In 2006, LeToya Luckett proved herself more than capable of standing on her own two Stilettos. She had not only done so as a businesswoman, having launched her successful upscale boutique (Lady L) in her hometown of Houston, Texas 2 years prior, but as a recording artist. She released her platinum-certified, self-titled debut album, which promptly debuted at #1 on the charts and spawned two Top 20 hits, including the #2 smash, "Torn" (which also won her 2 ASCAP awards, including the "Top Song of the Year" Award). She also earned herself a reality show on BET, and the privilege of being personally selected by Mary J. Blige as her opening act on "The Breakthrough Experience Tour". While label merges and other ventures caused her to lay low for most of 2007, and endure the expected "one-hit wonder" comments from the "haters", she is more than ready to take 2008 by storm. With a brand-new album in the works and a starring role in the hit stage play, "Rumors", this singer/ songwriter - and now actress, has got her "swagger up" and ready to show exactly what she is made of.

CED: The last news we heard about you was that you were in the studio recording your sophomore album, and the next thing we know you've turned into an actress, and about to hit the road in a play! How did you get involved with the play, "Rumors"?

LeToya: Actually, I don't think it came from my agent, but with me being in the industry and people calling the store [Lady L Boutique], and calling my management asking me to do auditions, different performances, walk throughs, and things like that, I think the same promoters called to contact my management to see if I would be interested. It was one of those things were it was like, "Man, I've never done this before", and I to want to get into some movies roles and things like that, I was like, "Why not try this and make this a practice?" So, that's what I did. It had a great director, a great cast, and that made it easier on me.

CED: You said it has a great director and cast, but what in particular drew you in to do this play?

LeToya: It was definitely the script! The script is absolutely hilarious, and I don't play a bad character so that helped [laughing]. So I was like, "I get to be the sweet girl in this one! Good job!" So, that's what I decided to do. It has a positive storyline, and I know everybody who comes to see it is going to get so much out of it. They're going to change their minds on a whole lot of things, get some love out it, get some laughter out of it... I'm excited to be apart of it.

CED: Tell us a little bit about your character Michelle.

LeToya: Wellllll she's a Southern graduate need I say more?! [laughing] She's just laid back, cool, and still in love with her ex. That's all I'm gonna say.

CED: Mmmm...so were you able to bit a little bit of yourself into the character?

LeToya: I was! I had to bring the sweet and tender side out to the play. I had to go back to being Toya and...being sassy and being the Toya y'all know me as. [laughing] It's so much. The transition between he characters, and us having to go through these different kinds of characters is really cool.

CED: Since you were able to relate to Michelle on a few levels, did you change a few lines to give her a bit of that "Toya sassiness" or did you just go along with what was written?

LeToya: I kept it the same. I had that choice, but I kept everything the same because I'm starting out with this, and I wanted to be as close to Michelle as I possibly could.

CED: What's your favorite scene in the play?

LeToya: Wow. I have so many favorites, and that's because I'm surrounded by an amazing cast. If you haven't heard Telma Hopkins, who is a legend, if you don't remember she was son Half & Half, and before that Family Matters. of course everybody know who she is, and she played kinda like a mother figure in this piece. Also, Darius McCary, who was also from Family Matters...the ladies love him, so I'm sure he will be the star of the play! Also...oh my gosh, Gary from Comic View. You know him "the double wide" the white guy, the ONLY white guy I remember from Comic View [laughing] is amazing. I have a scene with pretty much everyone in the play, and they make me feel comfortable, and I don't feel so much like an artist. I'm there like, "Am I actually doing this? I'm actually acting right now". I loving it. It's definitely something I'd want to do in the future.

CED: Where you nervous coming into this situation as a music artist surrounded by people who have years of acting experience?

LeToya: I was very nervous because acting is something I've never really done by myself. Of course I did some things with Destiny's Child doing some appearances on TV sitcoms and things like that...

CED: Like "Smart Guy"!

LeToya: Yeah! "Smart Guy"...

CED: What did you say? "You mean to tell me you brought me allll the way down to this dance to give me a tape?! I need some punch."

LeToya: [laughing] You stupid! But as far as starring in a movie, I haven't done that, a this is my first play. So of course I was a bit nervous, and seeing how was surrounded my like...legends, I was like, "ok, look y'all have got to help me" Every time I got prepared to get on stage, I was like, "I need y'all to help me. How are my eyes? Am I projecting the way I'm supposed to?" I love that they are patient with me. I love their patience, and how we've all become like a family. It's real cool. I love it.

CED: How does this compare to say...doing a music video? I ask because in, "Torn" you were getting your act on a bit with Will, and getting a bit dramatic for the scenes.

LeToya: One is scripted and the other isn't. The video was totally freestyle. Even at the beginning of "Torn", I was just pouring myself out to this guy and telling him how I was fed up. Whereas the play everything is scripted. We have to go through the blocking to make sure that we're facing out towards the audience. They have techniques that we don't really use  in the music industry, but are so very important on stage. Those are the differences, and I've been asking the cast to teach me how to turn the proper way, teach me how to project my voice, teach me how to do this and that. So...it's a learning process. I'm learning and they are being patient with me, and it's gonna stick with me because once I start going on auditions and things like that, these are things I can carry with me so I appreciate this.

CED: Since you haven't really acted before, how did you get prepared for the role? How did you become "Michelle"?

LeToya: I broke Michelle down. Even things that weren't scripted I wanted to know. Things like, what kind of person is she? What kind of music does she like? What's her favorite thing to eat? What's her this? What's her that? What makes her smile? All that.

CED: You broke her alllll the way down.

LeToya: Yeah! Just like how you do with another person. When's her birthday? How old is she? How does she walk? How does she talk? So, that was a fun process because I was just letting my imagination go wild. The crazy thing is that Michelle is very similar to me. When I say that I mean she's quiet until she's comfortable with you, she doesn't really speak as much. So, that's the thing and one day I hope to do another stage play, and I'm gonna learn how to do some writing and some directing, and this and that.

CED: What's been the most challenging for you so far?

LeToya: Remembering. Remembering not turn the back to the audience, and to project your voice correctly and not like...knock over something! You know we have props and things on stage. As an artist when I'm up there doing what I do we have props too, but its not like tables and chairs and things like that. Opening doors and closing doors on time, and making sure that if another cast member messes up that you know how to stay in character and on track, and follow though. It's just a lot of things, but I love it.

CED: Of course on my end I've seen how excited people are about the play, but what are the reactions you've seen and heard?

LeToya: People are excited! It's been around the country before, and it was on Broadway for a while. We're the third cast to actually perform the play, and JD says that each cast is different, and each cast has brought it's own thing to the stage. It's a great comedy/ drama, craziness, beautiful singing, humor...all of that in one. Anybody that misses it is crazy! It's going to change some people's life. The storyline in this is amazing, even with the drama and the humor, and all the singing going on. When you listen to to the characters and what they are saying, you be like, "Oh my God, this is such a learning experience".

CED: You mentioned the singing in the play. Are you singing?

LeToya: I am singing in the play! I am. A lot of my solos are like...the light hearted, pretty and fun type of songs. One of them is just fun, just crazy fun. I perform it with a drag queen, named Sunshine...

CED: Not Sunshine! [laughing]

LeToya: [laughing] Yeah, and that one is just absolutely hilarious. I have another surprise of in there so umm...yeah you gotta come check it out!

CED: Is it hard having to keep it together with such a funny script and with George Wilborn and Gary Owens?

LeToya: Absolutely! Off stage, on stage...they are CRAZY! They are stupid stupid! It's hard enough having get through through rehearsal with them. I definitely see why they are comedians.

CED: Alright, let's switch gears real quick. When can we expect the first single to drop?

LeToya: I don't have any dates on that, but I am still in the process of  recording. I don't want to rush the process. I didn't rush the first one, so I definitely am not going to rush this one either. I know how important it is to keep yourself out there, and that's part of the reason I'm doing this play, and making appearances here and there, and of course Lady L. Just keeping busy. I don't want to rush it. I want it to be right.

CED: About how many songs have you recorded so far?

LeToya:  A billion! [laughs] A lot, but I just want to come out with that right single.

CED: On the debut you were nailin' the ballads and the mid-tempos with songs like ,"Torn", She Don't", and "Obvious", so will the new album have the same vibe as the debut, or will we get some more up-tempos and have a more even mix?

LeToya: It will definitely be a mix. I know I had a lot of mid-tempos on the debut, but there will be more up-tempos on this album.

CED: "Lady Love" has been floating around as the official title, but you haven't finalized the name right?

LeToya: No. We don't have anything official yet, but I want to thank all my fans for being sooo patient.

CED: Any duets on the new album? I know a lot of people have have said, "The album is hot, but all she needs is a hot duet..."

LeToya: Oh I know...

CED: So have you recorded any, or are any in the works?

LeToya: Um...we'll see. Maybe, maybe not.

CED: You know Jon B. wants to work with you.

LeToya:  I heard. I love Jon B. Actually, we toured with him way back with Destiny's Child when we were real young, and that was so much fun. We went out with Jon B., Jagged Edge, and K-Ci and Jojo. It was so much fun.

CED: Anybody you'd like to do a duet with?

LeToya: Nobody in mind right now.

CED: Even though you're still recording, is there anything you've tried not to repeat from the first album?

LeToya: No. Of course I don't to turn my back on my fans, so it's pretty much going to be the same but with a couple different elements that were missing from the first album. We're going to have them on this one.

CED: What song that didn't get released from the debut album would you have released as a single?

LeToya: I think "Obvious", and that we should have gone with that one second, but you can't call the scene if you don't know.

CED: How many songs will be on the new album?

LeToya: I don't know yet.

CED: So basically everything with the new album is still up in the air, and as of right now, nothing is finalized is basically what you're telling me...

LeToya: Everything is still up in the air.

CED: Aiight, so what's up with "Swagger"? I know it's just a street record, but...what's up? We need a video or somethin!

LeToya: [laughing] Yeah, well like you said it's just a street record, and I'm from Houston...always will be from Houston so I had to have some of my Houston friends on a record.

CED: Some of the producers named for the new album were, of course T. Bishop and B. Cox, but we already know the kind of heat y'all can come up with together, but the new producers is who we are interested in. Like, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, Pharell, The Underdogs. How was it working with them?

LeToya: It was AMAZING! I hadn't worked with Rodney since we did, "Say My Name" so it was great being in the studio with him.

CED: What songs did you do with him?

LeToya: I did a couple songs with him. We haven't decided which one we're gonna keep for the album though.

CED: I was looking for some song titles right along in there, but I see how you're doing me...

LeToya: [laughing]

CED: How's the recording process for you now?  I ask because I read in a previous interview that you were so used to being in the group situation, but now that you've been done nearly 2 albums solo, are you comfortable with that now?

LeToya: Yeah, I'm pretty used to it now. I know with the first album, I think I was kinda nervous because, like you said, I was used to the group situation, but after the album, being on tour by myself, and doing a lot of things by myself I've gotten used to it.

CED: Mary has Brook-Lynn. Beyonce has Sasha. Who is LeToya's alter ego?

LeToya: I don't have an alter ego. Not yet. I might need to get me one though. [laughing]

CED: What's going on at Lady L Boutique?

LeToya: Lady L. That's my other baby, and she's been standing for 4 years. I'm very proud of the store. We're definitely planning on doing some different things. We will be re-launching the website this year with the great new pieces that are coming in. That and keeping the customers happy. That's what's important to me.

CED: How are you able to balance all these things going on with you? You have the play, Lady L, the album...

LeToya: It's a lot of work. A LOT of work. My mom basically keeps everything at the store while I'm on the road, and has been for the last 4 years. When I do get home, I get the chance to go in an work the store and find out what my customers wants. So when it comes to buy for the store, since I'm the buyer, I already know what's up, and what the wants and needs are.

CED: Aiight Toya I know you need to get back to the stage, so is there anything you'd like to say to the fans and everybody else before you go?

LeToya: Oh yeah, to all those waiting on the album, thank you so much for being patient. I am definitely taking my time with it, and preparing something for you that you will be happy with. It's still fun, it's still soulful, still sassy, and I'm gonna be bringing a lot more to the table with this album than I did with the last. As far as the play, do not miss this play! It's directed by a fantastic director with a great cast. What's great is that we've all come from different genres: music, and sitcoms, and comedy, and so many different things. This play is going to be something you can walk away from saying, "Man! I really enjoyed that. It lifted my spirits, and made me think." So don't miss that. I miss seeing you - the fans! I can't wait to get back out there on the road. I can't wait to get to do some TV shows, and getting in the studio after the play runs. I'm learning a lot and will have a lot with me back from this experience.

CED: Cool. Thank you Toyyyya.

LeToya: You're welcome Cedddddd. [laughing] Bye!

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