"MAHALIA: A Gospel Musical"

Mahalia Jackson comes to THE LITTLE CARIB THEATRE, Port of Spain!

JCS Entertainment presents "MAHALIA: A Gospel Musical" • The Little Carib Theatre • May 7 -10. Limited seating. Reserve your tickets now at http://jcsentertains.com/book_tickets.htm

In the music industry of the 1920's Mahalia Jackson was the Beyoncé of Black Gospel. With her distinctive and powerful contralto voice she was considered legendary and remains one of the most influential gospel singers in the world.

She was also heralded internationally as a civil rights activist and was the first African American artiste to take Gospel music to the mainstream in the US. During one high point of her career, Jackson's voice gave Gospel its big break and she was the first Gospel singer to ever perform at Carnegie Hall, on national television and on public radio.

This year, JCS Entertainment pays tribute to and celebrates her life and music with its upcoming production, Mahalia: A Gospel Musical.

With book, lyrics and music by Tom Stolz, the musical features the inspirational story of the life of Mahalia Jackson as it intertwined with the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Mahalia: A Gospel Musical will be the first production of Smith's newest JCS Entertainment venture and promises to feature a powerhouse of vocal and acting talent with a cast of two different performers to play the legendary singer at different times in her life.

Final casting has been confirmed and includes theatre veteran Conrad Paris in the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mandisa Granderson as young Mahalia, award-winning classical and gospel vocalist LLettesha Sylvester and supporting understudy, Mahalia Currie-Medina - both for the role of mature Mahalia Jackson.

Jennifer Ryan will play Mahalia's strict but loving Aunt Duke, Mahalia's Cousin Fred, will be played by Justin Zephyrine with supporting understudy Luke Samerson and Mahalia's childhood church pastor - Pastor Lawrence will be played by Kearn Samuel.

Later in the musical, Mahalia is discovered by Professor Dorsey, a former Blues-turned-Gospel songwriter also played by Kearn Samuel with supporting understudy Keegan Miguel. Mildred Falls, pianist and music tour traveling companion to Mahalia will be played by Abeo Jackson who will share the role with Paula Hamilton. The blind but jovial organist, Mr. James Herbert Francis will also be played by Kearn Samuel.

The musical spans Jackson's life from her youth to Gospel stardom with traditional gospel songs like "Deep River", "Move on up a little higher" and the rousing, up-tempo "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" that will rival any Grammy-award stage performance.

Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, May 7 to 10^th, The Little Carib Theatre, Woodbrook.

For more information visit 'Feature Production' page on our website: www.jcsentertains.com or contact JCS Entertainment: 461-4033 or email us at [email protected].