Legacy 2015 Miami: Black Healthcare Issue | Page 11

MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2015

AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD

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ARTS & CULTURE
TheaterSouth Atlanta Presents The Eve of Jackie at the Adrienne Arscht Center

Legacy invites you to join us for the
closing night of The Eve of Jackie, on
October 25, 2015 presented by Herman
LeVern Jones’s TheatreSouth Atlanta, Inc.
(TSA) and the Adrienne Arsht Center at the
Carnival Studio Theatre (use promocode
“welcomeback” for a discount on Legacy
night). This play brings tribute to the
legendary performer as “Mr. Excitement”,

Jackie Wilson, who inspired the likes of Elvis
Presley, Al Green, Michael Jackson and
countless others. Wilson will be played by
Broadway’s Chester Gregory as he takes
audiences through Wilson’s mind and life
while confronting the possible exploitation
of his music. The essence of Wilson’s
signature choreography, spirit and
inexhaustible energy will be captured as if it
was his last performance of his life. Though
Wilson was well-known and widely
celebrat-ed for his music, he had little to his
name upon his death.
Chester “CHESS” Gregory ‘s career began
in Chicago, where his vocal range and acting
prowess afforded him the lead role in
Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theatre’s
production of The Jackie Wilson Story. This
award-winning role gave him the
opportunity to sing for the legendary

“King of Pop,” Michael Jackson., who gave
Gregory a standing ovation in 2003. Gregory
booked his debut Broadway role as Seaweed
in the Tony Award Winning musical
Hairspray. In the spring of 2013, Gregory
produced his own show titled The Eve of
Jackie, which premiered in New York.
Gregory has also performed in the role of
Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, James
“Thunder” Early in a national tour of
“Dreamgirls,” that netted him a NAACP
Theater Award and more recently, he played
Eddie in “Sister Act”.
TSA was founded in 2007 as a Georgia
Non-Profit in Atlanta, GA. The company’s
founder Mr. Herman LeVern Jones, MFA
started this organization to expose the local
metro community to healthy classical
theatre arts. Over the past 8 years, TSA has
cultivated the community with several

projects including a 2010 national tour of
“MADAM” the musical based on the life and
times of Madam C. J. Walker (210
PERFORMANCES) ran for a total of 10
months.
TSA moved to Miami Dade County, FL in
2013, TheatreSouth’s 2015 projects include
“I Have A Dream” in January at the Phichol
Williams Center, “The Colored Museum” in
February at the Deering Estate of Cutler Bay,
“The Phantom of the Old Opera House” in
June at the Phichol Williams Center and
“Happyville, USA” at the Phichol Williams
Center.
The Eve of Jackie will run from
Wednesday Oct. 14 – Sunday Oct. 25, 2015
at the Adrienne Arsht Center.
For additional information and tickets go to
theatresouthatlanta.org or
www.arshtcenter.org

UNCF & Florida Memorial University First MASKED Ball - October 3, 2015

Photographs by Teekay

THE STORY OF EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION, and ENTERTAINMENT
Given by Director Trey Haley
By Latasha Sharell

Trey Haley
Over the past five years, Hollywood’s
spotlight has finally turned towards the
well-deserved African American storytellers
of our day. Director, producer and
entrepreneur Trey Haley will also join this
coveted movement of successful filmmakers
with his highly anticipated film, “The Man in
3B.” The film’s ensemble cast stars some of
Hollywood’s hottest actors, presenting a
Page: SpecialBB_11,
Edition: 1st

The Man in 3B, in Theaters on November 6th
story of entertaining twists, suspense and
passion. His bold and entrepreneurial
approach to the business is what set him
apart to lead a successful journey.
One of the major hurdles of
African-American producers and filmmakers
is a lack of access and support in financing
their projects. Trey attributes his success to
firmly believing in the idea of
self-empowerment. He states, “There is no
excuse nowadays not to enter the film
industry and so I refused to let the lack of
access hinder my career.” The director also
states that his inspiration to enter the film
industry can be attributed to the desire to
change the perception of the world through
the power of image, especially for African
Americans. His advice to others looking to
enter the industry is to understand the

traditional route, then find a way to break
the rules by creating an alternate route that
works for you.
“The Man in 3B” was funded by Carl
Webber, a New York Times bestselling
author and screenwriter of the
aforementioned film. With the partnership
of Trey’s production studio and Webber’s
publishing company, the two were able to
successfully bring the production into
fruition. The dynamic duo also made it a
priority to work with others from the African
American community. Over fifty percent of
filming locations were black owned.
Additionally, the film’s supporters ranged
from the Black Business Bureau, Urban
World, the Tom Joyner Foundation, the
Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards, the
Bronze Lens, the NAACP and the

Pub. date: Monday, October 19
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