|
A second Tony Award came her way with her performance in Sweet Charity. Her attempt at choreographing in 1988 met with success when she composed an American musical with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Allen realized her potential in choreography and about her amazing stage presence which induced her into heading for a larger locale. All throughout 1970s, she gave special appearances in popular television programs like Good Times, The Love Boat and The Jim Stafford Show.
She also worked with some of the eminent African American performer in mini series like Roots: The Next Generation and Ben Vereen His roots and this gave her a platform to display her wide range of diversity in drama and comedy. In 1977, she also worked for the NBC series of 3 girls 3. One of her most recent role has been a situation comedy for the NBC-In The House. In this series, she co-starred against L.L. Cool J. and played the character of a newly divorced mother who shares her house with a former football player.
Allen's first real success came in 1980s when she played Lydia Grant-a dance instructor in the hit series Fame. This series brought her the publicity that she yearned for. Although the show was canceled after only one season,the program ran for four more years and its popularity in U.K incited an uncontrollable Fame craze.
Till now, Allen took a lead in on-screen acting as an actor and a choreographer, however, with the lined up successes, she got an opportunity to go behind the camera to direct and produce films. Although she continued to be a cast of Fame,she became the first African- American woman to have been hired as a director in prime time. In 1989, Allen took upon herself the charge of directing episodes of Fame as also to write,produce,direct choreograph and perform for The Debbie Allen Special for ABC. Her efforts in these various skills earned her two Emmy nominations for the show.
Allen strengthened her image by directing and producing a mishandled television series named A Different World. The show eventually met with success and became quite popular. Her directions, led to the show broadcasting a variety of political issues like apartheid, date rape, the war in the Persian Gulf , economic discrimination and the highest rated episode of sexual maturity and AIDS which starred Whoopi Goldberg. Allen was awarded the first Responsibility in Television award for the show.
Starting from 1989, Allen directed a number of films like Polly (remake), Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, episode of Quantum Leap, Stompin and the most recent Out of Sync. In 1986, she again appeared as an actor and featured in Jo Jo Dancer Your Is Calling and Milos Foreman's Ragtime. Allen's contribution to television and film making has been tremendous and she will always be remembered as a mature performer and a skillful producer and director.
|
