Vickilyn Reynolds
The New York Times Theater Critic, Rachel Saltz, recently said
of actress Vickilyn Reynolds in her one-woman musical based on the
life of Hattie McDaniel called, “Hattie...What I Need You To Know,”
that “McDaniel has found an almost ideal interpreter.” New York
Beacon Theater Critic Audrey J. Bernard stated that “Hattie McDaniel
was the first Black to ever win an Oscar, and Vickilyn Reynolds
delivers an explosive award-winning performance as McDaniel!” Theatermania.com
Theater Critic, Dan Bacalzo, said that “Vickilyn Reynolds is a vocal
powerhouse, ” and during the Denver run of “Hattie…What I Need You
To Know!,” Denver Post Theater Critic, John Moore, said of Vickilyn
Reynolds that she “is as big and brassy as her astonishing voice.”
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Hattie McDaniel (1885-1952)
being the first African American to win the Oscar® in 1939, the
new one-woman musical production, “Hattie…What I Need You To Know!”
is on its road to Broadway. Written by acclaimed actress of stage
and screen, Vickilyn Reynolds, who has starred in Bring In da
Noise, Bring In da Funk; The Colored Museum; and Mama I Want to
Sing and played Chris Tucker’s mother in the movie, Friday,
Hattie…What I Need You To Know! captures the essence of Hattie McDaniel’s
humble beginnings in Denver and her rise to stardom in Hollywood
with heart and soul.
“The more I read about her, the more I fell in love with her. She
was a woman before her time,” shares Reynolds of her inspiration
to create the production. Presented by American Legacy Magazine
and produced by Legacy Empire Productions, “Hattie…What I Need You
To Know!” takes the audience on a dramatic musical journey about
Hattie’s life from her early childhood and her relationship with
her family to her difficult decision to leave her family and move
to Los Angeles to pursue her artistic dreams during a time filled
with racism and segregation. Through this journey, we get to see
the intimate personal side of Hattie’s life as a wife, businesswoman,
a struggling African American actress and her rise to become an
African American Hollywood star. Reynolds as McDaniel says in the
show that “I’d rather play a maid for $700 a week than be a maid
for $7 a week.”
“I feel like this is one of my destinies to portray Hattie McDaniel,”
explains Vickilyn Reynolds. “We have so many parallels. My brother
was a Tony Award Winner who pulled me into show business. We sing,
dance and act as well as write. We even favor in appearance.” Denver
Theater Critic John Moore agreed and also stated that, “Hattie is
a pleasant way to spend a Saturday night. You learn about an important
local figure… Reynolds knocks out a roof-blower like ‘St Louis Blues’
and for a few minutes, we might as well be sitting alongside McDaniel
in heaven.”
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FUN FACTOID
FILMOGRAPHY OF HATTIE MCDANIEL (June 10, 1895 – October 26, 1952)
Features:
• The Golden West (1932)
• Love Bound (1932)
• Impatient Maiden (1932)
• Are You Listening? (1932)
• The Washington Masquerade (1932)
• The Boiling Point (1932)
• Crooner (1932)
• Blonde Venus (1932)
• Hypnotized (1932)
• Hello, Sister (1933)
• I'm No Angel (1933)
• Merry Wives of Reno (1934)
• Operator 13 (1934)
• King Kelly of the U.S.A. (1934)
• Judge Priest (1934)
• Flirtation (1934)
• Lost in the Stratosphere (1934)
• Babbitt (1934)
• Little Men (1934)
• The Little Colonel (1935)
• Transient Lady (1935)
• Traveling Saleslady (1935)
• China Seas (1935)
• Alice Adams (1935)
• Murder by Television (1935)
• Harmony Lane (1935)
• Music Is Magic (1935)
• Another Face (1935)
• We're Only Human (1935)
• Can This Be Dixie? (1936)
• Next Time We Love (1936)
• The First Baby (1936)
• The Singing Kid (1936)
• Gentle Julia (1935)
• Show Boat (1936)
• High Tension (1936)
• The Bride Walks Out (1936)
• Postal Inspector (1936)
• Star for a Night (1936)
• Valiant Is the Word for Carrie (1936)
• Libeled Lady (1936)
• Reunion (1936)
• Mississippi Moods (1937)
• Racing Lady (1937)
• Don't Tell the Wife (1937)
• The Crime Nobody Saw (1937)
• The Wildcatter (1937)
• Saratoga (1937)
• Stella Dallas (1937)
• Sky Racket (1937)
• Over the Goal (1937)
• Merry Go Round of 1938 (1937)
• Nothing Sacred (1937)
• 45 Fathers (1937)
• Quick Money (1937)
• True Confession (1937)
• Battle of Broadway (1938)
• Vivacious Lady (1938)
• The Shopworn Angel (1938)
• Carefree (1938)
• The Mad Miss Manton (1938)
• The Shining Hour (1938)
• Everybody's Baby (1939)
• Zenobia (1939)
• Gone with the Wind (1939)
• Maryland (1940)
• The Great Lie (1941)
• Affectionately Yours (1941)
• They Died with Their Boots On (1941)
• The Male Animal (1942)
• In This Our Life (1942)
• George Washington Slept Here (1942)
• Johnny Come Lately (1943)
• Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
• Since You Went Away (1944)
• Janie (1944)
• Three Is a Family (1944)
• Hi, Beautiful (1944)
• Janie Gets Married (1946)
• Margie (1946)
• Never Say Goodbye (1946)
• Song of the South (1946)
• The Flame (1947)
• The Big Wheel (1949)
• Mickey (1948)
•Family Honeymoon (1949)
Short Subjects:
• Mickey's Rescue (1934)
• Fate's Fathead (1934)
• The Chases of Pimple Street (1934)
• Anniversary Trouble (1935)
• Okay Toots! (1935)
• Wig-Wag (1935)
• The Four Star Boarder (1935)
• Arbor Day (1936)
