"TOO MUCH, TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE" (TATYANA ALI/JOHNNY GILMORE) FROM DENIECE WILLIAMS TRIBUTE MUSICAL

"IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE: A LOVE STORY (FEATURING THE SONGS OF DENIECE WILLIAMS" is a musical set to the hits of the legendary Grammy-wining pop, soul & gospel singing icon starring Tatyana Ali (TV's "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Love That Girl"). Conceived, written, directed and produced by Emmy-winning tv producer Michael Ajakwe Jr. ("Entertainment Tonight", 'Talk Soup", "Martin", "Sister Sister", "Eve", "Love That Girl", "Unsung" and the upcoming "Basketball Wife"), Ajakwe crafted a fictitious story set in the 1970s and in the hometown Deniece Williams hails from (Gary, Indiana-- same as the Jackson 5) and weaved fact with fiction, creating a wholly original story about the family church act that replaced the Jackson 5 when they left for the fame and fortune of Motown in 1969. It's a girl group and, like the Jacksons, their Michael's name is Lucy. When she comes of age, she wins an opportunity to cut a circular record, goes to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the secular world of success, love and betrayal. The play was set to 14 tunes by one of the playwright's favorite artist's (Deniece Wiliams). Besides Ali, who played the title role of Lucy Monroe, singer-actor Johnny Gilmore played her loving but unsophisticated hometown boyfriend, Derek Delaney played his conspiracy-theorizing best friend, and Kosmond Russell played Lucy's Los Angeles svengali who would transform her from gospel-singing innocent to budding worldly ingenue. Ali's sister who made up the Monroe clan included Makeda Tene, Trisha Mann, and Chante Carmel. The Monroe parents were played by Darius Dudley and Sonja Maia Harper while Lucy's cross-town rival who takes up with her man which precipitates her decision to leave for what L.A. and stardom have to offer is the indelible Chrystee Pharris. The band consisted of Musical Director bassist Scott Allen, guitarist Darryl Spencer, saxophonist Eugene Chapman, piano/keyboard player James Johnson. The smooth plus background vocals you hear in each song are Shana Williams, Brenda Dickerson, Demecka Jackson and Chris "CJ"Emmons. Debbie Smith was the Hair/Make Up Supervisor, Peter Wise was my Casting Director (and was responsible for bringing me the incredibly-talented Ali), and MADONNA GRIMES was the show's Choreographer. "If You Don't Don't Believe" ran at the Zephyr Theater in Hollywood for 6 weeks in 2004 to sold-out houses and was nominated for 8 NAACP IMAGE AWARDS FOR THEATER in 2005 including Best Actress (Tatyana Ali), Best Supporting Actor (Kosmond Russell), Best Supporting Actress (Trisha Mann), Best Supporting Actress (Sy Smith), Best Musical Director (Scott Allen), Best Choreographer (MADONNA GRIMES), Best Musical (Mike Ajakwe Jr.), and Best Director (Mike Ajakwe Jr.) winning for Best Musical Director (Scott Allen). Deniece Williams-- who Ajakwe would later write and produce a one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning documentary on for cable channel TV One's "Unsung" music series-- was also a co-producer on the project and worked closely with the band and singers.

[@tonicobb8641]

Tatyana you better sing girl!

[@jeromeluera400]

Im digging these two here!!! Love it! Ode to Johnny and Niecey!!

[@DavidAndTheDummies]

Wow! Had the chills all throughout