Anything’s Possible: Diana Sands & Civil Rights on Stage and Screen Joel Lobenthal and Steve Willis " An entertaining biography of an almost forgotten but influential actress, as well as a fascinating look at the impediments African-American actors faced during the Civil Rights Era." - Library Journal 490 pages ISBN 9798887718859 paperback ISBN 9798887719610 hardback “Diana Sands was a comet. Brilliant, singular, and gone far too soon. In her short time with us, she left a body of work so rich and fearless it still ripples through generations of artists who follow. To watch her was to see possibility itself take the stage: a woman, yes, Black, rendered with nuance, intelligence, beauty, and depth at a time when the world rarely allowed it. Good thing Diana Sands never asked for anyone’s permission. “Steve Willis and Joel Lobenthal’s beautiful book is not just a record of her life and career, it is a resurrection of her voice, her light, and her rightful place in the pantheon of American theater and film. Diana Sands deserves to be remembered not for what was cut short, but for what she achieved, and for the worlds she opened for those of us who came after. I’ve been compared to Diana, but I know I am only a shadow of her greatness, she remains the true blaze by which so many of us found our way.” Erika Alexander - cofounder Color Farm Media; actress, writer, director "Lobenthal (Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady) and playwright Willis present the first book about Diana Sands, the trailblazing Black actress whose career was tragically cut short when she died of cancer at 39 in 1973. Sands rose to prominence in “A Raisin in the Sun,” appearing in both the 1959 Broadway play and the 1961 film version. In 1964, she earned her first Tony nomination for James Baldwin’s “Blues for Mr. Charlie.” The following year, she received another Tony nomination for “The Owl and the Pussycat,” playing opposite Alan Alda, a notable role because her skin color did not factor into the play. On television, she earned an Emmy nomination for East Side/West Side. In films, she shone in The Landlord, Willie Dynamite, and Georgia, Georgia. Sands possessed a vibrant personality; she was hard-working, determined, and dedicated to the craft of acting, as well as an advocate for Civil Rights. These points are strongly conveyed through extensive quotes from original interviews with more than 100 actors and coworkers. VERDICT An entertaining biography of an almost forgotten but influential actress, as well as a fascinating look at the impediments African-American actors faced during the Civil Rights Era." Library Journal
