12 AGENDA FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016 • C H I C A G O . S U N T I M E S . C O M • C H I C A G O R E A D E R . C O M

SUN-TIMES

Donica Lynn, who is currently giving ashowstopping performance as the talent-ed but “difficult” Effie in Porchlight Music

Theatre’s revival of “Dreamgirls,” had no intentionofmaking a career in the theater.“I performed in school productions, but I was a

scholar headed for law school,” said Lynn, whogrew up on Chicago’s West Pearson Street. “I re-ally just tripped and fell into the theater, and Iembraced it, just as it embraced me. Every time Ithought: ‘Okay, time to go back to school,’ I wouldget a knock on the door and someone would say,‘Hey, we have a show for you.’ I am so lucky, soblessed, because since 1996 I have been able tomake a living working as an actress, and never hadto take the usual day job.”

To be sure she had plenty of other distractions.Although at 42 Lynn easily could pass for a soliddecade younger, she is themother of three children:A 20-year-old daughter, Aerial, currently studyinginternational business in Sweden; a 15-year-old son,Sabastian, involved in music, dance, writing andthe backstage aspects of theater; and a 9-year-olddaughter, Sidra, whom she home schools (and whorecently had a role in Porchlight’s production of“Far fromHeaven”).

Lynn also is a three-time brain cancer survivor,who had her first scare at age 12 (the tumor wasbenign, and removed), another tumor in the samelocation in 2010 (also removed), and then, a fewyears ago, discovered the mass had returned (atwhich point she opted for chemo and radiationtreatments rather than surgery).“I have seizures and other side-effects, but it

hasn’t stopped me,” said Lynn. “At times it slowsme down, but I find I’m better off when I’m doingsomething, so I keepworking.”

In fact, in October 2013, while undergoing yetanother round of treatment, the idea for a ben-efit concert for all those battling cancer came toher. Now in its fourth year, the latest edition ofthat concert, “Today’s a Good Day — Walk WithMe,” is scheduled for May 2 at Mercury TheaterChicago, 3745 N. Southport, where she will bejoined by many friends. As Lynn describes it: “It’sseparated into four categories— diagnosis, treat-ment, aftercare, survival— and is the story of anymedical journey told in song.” (For tickets call(773) 325-1700 or visit mercurytheaterchicago.com. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Ameri-can Brain Tumor Association and the AmericanCancer Society.)

Donica Lynn stars as Effiein the Porchlight Music Theatre

production of “Dreamgirls.”PHOTO BY KELSEY JORISSEN

‘DREAMGIRLS,’ ThroughMay 22, PorchlightMusic Theatre at Stage773, 1225 W. Belmont$35 – $51; www.orchlightmusictheatre.org. 2 hours and 30minutes, with oneintermission

HEDYWEISSSUN-TIMESTHEATERCRITIC

Director-choreographer Brenda Didier describeDonica in this way: “She is a special woman, friend,mother and cancer fighter. Her diagnosis doesnot define her; her spirit does. At the ‘Dreamgirls’callbacks, Donica came in and sang the same threesongs as everyone else, and when she left the roomwe all sat there in stunned silence. ... It wasn’t justher voice that overwhelmed us, but the way shetold her story. She wasn’t copying anyone. Shewas not trying to be Jennifer Holliday [star of theoriginal Broadway production], or Jennifer Hudson[who played Effie in the Oscar-winning film]. Sheis true to herself as an artist, and that is why she isEffie. She follows her heart in life and on the stage.She is truly unique and special.”

So how did Lynn’s career get started? “A mem-ber of my church, McKinley Johnson, came to mewith ‘Train is Comin’,’ a beautiful piece ofwork he’dwritten, and asked me to participate in a reading,”she said. “The showwas then produced by the now-defunct Chicago Theatre Company [where such

burgeoning talentsas Chester GregoryII and Nambi Kel-ley were part ofthe cast], and ranfor almost fourmonths.”

From there shebegan to work atETA Creative Arts,

as both performer and teacher.“Musical theater was never my goal, either,” said

Lynn, whose spectacular vocal and emotional ren-derings of such “Dreamgirls” songs as “And I’mTelling You I’m Not Going,” “I Am Changing,” “OneNight Only” and “Faith in Myself”might well leaveyou totally gobsmacked. (She credits Chicago divasFelicia P. Fields andE. Faye Butlerwith teaching herhow to preserve her voice.)A featured vocalist on albums by Ramsey Lewis,

Calvin Bridges, Justin Roberts and Chicago actressCory Goodrich, Lynn has appeared in “The ColorPurple” and “Barnum” at The Mercury ChicagoTheater; “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Hairspray”and “Aida” at Drury Lane Oakbrook; “Caroline, orChange” at Court Theatre; as well as at MarriottTheatre, the Goodman, TimeLine and many others,with a rare foray into opera by way of “Queenie Pie”(produced by Chicago Opera Theatre).

As for dream roles: “It would be wonderful toexplore Elphaba [in “Wicked”), or Dolly Levi [in“Hello, Dolly!”], or Nancy [in “Oliver!”]. And yes, Idid audition for ‘Hamilton.’ But mostly I wait for arole to findme, and then I find the character.”

Email: hweiss@suntimes.com

‘Dreamgirl’Donica Lynn:‘I am so lucky,so blessed’

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