Actor and vocalist Donica Lynn interacted with legendary singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin on two occasions.
Now, Lynn stars in Artists Lounge Live’s “Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul,” a tribute to the musical legend on Nov. 18 at Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts in University Park.
“She was a lovely woman and just the nicest person,” said Donica Lynn Henderson, who uses the name Donica Lynn professionally.
Lynn, who attended Thornton Fractional North High School in Calumet City, was approximately 16 years old and singing with Soul Children of Chicago for “Motown 25” when she first met Franklin.
The second encounter when Lynn was 23 years old and singing backup for Natalie Cole included Lynn filling in for a couple of minutes during Franklin’s rehearsal of the song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
“I learned so much just from watching her and having a conversation with her. She said to never take a song anyplace where you can’t bring it back from and also to always remember who you are and where you are and the people that you meet on the way up are the same people you meet on the way down.”
“Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul” features signature songs such as “Respect” and “Think” plus “You’re All I Need to Get By,” which Lynn cited as her favorite to perform in the show.
“I am looking forward to doing that particular song because of the version that we’re doing,” said Lynn about the tune, which is performed with collaborative singers Jazelle Morriss and Robin da Silva.
“There’s something so gripping about that song. The version that Aretha does and the version that we’re doing — it’s so stunning. It just grabs hold of you in the way the story is told in this song so I’m looking forward to doing that.”
Lynn’s story is one of inspiration. The two-time brain tumor survivor is battling a third cancerous tumor with a support system that includes her fiance, Edward Tribue, of Chicago, and her children: Aerial Dwyer, 22, of Atlanta; Sabastian Thornton, 17, of Plainfield; and Sidra Henderson, 11, of Chicago.
“It’s not always easy. The headaches can be really debilitating but I work as best as I can when I can,” said Lynn, who plays Maggie Jones and is the understudy for Donna in “42nd Street,” which began performances Oct. 26 and continues to Jan. 7 at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.
“I tend to find there’s a lot of healing in performing. There’s a lot of healing in song. There’s a lot of healthy endorphins when you love what you do.”
As a vocalist, Lynn has performed, recorded, lent supporting backgrounds or toured with artists including Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, New Kids on the Block and Steve Wonder.
Lynn’s theatrical work has included playing Effie White in Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Dreamgirls” for which she received a Joseph Jefferson Award for actress in a principal role – musical and a Black Theatre Alliance Award.
“Something resonated with my children,” said Lynn about the character-driven work she did in “Dreamgirls.” “They still talk about it to this day, and that work was driven by that group of people. It was really an ensemble piece.”
Lynn will be front and center for “Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul.”
“It’s the music I grew up listening to. It’s music I’ve been singing my entire life. It’s music that’s in my soul,” she said.
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Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
‘Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul’
When: 8 p.m. Nov. 18
Where: Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Tickets: $28 or $36