(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- Beverly Crawford, last year’s Stellar Award winner for Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, will sing and act in next month’s remake of the second season of Black Soap stage play productions, episodes IV, VI and VI featuring the millionaire Marvin Chambers and his hilarious family.
Presented by Ettaro Fine Arts Foundation and Ettaro Theater Company, BLACK SOAP REMIX II will be presented Sunday, October 9, 2016, 5:00 p.m. at the Memphis Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, 255 North Main (38103). Show tickets are $35 for General admission and $50 for VIP tickets, which include reserved seating and an hour-long reception with pre-show entertainment, food and drinks that begins at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Cannon Center Box office at 901-576-1269, online at Ticketmaster.com, viafloroach.com and by calling 901-331-3515.
Originally presented in 2014, BLACK SOAP IV, V and VI features a storyline in which wealthy rich entrepreneur is found near death just after announcing his engagement to a much younger woman. It's a classic who-do-it with Flo Roach's trademark twists of humor and exceptional writing to keep the audience guessing and on the edge of their seat. Black Soap Productions began in 2013 as summer filler at Hattiloo Theater and has blossomed into a perennial season favorite that offered additional new storylines and new characters in 2014 and 2015. The REMIX II is a 2-hour compilation of the three episodes in the second year storyline. Black Soap Productions are written, produced, and directed by Florence (Flo Roach), artistic director for Ettaro Fine Arts Foundation. Flo Roach is a well-known actress in local stage productions, commercials and training films and who has appeared in national films such as THE HELP, BLACK SNAKE MOAN and RISE UP.
A gospel music legend, Beverly Crawford is no stranger to the Memphis church community. In addition to having a #1 album, “Thank You for All You’ve Done” (EchoPark JDI), she has performed many times at local events such as GospelFest 2013 at Temple of Deliverance COGIC. She is a former lead singer with Bobby Jones with whom she earned multiple Stellar Awards and record deals with Warner Bros. and EMI Gospel/Dexterity Sounds. The co-pastor and the co-founder of Gainesville Family Worship Center in Gainesville, Florida, she is also a licensed and ordained evangelist whose reconciliation and restoration ministry has taken her throughout the United States, Europe and the Caribbean Islands. She also is a much sought after psalmist and speaker. As an actress, she has appeared in Bishop T.D. Jakes play, “Woman Thou Art Loosed”, and numerous other productions.
Founded in 2013, Ettaro Fine Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides teenagers with artistic opportunities for singing, dance, drama, visual arts and life skills. The six-week Summer Fine Arts Camp for teens is held in June and July. The organization also hosts four to six Acting Workshops for senior citizens annually along with a Senior Talent Showcase. The foundation is an extension of Ettaro Theater Company which was she organized in 2007 along with other charter members -- Cheri Wells, Oscar Robinson and Courtney Franklin. In fact, Franklin is a recording artist who wrote the show’s theme song which is performed in opening and closing scenes of each Black Soap production.
A native of Robinsonville, Miss., playwright Flo Roach is a graduate of Rosa Fort High School in Tunica, MS. Sheholds a BS degree in Business Education from Jackson State University and a Masters in Vocational Business from the University of Memphis, as well as a certification in Administration and Supervision from the University ofMemphis. She is a retired teacher from Memphis City Schools where she was an award-winning vocational and theater teacher. She also worked as supervisor of student teachers at the University of Memphis. Flo Roach is a member of the former UMOJA production team at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, where she served as narrator, actress, writer, director and producer for many years. In addition to writing, directing, producing and acting, she is a comedienne and singer.
Ettaro Fine Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides teenagers with artistic opportunities for singing, dance, drama and life skills. The six-week Summer Fine Arts Camp, CAMP LEAD for teens is held in June and July. Senior citizens, performing as the Silver Stage Players, are showcased in March or early April.
In the first of the two BLACK SOAP REMIX shows for 2016, superstar Vickie Winans guest starred in BLACK SOAP REMIX I on May 15, 2016 at the Cannon Center. To order tickets for the October 9th show featuring Beverly Crawford, call the Cannon Center Box office at 901-576-1269 or purchase online at Ticketmaster.com or via floroach.com. Individual tickets and discounted group tickets for 20 or more are also available by calling 901-331-3515.