‘UPFRONT’ talks to Issa Rae, Joshua Rashaad McFadden & Kenny Leon (AUDIO)

Posted by | Ray Cornelius 

Check out today’s UPFRONT which featured Tony winning-director Kenny Leon, rising photographer and artist Joshua Rashaad McFadden and Issa Rae, star of HBO’s new comedy series, “Insecure.”

I was blessed to catch Mr. Leon before he headed to Los Angeles to direct NBC’s new live studio production of “Hairspray” with Jennifer Hudson. During the interview, he revealed that the Grammy-winning “Dreamgirl” is going to surprise her fans and provide the viewing audience with a performance we’ve never seen before. He also talked about his late friend actor Bill Nunn and rejoiced at Denzel Washington‘s take on the August Wilson classic “Fences,” which debuts on Christmas Day.

Joshua Rashaad McFadden talked about his new photography exhibition, “Come to Selfhood,” which explores Black male images, fatherhood, masculinity and what it means to be a Black man in 2016. During our conversation, he revealed that the project was inspired by the death of Trayvon Martin and his own coming-of-age at 25.

The multi-talented Issa Rae is starring in the new HBO comedy series “Insecure.”  The show airs tomorrow night at 10:30 p.m. and follows an African American woman who is trying to balance her career, friends and love life. The show is loosely based on Rae’s own experiences and on her hugely popular web series, “The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl.”  Click here to listen to the entire 34-minute show!

Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com