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917 716-6635   et34888@aol.com

New York, NY – Wabi Sabi Production’s staged reading and mini concert of it’s new 1 hr 45 minute two act musical play that explores the life and music of legendary musical great Barry White opens for a public reading 4- 28-07 at 8 PM at the Times Square Arts Center located at 300 W 43rd Street room 301-3 NYC 10036 Between 8th and 9th ave. Tickets are $15 and $17 if purchased online. For info and reservations contact Emmitt at 917 716-6635 or purchase online at http://www.wabisabiproductions.com/current.htm.

A scarcity of musicals about contemporary African American musicians Inspired Emmitt Thrower, the writer, producer and director of “Barry White: Guided By Destiny” in collaboration with Lanar, to undertake the challenge of beginning to rectify that condition. The musical is scheduled for a two week showcase production June 14th to June 24th, 2007 at the Times Square Arts Center at the 411 Theater Room 411 NYC 10036. Tickets go on sale for the June showcase April 28, 2007 through Theatermania ticketing. The public reading 4-28-07 is the springboard to the showcase production.

Barry White is played by Lanar who also has created original music for the production along with singing original Barry White and Love Unlimited Songs as part of the mini concert. Venus Adore who plays lead singer Glodean, Jessica Opong who plays Dee Dee and Gezele Portwood who subs as Linda and also plays Destiny are all part of The Love Not Limited Singers group.

Like Barry White who had a stroke, Emmitt Thrower also fell victim to a disabling brain stem stroke in 2001. He lost his vision in his left eye, was confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk or speak. He will be featured in the play as the great Muhammad Ali. He hopes he inspires other disabled artists to continue to make their contributions to the performing arts community. Emmitt Thrower the owner/producer of Wabi Sabi Productions also produced the NYC musical called Katrina:A Whole Lotta Water. In Barry White: Guided By Destiny Emmitt explores Barry White’s preoccupation with the guiding voice that led him to greatness. His relationships with Muhammad Ali and Elvis Pressley whom he credits with literally changing his life are also chronicled. Lanar has performed with such R and B legends as Gerald Austin of the Manhattans, Kevin Owens longtime Luther Vandross backup singer now lead singer of Ray, Goodman and Brown, The Persuaders, Gregory Johnson from Cameo, The Legendary Intruders and he also worked with Ray Serrano of African Bambata and Soul Sonic Force. He is a managing partner with radio host and promoter M. Martin Hall. Lanar will be appearing at the Apollo Theater in a Special show on May 30, 2007.

About Wabi Sabi Productions Inc

Created as a Not For Profit in March 2005 by the founder Emmitt Thrower. It’s goals are to bring social, political, and health issues affecting our communities to the stage/screen and to foster a spirit of cooperation and collaboration within the performing artists community.

Baltimore, Maryland — Emmitt Thrower a disabled retired NYC Police Officer, Producer, Writer, Actor and Tiara Mone’t King (Sunshine) a wheelchair bound Dancer, Actress, Model and double survivor of domestic Violence and hurricane Katrina Survivor will battle Katrina together in the new multimedia Hip Hop Musical Katrina: A Whole Lotta Water. Written and Directed by Emmitt Thrower.

Twenty-Seven year old Tiara King a former New Orleans resident temporarily relocated 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 www.theatermania.com 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 and info call 917 716-6635.

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.

Tiara a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts, 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 disaster struck her again in the form of hurricane Katrina and the slow government response to the victims cries for help. She and her family including her 5 year old son were uprooted from their New Orleans community. She was separated from her son and father while she and her mother Cynthia lived in emergency shelters in Baton Rogue where she had to have her wheelchair tied to her arm with a piece of string to keep people from stealing it as she slept.

Emmitt Thrower the disabled New York City retired police officer/writer/producer/director and actor who cast Tiara is himself also a survivor of a brain stem stroke he suffered in 2001. He also experienced being confined to a wheelchair, unable to stand, speak, walk, eat, and eventually lost vision in his left eye. He fortunately was able to overcome his disabilities and create new abilities that have enabled him to work towards becoming totally independent again.

He started his Non Profit Production Company Wabi Sabi Productions in 2005 based out of New York City. This is his first performance in a play produced by his company. He felt this was too important for him not to include himself. The songs are written and performed by Harlem based Rap/Activist “Shakka” whose family is from Baton Rogue. The music on three songs “Hell, Wasn’t We Human and Reasons” is produced by Emmitt Thrower.

Sitawi Jahi, the President and CEO of Movements Unlimited Performing Arts Company and the co-producer of the Baltimore show stated “I am saddened by seeing so many people on the streets of New Orleans riding bikes and talking to themselves. They are emotionally scared. It’s bad.” He said “People are in dire need of help. The horrors of the devastation from Katrina are still there. It is unbelievable. There is a lot of a work to be done for the city to recover. ”

Sitawi Kiongozi Jahi the President of Movements Unlimited 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 Baltimore: Sitawi Kiongozi Jahi : 410-800-3975
Website: http://www.movementsunlimited.org

Contact New York: Emmitt Thrower: 917 716-6635
et34888@aol.com
Website: http://www.wabisabiproductions.com

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
phone: 917-716-6635
Contact Maryland
Movements Unlimited Performance Arts Company Inc.
Sitawi Kiongozi Jahi
443-573-5451 (Office & Video Phone)
410-800-3975 (Cell)
Website: www.movementsunlimited.org
President/CEO
email: sitawi.jahi@movementsunlimited.org