Playwright, actor reject 'roots' label
While Tony Patel mentioned Stages Productions in the improvement of roots plays, Paul O. Beale of Stages, which does the Bashment Granny series, tells The Sunday Gleaner "for me, I have never written a roots play in my life".

Wycliffe Bennett, a gracious Actor Boy honouree
As Yvonne Brewster, Fae Ellington and Simone Clarke-Cooper started the extensive citation for Wycliffe Bennett last week Tuesday evening, they took the audience back 33 years.

Roots theatre declared 'dead' - Now under the 'mainstream theatre' umbrella
At the launch of the 2008 Actor Boy Awards, held at the Trafalgar Road, New Kingston, offices of Jamaica Trade and Invest in early March, chair of the Actor Boy Award management committee, Nicole Brown, told The Sunday Gleaner that there wouldn't be a Roots Play category at the awards ceremony.

From spirits to The (Holy) Spirit - Bog Walk's 'Church Bar' caters to all and sundry
Secular artistes including Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs and Beenie Man take centre stage seven days per week, but on Sunday mornings gospel acts Kirk Franklin, Grace Thrillers and Shirley Caesar upstage them.

IN THE STUDIO - Band in studio, performer on phone
It is close to midday on Thursday. Off Red Hills Road at the B-Rich base, Richard 'Shams' Browne is adjusting the microphone for the drums, set up in their own booth, Gumption band's drummer Rolando 'Phanso' Wilson in place and at the ready.

Marjorie Whylie: A national treasure
Marjorie Whylie not only exemplifies the essence of artistic expression, she embodies it. As performer, actor, writer, composer, presenter, administrator and teacher, Whylie has shown that art at its best comes not from natural talent alone, but, perhaps, more importantly, through thrusting oneself fully into the rigorous mental and physical preparation...

THE VOICE: I didn't want to work with Akon - Soul star India.Arie speaks ...
IT'S always refreshing to speak to an artiste who doesn't attempt to sugarcoat the downside of the industry, or err on the side of caution when speaking about controversial issues.

Worrell King demands end to hypocrisy
With confirmation from all artistes, the 21st staging of Western Consciousness, 'The Celebration of Good Over Evil', was launched last week Tuesday.