A Conversation with Earth, Wind & Car Fire’s Janora McDuffie by James Scarborough
3 min read
Only ONE MORE performance this weekend at Hollywood Fringe! Published with Permission from James Scarborough’s What the Butler Saw.
In “Earth, Wind & Car Fire,” Janora McDuffie turns her personal story into universal insights in a tight 60-minute solo performance. McDuffie, known for her television work and as the voice announcer for the 94th Academy Awards, brings her storytelling talents to the intimate stage of El Centro’s Main Space.
The show explores Black and queer identity skillfully, mixing humor with serious moments. Building on her work with No More Down Low TV – an award-winning web series about LGBTQ+ people of color – McDuffie maps an autobiographical journey that feels both personal and broadly relevant.
Under Director Joseph Megel, “Earth, Wind & Car Fire” favors precise storytelling over theatrical display. The production, described as a “storytelling joyride,” suggests movement both literal and figurative – a journey through expectations, revelations, and self-discovery. McDuffie’s background in screen acting, voice work and public speaking enriches her stage presence, giving depth to what could be a simple memoir.
McDuffie first performed the piece as a staged reading at the 25th Anniversary Black Queer Conference. This Hollywood Fringe Festival version shows the continuing growth of a work about the freedom that comes from embracing one’s complete self, even or especially – when that self defies common categories.
Below follows an email conversation with Janora McDuffie.
JS: Your show’s title playfully references the iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire while suggesting both destruction and transformation. How does this duality of breaking down and rebuilding reflect your storytelling approach?
JM: Much like a classic “Earth, Wind & Fire” song, my storytelling approach begins by drawing the audience in and forming a connection. Once they’re on board, the audience is more likely to invest in the journey and take the ride with you. And yes, every great storytelling ride involves transformation—like you said, a “breaking down and rebuilding.”
It doesn’t have to end with a bow, but a great story should leave you thinking, feeling, and maybe even seeing the world a little differently. That’s definitely my goal as I prepare to share my story on stage.
JS: You’ve worked across multiple performance mediums: television, voice-over, speaking engagements, and now solo theater. What freedoms or challenges does the solo theatrical format provide that other mediums don’t?
JM: A one-woman show is such a unique genre. I love the collaborative process—bouncing ideas off other creatives, building something together—but in the solo world, there’s often a long stretch where it’s just you. That can be a bit lonely. It takes a different level of discipline to keep showing up to the work—writing, rewriting, memorizing—without a scene partner or full team holding you accountable.
But there’s also something beautiful that can happen in that solitude. Without distractions, you’re forced to sit with yourself—and that often leads to unexpected creative breakthroughs and real self-discovery.
Eventually, you get to collaborate with a director, and then comes the joy of sharing it all with an audience. But that in-between part—the grind—is where the heart of the work really lives. And when it all comes together, it feels even more rewarding because you’ve lived every step of it – literally.
JS: This show initially appeared as a staged reading at the 25th Anniversary Black Queer Conference. How has the piece evolved since that first presentation? What aspects of the work did director Joseph Megel help you develop further? To Read The Full Interview Go HERE
Published with Permission from James Scarborough’s What the Butler Saw.
ONE MORE PERFORMANCE: SUN JUNE 29 @ 3:15P
Upstairs @ El Centro (Main Space), 1103 North El Centro Ave, Hollywood, Ca 90038
