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FRENCHIE DAVIS: From 'Idol' to hardly idle, singer/actress stays busy
*While singer/actress Frenchie Davis gained fame as the "American Idol" contestant from season two who was disqualified for appearing in topless photos on the Internet, the powerhouse has maintained her fame on the stage.
But quite soon after her departure from the television talent competition in 2003, she joined the cast of "Rent," then did a turn as Effie in "Dreamgirls" before returning to the "Rent" cast through 2007, at which time she took on the one-woman gospel show of "Mahalia."
This year, Davis is already packing her schedule with performances as she prepares to head out on tour with "American Idol" Ruben Studdard in the fall for the 30th anniversary national tour of musical review "Ain't Misbehavin" which appeared on Broadway in 1978.
"In the fall I'm doing a tour of 'Ain't Misbehavin' with Ruben Studdard," she announced. "Then before I start that, I'm in the all-black cast of 'The Vagina Monologues.'"
The black-centric version of Eve Ensler's award winning play featuring various women sharing their views about their vaginas, hit three cities beginning in Washington, DC, on February 16th and then to Nashville on March, and culminates in Detroit, where Davis will be performing, on March 8.
"Each woman has a monologue about her experience with her sexuality or her vagina. There are not so fun things that are talked about in the show. There are some hilarious things. There are things that all women will be able to relate to," Davis, described.
The powerful singer said that she's looking forward to doing the "Monologues" professionally since she performed it in college.
"I'm excited about it," she said.
The performances assemble notables such as Vanessa Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Dawnn Lewis, Gloria Mayfield Banks, Ella Joyce, and singer Coko for the tri-city V-Day 2008 tour.
"V-Day is the first week of March," Davis explained. "It's a day to bring awareness of violence against women."
In fact, "The Vagina Monologues" originated in downtown New York City in 1996 in celebration of V-Day, an international mission to stop violence against women. Proceeds from this production of 'The Vagina Monologues' will benefit Butterflies Fly Free, Inc. For more information, log onto www.vdaytour.com.
Up to that date, Davis is keeping busy traveling and doing her cabaret show. When she took time out to talk with EUR's Lee Bailey, she was headed to Brazil to perform in Rio for Carnival.
"I'm really excited about that. It's going to be real fun for me," she said.
Davis said that she is going to take a little time to rest up before heading back out with her "A.I" buddy Studdard, but is already looking forward to her next project after that.
"A couple of theaters have expressed interest in the gospel musical "Mahalia," Davis said about the opportunity to reprise her role.
"That was an amazing experience. That was probably one of the most challenging things I've ever done as a singer and as an actress," she said, explaining "I usually don't sing that low, and I'm not really a gospel singer. I'm totally a theater girl, so it was challenging to sing for that show. It was a 90-minute show with no intermission. So I had to keep 'em entertained. But if it's not challenging, it's boring. I welcome challenge."
For the many who moaned, complained or even sobbed when the news came that Davis would not proceed on "American Idol," don't worry about her.
"I'm really excited to all the opportunities that have presented themselves. I'm looking forward to seeing Ruben again and working with him. I'm really looking forward to 'The Vagina Monologues.' It's going to be really fun to share the stage with all those fabulous women," she said. "I'm excited about my future."
Cities are presently being booked for "Ain't Misbehavin'" with plans for the show should run through at least May 2009.
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