Opening Act
Opening Act
Blavity, Inc.
On Opening Act, some of Black Hollywood faves recount stories from their very first gig, big or small, and share how that single opportunity made them who they are today. Opening Act is a podcast hosted by Shadow And Act’s Deputy Editor, Trey Mangum and features behind-the-scenes stories of how these actors got introduced into film and television.
Jordan Calloway on 'Fire Country,' Playing Superheros and Real-Life Heroes
After starring in The CW's 'Black Lightning,' Jordan Calloway's next project is 'Fire Country' on CBS. He talks about the CBS drama, what he hopes to do in this next stage of his career and much more. 
Oct 11, 2022
19 min
Amirah Vann Talks 'A Jazzman's Blues' and Reflects on 'Underground' and 'HTGAWM'
Amirah Vann takes revisits her roles in OWN's 'Queen Sugar,' ABC's 'How to Get Away with Murder,' WGN's 'Underground' and more, while also discussing her character in Netflix's 'A Jazzman's Blues' and what it meant to join the project.
Sep 22, 2022
25 min
Syreeta Singleton on Working With Issa Rae and What's Next For Their Hit Show 'Rap Sh!t'
HBO Max's 'Rap Sh!t' showrunner Syreeta Singleton joins us to talk about some of season 1's biggest moments, what could happen in a potential second season, working alongside Issa Rae and much more.
Sep 10, 2022
30 min
MeKai Curtis On 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Season 2, Fan Theories And Going From Disney to Starz
Ahead of the season 2 premiere of 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan,' MeKai Curtis teases what to expect, breaks down some of the biggest season 1 moments, discusses his transition from Disney XD star to more mature material and discusses what he really thinks of some of the fan theories that pop up online. 
Aug 2, 2022
23 min
Kadeem Hardison Talks New Series 'Moonhaven,' Reflects on 'A Different World' Almost 30 Years After Last Episode
Kadeem Hardison stops by to chat about this new series Moonhaven, which recently debuted on AMC+. He also reflects a bit on his career, and of course, the iconic A Different World, which will see its final episode turn 30 next year.
Jul 14, 2022
19 min
Emmy Raver-Lampman Talks New Film 'Gatlopp' and 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 3
Emmy Raver-Lampman talks about her new film, 'Gatlopp,' which she filmed during the pandemic and was recently released digital and demand. She also talks about doing more TV and film work in recent years after spending years on stage, and of course, speaks on 'The Umbrella Academy' season 3, which recently returned on Netflix. 
Jun 30, 2022
24 min
Simone Missick on 'All Rise' Being Rescued by OWN and Revitalizing the Legal Drama
On the heels of 'All Rise' season 3's premiere on OWN, Simone Missick chats about the show being revived by the cable network after its CBS cancellation, what its like being on the legal drama after two fast-paced action series and what her perception is of playing a character in the justice system during these times. 
Jun 16, 2022
20 min
Sasha Lane on 'Conversations With Friends' and Going From Indie to the MCU's 'Loki'
On the heels of the 'Conversations With Friends' season finale, Sasha Lane drops by to talk about the show, appearing in Marvel Studios' 'Loki,' how the pandemic and racial reckoning changed her perception, the projects she wants to take on next and more.
Jun 2, 2022
24 min
Ron Cephas Talks About the Legacy of 'This Is Us' and His Recent Tony Nomination
Ahead of the series finale of 'This Is Us,' Ron Cephas Jones drops by to chat about the series, the finale, playing William, how the show became a television anomaly and so much more. He also talks about his recent Tony Award nomination for Clyde's.
May 20, 2022
31 min
Javicia Leslie On Playing a Superhero and What She's Looking Forward to Next
Javicia Leslie stops by 'Openinig Act' to talk about the most recent season of Batwoman on The CW, the community of Black actors in Hollywood and what else she's working on that she's very excited about.
May 6, 2022
32 min
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