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*Though most of us are looking for a prosperous New Year, a new stage play is also looking for a little green.
Kicking off tomorrow night, January 3rd, in Savannah, GA - "Where's Papa Ray's Money?" - written by Thomas Miles (aka Nephew Tommy of the Steve Harvey radio show), is coming to theaters nationwide as the latest hilariously touching story to hit the stage.
The story follows the Ballentine family as they lay to rest their father Raymond John Ballentine. Papa Ray's life's savings is hidden in the house ... somewhere, and the only way a family member can claim the inheritance is to have all family members spend two days together in the family home.
"I've done hundreds of stage plays, but this is the first one that I've written," Miles said in anticipation of the play's tour. "It's about a gentleman who passes away and all of his children are fighting over the money. They find out it's in the house. The house looks beautiful at the start of the show, but by the end, it's in shambles."
Miles explains that the play puts the spotlight on how family can "just act a fool" when money is involved.
"You'll see people in your family and you'll be like, 'If that ain't my sister, if that ain't my brother,'" he said. "It's a play that brings the message to the family that 'We're family - this is bigger than money.'"
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J. Anthony Brown
The play stars another radio sidekick, comedian J Anthony Brown who appears on rival radio show "The Tom Joyner Morning Show," but both Miles and Brown are good friends in the business and that working together makes this a very special project.
"We kind of teamed up and put this show together, he wrote it," Brown said. "It's really not competitive. It's like McDonald's and Burger King - there's room enough for everybody and you can get the burger and go across the street for the fries, so it's a good mesh."
Brown stars as Uncle Rufus, the initially quiet relative who speaks up when there's word of some serious money at stake.
"I'm the crazy uncle that's playing possum for a while," Brown described, "but when I find out there's money, I come out of my shell."
"[Miles] had a guy like me in mind for the role and I said, 'Cool, no problem,' even though I didn't know what the role was. I only told him I didn't want to be J Anthony Brown, so this role I get to play my harmonica and stuff, so it's going to be a lot of fun once we get on the road."
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Carl Thomas
Also heading out on the road is R&B crooner Carl Thomas, who has some theater experience, but admits this is his first theatrical traveling gig.
"This is something that was a blessing in disguise for me. It was a situation that definitely I'm not familiar with, but it turns out that it was a level of professionalism that I needed. It's definitely something that is going to propel my live performances even more. The hustle is different. The preparation is different. It's a lot more intense," he said.
In the play, Thomas stars as undercover police officer named Cornel Miles, who's been following a villain who is trying to victimize the family and find Papa Ray's money.
"This is a new thrill for me. I'm never tired of singing on stage and doing my thing as an R&B artist, but this is a fresh feeling; this is a fresh look," he added.
Playwright Miles also stars in the play, but explained that at the same time, he's not exactly there. What does that mean? Well, in addition to the exciting cast, there is something rather unique about this particular play. It is a multimedia experience of both stage and video. Miles stars as the deceased Papa Ray, who narrates the play on film.
"I'm going to be in it, but I'm not going to be in it. I [shot] Papa Ray on film,' he explained to EUR's Lee Bailey at the recent Hoodie Awards. "The same way that you see Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy doing these makeup jobs, I [shot] Papa Ray, and I narrate the story on film."
"It's really cutting edge," Thomas said of the concept. "It's really the first time the entire story is narrated on film, so there's the mixture of stage and screen. It should be really interesting for all audiences. We have something that is unique, something that is transcending."
Check out Thomas 'Nephew Tommy' Miles as Papa Ray in "Where's Papa Ray's Money?"
Additionally, Thomas said, the show has some outstanding talent, and that the cast has made the job a lot of fun. "Where's Papa Ray's Money" also features Cynda Williams (Mo' Better Blues), and Deelishis (VH1's "Flavor of Love").
"It's something folks are just going to have to get ready for because we're coming in hard," he said. "I don't think a lot of people realize the level of talent."
"It's a lot of fun and a lot of hard work," Brown said. "I never knew what it took to put a play together. I've seen all these plays and I never knew what it took; especially to go on the road. But there's a lot of drama and a lot of comedy and one thing about it, it's a family piece. And the thing that's so good about doing a family piece is that everybody in the audience can go, 'Oh I know that person' or 'That person is my uncle or that person is my cousin.' It's so connected, so it works out pretty good."
"Where's Papa Ray's Money" begins its run tomorrow night, January 3rd in Savannah, GA, then heads to Charlotte and later to Atlanta, Birmingham, Baltimore, Houston, and more on the first leg closing at the end of February. The second leg of the tour picks up in beginning in April.
Nephew Tommy Present's "Where's Papa Ray's Money" January, 2008 venue info:
Jan 3 Savannah, GA Savanah Civic Center
Jan 4-6 Charlotten NC Owens Aud.
Jan 9 Dothan, AL Dothan Civic Center
Jan 10 Columbus, GA Columbus Civic Center
Jan 11&12 Birmingham, AL Boutwell Municipal Aud.
Jan 13 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
Jan 15 Macon, GA Macon City Aud.
Jan 16-20 Atlanta, GA Atlanta Civic Center
Jan 22 Grand Rapids, MI Devos Hall
Jan 23-27 Detroit, MI Opera House
Jan 29-Feb 3 Baltimore, MD Frank Erwin Center