For Immediate Release: Jan 10, 2007

Roots International Arts Theatre presents

CURSE OF HAM

Written & Directed by Leon Saul

Dramaturge Shirvington Hannays

Producer Ryan Singh

TITLE: CURSE OF HAM women set stage afire!

Flames are being set on the set of CURSE OF HAM as female leads fight to win the love and affection of the accused Hamilton Bishop aka Bishop Ham. Virginia Henry (Deborah Alison) and Wavney Perryman (Julia Mondi) are both on the side of the defence. Virginia is Hamilton’s first love, but her father forbids her to see him. Wavney is the defence lawyer who must defend his innocence.

Deborah Alison has been performing in Toronto for more than 20 years as a singer, dancer and actor. Her most recent engagement will be in the new movie RAISIN’ IN THE SUN starring Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Saana Lathan and Philicia Rashad. Deborah Alison is also the Toronto International Reggae Music Award winner for Lovers Rock Female Artist of the Year 2005 – 2005. She received the award for her single “Is It Love”.

Julia Mondi is an iron sculptor by day, but at night she attacks the stage with her acting prowess. Julia has been in the business for only seven years but already is on the fast track to stardom through her careful and methodological handling of the story at hand.

CURSE OF HAM is a play about love, lust and family secrets revealed set in a Toronto Church and a courtroom. Bishop Ham has to answer to the charge of “willful promotion of hatred”, along with the accusations that “the Biblical Ham sexually abused his parent; dishonored his parents and was cursed black”!

For more than 300 years many scholars in Western Christianity have debated as to what really happened in the tent of Noah, and who was actually cursed as a result of their actions.

CURSE OF HAM is the new three-act play written and directed by Leon Saul, dramaturged by Shirvington Hannays and produced by Ryan Singh through Roots International Arts Theatre. The cast of 10 features Jeff Orchard (Greetings, Shakespeare’s NHL), Deborah Alison (Unnatural and Accidental Women, Dark Diaspora in Dub, Urgent S.O.S), Julia Mondi (Jeff LTD), Trevor Murray and Nigel Ryan (Fools In Love, Shakespeare’s NHL). The other actors are Nadera Jackson, Rory Davies, Trevor Crane, Jeaninne Charles and Ras Leon.

For more information about the Curse of Ham and Roots International Arts Theatre please visit www.rootstheatre.com.

Show Information

Show: Curse of Ham

Location: The Theatre Centre (Queen St W & Dovercourt Rd.)

Date: January 18^th to 21^st 2007

Time: Thursday to Saturday 8:00PM, Sunday 2:00PM

Price: $20 regular, $18 students and seniors, $15 special group rate

Tickets are available through T.O. Tix at www.totix.ca, by phone 1.888.222.6608, in person at the booth, or at the door.

-30-

Media Contact

Amber Ebert –STAF

416-703-2773 x202

amber@theatreadmin.com

**Please include in your Theatre Listings

JULIA MONDI as Defence Lawyer Wavney Perryman

JULIA MONDI has been in the industry for 7 years in Toronto. She has appeared in many commercials such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, Blue Lite, Shoppers Drug Mart, CIBC, Toyota, Eaton’s, and Showcase TV.

Julia has also appeared in music videos for Faith Hill, the Headstones, Harem Scarem and Amon Tobin.

She has been featured in a few student films and has recently landed a role in the 2007 season’s Jeff Ltd. television series.

Julia is superbly excited to be taking part in this production “CURSE OF HAM” as the Defense Lawyer, to help set the record straight!

The launch of Roots International Arts Theatre on Sunday, Nov 19 was an incredible success. Many came out to see what we were doing and were in for a great treat.

"This is a story that must be told", says one patron in attendance.

"Now that I have seen it, I can tell all my friends about it", says Grandma Saul as she gushed with pride at the work of her son and grandson.

"I'll make sure I drag everyone I know to the show!" says Cheryl Nelson.

Check out pictures by Clicking on Roots Theatre Launch Photos under LINKS.

Roots International Arts Theatre Launch
With Readings From:
CURSE OF HAM
A stage play written & directed by Leon Saul
Dramaturgy by Shirvington Hannays, Producer by Ryan Singh

With Musical Entertainment by
Ras Iauwata M.D, Quammie Williams, Syreeta Williams, Tru Story,
Michael Hasek, Faitlind Melani, Jem Hewitt, Imaaji & Eryn Vogn

THE TRANE STUDIO
964 Bathurst St. Toronto
Sunday November 19, 2006
Reception 7:30 pm, Show 8:30 pm Tickets $20

Roots International Arts Theatre was created in 1988 with the mission of “Keeping our Stories Alive”- a theme that allows the company to produce plays that give youth and people of colour opportunities to tell their stories. Roots Theatre’s mandate is to promote harmony, unity and equality through establishing a higher standard of theatre along with developing a unique style of expression in theatre, music, film and television.

On November 19, 2007 at The Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst Street, Roots Theatre will be launched with an exciting fundraiser for the upcoming debut production of CURSE OF HAM running from January 18 to January 21, 2007 at the Theatre Centre. The production will then continue at the Toronto Centre for the Arts from February 27 to March 11, 2007. For more information and to purchase tickets contact 416-275-8993 or 647-400-8546 or visit www.rootstheatre.com. For a sneak preview and clips visit www.headsuplive.com/Ham.html.

CURSE OF HAM is a masterpiece story of love, lust, and family secrets revealed! The plot moves from Toronto to ancient Africa to present day Canada in a series of intricate scenes. This is an exciting and absorbing drama of a preacher who claims to be Ham, the cursed son of Noah and his trial to face an accusation of “willfully promoting hatred”! Curse of Ham is based on an incident that has left an unparalleled legacy in the history of mankind. The story invites dialogue about age-old myths and our common history as prevalent in current popular culture. The content of the play will shock many in the same manner as did the Da Vinci Code and the Passion of the Christ. This work will inspire new thinking about a classic story and challenge the modern day mentalities on the issues of difference. On November 19, 2007 the cast will present readings from the script of CURSE OF HAM as an introduction to the content of the play. The evening will also include live musical performances by several artists whose music will make up the productions soundtrack. This will be followed by an opportunity to mix and mingle with the Roots Theatre production team and cast members.

Contact:
Leon Saul 647-400-8546 / 416-660-5841 leon@rootstheatre.com
Ryan Singh 416-275-8993 ryan@rootstheatre.com

www.RootsTheatre.com