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I know that this is a version ofMuch Ado About Nothingset roughly in the present with an all-black cast.
I was just excited to play Beatrice.
Its a modern version; it is set in 2020.
It is set in Georgia.
Theres a possibility that we can have a huge sign in front of our lot that says Stacey Abrams.
These characters know how to do that with their language.
Lets not forget that this country was built on the backs of slaves, of black people.
When were in an era where people dont want to be us.
Even thoughMuch Ado About Nothingis a comedy, it takes place with all the men coming back from war.
Theres a lot of darkness to it, which tracks with that setting.I think its a dramedy.
Beatrice says, Kill Claudio.
There is war, and it talks about war.
It is definitely a dramedy to me.
Grantham Coleman, your Benedick, was also at Juilliard.
Did you know each other then?We definitely knew each other in college.
He was one year underneath me.
I was in group 40 and he was in group 41.
Theres another young guy, Jeremie Harris, who was in Granthams class.
He is playing Claudio, the other male lead.
It is just a big reunion, and it is really awesome working with Grantham.
I just think it is really cool to work with people who already speak a similar language.
I remember taking a new spin on it.
I was inLady Macbeth, and I played Witch No.
I like had two lines in that.
We are definitely adding a lot of color to it [laughs] and not just black.
If it had been painful, I would not have come.
Thats justallof the language right there.
I think Im most nervous about the raccoons!
You finished shootingOrange Is the New Blackearlier this year.
So we spent more time together than we do in high school or college.
I think I allowed myself that journey.
Now, its exciting.
To get to build this unique and hopefully phenomenal resume.
Thats what Im hoping for.
To get to spread my wings, and to show that is exciting.
What am I bringing to it that is what we havent seen, what we havent experienced?
I look forward to being the lead in a rom-com that has a fresh take.
I look forward to being in an action film.
I look forward to playing royalty.
I want to get an opportunity to be in movies like that.
Hopefully someone will get inspired after seeing this Shakespeare and write something.
