John Legend, Jurnee Smollett-Bell; Aldis Hodge-Credit: Alex Berliner/ABImages for WGN America
Last night’s world premiere of UNDERGROUND was absolutely amazing, and we atย The Chocolate Voiceย are so glad that new stories are being told about America’s rich yet dark history with slavery.
Hosted by WGN Americaย at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, the red carpet event included a screening,ย immediately followed by an after-party with the cast, crew and VIP attendees on the hotelโs upstairs rooftop lounge.
Cast members in attendance includedย Jurnee Smollett-Bell;ย Aldis Hodge;ย Christopher Meloni;ย Alano Miller;ย Jessica de Gouw;ย Marcย Blucas;ย Theodus Crane;ย Christopher Backus;ย Andrea Frankle;ย James Lafferty;ย PJ Marshall;ย Toby Nichols;ย Adina Porter;ย Renwick Scott;ย Maceo Smedley;ย ย Mykelti Williamson;ย Amirah Vann;ย Johnny Ray Gill;ย Reed Diamond;ย Darielle Stewartย and more.
Producers in attendance included Academy Award-winner/Executive Producerย John Legend; Executive Producer/Creatorย Misha Green; Executive Producer/Creatorย Joe Pokaski; Academy Award-winning writer/Executive Producerย Akiva Goldsman; Executive Producersย Tory Tunnell,ย Joby Harold,ย Mike Jackson,ย Ty Stiklorius; Executive Producer/Directorย Anthony Hemingwayย and Composersย Raphael Saadiqย andย Laura Karpman.ย Executives in attendance includedย Matt Chernissย (President/GM, WGN America and Tribune Studios);ย Steve Moskoย (Chairman, Sony Pictures Television);ย Zack Van Amburgย (President, U.S. Programming and Production, Sony Pictures Television),ย andย Jamie Erlichtย (President, U.S. Programming and Production, Sony Pictures Television).ย
Celebrity guests includedย Angela Bassettย (American Horror Story);ย Mehcad Brooksย (Supergirl);ย Sterling K. Brownย (American Crime Story);ย Neil Brown Jr.ย (Straight Outta Compton);ย Vanesa Bell Callowayย (Actress);ย Tommy Davidsonย (Black Dynamite);ย Megalyn E.K.ย (Spyder Games);ย Michael Ealyย (Secrets and Lies);ย Tory Kittlesย (Actor);ย Jazsmin Lewisย (Actress);ย Omar Millerย (Ballers);ย Pat Monahanย (Recording Artist);ย Sheryl Lee Ralphย (Instant Mom);ย Salli Richardson-Whitfieldย (Stitchers, NCIS);ย Amber Rileyย (Glee);ย Craig Robinsonย (Brooklyn Nine-Nine);ย Mira Sorvinoย (Actress);ย Regina Taylorย (Dig, The Unit),ย Courtney B. Vanceย (American Crime Story);ย Lena Waitheย (Master of None), andย Jesse Williamsย (Greyโs Anatomy).
VIP attendees included lifelong Civil Rights Activist,ย Peggy Dammond Preacely.
Life long Civil Rights Activist, Peggy Preacely/Credit; Shanda Pierce-The Chocolate Voice.
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.
