Born into a wealthy family in 1910 in Fort-de-France, Alpha Jenny has always dreamed of theater. She arrived in France at the before the Second World War to continue his history-geography studies at the Sorbonne to become a teacher like his parents hope, but it's going to the scene his preference. With a fitness graduation, she started as a dancer and singer in nightclubs which gives her the opportunity to meet Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker and take its first steps in the theater in 1939, in a West Indian folk show.
During the war she the Resistance. After the war, she comes finally to the Conservatoire, but is told " there is no role for you. "Indeed, at that time, the theater in France offers no roles for black actors. Jenny lived this exclusion with difficulty: "There have been hard times, sad, difficult not to be able to do theater in France in interesting roles...."
Music is her other passion, Jenny became Alpha star of cabaret and music hall from 1945 to 1950 and 1950 as a conductor in 1966, with songs in Creole, French, Cuban, English, which is always tinged a little theater. She toured France and several European countries, from Finland to Morocco, via the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, etc.
Noticed in 1947 by the writer Lemagny at the cabaret "The Sugar Cane", she will pose as model for the stamp representing the Martinique.
It was with the troupe Griots created and directed by Robert Liensol, Toto Bissainthe, Thimotée Bassari, Jenny finally returns to the theater. The year 1958 marked her true theatrical birth with her role of Neige in "The Negroes" Jean Genet staged by Roger Blin.
For 50 years, she travels from the US to Greece in the world via the Caribbean playing in authors parts of all backgrounds, from all continents.
She died at Paris in September 2010, aged 100 she was then the French comedians Dean.
Jenny Alpha
- Domain:Cinema / TheaterDate of birth:April, 22nd 1910 at Fort-de-FranceDate of death:September 8th, 2010 at Paris