Tag Archives: Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia’s Back to Me Tour

By Tamara Jenkins

2010 was a tumultuous year for Fantasia Barrino.  Allegations of an affair with a married man and a subsequent suicide attempt left many wondering if this would be the end for the singer. But she’s proving them wrong and come back strong which was evident during her  semi-shoeless performance on the Chicago stop of her Back To Me tour December 30th at the Auditorium Theater.

Barrino took her fans on a voyage through time with a myriad of costume changes from big band conductor in all white to 70’s soul sista in a afro and black catsuit while singing hits like Collard Greens and Cornbread, Free Yourself, I’m Doing Me, Bittersweet, Teach Me, When I See You and Even Angels.

Things got emotion at the end of her set, dressed in a purple gown Barrino addressed the crowd informing them that she’s now living for her (self), no longer living for others and performed Diana Ross’s Do You Know Where You’re Going To.  

R&B singers Kandi Buruss (former member of the 80”s R&B girl group Xscape and currently starring on the reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta) and Eric Benet were the opening acts and gave impressive performances.

Buruss, opened with the angry women anthem How Could You….Feel My Pain then showed her lighter side with Me and You(written by Ne-Yo and samples OutKast’s Cadillac Doors). She later took it acapella performing versions of Xscape hits Just Kickin It and My Little Secret as well as her current ballads Haven’t Loved Right and I Just Know.

Dressed to impress in a 3 piece suit and sunglasses, Eric Benet belted out hits Love Don’t Love Me, Hunger and Chocolate Legs, wedding anthem Spend My Life With You and Sometimes I Cry.  Midway through he relinquished his armor (jacket and sunglasses) causing a mini riot and finished with Never Want To Live Without You, You’re The Only One and Georgy Porgy during his encore.

Photo by Dan Locke

For Seven Women, Drama Chases Their Dreams Almost Into Inexistence!

By Wendy Simmons

Soul Kitten’s Cabaret is a musical stage play that takes place in; you guessed it, a cabaret in Detroit where the women are engulfed in drama. Dealing with such issues as drug abuse, alcoholism, divorce, and identity crises they are battling demons within the cabaret as well as in their personal lives. This club already faces scrutiny because it is thought to have been acquired through false pretenses. Now the very over the top owner has to try to keep it from falling into the hands of the bitter son of the previous owner.

Fantasia Barrino of American Idol fame and singer Faith Evans headlined the play; however, they were only seen for a brief moment. Fantasia belted out a beautiful performance while singing as the Good Conscious of the club. With Faith portraying the Bad Conscious it would have been more fulfilling to get to know their characters and to see a conclusion to their war of good versus evil. However, outside of the characters battling with the cabaret’s thick aura of negativity, their presence was virtually forgotten.

I understand that the basis of the play is to not fall victim to the temptations of the world while pursuing your dreams.  However, had the play been more organized and detailed I would have been able to get more of a connection to the women that were dealing with these very real and self destructing issues.

Although there weren’t many musical performances there was plenty of conflict to keep you interested. The time line was confusing but the twist at the end will hopefully put it into perspective for you.

If you love drama, you will love this play and can now enjoy it in the comfort of your home. The DVD debuts on Tuesday (January 11, 2011).