I got the callback for A Different World so I had to leave my mom in London the cast took care of her. It was her first time on a plane and everything. It was my first time leaving the country, and I brought my mom because she had never traveled. Loretta Devine (Stevie Rallen): I was in London doing The Colored Museum. The theme song was sung by Phoebe Snow for season one, Aretha Franklin for seasons two through five, and Boyz II Men for season 6. They were like, “That’s a little too much attention on you, and it’s not your show.” Unfortunately, once everyone realized I was the same person that had just been cast to be in the show, I was no longer allowed to sing the theme song. Neither the musical director nor the casting director knew that they hired the same person. Then, out of the blue, on a Wednesday, they called and said, “Are you still interested in the audition? Can you come in tomorrow? Great.” Within 10 days I had booked the costar spot and written the theme song. I asked if I could audition and they told me no for about three months, saying, “We love what you’re doing in the Broadway show, just keep singing and dancing.” The tour ended and I had one more unemployment check left. The same people who casted the play were casting A Different World. It was unpaid.ĭawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson): I had just finished the tour of a Broadway show, The Tap Dance Kid, with Hinton Battle, Harold Nicholas, and Dulé Hill. Then he gave me an opportunity to be what he called an apprentice writer, which is essentially an intern. I have nothing for you out here.” I showed him some stories that I’d written and he chuckled a little bit.
I tracked down someone that I knew who introduced me to Dr. Yvette Lee Bowser (writer and producer): I didn’t have aspirations to write for television, but in watching The Cosby Show I felt like there was an opportunity for a voice like mine and a life experience like mine. Loretta Devine played dorm director Stevie Rallen. Lewis, who was also pursuing a musical career, landed the role of Jaleesa. Meg Ryan was initially cast as Maggie but decided to pursue her film career Marisa Tomei took her place.
The original premise was to chronicle the lives of Denise and her two roommates, Maggie and Jaleesa.
Fales-Hill, who had been a writer for The Cosby Show, was tapped to write for a spinoff, originally titled Stepping Up to Step Out.
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