WGN America hosts world premiere of “Underground”

Last night’s world premiere of UNDERGROUND was absolutely amazing, and we at The Chocolate Voice are so glad that new stories are being told about America’s rich yet dark history with slavery.

Hosted by WGN America at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, the red carpet event included a screening, immediately followed by an after-party with the cast, crew and VIP attendees on the hotel’s upstairs rooftop lounge.

Cast members in attendance included Jurnee Smollett-Bell; Aldis Hodge; Christopher Meloni; Alano Miller; Jessica de Gouw; Marc Blucas; Theodus Crane; Christopher Backus; Andrea Frankle; James Lafferty; PJ Marshall; Toby Nichols; Adina Porter; Renwick Scott; Maceo Smedley;  Mykelti Williamson; Amirah Vann; Johnny Ray Gill; Reed Diamond; Darielle Stewart and more.

Producers in attendance included Academy Award-winner/Executive Producer John Legend; Executive Producer/Creator Misha Green; Executive Producer/Creator Joe Pokaski; Academy Award-winning writer/Executive Producer Akiva Goldsman; Executive Producers Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius; Executive Producer/Director Anthony Hemingway and Composers Raphael Saadiq and Laura Karpman. Executives in attendance included Matt Cherniss (President/GM, WGN America and Tribune Studios); Steve Mosko (Chairman, Sony Pictures Television); Zack Van Amburg (President, U.S. Programming and Production, Sony Pictures Television), and Jamie Erlicht (President, U.S. Programming and Production, Sony Pictures Television). 

Celebrity guests included Angela Bassett (American Horror Story); Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl); Sterling K. Brown (American Crime Story); Neil Brown Jr. (Straight Outta Compton); Vanesa Bell Calloway (Actress); Tommy Davidson (Black Dynamite); Megalyn E.K. (Spyder Games); Michael Ealy (Secrets and Lies); Tory Kittles (Actor); Jazsmin Lewis (Actress); Omar Miller (Ballers); Pat Monahan (Recording Artist); Sheryl Lee Ralph (Instant Mom); Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Stitchers, NCIS); Amber Riley (Glee); Craig Robinson (Brooklyn Nine-Nine); Mira Sorvino (Actress); Regina Taylor (Dig, The Unit), Courtney B. Vance (American Crime Story); Lena Waithe (Master of None), and Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy).

VIP attendees included lifelong Civil Rights Activist, Peggy Dammond Preacely.

 

Aside from the brilliant acting and captivating cinematography, what sets this show apart is the underlining theme of determination. Every character is perfectly layered and there wasn’t a dull moment in the show – in fact there were so many unexpected twists and turns that everyone in the audience verbally reacted at almost every moment.

We’ve already set our DVR’s to next Wednesday, March 9, on WGN America, and can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

#BreakFree