NBC’s longstanding sketch comedy institution, Saturday Night Live, has been quite thin on the racial diversity front. After the exit of three key players, six were added with not one person of color and only one woman. Perhaps realizing their earlier folly, SNL producers recently held a secret audition featuring nothing but Black comediennes.
The audition was held in Los Angeles at the Groundings Theater early last week, and the ladies were tipped off by an insider just two days prior to the showcase. Actress Bresha Webb, who stars in TV One’s Love That Girl!, spoke exclusively with The Jasmine Brand about the audition and much more.
“The audition came about from an inside source from SNL. I don’t think any of us had a clue about the showcase until two days prior,” shared Webb. “It was an awesome opportunity even though it was such a short notice but, if you stay ready you ain’t gotta get ready and we were READY! Lol But we were all honored to be selected.”
The theme of sisterhood and solidarity was definitely present in a series of phone camera shots showing the comediennes gathered in a prayer circle prior to the showcase, and a group photo with the entire troupe.
Webb, who is also working on her own web series, missed a chance to try out last summer but made the most of her shot this year
“I found out that I was on a list of funny women in the industry and there was an opportunity for me to audition for SNL last summer,” Webb said, “But, I was filming Love that Girl! and now the opportunity has represented itself.”
Joining Webb were fellow actress-comediennes Gabrielle Dennis, Tiffany Haddish, Simonne Shepherd, and Darmirra Brunson.
Hit the following pages to check out some the photos of the ladies during their Saturday Night Live showcase auditions.
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Photos: Twitter
