AALM_Spotlight

Q & A with DEXTER DARDEN

now in the feature film

“STANDING OVATION”

in theaters now

Dexter Darden
Dexter has been singing dancing and acting since he was three years old. At the age of eight he attended Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids with blood diseases and cancer. Mr Newman recognized his talents and Dexter began to perform yearly at star-studded galas to raise funds to send other children to camp. He has performed several shows at Lincoln Center and on Broadway with Paul Newman, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, James Naughton, Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Carole King, Robin Williams, Tony Randall, Kristin Chenoweth, Harry Connick Jr, James Taylor , YoYo Ma, Gregory Hines, Paul McCartney, Joanne Woodward, Eartha Kitt, Harry Belafonte, Robert Redford, Bernadette Peters, Maureen McGovern and a host of others.

In 2005, Dexter won First Place for Single Male Vocalist in the high school statewide competition. He has performed at Trump Plaza, on the Carnival Cruise Line and tied for first place at the Apollo Theater in New York. His dance performances include the lead role of the Nutcracker, the lead role of the Phantom of the Opera and was a company dancer trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and tap. Dexter’s Broadway experience also includes the lead role of Zack in The New Kid and George in Schoolhouse Rock Live. His TV credits include being a quest star on “Cougartown,” a co star on “Victorious” and roles on “Law and Order Criminal Intent,” “ Law and Order SVU,” “The Sopranos” and “One Life to Live.”

Dexter has modeled for Vogue, Interview Magazine, Verizon school textbooks, dance wear, medical magazines and department stores. His movie credits include the lead role in the independent film Sizzlean, the role of Charles in Cadillac Records, Chester in the Disney movie, Minuteman and plays twins in Standing Ovation.

Did you first learn you were seriously ill at eight years old?
Well, I didn't find out at the age of 8. My mother actually knew I was going to have "Sickle Cell" before I was born. I first attended The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp at the age of 8.

Attending a camp like The Hole in the Wall Gang must be very hopeful and life-affirming for the kids who are lucky enough to attend. How were you able to go, and what did it do for your spirits?
My mother actually found out about the camp through Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. I was going through a lot emotionally because I had just lost my father. So my Mom and the C.H.O.P staff thought it would be a good place for me to go to get my mind off of things. THEY WERE SOOOOO RIGHT. It completely got my mind off of the heartache and pain I was dealing with at the time, and for the first time in my life I had not a care or worry. I felt free, like all burdens had been lifted.

Being mentored by Paul Newman must have opened up a whole wonderful world. Did you have a special connection with him?
Yes, of course. Paul was so amazing with all the kids who attended the camps, so just being in his presence was uplifting. I feel like I had a personal connection because he was the first person to tell me I could succeed in entertainment and took me under his wing.

You have an extensive resume. How have you been able to pack so much into your young life!?
I have been blessed with amazing opportunities and some awesome experiences. So I just take every day as blessing and keep it moving to the next project.

Standing Ovation seems like an excellent showcase for your many talents. Which do you prefer: singing, dancing, the stage, film?
This is without a doubt the hardest question anybody could ask me lol!!! I Love all them sooooo much, but to me nothing beats performing on a stage for a live crowd. Just going out there when the lights hit me, and the music is blasting, it's an energy rush. Whether I am performing in front of 5 people or 5 million people, just hearing that applause as soon as I am finished reassures me that I am doing what I was born to do.

Tell us about your role in Standing Ovation.
I play the role of M.C. who is the host of the music video competition that "The Wiggies" and "The 5 Ovations" compete in. One of the great things about my role is I am the one who announces the winner of the competition. I also get to sing a song as one of the finalists called "A Thing For You."

What do you have coming up in the future? What direction would you like to see your career take?
Well "Standing Ovation" has had me tied up for a while now and is keeping my plate pretty full. Hopefully after July 16th we will have another National Tour so everybody can catch our concert.
I would like to see my career go wherever God has it planned to go. Fortunately, I have been moving in the right direction and have a strong support system which always helps. I want to be one of those entertainers who never stops, and keeps raising the bar. My ultimate goal is to complete "the Cycle" also known as the E.G.O.T which is winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. One significant person who has done it not once but TWICE is Barbra Streisand who is a big part of making Standing Ovation possible.

What would you like to say to those kids who are now fighting serious illnesses like you did?
Don't stop fighting!!! Anything is possible as long as you keep your faith, don't stop believing, and strive to make your goals a reality. :)

Thank you!
Standing Ovation .....look here at the website

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Q & A with DEXTER DARDEN now in the feature film “STANDING OVATION”

in theaters now

Q & A with DEXTER DARDEN

now in the feature film

“STANDING OVATION”