ARTS & LEISURE Tri-State Defender, Thursday, February 3 - 9, 2011, Page 14


HAPPENING MYRON?


This face belongs


on the tube! One of my New


Year’s resolutions was tomakemyway to television. That way I can be the true “king of all media.” Now, I am getting that opportunity. This Thursday


MyronMays


body else’s for that matter. “Local Col- or” is a programthat talks about the best of the city of Memphis as well as sur- rounding areas in terms of entertain- ment, attractions and eateries.What bet- ter person to be a part of the show than the “What’s Happening” man? I’m excited to not only be a part of the


night I will be fea- tured on WKNO’s “Local Color.” No, it has nothing to do withmy skin or any-


WHAT’S


show, I’malso excited to essentially do the exact thing that I am known for already and that is informing everyonewhere they should spend their leisure time. “Local Color” can be seen onWKNOChannel 10 each Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.


‘A Raisin in the Sun’ “ARaisin in the Sun” will be running


at Hattiloo Theatre Feb. 3 through Feb. 27. The Youngers are a poor African- American family in Chicago.An oppor- tunity to escape from poverty comes in the form of a life insurance check that the matriarch of the family, Lena Younger, receives upon her husband’s death. Each family member has their own idea of how to escape their condi- tions and how the check should be used. Don’t wait too long to get your tickets! Performances scheduled for Feb. 10 through Feb. 13 and Feb. 17 have already sold out.


back to Memphis on Feb. 25 to per- form at the Stax Museum from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Formore information, con- tact the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at 901-261-6338 or visit www.staxmuseum.org.


Mid South Radio &Music Confer- ence


ten all over it.The third annualMid-South Radio&MusicConference is returning to Memphis March 4-5. The focus of this year’s conference is “The Future of Ra- dio.” With the growth of Internet radio, online marketing and a new generation that doesn’t turn on the radio first thing in the morning, the radio community has to adapt and change to stay relevant. Does that sound like you?Go towww.midsouth radiomusic.com for information. You’re likely to seeme there.


N’Dambi at the Basement Soul Lounge


this month with Stax recording artist N’Dambi on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Basement Soul Lounge is a monthly event and is now located at The Vine, 1819 Madison Avenue. Visit Memphis Rebirth atwww.memphisrebirth.comfor more information.


Myron’s Book Club February February is here and so is the newbook


selection for Myron’s Book Club. “Someday” follows the life of Tina Long, a sought-after event planner who seems to have it all together, is there for every- one else, but is missing love in her own life. To find out more information or to place preorders for “Someday,” visit whatshappeningmyron.com and click on “Bookclub.”


again and they are nowat TheVine, 1819 Madison Ave. Come and hang out with my girl this Saturday, Feb. 5. Doors open at 9 p.m.Admission is 10.V.I.P. seating is available! Formore info, contact Lashena @ 901.485.7419 or dmonetmusic @live.com.


Valentines Day and there are a lot of events centered on love. If you’re in the doghouse, I’ll have ways for you to get out and stay out. I got the 411 and I’ll share it all next week. Just call me Cu- pid. Until then, that’s what’s happening!


myron.com. Got an event you’d like me to talk about...or attend? Get at me! I’m at


myron.com!) or


(Check me out on Facebook, Twitter visit


www.whatshappening myron@whatshappening Next week, it’s the countdown to


D’Monet & The EssTribe return D’Monet&The EssTribe are back at it


The Basement Soul Lounge continues Here’s an event that hasmy name writ-


ther’s church in Monroe, Mich., and began recording for Stax in 1971. Now, the Rance Allen Group comes


Rance Allen Group at Stax They began singing in their grandfa-


Terrence Martin in “The Me Nobody Knows.” He also is a vo- calist withMBAA’s new Jazz-A-F!RE Youth Ensemble.


Brandy Goodwin in the title role of “Amazing Grace” at Ever- green Theatre last July. Brandy’s other roles include “We Are the Dream: The Legacy of Dr.Martin LutherKing, Jr.,” “Smol- dering Fires” and “Sing, Dance and Act…Merry Like Christ- mas.”


Rising Stars ʻTriple threatsʼ hone skills at FireHouse Community Arts Center


by Florence M. Howard Special to the Tri-State Defender


“triple threats.” Those special people, who like Sammy Davis Jr. orMichael Jackson in the now classic “Thriller” video, excel in all three realms of theater – acting, singing and dancing. Terrence Martin, 17, and Brandy Good-


win, 7, are two rising stars whose desire, hard work and talent are propelling them in- to this special category. They perfect their skills in classes at the FireHouse Communi- ty Arts Center and Academy and are mem- bers of the Arts-A-F!RE Youth Theater Troupe, for kids 9-17. Memphis BlackArtsAlliance (MBAA), a


born and internationally recognized singer/actress and artistic director for the troupe –said that excellence in all three ar- eas is rare. “The mastery of all these skills makes an


sing and dancers who act, but it’s rare to find someone who excels in all three. Terrence and Brandy will experience success at what- ever vocation they choose because of the discipline and control they exhibit as triple threats.”


had perfect attendance for four years, I’m in the fifth grade now,” said the determined performer in her customary enthusiastic manner. “I love doing what I can do…I love being


F!RE Theater Troupe productions, said Brandy’s energy is overwhelming. “She volunteered for every part in every


“I’m good at paying attention, studying and science. I’m Ok in math.” Moody, who casts and directs Arts-A-


in the lead but will take any role,” said Brandy, the main character in a production of “Amazing Grace.’” Adding to her self-assessment, she said,


where she also participates in drama, chorus and dance, Brandy takes four acting classes a week, plus four a week in dance and two in acting. “I make very good grades at school. I’ve


win. “Plays and production, and wait, class- es at school, dance productions in hip hop and ballet.” “I love dancing… I’m very stretchable.” A student at Rozelle Elementary School


Brandy Goodwin “I work my hardest,” said Brandy Good-


Multi-talented Terrence Martin is a for- mer member of the Memphis Junior Grizzlies dance troupe and danced in the three most recent productions of “Umo- ja” at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.


Coming soon The Memphis Black Arts Alliance’s


tin both have been cast in the next pro- duction, “Freedom Is My Middle Name,” which will run Feb. 11-13. BennieWest is theMBAAexecutive


director. For more information, visit www.memphisblackartsalliance.org or call FireHouse CommunityArts Center at 901-948-9522.


play we have done. When she is cast, she comes to rehearsal prepared, knowing her


Arts-A-F!RE Youth Theater Troupe is an Associate Company member of the Evergreen Theatre and performs four shows a year at the venue. The new season begins in February. Brandy Goodwin and Terrence Mar-


entertainer who is comfortable on stage, in films, recording studio or wherever an audi- ence is present,” said Moody. “You find singers who move, actors who


29-year-old organization located in a 1910 converted fire station at 948 South Bellevue, launched its youth theater troupe in May 2009. Naomi Williams Moody – the Memphis-


In the entertainment world, they are called


lines and everybody else’s,” Moody said. “Brandy’s growth has shown in her ability to now be patient, to focus and concentrate, which was very difficult for her at first.” Next fall, Brandy plans on attending Stax


Academy and can hardly wait. Meanwhile, she is devoting energy to writing composi- tions and what she calls a “come together play.”


Brandy Goodwin first flashed her talent at home with “Clean UpWoman” perfor- mances. Now she does performances on stage with her 15-year-old sister, Ashley, and her brother,Marlon, 17, who also is a member of the Arts-A-F!RE Youth The- ater Troupe. (Courtesy photos)


The high school senior said his principal and teachers at Whitehaven High School are hardly aware that he can dance, sing and act. He is even a little surprised at himself be- cause the revelation of his talents has come in stages. Right now, he has a passion for piano,


ing music. He began singing at age 8 in the choir atAlpha Church on McLemore, under the leadership of Pastor Jesse Gilliland. His signature solo is “Trouble Don’t Last Al- ways.” Moody said Terrence barely spoke above


a whisper when he first came to the theatre troupe. “I did not know what a wonderful


which he began studying at age 6 but stopped at age 10. “It’s just a passion for me now,” said Terrence, who also composes music. “I woke up one morning and started hearing music in my head.” Terrence’s “now” also includes compos-


Terrence Martin Terrence Martin is an admitted introvert.


singing voice he had until I needed someone to sing a solo and made every student sing the solo. Terrence opened his mouth and I was floored.” With every show, a different skill has


manifested. “He solos on a lot of songs, he is dance


captain of the troupe, he takes whatever role I cast him in and steps up to the challenges,” Moody said. “He was assistant director and stage manager for ‘Smoldering Fires.’He is highly disciplined and influences the other troupe members to strive toward his high standards. In other words, he is no longer in- troverted.” For Terrence, the joy in acting includes


the freedom to be someone other than him- self. He particularly likes the “comedic part of acting.” Of the three skills, Terrence’s favorite is


dance and for that he credits his aunt, Dorothy Martin. When he was 10, Martin took her nephew to classes offered by The Arts – Visions and Venue, Inc. That intro- duction evolved into himlater performing in several productions there offered by founder Lethelea Jackson. As for the future, Terrence, a “B” average


sic.


student, plans to attend the University of Memphis or Bethel University inMcKenzie (Tenn.). And what does he want to major in? Mu-


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