JADA to Establish Theatre Artists Benevolent [TAB] Fund.

Inaugural Fundraiser features World premiere of Basil Dawkins’“Josephine's Night Out ...”

Over this weekend of October 15 – 17, the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artists (JADA) will mount a novel two-in-one suite of plays which will mark the start of JADA’S efforts to raise funds toward establishment of the “Theatre Artists Benevolent Fund” which will help members of the theatre community who are in need of urgent assistance in meeting pressing health and other expenses.

The premium theatre experience of two one-act plays, written, directed and performed by some of Jamaica’s best talents, will be on for four (4) shows only at the popular Theatre Place, 8 Haining Road, New Kingston .

The first of these two plays will be Amba Chevannes’ two-hander – the hilarious “Ms. Burton Gets a Promotion.” This piece premiered at the Kingston on the Edge [KOTE] theatre night, and stars the multi-talented Rishille Bellamy-Peliece in the title role of the indomitable Ms. Burton.

Theatre critic and occasional actor, Keiran King, will cap his pen and venture on stage as the second actor in this play. “Ms. Burton Gets a Promotion” is directed by two-times Actor Boy Award Best Actress winner, director and producer, Nadean Rawlings.

The second featured play will be the world premiere of Basil Dawkins’ “Josephine’s Night Out” – a play in one act for one actor. The talent for this production is Christine Ann Bell – a multi award winning actress who has taken home three (3) “Best Actress in a Lead Role” Actor Boy Awards for Louise Marriott’s ‘Office Chase’; Lenford Salmon’s “State of Emergency” – Salmon’s Jamaican adaptation of the famous Chilean play “Death and the Maiden” by Ariel Dorfman; and Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”.

Also much loved for her interpretation of the role of “Rose Madden” which she played for several years in the TV series “Royal Palm Estate”, Christine Ann Bell last seen in the lead role of the mother in Basil Dawkins’ “A Gift for Mom”.

Ms. Bell – who credits famed writer and director, Dennis Scott, as the greatest influence on her approach to acting – returns to the stage after an 8-year absence, specifically to aid this worthy cause. For this, her first one-woman performance, she is being ably guided by the direction of Eugene Williams, a critically-acclaimed theatre director and principal of the Edna Manley School of Drama.

According to Scarlett Beharie, the JADA member who is coordinating the production, “this rare theatrical offering marks the launch of a concerted effort – which will involve the mounting of at least one annual fundraiser, as well as an outreach to corporate Jamaica – toward ensuring that the TAB Fund will be able to grow and to achieve, in a very meaningful way, the purpose for which it is being established.”

The inaugural fundraiser, which will run from this Friday, October 15 to Sunday, October , is a 100% voluntary effort with everyone involved giving of their time and services free of charge. Show times are Friday at 8:00 pm; Saturday at 5:00pm and 8:00pm and Sunday’s Closing Gala performance at 6:00 pm.

Jungle Negril Gets Fuel To Honor Dancehall Heroes

"With Beenie Man and Bounty on the same stage it has to be magic..."

October 13, 2010 Kingston Jamaica:- It’s the time of year when Jamaicans from all walks of life honour our local heroes, and Mile High Entertainment along with Fuel Cell Energy Drink have decided to honour some of Jamaica’s Dancehall heroes.

The event dubbed Fuel Dancehall Heroes, takes place during the Heroes weekend at the Jungle Night Club in Negril on Sunday October 17. Dancehall Heroes such as Bounty Killer, Mavado, I-Octane, Beenie Man, T.O.K and Danger Zone Sound will all come out to receive their honours from what is expected to be a bumper crowd at the top class venue.

Head of Lee Drum Distributors, distributors of the new Fuel Cell Energy Drink, Delmar Drummond, says that Fuel Dancehall Heroes is the ultimate hyper energized show for the Heroes weekend: “The event is fuelled by the real heroes of the dancehall, the older heroes and the younger heroes will be on display giving the patrons a show that's fuelled with energy! Additionally it’s powered by Fuel Cell, in the ultimate energy club Jungle Negril; a combination like this cannot be beat this weekend and patrons will definitely get value for money”

Promoter of the Fuel Dancehall Heroes, Mile High Entertainment is most known for the success of the Jungle Night Club which has become the number one night club in western Jamaica. Mile High has also promoted some of the more successful parties on that side of the island such as this year’s Red Star Concert, 2009’s WOW (Weekend Out West) and many other successful shows.

According to Dean Wallace of Mile High Entertainment: “We consider ourselves visionaries in the field of entertainment and as such we saw Fuel as the brand of choice with which to form an alliance. The association can only be good for the patrons as its two dedicated and professional entities joining forces to create dancehall history. With Beenie Man and Bounty on the same stage it has to be magic and you will get to see it this Sunday at the Jungle”.

With all roads leading to the west this Heroes weekend, only the Jungle will have the fun and excitement that Jamaica’s true Dancehall Heroes can bring. The Jungle will come alive on Sunday October 17 when Mile High Entertainment presents Fuel Dancehall Heroes.

Third World Band To Perform At The Palmyra

NEW YORK, NY (October 13, 2010): Third World Band, along with Tessanne Chin, Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, Delus and several other artists, will perform at The Palmyra Foundation's Fundraising event on November 5, 2010.

The annual event, which will take place at the newly completed Palmyra Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica will feature a weekend of activities to include a beach concert on Friday, November 5th followed by a Saturday night Gala Dinner & Dance on Saturday, November 6th. In between both events a golf tournament is planned.

The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the purchase of school books. The primary purpose of the Palmyra Foundation is to provide school books to 4 and 5 year old school children in public infant schools across Jamaica.

Since its inception in 2007, more than 80 international volunteers have helped provide 72,000 books to 15,000 children in 80 schools across Jamaica's 14 parishes. To date, the Palmyra Foundation has donated books for over US$400,000.

Cat Coore remarks, "The work that the Palmyra Foundation is doing is pivotal. As cliché as it sounds, children are our future so education is key. I express the sentiments of the band when I say we are delighted that we are afforded the opportunity to be a part of something so groundbreaking.

Being an artist is not just about making music, touring and recording. Moments like these remind us that it really is about giving back. We share in the beliefs of the foundation whose slogan is The Future is bright, when you can read and write."

For the past ten months, Third World has been on a world-wind tour in celebration of over three decades in the industry. Additionally, on August 10, 2010, the band released their 23rd album which was made available to fans with a soft launch of their Online Digistore.

Prior to the release of the album, the band released singles, "Spirit Lives," a dedication to the people of Haiti and "By My Side" featuring Tessanne Chin. The video for By My Side, which was directed by Adrian Allen, features Robert Townsend's popular online series "Diary of a Single Mom" starring Monica Calhoun, Valery Ortiz, Janice Lynde, Richard Roundtree, Billy Dee Williams and Leon, was also released.

The album features collaborations with Toots Hibbert, Marcia Griffiths, Gregory Isaacs, Sly Dumbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Dean Fraser, Inner Circle, Mykal Rose, Junior Reid, Capleton, Stephen & Damian Marley, Tarrus Riley and Tessanne Chin.

The band will continue their tour with performances in South Carolina on October 23, 2010 at the 10th Annual Skinful Halloween festival and in New Zealand alongside Ludacris, T-Pain, Kelly Rowland at the 1st Annual Boom Tunz Festival December 11 and 12, 2010.

Jemini’s Campaign for World Peace

Using her beautiful voice, and the momentum as one of Canada’s steady rising vocalists, Jemini has launched a campaign for world peace, with the release of her song “World Peace.”

Set to an R&B rhythm base, “World Peace” begins with the sound of thunder, and a daughter asking her Mother ‘when is Daddy coming home?’ Through the song, the Mother replies to the daughter that she’s not sure, and that they have to pray for all troops to come home safely. Calling on all listeners to play a role in ending the war, Jemini accentuates the fact that the ‘Highway of Hero’s’ is not the way home.

The Highway of Hero’s, is a stretch of highway that extends from Glen Miller Road in Trenton and the intersection of the Don Valley Parkway and Highway 404 in Toronto which was so named in honour of Canada’s fallen servicemen and servicewomen. This length of highway is often travelled by a convoy of vehicles carrying a fallen soldier’s body while enroute from CFB Trenton, to the coroner’s office at the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto.

“I wrote this song because of the Soldiers we have lost here in Canada and around the world. There are so many children crying because their Moms and Dads aren’t coming home because of war. We need to focus on peace. It’s saddening to see people line overpasses on the highway to salute our soldiers,” said Jemini.

In addition to recording the song, Jemini has reached out to MP’s, select leaders and the Military in the hopes that “World Peace” will be implemented in presentations, and to give voice to a younger generation of Canadians who would like Canada’s peace keeping missions to remain a focus of the federal government.

Jemini is prepared to travel to cities across Canada, the United States and the world performing “World Peace” to encourage unity. President Barack Obama’s recent decision to withdraw troops from Iraq by December 2011, signals the possibility that Jemini is heading in the right direction.

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