Ariana DeBose Visits Atlanta, Intersex Doc ‘Every Body’ Opens, and ‘Wicked’ Returns to Town
thegavoice.comAcademy Award winner Ariana DeBose, who hosted the Tony Awards a few weeks ago, was in Atlanta recently for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the OMEGA boutique and a dinner that evening.
Between gigs, DeBose — an OMEGA brand ambassador — took time to talk to reporters. The actress’s first major professional musical was in 2011 with the Alliance Theatre’s “Bring It On,” featuring music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, lyrics by Amanda Green and Miranda, and book by Jeff Whitty.
Buoyed by strong reviews, the show made it to Broadway in 2012. DeBose calls the Atlanta gig the real start of her career. She’s also been in the blockbuster “Hamilton,” the film version of the queer-themed “The Prom,” and won her Oscar for Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.” It’s been important for her to be out. “When I won an Oscar, I didn’t expect that,” said DeBose. “To be the first Afro-Latino and the first openly queer women [of color] to win an Oscar was huge.
It was huge for my communities. I think that is largely because of representation. If you can see it, you can be it. Now I’m in this new chapter of my life where I am symbolizing possibility for some people, and I take that very seriously.
Read more on thegavoice.com
