ABOUT OBSIDIAN MEDIA GROUP- (WWW. OBSIDIANMEDIAGROUP.ORG.) Obsidian Media Group (OMG) Producers of the award-winning New York production of Black Man Rising, (winner of four (4) AUDELCO Awards for Excellence in Theatre; Best Director, Choreography, Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Dramatic Production of the Year) and ResurGENTs: The Reappearance Of Hope by Lawrence Floyd and Damion Sanders (4 Award nominations, winner for Juson Williams for Best Choreography; 2010 Midtown International Theatre Festival). Also 2007, 2009 & 2011 National Black Theatre Festival Main stage Participants and multiple collaborations worldwide, most recently with Troika Bermuda.
Arts collective that have spent the past few years creating new works for the Stage and Screen. Founded in 2005, OMG is a collaboration of writers, artists, dancers, musicians. It has a great reputation as an up and coming company with good records of performances, workshops and related activities offered internationally.
MISSION: Obsidian Media Group is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice through the media of theatre, film and television. Our goal is to develop works from the script to the stage and screen that explore stories based in the rich, multicultural fabric of America. In addition, Obsidian Media Group is committed to awareness and education through the performing arts. (We are sponsored by Fractured Atlas Sponsored Artist program.)
REPERTOIRE RESURGENTS: The Reappearance of Hope: An All-Male Choreopoem: As Senator Barack Obama runs for President, Five Black men run for their lives. Written by Lawrence Floyd and Damion Sanders. Directed by Patricia R. Floyd and Lawrence Floyd (5 Actors.)
The First Lady: A new gospel play with music. Set in "On Solid Rock," a small storefront church in a small town until three new members join. THE FIRST LADY is a story of infidelity, secrets, revelations and healing as the members strive to adapt to a changing world and hold on to their church in the face of adversity and scandal. (7 Actors, 3 Musicians)
“INDELIBLE”: Spoken Word Solo Performance: Unable as a boy to obtain the love necessary to be a productive and functional adult, Damion B. Sanders attempts as a man the ability to love, break vicious family cycles and find peace from a past almost as indelible as his spirit. (1 Actor)
"Back to Basics: A to Z.” A Photo Exhibit inspired by “ResurGENTs. An Alliteration based Exhibit fusing Spoken word with Photography. Artist: Roderick Warner
"THE CANON CHRONICLES: THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK FATHERHOOD.” A Film excerpt and a public conversation on the Black Fatherhood and its effect on young Black males. Directed by Benja K. Thomas and Lawrence Floyd
SOUTHEAST AREA Greenville Convention Center THE FIRST LADY Details:2:00 pm & 7:30 pm JUNE 303 SW Greenville Blvd Greenville, NC 16 27834 SAT 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Garner Performing Arts Center THE FIRST LADY JUNE 742 W. Garner Road Garner, NC 27529 Details:2:00 pm & 7:30 pm 23 Phone (919)-661-4602 SAT 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
JUNE Memphis, Tennessee THE FIRST LADY 30 Details Coming! Details:2:00 pm & 7:30 pm SAT OTHER CITIES TO BE ANNOUNCED!!!
THE CAST
Taimak (pronounced Tie-Mock) is a martial arts actor and stuntman, best known as Leroy Green in the 1985 martial arts film The Last Dragon. Taimak's leading role in Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon, in which he played Leroy Green, a Bruce Lee- inspired martial artist in search of "The Glow", was his first major break in acting. The film was a financial success. Since The Last Dragon, Taimak has appeared in a number of TV roles and over a dozen plays. Taimak later appeared in a number of TV roles and music videos including the lead male in Janet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile" music video, Debbie Allen's "Special Look" video. He played a date rapist on an episode of the TV show A Different World. He also appeared in 36 Crazyfists' music video "Bloodwork". Taimak has also worked with a number of celebrities including Madonna and starred in the play Cheaters, which toured the United States. He also starred in a hit Off-Broadway show in 2004 called Roadhouse the Comedy, based on the Patrick Swayze film Road House.
Ken Alston, Jr., a native of Bronx, N.Y., sings with a voice hailed by The Baltimore Sun as “Heart-piercingly beautiful.” His vocal range spans five octaves and is leading him to pioneer opportunities not only for himself but for performers across the globe. In June 2007, Alston broke ground in Beijing, China, as he arranged and directed the music for the international premiere of the play Passages of Martin Luther King. He became one of the first African-Americans to perform on a stage in China with Chinese actors. The performance included China’s most elite actors of stage, film and TV.
That performance followed Alston’s accompaniment of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in summer 2006, as soloist for Porgy and Bess during the International Prague Proms Series in Prague, Czech Republic. Later in 2006, he performed for the orchestral debut of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and its Gospel Chorus’ Christmas performance. A graduate of Morgan State University in the studio of Mrs. Betty M. Ridgeway and the famed Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts, Alston has emerged as a national and international virtuoso, tackling music, theater and television.
He is part of the cast of the THREE MO’ TENORS, the acclaimed performing group with its unique blend of music that includes Opera and Broadway as well as spirituals, gospel, blues, jazz and soul.
Alston began his music career as a soloist for the New York Boys Choir, under the direction of Dr. Gregory A. McCants. He performed extensively with world renowned Morgan State University Choir before audiences in Germany, Switzerland, Osaka, Japan, Prague, Czech Republic, and Martinique. He can be heard on such recordings as ALL RISE, by Winton Marsalis, GIA Publications music samples, Live @ The Boulevard, Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church of Memphis.
Alston sings with the Soulful Symphony Chorale under the leadership of Maestro Darin Atwater. He also serves as music consultant for many groups, including Womb Work Productions and Nu World Art Ensemble.
In 2003, Alston was a featured soloist on HBO’s original series, The Wire. And in 2004, he sang a tribute for former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during the 2004 Republican National Convention. As part of the memorial for Rosa Parks, Alston was selected as a singer at the National Rotunda in the nation’s capital at the historic lying in state of “The Mother of Civil Rights.”
His theatrical credits also include performances in Ain't Misbehavin, with Arts Centric a Baltimore Theater Company, THE MEDIUM, by Giancarlo Menotti, and also Porgy and Bess with the Philadelphia, and Lyric Opera Company of Chicago, Il.
Alston is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., and the world’s largest men's music fraternity, a charter member of the Pi Eta Chapter at Morgan State University and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He served as a mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Maryland, and he holds two First Place distinctions in his category of the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Eastern regional and Maryland competition.
CedrinaShari Baugh, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cedrina’s first show was The Houston Grand Opera’s “Pagliacci”, where she played a little clown boy (age 6). Since then Cedrina has done numerous productions nationwide including; “Don’t Bother Me, I can’t Cope” by Micki Grant, Maureen in “Rent” by Jonathon Lawson, and Becky Two Shoes in the comedy musical “Urinetown”. Cedrina believes in passion and performance which explains her hard work ethic. She believes that every artist should know the full circle of their craft and in that they earn success. In her quest for understanding she has attended Howard W. Blake High School for Performing Arts, The Little Theater, The Philadelphia Youth Theater, Burgess Music Studio, The Patel Conservatory, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, and The North Carolina Black Reparatory Company Teen Ensemble. “Every lesson at these establishments made me the artist I am today. I remember one of my teachers saying ‘Life’s tough, wear a helmet’ and it’s true”, Cedrina states. Recently Cedrina was crowned The National Black Theater Festivals “Most Talented Teen 2011”.
“Know what you want and go after it with all you got!” That has always been Michael Alexis Palmer’s motto ever since graduating from La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts, and then earning his B.F.A from The State University of New York at Purchase College. His stage work includes: Queen Bees Last Stand at Urban Stages, The Hologram Theory at The Blue Light Theater, Finding Graffenburg at Blue Heron, and The great Defeat of Coltrane Grey at the Berkshires Theater. His television and film credits include All My Children, As The World Turns, Off Duty, Law and Order SVU, Mentor and the Hip Hop Owls, Ugly Betty, and N.B.C’s Conviction, He has recently premiered his writing and directing skills with Platinum Wigs (www.platinumwigsplay.com) A comedy about infidelity and senior aging in New York City, which debuted at the South Oxford Arts Space in Brooklyn, New York.
LAWRENCE FLOYD (Playwright) is also a Director and Actor. Credits Include King Lear with Trezana Beverley, Jump Jim Crow (MITF award Best Supporting Actor) Hamlet, Split Second with John McDonald, SANGO, Lord of Thunder (National Black Theatre), Miss Evers Boys, King Lear with Avery Brooks (Yale Repertory), Jesus Christ Superstar, Purlie, You Can't Take it With You, A Streetcar Named Desire, In The Blood, Seven Guitars and many others. Lawrence has studied with Barbara Montgomery, June Stein, Mary T. Boyer, Petronia Paley and Beth McGuire among others. He has written The Purple Pill, Black Face Jesus, the Burning of Electric City, Movin' To a Beat of Our Own, Better Brother, Talk Back Sylvia, Consider Mary and the children's show, The Day the Sun Went for a Walk.
T. Renee Mathis (Associate Producer.) As an Entertainment Reporter/Host, T. Renee’ has worked for Griot Productions and Cinematiq Maq and covering the Tribeca Film Festival. Interviewing such red carpet celebrities as Michael Rapaport, Tribe Called Quest and Harry Belafonte. T. Renee’ was also a host at the 38th and 39th Annual AUDELCO Awards Ceremony, interviewing nominees and award winners with MNN’s Multihop. Wearing many hats, T. Renee’ works, additionally as a casting associate and a producer. Most recently, T. Renee’ was the Casting Director of Barbisol, a 15 min independent short film, produced by Ralph Scott, of BET”S Lens On Talent. As a new Associate Producer at the, Workshop Theater Company, T. Renee’ has produced two successful play readings with The Dishonorable Discharge Of Private Pitts and Lightning from Heaven. Recent Film Credits include: A Comic’s Tribute” Griot Productions (based on Richard Pryor’s comedy), “An Actors Life: The Series” by filmmaker Michele Baldwin and “Dark Seed” by filmmaker China L. Colston. T. Renee’ served as the acting coach on the set of “Mean Streets” by filmmaker Marquis Smalls, HG Films (Martha’s Vineyard Film Fest 2011). Television Work: The Sopranos, Sex and the City, One Life To Live and a few regional commercials. Recent Stage Credits include: Blues for an Alabama Sky (Nuyorican Poets), Flyin West (Nuyorican), How Many Times Must We Say Goodbye (Negro Ensemble Company). Stage Highlight: Working with Iconic Oscar nominee, Ruby Dee, in a stage reading of Flyin West at the Castillo Theater. T. Renee’ has trained at MTB Studios, Atlantic Theater Co, New Federal Theater, Detroit Rep and is a proud member of Workshop Theater Company and Negro Ensemble Company. Follow T. Renee’ on Twitter@TRenee313
OBSIDIAN MEDIA GROUP 566 West 159th Street, Suite 62, New York, NY 10032 ______
Contact: T. Renee Mathis FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 646.373.2748 E-mail: [email protected]
“THE FIRST LADY” BEGINS NATIONAL TOUR 2 Shows Only in the Raleigh, NC area!
February 17, 2012, New York, NY. Obsidian Media Group presents THE FIRST LADY, a new gospel play with music, written and directed with original music by AUDELCO award winner Lawrence Floyd. The play is set in On Solid Rock, a small storefront church in a small town until three new members join. THE FIRST LADY is a story of infidelity, secrets, revelations and healing as the members strive to adapt to a changing world and hold on to their church in the face of adversity and scandal.
WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 2012 WHERE: Garner Performing Arts Center 742 W. Garner Road Garner, NC 27529, Phone (919)-661-4602 TIME: 2:00pm & 7:30pm
This powerful, inspiring play with music features, Taimak, “Bruce Leroy” from the cult classic movie, The Last Dragon, C. Kelly Wright, Nash Bridges, Henry Lee Project w/Danny Glover, Ken Alston Jr., Czech Philharmonic, Charleston Symphony, Ashley Nicole Jeffrey, Gossip Girl, Law & Order, Michael Alexis Palmer, All My Children, Law & Order SVU and introducing rising star Cedrina S. Baugh who has performed with Donnie McClurkin and Cece Winans.
The creative team consists of Josue Jasmin, choreography; Jeff Bolding and Kelvyn Bell, sound design; Roderick Warner, scenic design; Antoinette Tynes, lighting design; Damion Sanders, costume design; Bayo, production stage manager; T. Renee’ Mathis associate Producer and Crystal Bodie Smith, project Liaison.
The Garner Performing Arts Center is conveniently located in the Historic District of Downtown Garner.
Gala Tickets are $250.00 and Show tickets are $25.00- $50.00.
For reservations and Group Discounts, please go to www.Obsidianmediagroup.org or call 919.395.0493. Or use PayPal at [email protected].
THE FIRST LADY is the must-see theatrical event of 2012! ORDER FORM Fill out form, print, and order tickets by mail or fax. Name: ______Address: ______City, State, Zip Code: ______Daytime Phone: ______Evening Phone: ______Choose Your Performance 2:00 or 7:30 pm Name of Performance: ______Date and Time: ______Choose Your Tickets Prices and discount vary by show. Check our web site or contact our box office at (651) 290-1221 for ticket prices. Number of Tickets ______Adults @ $25.00_____ = $______VIP @ $50.00______= $______Other @ $______= $______Subtotal $______Facility Fee ($2.50 per ticket) $______Total $______Choose Your Payment I have enclosed check made payable to Obsidian Media Group. Charge my tickets to (Please check one below). Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Card #: ______Exp. Date: ______Signature: ______Mail order form to Obsidian Media Group, 566 W. 159th Street, #62, New York, NY 10032. Fax order to (212)781.4641. Tickets will be mailed unless you request otherwise, or your selected performance is less than 10 days from the date we process your order. Tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. We will confirm orders only upon request.