On this episode of The Art of the Story, veteran Broadway dancer, actor and director Ronald "Smokey" Stevens talks about his time spent with Cab Calloway and overcoming drug addiction.
Stevens joined WBGO's Doug Doyle for a chat about his amazing entertainment career.
You could start off with his role as one of the crows dancing and singing with Michael Jackson in the 1978 movie The Wiz.
He was a part of five Broadway shows and wrote and starred in his own musical Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A.
He landed a humorous role in the 1984 film The Cotton Club.
Well before that Smokey was dancing on stage with the like of the great Cab Calloway.
Steven's career took a downturn after he became addicted to drugs and he even spent some jail time. The performer eventually bounced back with a vengeance…and told the story of his addiction battles in his one person-show I Just want to Tell Somebody.
That performance won him the 50th Annual Vivian Robins Audelco Recognition Awards for Best Solo performance…
Ronald “Smokey” Stevens is also out with a new boo The First 60 Years: the History of Afro-American Musical Theater and Entertainment 1865-1930.
You can SEE Doug Doyle's entire interview with Smokey Stevens below.
