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