Lia Chang Photos: Phylicia Rashad, Michael McElroy, Marva Hicks in Broadway Inspirational Voices “Wondrous Grace” Concert at the Central Presbyterian Church in NY

Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers, raised the roof during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song,” at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. © 2011 Lia Chang

Last night, I sat in a pew between actress Denise Burse (Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne”) and award-winning playwright and actor Daniel Beaty at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York, where we witnessed Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers, raise the roof during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song.”

Marva Hicks and Phylicia Rashad © 2011 Lia Chang

Marva Hicks, Virginia A. Woodruff, Lisa Lynne Mathis, Bradley Dean, Avis D. Graves, Clarke Thorell, Marcus Paul James, Eliseo Roman, Angela Robinson, John Eric Parker and Bertilla Baker Thompson were among the singers whose divine solo talents were on display in this glorious and inspiring evening of gospel music.

Tony Award winners Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun) and Adriane Lenox (Doubt) appeared in the concert, along with Montego Glover from Memphis, and cast members from Broadway shows including The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Baby It’s You, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Sister Act.

Angela Robinson and Renee Elise Goldsberry Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Below is the lineup of songs sung during the concert.
Act I
“Song of Praise:
“Excellent Lord” Solo: Virgina A. Woodruff
“You Are An Heir”
“I Have Had Singing”
“He Will Answer” Solo: Lisa Lynne Mathis
“I Call You Faithful” Soloists: Marva Hicks, Bradley Dean
“His Blood Still Works” Solo: Avis D. Graves
“Faithful To Believe” Soloists: Clarke Thorell, Marcus Paul James

Act II
“Sung Unto The Lord” Solo: Eliseo Roman
Djeme solo: Clancy
“Ain’ta That Good News”
“I Give You Praise” Solo: Ken Robinson
“Grace” Soloists: Angela Robinson, Lisa Lynne Mathis, John Eric Parker
“I Surrender All” Piano Solo: Joseph Joubert
“I Surrender”
“He’ll Make It All Right” Solo: Bertilla Baker Thompson
“Your Latter Will Be Greater”

Paula Newsome Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Sopranos: Section Leader-Montego Glover, Terry Burrell, Laura Dean, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Celisse Henderson, Kimberly JaJuan, Gerti Lee James, Chelsea Krombach, Tasha Michelle, Paula Newsome, Angela Robinson, Christina Acosta Robinson, Tanesha Gary-Stickney, Nicole Sutherland, Anne Fraser Thomas, Danielle K. Thomas, Robin S. Walker, Schele Williams-Kleinberger, Virginia A. Woodruff

Danielle Lee Greaves Photo credit: © 2011 Lia Chang

Altos: Section Leader-Danielle Chambers, Bertilla Baker Thompson, Angela DeCicco, Eileen Kaden Dean, Aja Graves, Avid D. Graves, Danielle Lee Greaves, Angela Grovey, Marva Hicks, Zonya Johnson, Crystal Joy, Angela Lockett, Lisa Lynne Mathis, Terri O’Neil, Phylicia Rashad, Rema Webb

Kevyn Morrow and Terry Burrell Photo credit: © 2011 Lia Chang

Tenor/Bass: Section Leader-Chris Zelno, Alvin Crawford, Wilson Cruz, Bradley Dean, Wade Elkins, Robert H. Fowler, Marcus Paul James, Miles Johnson, Monroe Kent III, Adriane Lenox, Travis Morin, Kevyn Morrow, Jesse Nager, John Eric Parker, Ken Robinson, Eliseo Roman, Michael James Scott, C.E. Smith, Clarke Thorell

Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers had the standing room only audience on their feet during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song,” at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Marva Hicks and Michael McElroy, founder and director of Broadway Inspirational Voices, at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a 501 © not-for-profit organization. With Founder and Director, Tony-nominated actor Michael McElroy (Rent, Big River), the mission of Broadway Inspirational Voices is to raise awareness, provide spiritual support, and to help raise funds for people in need. Founded by McElroy in 1994 as the Broadway Gospel Choir, the group was reincarnated as the Broadway Inspirational Voices in 1999. The multi-ethnic choir of singers, actors and dancers are comprised of some of the top performers on Broadway, in national tours, and regional theatre. BIV uses the power of music in rousing live concerts, benefits, and a dynamic outreach program for children and teens to inspire creativity and promote a message of tolerance, understanding, and respect for cultural diversity through the arts.
http://broadwayinspirationalvoices.com/

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Photos: Rick Shiomi Checks out Performing Arts Playwrights Series in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection of Library of Congress; Attends “Asian American Plays for a New Generation” Book Signing in NY
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug!
HHC Art Collection’s “New York City: In FOCUS, Vol.2” Photo Exhibition Opening Reception 6/23, Exhibit dates-6/23-7/14
Marva Hicks and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra light up the Southern Theatre with a “A Night at the Apollo”
Photos: Willie Reale, Frances McDormand, Lewis Black, Bela Fleck, Renee Goldsberry, Duncan Sheik, Lisa Benavides, Abigail Washburn, Tim Blake Nelson at The 52nd Street Project Benefit
House of Payne’s Denise Burse on the 2011 NAACP Image Awards & Season 7; “Shout Out” Episode airs April 20
Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Sidney Poitier to be honored at Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Edison Ballroom
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Photos: Playwright David Henry Hwang in rehearsal at the Goodman Theatre for World Premiere of Chinglish
Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Popera “Bakwas Bumbug” at The Wild Project in NY, June 22-26
Playwright Camille Darby
Project1Voice’s Multiple Staged Readings of Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind features André De Shields, Peter Coyote, Roger Robinson, Leslie Uggams, LaChanze, John Mahoney, Bill Irwin, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Irma P. Hall on June 20
Photos:Alexander McQueen:Savage Beauty Extends at Met through 8/7, Met Mondays w/ McQueen begin 6/6
Meshach Taylor talks Wigger on Wendy Williams Show
Artwork by Asia Flores on display in Mercy High School Annual Art & Soul Art Exhibition in SF
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: Samrat Chakrabarti, Soham Mehta and Shiva Shankar Bajpai at the New York Indian Film Festival
Photo & Video Feature: Black Nativity Now
Living Colour NYC Concert Photos
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: Marva Hicks and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra light up the Southern Theatre with a “A Night at the Apollo”

Broadway actress/vocalist Marva Hicks shares the stage with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Artistic Director Byron Stripling, at the Southern Theatre for “A Night at the Apollo,” in Columbus, Ohio from April 13-17, 2011. The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is celebrating music greats like Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight, James Brown, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and many others whose careers were launched by this legendary finishing school, in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month. Click here for the interview between Columbus Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director Byron Stripling and Ms. Hicks.

Marva Hicks Photo by Lia Chang

Born in Petersburg, Virginia, Marva Hicks first started her early career as a gospel singer. After a short stint with the group Eighties Ladies, Ms. Hicks appeared on Broadway in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music for nearly three years. During a tour in London, she met Stevie Wonder. She began touring with him during the mid-80s and sang background vocals on his album, Characters. She then signed with Polydor in the late ’80s and released her debut album, Marva Hicks, in 1991, with the R&B hits “I Got You Where I Want” and “Never Been in Love Before.” As a gospel singer, Ms. Hicks is a featured vocalist on the Broadway Inspirational Voices Choir’s Christmas CD, GREAT JOY. She has toured the world with Whitney Houston, James Ingram, and Michael Jackson for HisTORY tour. In this 1996 video clip, Ms. Hicks duets with Michael Jackson on “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” in Royal Brunei.
In addition to Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, other roles on Broadway include Rafiki in The Lion King and The Radio in Tony Kushner’s Caroline or Change. Off-Broadway, she appeared in Caroline, or Change (The Public Theater); with Leslie Uggams in Thunder Knocking on the Door (Minetta Lane) and Leslie Lee’s The First Breeze of Summer, directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson (Signature Theatre); with blues great Ruth Brown and Allan Toussaint in STAGGERLEE (Second Avenue Theater); and The Bikinis (Queens Theatre in the Park).

A favorite at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, the award-winning performing artist has worked on five productions including Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, starring Broadway legend Maurice Hines, for which she is nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Thunder Knocking on the Door (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress), The Women of Brewster Place, Crowns and Charles Randolph Wright’s Cuttin’ Up. Other regional credits include her role as Etta Mae in the world premiere of The Women of Brewster Place at The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta’s Suzi Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical); as Bess in a Jazz and Blues adaptation of Porgy and Bess (B. Iden Payne Award) at the Zachary Scott Theater Center in Austin, Texas; It’s Better With a Band (Prince Music Theater); Elliot Ness in Cleveland(Cleveland Playhouse), Twist (Walnut Street Theatre), One Mo’ Time, Sing Mahalia Sing, Bubbling Brown Sugar, and the US Tour of A…My Name Is Alice. Her film and TV credits include Assunder, starring Blair Underwood, Virtuosity, starring Denzel Washington, as Jacarra Principle on the ABC Daytime Soap Opera “One Life to Live” from 1997-1998, and guest starring roles on “L.A. LAW,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Mad About You” and “Sister, Sister“. She has been commissioned by Arena Stage to create and star in a solo musical piece about her journey in show business as a woman of faith.

Single tickets are available through the CAPA Ticket Office for $49 (main floor), $46 (first balcony) and $41 (second balcony). Tickets are available by phone at 614-469-0939 and through all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information call 614-294-5200 or visit www.jazzartsgroup.org for more information.

The Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra (CYJO) is proud to perform prior to Sunday’s afternoon matinee at 1 PM. Admission to CYJO is free with 2 PM matinee ticket.

The Swingin’ at the Southern music series is presented by the Jazz Arts Group with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Foundation and the Westin Columbus.

“A Night at the Apollo”
April 13-17, 2011
Southern Theatre – CAPA
21 East Main Street
Columbus, OH 43215
http://www.capa.com/venues/southern.html
www.marvahicks.com

Here is the link – http://wp.me/pla1d-3m5 – to post this article on Facebook.
Below Vintage Marva Hicks singing “One Good Reason”

Reviews and Listings:
The Columbus Dispatch Review: Columbus Jazz Orchestra -Band and soloists soar in tribute to the Apollo
deltaskymag.delta.com: Marva Hicks with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra
artsinohio.com:
arenastage.org:The Gospel Truth with Marva Hicks

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Marva Hicks to Star in Concert of Pat Holley’s R&B/Pop Musical, Me & Caesar Lee at Triad Theatre, 3/27, 4/3 & 4/10
House of Payne-“Payneful Visit” Episode features Denise Burse as Claretha Jenkins on TBS
André De Shields stars in Chicago Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Victory Gardens 5/14-6/12
Peter Jay Fernandez in Theatre for a New Audience’s Macbeth at The Duke through April 22
Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys and Sidney Poitier Among Honorees at Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Edison Ballroom on May 22
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Photos and Video of Kenny Endo Taiko Artist at Skirball in NYC
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Living Colour NYC Concert Photos
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: Peter Jay Fernandez in Theatre for a New Audience’s Macbeth at The Duke through April 22

Last night, I caught up with Peter Jay Fernandez and his wife Denise Burse at the concert presentation of Pat Holley’s R&B/Pop Musical, Me & Caesar Lee at the Triad Theatre, starring our friend and colleague Marva Hicks.

(l-r) Lia Chang, Peter Jay Fernandez, Denise Burse and Marva Hicks after the concert presentation of Pat Holley's Me and Caesar Lee at The Triad Theatre in New York on April 3, 2011.

Fernandez is currently appearing as Duncan in the Theatre for a New Audience’s critically acclaimed production of Macbeth at The Duke on 42nd Street, starring John Douglas Thompson and Annika Boras as the title character and his ambitious wife. Helmed by Arin Arbus (Othello, Measure for Measure), Macbeth has performances at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street in New York through April 22. The cast also features Albert Jones as Macduff and Graham Winton as Banquo, and includes Justin Blanchard, Denis Butkus, Ian Holcomb, Robert Langdon Lloyd, John Christopher Jones, Saxon Palmer, Roslyn Ruff, Christian Rummel, Tommy Schrider, Andrew Zimmerman, and Marquis Rodriguez.

Peter Jay Fernandez Photo by Bruce Alan Johnson

Peter Jay Fernandez has appeared on Broadway in Cyrano (Richard Rodgers); Julius Caesar (Belasco); Henry IV (LCT); Jelly’s Last Jam (August Wilson); The Merchant of Venice (Richard Rodgers). His Off Broadway credits include Too Much Memory ( Fourth St. Theater); Zooman and the Sign (Signature); The Pain and The Itch (Playwrights Horizons); Thunder Knocking On The Door ( Minetta Lane); As You Like It, Coriolanus, Winter’s Tale, Henry VIII, Spell# 7 (Public); Widowers’ Houses (Epic); Checkmates (New Federal), and more. Regionally, he has worked at Arena Stage, Longwharf, Hartford Stage, McCarter, Goodman, Old Globe, Seattle Rep, Williamstown, Alliance, Milwaukee Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse, Geva and more. His television and film credits include The Adjustment Bureau, Deception, Preaching To The Choir, “Funny Valentines,” Fringe, Judge J.T. Reilly on “Damages,” “The Good Wife,” multiple “Law and Order,” “Blue Bloods,” “Hack,” and “Cosby.”

Fernandez is also an accomplished audiobook narrator with over 125 audio books to his credit, and garnered a 2009 Audie Award in the category of Multi-voiced Performance for Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan. He received an AUDELCO Award for his turn as Marvell Thunder in the blues based musical Thunder Knocking on the Door by Keith Glover, Keb’ Mo’ and Anderson Edwards when it was produced Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre, and a Helen Hayes nomination for the Arena Stage production. He was nominated for a Black Theatre Alliance Award for August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean.

He can be seen with Justin Timberlake in the Sony VAIO vs. the Media Monster Commercial Spots.
For Single tickets: call 646-223-3010 or purchase online.

The Duke on 42nd Street
229 West 42nd Street
New York
Theatre for a New Audience Website

Other Articles by this Author:
House of Payne-Payneful Visit Episode features Denise Burse as Claretha Jenkins on TBS
Marva Hicks to Star in Concert of Pat Holley’s R&B/Pop Musical, Me & Caesar Lee at Triad Theatre, 3/27, 4/3 & 4/10
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Denise Burse & Peter Jay Fernandez Featured in INTAR Reading of Andrew Dolan’s The Many Mistresses of Martin Luther King
Multimedia: Zooman and The Sign Opening Night Party
Peter Jay Fernandez and Jane Summerhays star in Mr. Lincoln, at New York Historical Society
Charles Fuller’s Zooman and The Sign at Signature Theatre
Peter Jay Fernandez and Laura Heisler Star in Too Much Memory
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: Marva Hicks to Star in Concert of Pat Holley’s R&B/Pop Musical, Me & Caesar Lee at Triad Theatre, March 27, April 3 and 10

Marva Hicks at The Triad Theatre in New York on December 17, 2010. Photo by Lia Chang

Marva Hicks returns to the Triad Theatre in New York, after her spectacular Christmas concert in December, to star as Camille in a concert version of Pat Holley’s all original R&B/Pop Musical, Me & Caesar Lee, on Sunday, March 27th, April 3rd and April 10th at 8pm.

Set in the year 1985, Me & Caesar Lee is the fictitious story of Camille Lambert, a 43-year-old former pop recording star/songwriter who tries to make a comeback by writing songs for a teenage singing group – leaving her life forever changed.

Lee Summers (Original Dreamgirls & 2010 Bistro Award Winner) directs this 80 minute concert which features four principals of the ten member cast. Devale Ellis (former wide receiver for the Detroit Lions) makes his concert debut in the title-role as “Caesar Lee,” Amanda T. Holley (Recently signed with Smack Water Production/Universal Records) sings the role of “Nakima D,” and both Broadway’s Raun Ruffin (Civil War) and Dennis Williams, the 4th Voice (Musical Director) of the R&B Hall of Fame O’Jay’s will appear as “Paul Hudson.” This concert presentation of Me & Caesar Lee is presented by Dan Culleton’s G. Gebony Productions in association with the Triad Theatre.

Marva Hicks Photo by Lia Chang

Award-winning performing artist Marva Hicks has appeared on Broadway as Rafiki in The Lion King, as The Radio in Caroline or Change, and in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Off-Broadway, she appeared in Caroline, or Change (The Public Theater); Thunder Knocking on the Door (Minetta Lane); and Leslie Lee’s The First Breeze of Summer, directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson (Signature Theatre).

A favorite at Arena Stage in Washington, DC, Ms. Hicks has worked on five productions including Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, starring Broadway legend Maurice Hines, for which she is nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Thunder Knocking on the Door (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress), Crowns and Charles Randolph Wright’s Cuttin’ Up. Other regional credits include her role as Etta Mae in the world premiere of The Women of Brewster Place at The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta’s Suzi Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical); as Bess in a Jazz and Blues adaptation of Porgy and Bess (B. Iden Payne Award) at the Zachary Scott Theater Center in Austin, Texas; It’s Better With a Band (Prince Music Theater); Elliot Ness in Cleveland(Cleveland Playhouse), Twist (Walnut Street Theatre) and the US Tour of A…My Name Is Alice. Her film and TV credits include Assunder, starring Blair Underwood, Virtuosity, starring Denzel Washington, as Jacarra Principle on the ABC Daytime Soap Opera One Life to Live, L.A. LAW, Star Trek: Voyager and Mad About You.

As a gospel singer, Ms. Hicks is a featured vocalist on the Broadway Inspirational Voices Choir’s Christmas CD, GREAT JOY. She scored her first record deal while still a student at Howard University, where she earned her BFA, cum laude. Her second record deal with Polygram Records, yielded the Top 10 R&B single, NEVER BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE. She has worked extensively with Lena Horne, Whitney Houston, James Ingram, and traveled the world with Stevie Wonder as a backing vocalist and Michael Jackson for HisTORY tour. She has been commissioned by Arena Stage to create and star in a solo musical piece about her journey in show business as a woman of faith.

Tickets are $25 + 2 drink minimum
Click here to purchase in advance. The Triad is cash only.
Triad Theatre
158 West 72nd Street (Between Broadway & Columbus)
www.triadnyc.com
212 580-1201
MAC members are $20 at door.
http://meandcaesarlee.com/
www.marvahicks.com



All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
A night out with Gordana Rashovich, Flora Goforth in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Lia Chang Photo Slideshows of Productions in the Working Theater’s 25th Anniversary Season
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Juicy Buns at Ollie’s
The Dish on Susur Lee and Shang
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.