Robert Townsend presents 'Musical Theater of Hope' on Gospel Music Channel
By Eunice Moseley

"I love Gospel music," actor/director Robert Townsend told me when asked why he produced "Musical Theater of Hope" a half hour musical presentation of three different scenarios of what people go through in finding God's love and mercy.

"People need hope," he said

"Robert Townsend presents Musical Theater of Hope" aired on the Gospel Music Channel Sunday, October 25 and 27, 2009 and will re-air in November. The first of the three 10 minute episodes stars Howard Hewett and is titled "David's News." In it Howard's character David gathers all of his friends and family together for an important announcement that brings both joy and tears. Howard preforms the Gospel hit, "I Can Only Imagine."

The second 10 minute episode, "Cora's Release," stars Gospel singer Tameka Scotton. Her character Cora is serving a life sentence in prison for killing the man that molested her daughter, she has also been diagnosed with cancer and is seeking a "mercy release." Tameka will be performing the Gospel selection, "My Redeemer." The third 10 minute episode stars Nina Gaddy Wallace, Jevonne Wilson, Latrice Pace and Joquita Williams and is titled "The Sparrow Reunion." This group of talent Gospel singers play four sisters who were once part of a successful singing group that let greed, jealousy, drugs and infidelity destroy the group. They reunite at their mother's funeral and will be performing the old Gospel traditional selection, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow."

"The audition was in Atlanta and 3,000 people came," Robert said about the process of selecting who would star in the three episodes. "I got Howard Hewett. It's his first time acting. God has given him such a gift."

Townsend also said the story of "Cora's Release" is based on a true story he read in a newspaper. He said, "I felt for the woman."

The four ladies he chose for "The Sparrow Reunion" were picked because Robert felt they all looked like they could be sisters.

"I just like creating and giving back," Robert points out. "I think about what I'm leaving behind. My mentors are Sidney Poiter and Bill Crosby. They welcomed me...so I have to work on a certain (level) of integrity."

Robert said he also has an eight episode on-line television series running at www.PIC.tv titled "Diary of a Single Mom" starring Leon ('Five Heart Beats') and Richard Roundtree ('Shaft').

"The web is the future," Townsend stresses. "I'm learning from them (his kids). I can talk to my friends in Brazil (on-line)."

Robert Townsend is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and director. His career includes roles in "A Soldier's Story" and "The Mighty Quinn" co-starring with Denzel Washington. He starred in "Hollywood Shuffle" and the WB Network sitcom"The Parent Hood." Robert directed Eddie Murphy in his "Raw" DVD and Halle Berry in "B*A*P*S." He also directed and starred in "The Meteor Man" and "The Five Heartbeats."

Townsend won an Image Award in 2001 and helmed "Carmen: A Hip-Hopera" for MTV Films starring Beyonce' Knowles and the "10,000 Black Men Named George" television piece about the Pullman porter strike for Showtime starring Charles S. Dutton and Mario Van Peebles.

To learn more on the re-airing of "Robert Townsend presents Musical Theater of Hope" on the Gospel Music Channel log onto www.GospelMusicChannel.com.  

International model turned singer Tinu releases 'Addicted' her sophomore project
Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Nigeria by her parents, who where born there, Tinu (pronounced Teenu) became an international model and even obtained a degree in Finance and Marketing from New York University. Tinu, who speaks English, Arabic, Hebrew, French, Italian and Hindu, also launched a successful accessory collection. Her "Tinu Shoebag" has been worn at Academy Award shows. This month she releases her sophomore CD on EliBi, Inc. world-wide. Her debut music video from the first single off the "Addicted" project, "Wild Things," was recently picked up by MTV Base, which airs in Europe and Africa.

"It came from growing up in Nigeria," Tinu said about her accent. About her forming her own label (and other companies) Tinu said, "I have street smarts...people hustled (in Nigeria). If you want it to be done right, do it yourself."

Tinu confessed that sometimes you have to reinvent yourself to just be on top of your game. Her exotic voice and style, I told her, reminds me of Grace Jones. She admitted that she is a fan of Jones who was also a model turned singer with an exotic style and a deep sultry voice.

"After high school I went into modeling," Tinu said about her career in entertainment. "It (hit me)...that it's temporary."

Tinu's modeling career had her jet-setting and partying around the world. She signed to a label and experienced that normal shock of the cut-throat business of entertainment. She said she learned that the system is not about the artist but the label.

"It should be artist driven and not label driven," Tinu said.

Now her album is released on her own label EliBi, Inc. and I must say her whole packaging, marketing and promotions has been that of a class-act. The production on the CD is outstanding with Rennie Grant as producer and Lalou vocals in the background.. My favorite cuts on the "Addicted" CD include "In Love" a sweet love song; "Let's Rock," "My Life" which has a Rock feel to it, and "Not the Devil" which has an awesome electric guitar lead.

For more on Tinu or the "Addicted" CD log onto www.TinuOnLine.com.