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Meleesa Payne cops Miss Tropical Paradise, Jamaica crown

Guyana’s Beauty Queen and runway diva MeLeesa Payne has won yet another international pageant title. On October 10 she proved the best of ten world beauties to cop the crown and the Miss Tropical Paradise title in Jamaica. The 24 year old former Miss Guyana Universe competed against delegates from countries like United States of America, Jamaica, Barbados, Canada and others. Miss America placed second whiel Jamaica placed third.

Her prizes for winning the pageant include a cruise with Jamaican singing sensation Freddie McGregor from Miami to 10 Caribbean islands, a number of trips to and from Jamaica, 2 First class trips to the USA, a pair of earrings and an outfit from Corpa designs.

She also won the prizes of Best Gown and Best Interview at the pageant but while she was poised to compete at eth Miss Earth pageant she will not be going there. Financial difficulties have caused her to cancel plans to compete at the Miss Earth Pageant and as such she will focus on her career in dance. As a professional dancer she said “I disappointed in not getting sponsorship to go to the Miss earth but I preparing for the Classique Dance Company’s Battle of the Sexes show slated for December 5 at the National Cultural Centre.

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It’s Timeka!!!

‘Many come and go but she’s gonna be around for along long time’ – Petah Morgan

She completed two music videos with Petah Morgan as a singer in one and an actress in other and it seems that Guyanese rising star Timeka Marshall has made quite an impression on lead singer of Morgan Heritage reggae band.

The artiste during his visit to Guyana for the Jamzone Summer Break Weekend dubbed working with Timeka on the Music videos Hush/ Secrets and Golden Brown an honour.  While the local critics have had their say Morgan has concluded that “she’s a hard working young lady with a bright future in this (music) business.” Issuing major credits to Guyana for producing such great talent he said “she’s a total package and is good to go.” These praises come following Busy Signal’s recent commendation of Timeka as a sure Caribbean music seller with time.

He told entertainer too that “Timeka Marshall is a great artiste with much promise.”

Morgan also categorically stated “I’ve seen many come and go but to me Timeka is going to be here for a long time because she’s got the drive, she’s a brilliant entertainer and a brilliant song writer so she has my backing 100 percent on her musical quest.”

The local song bird may have been missing from the many local shows she sure is doing her bit to make her mark for the country in the regional music market. Her most recent release is the explosively sexy music video with Jamaica’s Busy Signal titled ‘Feel Fuh.’ The artiste who believes that music is one of; if not the sweetest things she knows entertainer understands has already recorded an inspirational gospel single that is sure to inspire music lovers. That has not been released just yet but according to an article in the Jamaica Gleaner Timeka has apparently made the land of ‘Wood and Reggae’ her second home in the best interest of her musical development.

Marshall who came to local fame after winning the first ever GT&T Jingle competition is steadfast on her quest to be the hottest singer out of Guyana. The Jamaican Gleaner Newspapers reported and she has confirmed on her FaceBook page that she is set to share the stage with Jamaican dancehall ‘hot head’ Busy Signal and Morgan Heritage’s Peetah Morgan on October 30 in Antigua at the ‘One More Night’ show. Her face book post states “Coming to ANTIGUA on Oct 30th for show called ONE MORE NIGHT feat Busy Signal and Peetah Morgan.” Already Guyanese fans in Antigua are hyped about Marshall’s arrival there.  “Hope when u come here in Antigua, You big up your GT people we will support you a 100%,go girl,” is among the post out of Antigua  in response to the news of  Marshall’s visit to that island.

The Antigua show is being touted as a mega Caribbean party to unfold at the Paradise Lawn.

Marshall is also set to appear at the Dominica Creole Festival along with Morgan Heritage with whom she released the hit singles “Secrets and Hush”.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner article Marshall’s trek across the Caribbean is a labour of love.

While she underwent training in Barbados, the 20-year-old singer, is also diligently working in studio with noted musicians and producers such as Busy Signal, Shane Brown, Stephen McGregor and Peetah Morgan.

“Jamaica is the music capital of the Caribbean right now,” she says.

Peetah Morgan’s support of Marshall’s talent did not stop at the video collaboration of their singles Secrets and Hush, but was the catalyst for the collaboration with Busy Signal titled Feel Fah.

Dubbed as a “saucy and seductive maverick,” Marshall recently shot the video to the single, produced by JukeBoxx’s Shane Brown, which is enjoying heavy rotation in Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana.

This is on the heels of completing the music video for her sultry Stephen McGregor-produced single; All Night Director Jay Will was responsible for the concept and direction of the video.

During his recent visit to Guyana for the Jamzone Reggae concert Petah Morgan said Timeka
Featured on The Basia show

After spending time in Barbados honing her talent, recently Timeka accepted the invitation to visit Trinidad and share her most recent work with Ms. Basia before heading off to Jamaica where she is based to get back in the studio.

Host Alicia Powell interviewed the young singer as a featured guest and it was aired on Friday October 9. Timeka also used the opportunity to launch her latest music video for the single ‘Feel Fah’ featuring Busy Signal.

By Mondale Smith

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No more sidelining of local talent

Get ready for a Local theatre revolution

After pooling together their time, resources and talents a group of actors, comedians and one business minded couple have completed successful auditions to ensure that the Guyanese theatre gets new life and is also recorded for posterity.  The Mori Jvon team includes business entrepreneurs Ron Morrison and his wife Olive Gopaul with support from a board of directors inclusive of Steve DeSouza, Henry Rodney, Pastor Timothy King, Howard Lorrimer and Russel Lancaster.

Rodney is the creative director while Lancaster is the production manager. On the team also is costume designer/ dance instructor Clive Prowel as well as Granny Ivelaw.

The group is guaranteeing that as of November 7 this year, theatre in Guyana will begin a road to total revolution.

Business man Ron Morrison and his wife former Miss Guyana Olive Gopsaul told entertainer that they are getting ready to launch Mori J’Von comedy jams on November 7 at the National Cultural Centre from 20:00hrs for special invitees.

Last Saturday they held auditions for actors and comedians and the turn out according to Morrison was most encouraging. “We were not surprised that in excess of 75 people came out to auditions at Theatre Guild.” Of the lot only forty have made the shortlist for what the promoters are promising will be the best thing in recent Guyanese entertainment. Without disrespecting international comedy shows such as Oliver and Bashment Granny Morrison says they have their place  but we believe that Guyana has its own pool of equally if not more talented actors, comedians, singers and dancers and  so our plan is to give local a chance to shine and earn in the process. “Rehearsal begins today at the Girl’s Guide Pavilion in preparations for the launch and I assure Guyana that this is going to be a comedy revolution because we are tired of the imported stuff,” Morrison told entertainer.  The show once started will be filmed monthly before a live audience at National Cultural Centre as a totally private venture.

Morison said the show will feature a rotating line-up of stand-up comedians and actors in short comedy sketches, music, dance and poetry.

He made it clear that all actors are being paid and will be signing contracts from November 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Dealing above board the directors will be paid in excess of $100,000 monthly while the actors will receive professional fees in volumes of between $10,000 and $30,000 per appearance.  The show will be filmed and goes into syndication by December 1 for rebroadcast nationwide. Morrison says the idea is being considered for the shows like Bashment Granny and Oliver to be broadcasted out of Guyana on one of the regional channels.

Veteran Comedian Habeek Khan will be receiving a life time achievement award at the launching of the show a fund will be set up in his honour to ensure that he is supported financially based on public financial donations of appreciation for his contribution to Guyanese theatre and comedy.