Highland Coffees’ regulars got more than just their morning latte Monday. Customers were greeted by a courtyard full of anxious fans awaiting the appearance of MTV’s female singing creation: Danity Kane. Shortly after 9 a.m., the crowd’s cheers broke through the commotion as Aundrea Fimbres, Dawn Angelique Richard, Shannon Bex and Wanita “D. Woods” Woodgette entered the courtyard. The group stopped by Baton Rouge as a part of a national promotional tour for the release of their upcoming album “Welcome to the Dollhouse.” The entire production of the album is currently showing on MTV’s Making the Band 4. Local radio station Max 94.1’s Wake Up Syndicate brought the female quintet to campus and broadcast live from the corner of Highland Road and Chimes Street. “Y’all skipping class right now?” shouted LaTangela Sherman, radio personality and production manager for Citadel Broadcasting Corporation. “Yeah,” said the crowd without hesitation. Tony King, disc jockey for the Wake Up Syndicate, interviewed each of the girls on the air in a segment he called “Moment of Truth.” King tried to elicit catty comments from the girls, but Danity Kane was courteous and respectful of Sean “Diddy” Combs, MTV and each other. Combs showed his acting skills this past week in ABC’s new drama, “A Raisin in the Sun,” formerly a broadway play. The girls had nothing but good things to say, even after the DJs called them out by chanting in unison, “You are lying.” But when King mentioned Combs might not have as much time to spend with the girls because of his new acting career, Richard said, “That’s perfect.” Richard is a New Orleans native, whose family was relocated to Baltimore after Hurricane Katrina. She is also a former captain of the New Orleans Hornets’ cheerleading squad – the Honeybees. Although it was her first time on campus, Richard said she is a big Tigers’ sports fan and loves LSU. Richard also mentioned her friendship with Marquise Hill, the former LSU football player killed in a water skiing accident this past spring. “Marquise was my best friend before he died,” she said. “I’m forever a Tigers fan.” After the radio interview, fans waited in line to get their picture taken with Danity Kane in front of a back drop printed with the group’s logo. Current LSU football player, Darry Beckwith, was among the fans in line. He said his friends, LSU soccer players Amanda Carreno and Michelle Makasini, persuaded him to come. Carreno and Makasini said they had been waiting at the coffee shop since 6 a.m. to see Danity Kane. “They’re really cool,” said Carreno. She also said she thought it was surprising to see the group at Highland Coffees. The usual sound of soft classical music and clanking coffee mugs inside the shop was interrupted periodically by giggling fans making their way out of the courtyard. Coffee shop owner Clark Cadzow said the proximity to campus and early morning time slot made his shop an ideal location for the event. “We’re very open-minded and friendly,” he said. “The thing about coffee shops is they attract a wide range of people.” Erica Wiliams, kinesiology freshman, said it was really exciting to meet the singers in person. “They were really nice, very down-to-earth,” she said.
—-Contact Lauren Walck at [email protected]