It was an exciting day for Michelle as she followed around the talented and strong Felicia Fields of “The Color Purple”. Felicia plays Sophia, which was the character of Oprah Winfrey when she did the movie. But make no mistake about it, Ms. Fields has made the character all her own. She brings sophistication and attitude to this show, and Michelle was fortunate to spend time with her on a dark day.
“If you want southern cooking, good food, hot food that’s where you need to go,” said Felicia P. Fields.
Yes Felicia loves Edna’s, where you can find the best biscuits on earth! This neighborhood soul food eatery is proudly owned and operated by Ms. Edna Stewart.
Felicia shouted, “Mrs. Edna’s is so so good! My mother used to try and get me to eat all the food off my plate, the biscuits, oh my god!”
From her favorite restaurant to a favorite project...the Regal Theatre, dark since 2003, she and other entertainers have joined forces to start a community theatre program to light up the Southside.
“They are reopening the regal and we really want people to know that this is going to be the effort to help community to bring back a piece of history. As you can see the artistry in this building is phenomenal, and we really, really want to make the regal live again. Press the knowledge forward you know help children. Young talented children that will be able to stretch themselves out you know and pursue there dreams.”
While at the Regal we had time for a quick interview with the strong and opinionated Felicia Fields. She was discovered by Bill and Julie Geller at her local church where she was choir director for twenty years. After a few readings it was suggested for her to audition for the Marriot Lincolnshire’s production of the Wiz.
“I went in and sang two gospel songs and when I finished the first one, David Bell jumped up and said where you have been?”
And the rest is history! She continued working at the Marriot Lincolnshire and others such as the Drury Lane Oakbrook, Apple tree, and the Goodman.
“I ran into Gary Griffin though when I was at the Drury lane Oakbrook and um, he put me in his contract to do it’s a wonderful life and to play the angel, in it’s a wonderful life which is usually set to play an older Caucasian gentlemen, so he had a little difficulty convincing the producer that an African American female would make a good angel. But before it was all over we formed a very solid relationship as a result of that.”
Honoring her father, she made a career change and gave vocal performance and theater a chance. A little luck and lots of talent landed her the biggest role of her life! But fame hasn’t affected this hometown girl!
“I put no investment in what I call notoriety, when you get to be this age and get discovered after you have been working for twenty years, reality didn’t already set in. You know I have had my lights cut off, my gas cut off, you know I done been without everything except food.”
The stage has always played an important role in her life, now daughter Aubreille is using her musical talents on the big stage.
Michelle asked, “Tell us a little bit a bout Aubrielle, does she have the gift?”
Aubrielle’s techear said, “We had one of these little solo tryouts one day when she came up to sing it was like when you get those little prickles, right then I was like thank you, thank you somebody.”
Michelle asked Aubrielle, “Are there any similarities Felicia and Sophia?”
Aubirelle said, “Oh yes! Yes, definitely, everything!”
Easing on down the road, the afternoon was filled with treats! “Sophia” promised me the greatest cheesy-carmel popcorn in town, at ‘Let’s Get Poppin’!
“Let’s see here, yeah, this is my favorite cake here, good stuff! Now this is the popcorn that she ships to the Broadway color purple ok, so we usually get one of these tins once a month and people come into our dressing rooms, Sophia’s room and eat the popcorn!”
Then it was a quick shopping trip at Looking Good Boutique, before we were finally able to relax next door at Nails for You...
“It’s the people that make Chicago, a while back Julie wrote a song that says my heart and soul agree there’s just no place I rather be, than the folks that live in Chicago, my home town.”
For More Information:
Edna's Restaurant and Catering Service
3175 W. Madison
Chicago, IL
773-638-7079
Regal Theatre
79th Stony Island
Chicago, IL 60619
773-418-4120
Dwight D. Eisenhower
12700 Sacramento Ave.
Blue Island, IL 60504
School 708-597-6300
Let's Get Poppin Inc.
11758 S. Western
Chicago, IL 60643
773-779-6132
Looking Good
9944 S. Western
Chicago, IL 60643
773-881-3713
Nails for You
9945 1/2 S. Western
Chicago, IL 60643
773-238-3101
Contact: Kim
