Being open minded to different types of women.  There are different types of women on the stage [in the play], and we want them [the audience] to understand diversity is a good thing."

 

"I know a lot of people are controversial about lesbians (or some of the other roles of the other characters), but we’re just basically letting the audience see a diverse group of women and how we can all be accepted."

 

"Also that no matter what the women in the play have gone through their friendships are friendships that stand the test of time."

 

More on Raquel: Projects currently working on: Sheila Harper on Tom Joyner’s radio segment, It’s Your World.  Can be seen in: Code of Justice.  Upcoming film project: The Home Coming.

 

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Keena Ferguson (Freda) 

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  Are there similarities between your role as Freda in the play and yourself?

 

Keena: “You know, there are similarities because she’s sassy, a little feisty, and she likes to say what’s on her mind and she likes to have a really good time – which I also like to have a good time.  She’s a little more crude than I am and she’s got a little more sass than I would have coming out of my mouth, but she’s so fun because she’s free-spirited….. she’s pursuing a career as a singer, and as an actress I know what that’s like to be pursuing a career."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine: Your character in the play actually makes it as a singer.  How does that parallel to your own life? Talk about the similarities there.

 

Keena -  “You know, it’s funny.  This play came along, and this tour just as everything else in my life came along.  I’m doing much more TV, and a whole lot of other movies."

 

"Just as in Freda’s character, she claimed her success, so I’ve claimed it also and everything is coming to fruition and it’s a beautiful time in my life to be on tour and to be working on so many other wonderful projects."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  How does the D.C. audience’s reaction to the play compare to the L.A. audiences?

 

Keena:  …"The D.C. audience really talks back to us because they don’t have any idea yet what’s happening next and that’s great for the audience to get involve."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  So you guys like it when the audience gets involved?

 

Keena:  "We love it when people get involved and get excited because we don’t want them to miss a beat of the show.”

 

More on Keena: Projects currently working on: Harlem Nights Cabaret.  Can be seen on: Mad-TV, and Lifetime Television.     Upcoming film project: BET’s  Inspired By.

 

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Tiffany Lowery (Tisha), a women scorned

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine: How did you get into character to play the role of Tisha?

 

Tiffany:  "I watched a lot of Farrah Fawcett movies (The Burning Bed, etc.) and I talked to other women who have been abused."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  Does the role parallel your own life?:

 

Tiffany: “Yes. When I was younger (14), my mom was a victim of domestic abuse.”

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine: How did your family heal from that experience?

 

Tiffany: "Through prayer.  I begged my mom to get counseling, and she did….  Now we’re much better."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine: What would you recommend to women in similar situations as your character in the play?

 

Tiffany: "Get help, get counseling….  Put yourself and your children first."

 

More on Tiffany: Film and Television credits: All of Us, The Narcissist, Tournament of Dreams

 

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Kiyan La Vin (Roland), the woman controller

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  You had the audience really not liking you in this play.  Do you get the same reaction from audiences each time out?

 

Kiyan:  "Yes.  I’ve even had death threats.  People are so in-tuned to the character that they forget it’s just a role….  It’s just acting."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  On the flip side of that, have you had people come up to you and tell you how your character has made them change?

 

Kiyan:  “I haven’t, but if my character has helped change someone from doing that (physically abusing) to women, then my job as an actor in this role has not been in vain.”

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  What would you say to those who want to become an actor?

 

Kiyan:  "Really hone in on your acting skills.  Participate in local theatre companies and local productions to gain valuable acting experience."

   

Film and Television credits: American Gun (w/ Forrest Whitaker), The Fresh Prince of BelAir, The Jamie Foxx Show.  Can be seen in: A Fight For Glory, and American Gun. 

   

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Keith Burke (Knight Rider), the female temptation

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:    What’s it been like to have worked with Will Smith on this production?

 

Keith:  I’m from Philly. Will gave me my first big acting job. It’s been awesome.  Working with Will is like being in a family.  He is so professional, yet laid back, and so funny. 

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  I noticed you appeared in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.  What was your character?

 

Keith:  "I played the role of a gay weight lifter. That was my first job with Will Smith.  It was the episode called Boxing Helena where Will was trying to teach Little Nicky how to fight so he took Nicky to the gym, and in the end Will got beat up by a female boxer."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  Talk about your role in the play. What’s it like being up there tantalizing all those women?

 

Keith: "The audience really gets a kick out of it.   The cast, because we've been doing the play for so long now, really don't get as involved in it as much as the audience does."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:  Where did you get your experience to play the role you do in the Bachelorette Party?

 

Keith: "People don't realize it's all choreographed.  It's all pre-mediated.  So I just get up there and play the part."  I've never worked as a male dancer."

 

More on Keith: Projects seen in: Martin, The George Lopez Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.  Can be seen in: The Colored Museum, Drugs and War.     Upcoming film project: Ocean’s 13.  Howard University Grad. 

 

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Don Welch, Producer of The Bachelorette Party

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:   What do you hope audiences will take with them once they have seen The Bachelorette Party?

 

Don:  "That the play is about real women who tackle real issues in today’s society.  It’s not a play about women who steal each other’s men.  That's played out.  It's old.  The topics in this play are real." 

 

"Every woman who sees this play can relate to at least one character in this play."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:   What took the play so long to come to D.C.?

 

Don:  "It’s been running off and on in L.A. so we had to give the people what they wanted.   The play just got picked up by another promotion company (Nu Dawn Promotions) who is now on board, and they got the play here to D.C."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine:   How do you think the play did tonight on its Washington, D.C. premiere?

 

Don:  "I thought it went well.  The cast did a great job.  You wouldn’t want to know how many things went wrong.  Believe me, you wouldn’t want to know.  But the cast did a great job."

 

DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine: I'm sure the audience never even noticed.  You guys did a great job.

 

Don:  "Thank you."