Locked UpTyra Banks is headed to jail.
On the May 18 episode of her talk show, the former supermodel spends a day inside the
California Institution for Women, to expose life behind bars.
"I wanted to do this because I was shocked to learn that the majority of women in prison are there because of their husbands or their boyfriends," Banks said. "It was one of the most shocking, eye-opening and terrifying experiences of my life."
Banks, who won a Daytime Emmy Award, was finger printed, photographed and strip searched as she entered the Corona, California Level I/III prison. "I felt violated," she said. "It felt too real to me."
While in the institution --which houses inmates with special needs such as pregnancy and psychiatric care and medical conditions such as HIV infection, Banks met and talked to inmates. "A lot of them were facing life sentences...and they came from all walks of life," she explained. "They could be your mother, your sister, or even your daughter. These women truly touched my heart, and what I learned definitely changed my life forever."
The inmates' stories included tales of being coerced into prostitution by a boyfriend, and pushed to the limit by abuse. Several of the inmates she met, who were released shortly after her visit, join her in 'The Tyra Banks Show' studio for part of the hour.
This is not the first time Banks has tackled a "real-life" fare first hand. She has gone undercover as an obese woman, a stripper and worked at fast food restaurants on the show.
'Purple' PassionOprah Winfrey's big Broadway musical,
'The Color Purple,' got its big seal of approval yesterday morning racking up eleven nominations for the 60th Annual Tony Awards. The show, produced by Winfrey (who starred in the 1985 film adaptation), garnered nods for Best Musical, Best Score (
Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and
Stephen Bray), Best Choreography (
Donald Byrd), Best Book (
Marsha Norman), Best Wardrobe, and in acting categories for
stars Felicia P. Fields, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, LaChanze and
Brandon Victor Dixon. "This has been an amazing eight-year journey for me, bringing [the show] to Broadway," said lead producer
Scott Saunders. "Every member of the cast and creative team always made it his or her first priority to honor
Alice Walker's beloved story, as we adapted it for the stage. We are thrilled that the Tony Awards and our peers in the theater community have honored [us] with 11 Tony Award Nominations."
Sarah Jones' much heralded one-woman show
'Bridge & Tunnel' will be given a "Special Tony Award," at this year's ceremony. Originally slated to compete against
Suzanne Somers' critically panned play, 'The Blond in the Thunderbird,' 'Bridge' literally has no competition in the category. "I can stop knocking on every piece of wood in my house now," the slam poet said. "It's gratifying in the extreme. I'm truly honored."
'The 60th Annual Tony Awards' will air live June 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Honor RollSheryl Lee Ralph's one woman show,
'Sometimes I Cry' was recently awarded a $40,000 Education/Awareness grant for Creative Theater Program from
M.A.C. AIDS Fund. The play -- written and conceived by the actress-- depicts the raw and real life stories of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Ralph, who has been active in the fight for AIDS awareness for the past two decades, was motivated to do the show when she realized just how much the face of HIV/AIDS had really changed and how little was being said. "These women’s voices have been silent for too long in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and they must be heard," said the
'Dreamgirls' star, who is currently touring the country with the show. "Their health and well-being matters also." The play will be performed June 9, at Newark, New Jersey's Essex Community College, and June 25, at New York City's Aaron Davis Hall.
"[We are] proud to be able to support DIVA Foundation founder, Sheryl Lee Ralph, through her one-woman show,"
Bruce Hunter, Interim Executive Director/Executive Program Director for the M.A.C. AIDS Fund, told Black Voices. "An award winning actress and AIDS activist, who has generously donated her time to various M.A.C. (Make-up Arts Cosmetics) AIDS Fund events, Ms. Ralph brings very clear goals and expectations to this project." Since 1994, The M.A.C. AIDS Fund had provided funding to non-profit HIV/AIDS organizations and programs for basic needs, health-related recreational activities, and programs that bring HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention to public attention.
Plans are currently being firmed up for the show to tour campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this fall.
'Something New' and 'False' At Home, Sanaa Hamri's directorial feature debut,
'Something New,' is available on home video this week. Starring
Sanaa Lathan, the romantic comedy's storyline revolves around an interracial love story.
Simon Baker, Blair Underwood, Mike Epps, Alfre Woodard, Donald Faison, Golden Brooks, and
Taraji P. Henson also star. Special DVD features include special featurette introductions by Underwood, and behind-the-scenes with interviews from the cast and crew.
Also out this week: REEL Backwoods Film Festival's "Best Film" award winner 'False Prophets'; a harrowing account of spirituality and personal triumph starring
Lori Heuring, Antonio David, and
Tucker Smallwood. Directed by
Robert Kevin Townsend, the storyline revolves around a gentle-spirited young man who helps a young woman on the side of the road, who is on the run from a cult that wants to steal her "miracle" baby.
