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My performing in Marat/Sade as Marat on 42nd street Newman, artistic director of the Castillo Theater, has staged Marat/Sade as a comment on 1960s America, though he sticks to Weiss' text word for word. In a program note, Newman writes that the play is "an unusual reflection on a revolution that, in many respects, failed...At the beginning of the 21st century, there has been an enormous amount of reflection on the 1960s, which many identify as a period of 'failed revolution.' I see the play, itself a product of the 1960s, as a vehicle for reflection on that extraordinary decade, its promise and its failure." To this end, Marat--one of the French Revolution's most incendiary rebels--is played by Emmitt H. Thrower, a black actor who won acclaim as Satchel Paige in Castillo's recent production of Satchel. 
Emmitt Thrower and Gabrielle Kurlander Actress and President of "The Allstars Project" for youth in Castillo's Production of MARAT/SADE Performed at Castillo Theater and Rawspace Theater on 42nd street 
Emmitt with actor who portrayed Jackie Robinson in 2005 Version of "Stealin Home" performed at the Castillo Theater on 42nd street. Emmitt Originated the Role of Jackie and performed Jackie in 2nd Production in 2000 
Emmitt Thrower and Woodie King Jr Producer/Director of New Federal Theater on lower east side enjoying the Otto Awards for Political Theater for which Emmitt is Chairman 
Emmitt Thrower with Joel Press and Pam Lewis holding doodle by Al Pacino at Castillo Theater Gala at Sardi's on NYC 
Emmitt Thrower as "Bluesman" with Megan Garcia in "Solutions to all the world problems" performed in 2004 at Castillo Theater on 42nd Street By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the Amsterdam News Timeless, funny plays never lose theirhumor, and that is evident as you sit in the audience of "The Solutions to All the World's Problems: An Evening of Short Works for the stage." Six short plays by Black Arts Movement playwright Ben Caldwell are presented.Five of the plays - which are from the 60s and 70s - will have you cracking up, while one leaves you disappointed with the corruption which has taken over the world.Harlem born-and-bred Caldwell writes political plays that focus on Black life. From the time the show starts, you know you are in for an amusing evening. The prologue is humorously performed by African American actress Passion, who explains that the playwright asked her to play this part because of her being blessed with "big assets." She comments that there is nothing godly about the way he looks at her as she bends over to tie her shoe. After reading a message from the playwright, wearing a short, tight dress and pumps, she turns around and switches off the stage.With each line, Caldwell's ability to take a familiar topic and express it into the funniest terms while still keeping it "real" is evident."No Place to Go But Up" focuses on Black poverty and politics. It features the talents ofAfrican American actor Rodney Gilbert. Gilbert performs a hilarious monologue,where he curses out roaches as he stomps on them on the floor and talks of how it is to be poor and living in a tenement, or as whites would say, "poverty stricken." "Sounds like I got a degree," he quips.He proceeds to deliver an in-your-face, side-splitting discourse about how Blacks and whites will never be equal in this country, "unless minimum wage is $100,000 and every nigger is working." Taking pot shots at President Bush and the trillion-dollar debt, he says, "And we thought we were just up to our ass in debt."Focusing on how whites exploit Black artists, the next work, "Birth of the Blues," shows a blues man (amusingly played by African American actor Emmitt H. Thrower)who wears sunglasses, and plays the guitar, while hymning and singing about his blues. A white television reporter (played by Megan Garcia) tells him she wants to interview him.He's not blind, he just wears sunglasses. She asks what things happened in his life to make him sing the blues. He explains that he sings the blues because for 15 years, he has been wearing the same tight shoes. He also talks of being exploited by a white manager.From the time the title of the next play was spelled out and explained, the audience was in stitches. It is the story of "Eugyptus," or "Eu Gypped Us," and is set in an ancient civilization controlled by whites and run by supreme ruler King Sighway. It is hilarious to witness life in Eugyptus and the panic that strikes when the king dies of natural causes,since tradition says that his people must be entombed with him. It is no wonder, then,that the king's death is covered up, and one by one, slaves take his place as ruler and get to ravish the queen. The Eugyptians, who are said to have existed in biblical times, are credited with starting, stuttering, homosexuality, fast-food restaurants, goofing off, and ripping people off.The question of whether God exists is dealt with humorously in "Do You Believe in God?" wlich features African American actress Trish McCall. She is funny and fearful as she questions the existence of a supreme being.Although the play seems amusing at the beginning, "Jesus Christ, Too" paints a powerful picture of what would happen to Jesus Christ if he came to Earth a second time. He, would be a target of the FBI, because of his threat to bring peace to mankind. As African American actor Andre Mtumi surveys the sinful, corrupt human race, as the Savior, he is disgusted. Jesus finds himself cursed out, not permitted to enter two churches, arrested, put in jail and almost sexually attacked in prison. In a mesmerizing monologue he decides humankind is not worth saving. When that play was done, the audience was in awe.The final work was absolutely hilarious and called "Solution to All the World's Problems." In this monologue, Gilbert had everyone hollering with laughter. He argued that the solution to the world's problems was nudity and went on to explain why. He showed how there would be less crime, no drug dealers and a much happier society if everyone just went completely bare.Having excellent plays is marvelous,but they also need perfectly timed direction, which was delivered by Woodie King Jr.(founder and producing director of the New Federal Theatre) and a great cast. Most of the cast members played multiple roles, and also included Stu Richel, Neal Arluck, Dele, J.R. Adduci and Althea Alexis Vyfhuis."The Solution to All the World's Problems:An Evening of Short Works for the Stage," is the first production of Five Points Presents. Five Points Presents is a new theater consortium that will produce a wide range of collaborative work involving directors, playwrights arid performers with decades-long records of creating political, experiential and multi-cultural theater.Five Points Presents is in residence at the All Stars Project's performing arts complex at543 W. 42nd Street. The play will run through March 7. Due to adult language, this play is not suitable for young viewers. Hilarity abounds in Ben Caldwell’s short plays BARRY WHITE:GUIDED BY DESTINY-BLACK NEWS The Legacy of "The Maestro" Barry White is Kept Alive in the NYC Opening June 14th of a New Off Broadway Musical Featuring Nu Millennium A Capella Soul 
Love Unlimited Singers Lanar As Barry White New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - Wabi Sabi Production's new off Broadway musical and mini concert opens June 14-June 24th, 2007 in NYC. The play explores the life and music of legendary musical great Barry White. ProductionHub.com the leading online resource and industry directory for film, television, video and digital media production is supporting the production as an event partner. Barry White: Guided By Destiny LOVIN' LARGE MEET THE MAN WHO WOULD BE BARRY WHITE By MANDY STADTMILLER 
BEDROOM GUISE: Lanar portrays Barry White in "Guided by Destiny." June 17, 2007 -- 'WHEN you attempt Barry White, you either on it or you off," explains 46-year-old Lanar, a Manhattan minister who is starring in an off-Broadway production about the plus-size crooner's legacy. And Lanar is on it, baby. A singer since he was 7 years old, Lanar grew up using his deep bass voice to interpret the stylings of everyone from the Temptations to Otis Redding to Marvin Gaye. But all that changed in 2003, the year the Sultan of Soul, the Walrus of Love and the Buddha of the Bedroom died of kidney failure at the age of 58. From that point forward, Lanar became strictly a Barry White man. "It became Barry White or nothing," says Lanar who stars in "Barry White: Guided by Destiny" at the Times Square Arts Center through next Sunday, a play that explores White's lesser-known life including his Elvis conversion, history with gangs and friendship with Muhammad Ali. "I've just become engulfed in the spirit of where he's at. For me, it's carrying on a historical legacy that had a real effect on the world and basically spells out love. "That's the whole message of Barry White," he continues. "Love one another and love each other. So it just kind of transcends any particular thing. Love says it all." Well, that and getting naked. Right? "No," he says. "He brings a higher quality than that." A higher quality of nakedness? "None of us would be here if it wasn't for procreation," conceds Lanar, who is single. "I think all of his love songs were in very good taste and a very good manner. He was giving an incentive to people - and that's permeating love, spreading love." Like this spoken-word bit from Barry White. "Take it off. Baby, take it all off. I want you the way you came into the world. I don't wanna feel no clothes. I don't wanna see no panties. Take off that brassiere, my dear. Everybody's gone. We're gonna take the receiver off the phone because, baby, you and me, heh, this night, we're gonna get it on." Heh. So you're a minister, Lanar? "I don't really want to intertwine the two things," he says. "I also have a small toy company." And besides: "Barry White is a very family man, and in the play he kind of displays that," Lanar says. "He wasn't the kind that partied and, you know, was a Don Juan so to speak. He wasn't the kind to use music, excuse the expression, like a whore, to sleep late and party all night and things of that nature." Truthfully, Lanar notes, his own ability to sermonize - which he does at an Ethiopian Orthodox Catholic church in Harlem - actually comes in handy. In particular, when it comes to the slow breathy, spoken-word bits - pieces that he only felt comfortable even attempting until after White's death - he's able to use his pulpit power to really deliver a phrase. But the truth of the matter is that the entire White persona requires a very special person's vocal range, for which Lanar is uniquely equipped. "When you're a minister, you're used to talking and putting your sermons together," he says. "And people think that Barry is only the deep voice. But when you get into Barry, you find that he had octaves that he would go into second tenor, first tenor - he has a very large range." Plus, let's not forget - he really knew how to get people naked. "The birth rate went up during the time of Barry White's music," Lanar observes. "Yes, it's true. That's a true statement. I mean there are great artists. Luther Vandross is a great artist, tremendous talent, producer. But there is just something about Barry that seems to linger with people in a certain kind of special way." Amen. EL DIARIO NEW YORK HISPANIC NEWSPAPER-Katrina A Whole Lotta water 
KATRINA A WHOLE LOTTA WATER-Baltimore Times Article 
Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water opens in Baltimore Jan 19th, 2007 Disabled Hurricane Katrina Survivor / Dancer performs in Off Broadway hurricane Katrina play January 19th -21st in Baltimore, MD. Tiara Mone’t King (Sunshine) a wheelchair bound double survivor of domestic violence and hurricane Katrina survivor will perform in the new multimedia Hip Hop Musical Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water. The show recently had it’s opening in NYC. Baltimore, Maryland — Tiara a former New Orleans resident and survivor from hurricane Katrina now relocated back in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland has been pegged for a role in the off Broadway production that is touring in Baltimore from January 19th To January 21st at the Rognel Heights Cultural Center located at 1200 Wicklow Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21229-1548. Said Tiara “I am happy to be back up on stage doing what I love, dancing and acting.” The show times are 1/19/07 Friday 8 PM, 1/20/07 Saturday 1 PM “Special Youth show” reduced cost tickets for under 18, 1/20/07 Saturday 8 PM 1/21/07 Sunday 4 PM Special Dinner Theater/Fundraiser Tickets $50. Tickets can be purchased at Theater Mania or by calling 866-811-4111 Ticket prices $20 To $30 except on 1/20/07, Special Youth rates at 1 PM show and dinner show on 1/21/07. Groups call 917 716-6635. Tiara attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and did a summer stint at New York City’s Alvin Ailey Summer Institute. She was brutally shot twice in 2004 in a domestic violence incident and suffered a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the upper waist down and confined to a wheelchair. One year later in 2005 she had to deal with the hurricane Katrina disaster and the lack of proper government response to it. After evacuating their home in New Orleans, she and her mother Cynthia were forced to separate from her father and her son Isaiah and resigned to live in shelters in Baton Rogue. They finally were able to get out of Louisiana and be reunited in Baltimore. Tiara’s supportive family has helped her endure these traumatic times. Emmitt Thrower the writer/producer/director/actor who cast Tiara is himself also disabled and a survivor of a brain stem stroke he suffered in 2001. He was wheelchair bound, unable to stand, speak, walk, eat, and eventually lost vision in his left eye. He fought back and was able to overcome his disabilities and again learn to walk, speak and become independent again. He then started his Non Profit Production Company Wabi Sabi Productions in 2005. It is based out of New York City. He also performs in the show. The music is written and performed by Harlem based Rap/Activist “Shakka” whose family is from Baton Rogue. Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water explores the emotional, psychological, human rights, race, class, and gender issues affecting hurricane Katrina survivors. It is hoped that this play will keep them in the spotlight as this human drama continues to unfold in the gulf coast area. The play brings it all home straight to the heart, and that is the hope and intent of its creators. Sitawi Jahi, the President and CEO of the Baltimore based Movements Unlimited Performing Arts Company and the co-producer of the Baltimore show, just returned home to Maryland from his first visit back to New Orleans since evacuating because of hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was disheartened by the lack of progress in returning former residents and families back home to rebuild. He stated “I am saddened by seeing so many people on the streets riding bikes just talking to themselves. They are emotionally bankrupt. It’s bad”. He said. “People are in dire need of help. The horrors of the devastation from Katrina is still there. It is unbelievable. There is no signs of a city recovering as of yet.” About Wabi Sabi Productions Inc Wabi Sabi Production Inc. is a Not For Profit corporation established in march 2005. It has a fiscal sponsor in Fractured Atlas. It is located in the Bronx NY and produces mostly out of Manhattan. They produce shows/videos/events and performances dealing with social, health and political community issues. Website: www.wabisabiproductions.com About Movements Unlimited Performing Arts Company Inc. A non-profit 501 (c)3 Corporation. Their management team has over 60 years of operating experience in youth development. Movement Unlimited operates several programs in urban markets in the United States including New Orleans. Sitawi Kiongozi Jahi the President and his wife Cynthia Jasari Williams-Jahi the Founder are unique in that they themselves are former New Orleans residents and survivors of the hurricane Katrina disaster. Contact New York Wabi Sabi Productions Inc Emmitt Thrower Producer/President email: et34888@aol.com >BR>phone: 917-716-6635 SAN FRANCISCO BAY VIEW Street to the stage: “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water” by Leroy F. Moore Jr. Wednesday, 17 January 2007 
Emmitt Thrower and Tiara Monét King share a lot in common. Both are African Americans, both are performance artists and both are healing themselves and this country with a new off Broadway play, “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water,” that opened in New York in November 2006 and now travels to Baltimore. Thrower told me that the play explores the emotional, psychological, human rights, race, class and gender issues affecting Hurricane Katrina survivors. This play is also a multi-media hip-hop musical composed by a socially conscious activist-artist, Shakka, who wrote the lyrics and performs all the songs in the play. The music for three of the songs – “Hell,” “Reasons” and “Wasn’t We Human” – was produced by Thrower and his company, Wabi Sabi Productions. Shakka’s website, www.shakkamusic.com, informed me that he is an advocate raising awareness to stop child abuse. He even wrote a song about child abuse, “Not One More.” Both Emmitt and Tiara traveled a hard road that brought them together for this play. Emmitt Thrower was a cop on the streets of Harlem and Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1973, but after a car accident at work and being shot by a drug dealer coming home from work in 1983, he was forced to retire in 1988 after an unsuccessful attempt to return to full duty. Emmitt turned to acting, tried stand up comedy in 1989 and fell in love with it. However, in August 2001, he had a brain stem stroke that left him unable to speak, unable to eat, unable to walk or stand up or even sit up due to its effect on his balance. He was unable to see the world clearly any longer due to double vision. His life as a performer or involvement in the arts seemed over. Though Thrower has become totally blind in his left eye, he regained his 20/20 vision in his right eye, learned to talk and walk again, and is now a producer, writer, director and actor and is the owner and president of Wabi Sabi Productions, Inc., a not for profit theatrical and video-film company. “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water” is written and directed by Thrower. Tiara Monét King shares Thrower’s pains, love of performance art and the need to get the stories of Hurricane Katrina’s survivors to the stage. King is a wheelchair user and double survivor, first of domestic violence and then Katrina. In 2004, she was shot twice , resulting in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. One year later, in 2005, she had to deal with the Hurricane Katrina disaster and the lack of proper government response to it. Ordered to evacuate her home, she and her mother Cynthia were forced to separate from her father and her son Isaiah and resigned to live in shelters in Baton Rogue till they finally were able to get out and be reunited in Baltimore. According to Thrower, Ms. King is a long time dancer and was eager to get back on stage after her disability. A graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts, she also attended New York City’s Alvin Ailey Summer Institute. Now these two disabled African American performance artists, with the crew of “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water,” are healing the wounds that Katrina and the government inflicted on the residents of the Gulf Coast. I asked Thrower was this his first time working with a performance artist with a disability? Although this is his first time casting another artist with a disability, he remembers his own experience when he became disabled getting back into the artistic arena professionally. The main objective of Thrower’s company, Wabi Sabi Productions, is to create jobs through performance for youth and adult artists and technicians, so they can reach out and uplift the community. In this vision, Ms. King was welcome and has an avenue to express not only her artistic talents but her personal experiences as a Katrina survivor with a disability. Her story of survival in the face of a natural disaster and institutional – government – racism has been experienced by other Black and disabled Katrina survivors but hasn’t been on stage until now. Thrower hopes “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water” will keep the survivors in the spotlight as this human drama continues to unfold in the Gulf Coast and throughout the Katrina diaspora. He told me that the response has been tremendous. The music is off the hook, he said, especially the song “So Much Water,” and the dancing is hot. Thrower informed me that they did a FREE show for New York and New Jersey survivors before the play officially opened to get their reaction. They loved it, he said, with its message of hope and joyous music. Many people told Thrower that they had seen some other Katrina plays but nothing even close to this one. After comments like these, Thrower knew he had accomplished what he wanted with the play, and that was to help people heal and move forward. “Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water” will be in Baltimore from Jan. 19 to 21 at the Rognel Heights Cultural Center, located at 1200 Wicklow Road. The play brings it all home straight to the heart. Show time on Friday and Saturday is 8 p.m., a special under-18 youth show with reduced price tickets is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and a dinner theater fundraiser for $50 is at 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at www.theatermania.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. For more information, call Emmitt Thrower at (718) 716-6635 or go to his website, www.wabisabiproductions.com. On a side note related to Hurricane Katrina, hip-hop and what African Americans with disabilities are doing to support people affected by the hurricane, Preechman, a hip-hop artist with a disability, is shooting his musical video for the song “Black Queens.” This song looks at the contributions that have been made by Black women in the past to the present and asks our future Black queens to take their thrones. The video will officially be out by February for Black History Month. A portion of the proceeds from its sale will go to organizations in the Gulf Coast to help in the rebuilding process, especially for people with disabilities. For more information of this video go to www.myspace.com/preechman or contact Sheila J at (914) 309-0614 or Jsheila68@aol.com or Da Brain at (914) 619-7157 or 2Thapointent@gmail.com. Leroy F. Moore Jr. is vice president of the National Minorities with Disabilities Coalition. He is a poet and activist and a race and disability consultant. Email him at sfdamo@yahoo.com and visit his website at www.leroymoore.com. CITY PAPER ONLINE Baltimore, MD 1/17/2007 STAGE | Theater Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water WESELYAN COLLEGE ARTICLE Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water Friday, November 16, 2007 8:00 PM "Katrina : A Whole Lotta Water" is a Multimedia Hip Hop Musical that explores the emotional, psychological, human rights, race, class, and gender issues affecting hurricane Katrina survivors. It is hoped that this play will keep them in the spotlight, as this human drama continues to unfold in the gulf coast area 2 years later. The play brings it all home straight to the heart, and that is the hope and intent of its creator Emmitt Thrower and his production company Wabi Sabi Productions based in NYC. The play, based on true to life stories of the victims of this National disgrace and disaster, it offers up a ray of hope for the survivors. The Musical will feature Tiara "Sunshine" King a Wheel chair bound Katrina Survivor. She is a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts. She is a dancer who was featured in the Baltimore 2007 tour of the play earlier this year in January. Experience a journey filled with pain, sorrow and even joy, as played out in song, monologues, music and dance. You won't leave out the theater the way you came in. It is a moving, mesmerizing artistic creation. Sunshine recently was relocated to Rocky Mount, NC from her temporary apt in Maryland where she had been living with her young son and family members since escaping the Katrina floods in New Orleans in 2005. She was relocated to a new home in Rocky Mount which included a Van which has been modified for her use. This was accomplished through the generosity of Eunita Harper Winkey the Founder of ATWINDS Foundation, Inc. "Sunshine" had been shot in a domestic violence incident prior to the Katrina disaster in 2004. The shooting left her paralyzed from the waist down. She looks forward to dancing and sharing her story with her new North Carolina Neighbors. The music is written and performed by Harlem based Rap/Activist "Shakka" whose family is from Baton Rogue, Louisiana. Written and Directed by Emmitt Thrower a disabled retired NYC Police Officer who also performs in the play. Thanks again to the generosity of Eunita Winkey and her Not for Profit Company ATWINDS Foundation, Inc. who has sponsored the Rocky Mount Production along with Wabi Sabi Productions. The play hopes to raise funds for ATWINDS Foundation and Wabi Sabi Productions so they can continue their inspiring community work. ATWINDS is a 501©3 Non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
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