Attention All Soldiers - Archived Editions of the Fort Hood Sentinel

B4
LEISURE
March 13, 2014
www.FortHoodSentinel.com
Soldier performs 1st lead role in local theater production
BY MAJ. HOLLI GODDARD
Div. West Public Affairs
A Division West chaplain’s assistant performed her first title role
during a three-weekend run of Kushner’s “Caroline, or Change,” at the
Vive Les Arts Theatre.
Staff Sgt. LaKendra “LaLa” Johnson, 2nd Battalion, 381st Regiment,
479th Field Artillery Brigade, was
invited to audition after local director Toschia Moffet heard her sing
during Fort Hood’s Thanksgiving
service.
“I honestly went to the audition
for two reasons: to honor the invitation, which I took as an amazing compliment, and for my own
professional development,” she said.
“Frankly, I went into the audition
without any expectation of getting a
specific part.”
She was one of 10 women who
auditioned for the lead role of “Caroline.”
Born in East Texas, Johnson can
usually be found assisting with onpost religious services and training
Reserve and National Guard Unit
Ministry Teams as they prepare to
deploy overseas.
A classically trained vocalist whose
natural abilities originated in gospel
and R&B music, Johnson previously
performed as the high-note “Dynamite” in Shaiman’s “Hairspray” at
the Collin County Community College in Plano. She has also performed
in Italy for a Christmas Gospel music
tour during December 2011.
“Caroline, or Change” was set in
1963 in Lake Charles, La., where
Caroline is a black single mother of
four working as a Jewish family’s
maid in the midst of the American Civil Rights Movement. When
money turns up missing, fragile
friendships are threatened and Caroline, resistant to change, must face
the reality of the evolving world
around her.
Johnson’s future looks bright in
the significantly changing Army. She
will continue as a chaplain’s assistant
for another year here at Fort Hood.
Her next major singing performance, aside from a party band she
sings with on the weekends, is an
international tour in April. She will
provide live background vocals for
Erykah Badu, an internationally
known American singer-songwriter,
record producer, activist, and actress,
whose upcoming tour includes New
Zealand and Australia.
Local
actors
Tashonna Banks
(left), playing the
role of Emmie,
and Tabitha Perry
(right), playing the
role of “The Washing Machine,” surround Staff Sgt.
LaKendra Johnson, of 2-381
Regt., 479th FA
Bde., who played
Caroline in a performance of Kushner’s
“Caroline,
or Change” at the
Killeen Vive Les
Arts Theatre.
Courtesy photo by Kim Talbott
Courtesy photo by Toschia Moffett, director, “Caroline, or Change”
Staff Sgt. LaKendra Johnson, 2-381 Regt., 479th FA Bde., Div. West, playing Caroline in Kushner’s “Caroline, or Change,”
stops for a photo opportunity with “The Navy Men,” (left to right) Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Bowers, Lt. Col. Thomas Perry and
Capt. Javora Collier, all Fort Hood Soldiers. The musical was Johnson’s first lead role at Killeen’s Vive Les Arts Theatre.
Attention All Soldiers
What is YOUR next step?
Visit the ACAP Job Fair
Monday, 24 Mar.
0900-1330
Oveta Culp Hobby Soldier and Readiness Center, Bldg 18000
(Copeland Center Parking Lot)
https://www.facebook.com/FortHoodACAP