Chris and Flavor of Love. Based in Los Angeles, Rayven Choi Films seeks to produce fun, smart, high-concept film projects. Currently, the company is prepping its first feature film, Rock The Mic, with Teyana Taylor (Madea’s Big Happy Family) andRomeo Miller (Jumping the Broom), attached to star.

About the Music

The soundtrack to The Takeover plays an integral role in the film and includes music from: Grammy winner and member of Maroon 5, PJ Morton; songwriter for artists such as Chris Brown, Monica and El Debarge, India Shawn; Irish/German folk band The Eskies; pop artist Sienna Spalding and soul artist Mishal Moore.

Official Site: www.thetakeoverfilm.com

Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/takeovermovie

Official Twitter: http://twitter.com/RayvenChoi

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