Posted by | Ray Cornelius
It’s been 27 years since we last saw Oprah Winfrey and Lynn Whitfield on the small screen together in Gloria Naylor’s “The Women of Brewster Place.” Now the two divas are teaming up for the new original drama series on Winfrey’s network titled “Greenleaf.” The two-night premiere is Tuesday, June 21 at 10 p.m. EST and Wednesday, June 22 at 10 p.m. EST.
Merle Dandridge and Keith David
“Greenleaf” centers on the journey of estranged daughter and disillusioned preacher Grace Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge) who has returned home after 20 years on the occasion of the mysterious death of her sister, Faith. As she reenters the world of Calvary Fellowship World Ministries, the Memphis megachurch run by her powerful parents Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) and Lady Mae Greenleaf (Lynn Whitfield), it becomes evident that things are not as virtuous as they seem and that the family’s outward display of faith hides sin and misdeeds.
In the season premiere, directed by executive producer Clement Virgo (“The Book of Negroes”), Grace and her teenage daughter Sophia (Desiree Ross) are warmly welcomed home by Grace’s father, Bishop Greenleaf. Sparked by Grace’s return to Memphis, tensions quickly rise. At a family dinner in the Greenleaf mansion, Grace’s mother is cold and hostile. Her sister-in-law Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne) questions her about her faith and sister Charity (Deborah Joy Winans) erupts with jealousy at the suggestion that Grace might start preaching at Calvary.
Lynn Whitfield, Gregory Alan Williams and Lamman Rucker
Later, Grace’s Aunt Mavis (Oprah Winfrey) discusses with her the circumstances of Faith’s death and reveals some shocking information about Grace’s Uncle “Mac” (Gregory Alan Williams). Mavis is still estranged from the Greenleaf family and it becomes evident that she intends to use Grace to sow the seeds of its destruction.
Click here to see the trailer which aired last night during the season finale of “The Have and The Have Nots.”
Photo Credits: OWN.com