NEW YORK, NY – It’s being called groundbreaking. It’s the new feature-length hip-hop/R&B musical
Hal Kingand it’s scheduled to be released by Gravitas Ventures and it will premiere across platforms on Tuesday (02-09-21). Set in a late-1950s jazz-era Midwestern town,
Hal King brilliantly modernizes and musicalizes William Shakespeare’s
Henry IV and
Henry V, and the iconic character of Young Hal.
Hal King opens in a speakeasy, where the jazz is smooth and the good times flow. Young Hal revels at the center of it all, a cool cat with a posse of pals and a standing invite to the chanteuse’s dressing room. On the other side of town and what might as well be a world away, Hal’s father, a local politician and community leader speaks about strengthening the African- American community. Hal wants no part of that world or the responsibility that comes with it until tragedy strikes and takes him overseas to the Korean War, where he fights bravely and returns home a c
A blessing beyond the grief: A New Holiday shares Christmas story with timely significance | Arts & Entertainment stlamerican.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stlamerican.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A blessing beyond the grief: A New Holiday shares Christmas story with timely significance I’m excited for people to see the excellence that can happen when a project has a purpose and is tied to something bigger than itself
Credit: St. Louis American
The Christmas musical ‘A New Holiday’ stars Sophia Stephens, Kennedy Holmes, Anita Jackson, Wynton Marsalis and newcomer Riley Adams. The film debuted on PBS’ Nine Network just ahead of Christmas and was filmed right here in St. Louis. Author: Kenya Vaughn – The St. Louis American Published: 7:53 AM CST December 23, 2020 Updated: 7:53 AM CST December 23, 2020
ST. LOUIS What started out as a way to celebrate the 70th birthday of philanthropist and community gem Thelma Steward evolved into what director and co-writer Brian Owens feels is a divinely timed holiday musical film experience.
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Kennedy Holmes (center left) and Riley Adams (center right) act out a scene filmed inside Powell Hall for A New Holiday.
If enjoying thoughtful, heartwarming films is on your holiday to-do list, there’s a brand-new St. Louis-made musical well worth your time. “A New Holiday” tells the story of 10-year-old Thelma as she grapples with the loss of her grandmother and looks toward a different kind of Christmas themes that resonate especially in 2020.
Soul singer Brian Owens directed and co-wrote the 33-minute film, which features an all-Black and almost entirely St. Louis-based cast. Young performer Riley Adams makes her debut as Thelma, with Wynton Marsalis, Kennedy Holmes, Sophia Stephens and Anita Jackson also starring. And bringing the festive, gorgeous score are musicians including Grammy Award winners Bebe Winans, Karen Clark-Sheard and saxophonist David Sanborn.