Getting Grovey

From near dropout to co-starring with Dolly Parton & Queen Latifah: A Houstonnative's incredible story

Angela Grovey nearly dropped out of the ninth grade at Elkins High School in Fort Bend ISD after her first taste of professional theater: A production of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby at TUTS.

Grovey's mother convinced her to stick with school, and she'll watch her daughter shake her booty on the big screen for the first time this month — as Earla, the choir choreographer in Joyful Noise — with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah no less. CultureMap caught up with Grovey while she was in Houston for a family visit and a private screening of the film, which comes out nationwide on Friday.

CultureMap: What was it like working with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah? They're both such strong women, and both very different — were there ever any clashes?

Angela Grovey: Um, amazing. They're both such sweet ladies — very, very down to earth and eager to share their experiences with us when we needed help. It felt very surreal at times.

And as for clashes, not at all. It was kind of like we were a really big family. It was a musical, so we all got to work together in the studio before we started filming . . . and there was no room for anything besides creating really awesome work together.

CM: Did the two leading ladies inspire you musically, either before or during the filming?

AG: Because of my roots, I have always had a big passion for country music. Seeing big acts at the rodeo, like Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, definitely inspired me. And on-set, Dolly talked to us about what it is like to be so freakishly talented . . . It was really inspiring to know her story, that she felt like she had a voice and there was a place for it to be heard.

Dana, or Queen Latifah, put out a jazz album a couple of years ago, when I previously only knew of her rap. And then seeing her on-set, singing ballads and gospel songs, was amazing. She inspired me to not let anyone put you in a box . . . Constantly re-invent yourself. It was awesome to see her step into something I had never seen her do.

CM: You act primarily in theatre. How did you make the transition from Broadway to Hollywood?

AG: The interesting thing is that the director saw me performing in an Off Broadway show and actually wrote the part for me . . . He asked me to come in and read the script, and that was it.

CM: Tell me more about your role in the movie, as the choir choreographer. Do we catch a glimpse of you in the trailer? Did you feel like this part let you utilize your training?

AG: I'm that lovely booty that you see in the trailer [at :45]! And I did feel like I got to tap into all the things I studied in school — music, movement and dance. I don't choreograph professionally, but I do teach classes to kids.

It's something that I enjoy. And I think it's important for people to see that plus-sized girls can move!

CM: What's up next for you?

AG: This season is all about working on new musicals. I was working on one in LA called Leap of Faith, which is supposed to be coming into Broadway this fall, and I hope that they're going to ask me to be a part of that production again. I've got my hands in a few other things that I can't go into detail about just yet . . . Possibly another motion picture!

one night only

Diplo concert kicks off Houston's World Cup pop-up restaurant and bar

Diplo

Courtesy of Diplo

Diplo will perform in Houston on Thursday, June 11.

A high profile Houston pop-up is kicking off its World Cup run with a concert by one of the world’s most famous DJs. International superstar Diplo will perform at The Ranch Presents Pitch Live on Thursday, June 11.

Known for a host of accomplishments — including co-writing M.I.A,’s Grammy-nominated “Paper Planes,” producing Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)," and collaborating with fellow star Skrillex on Jack Ü, and many more — Diplo will bring his signature high-energy performance to Pitch Live’s main stage for a concert with full scale lights, sound, and visual. Tickets, $175, are available now.

“Having Diplo at Pitch Live is a huge win for Houston,” Pitch Live co-founder Army Sadeghi said in a statement. “This city shows up for global moments, and we wanted an artist who matches that vibe. His performance brings energy that reflects exactly what this city and World Cup are all about.”

Sadeghi, a co-owner of Clarkwood, Melrose, and recently-opened cocktail bar 1111, partnered with Berg Hospitality founder Ben Berg and Houston soccer legend Brian Ching to open The Rance Presents Pitch Live in the former Warehouse Live space in EaDo. Open from June 11 through July 19, the 35,000-square-foot pop-up venue puts an international spin on The Ranch, Berg Hospitality’s restaurant at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that operated from 2022-2025.

It offers a public main stage with screens and bars for watching every World Cup match, a ticketed restaurant, and a private VIP lounge led by Sophie owner Ashley Muncie. Food options will include some of The Ranch’s most popular dishes as well as pop-ups from restaurants in Houston that represent the countries playing in that day’s matches.

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