Charo Productions: Madonna's Former Lead Dancer Stars In New Musical "Overcome, Overjoyed" July 28-29, 2012

Online, August 3, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Seasoned Writer-Director, Charlia Boyer who toured with Walt Disney's "Hercules" brings new musical "Overcome, Overjoyed" starring Carlton Wilborn who wowed audiences when he toured with Madonna as her lead dancer. The El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California is where the musical will premiere on Saturday, July 28 at 3:00 p.m. at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 29 at 3:00 p.m. New faces in the musical also include: Charlia Boyer, Carlton Wilborn, DeShaude Barner, Audrianna Bartholemew, Michaela Reed, Na'Kia Bell-Smith, Efe', Cindy Clark, Bruce Schechter, Michael Williams and Hunter Greene.

The story, which takes place in Denver, Colorado, depicts characters that are each struggling with losses in their lives. Her name is Mrs. Cassandra Greer who has suffered an abusive relationship. She leaves a battered women's shelter to start a new life as a music teacher at the Union school. Another lead character in this awe-inspiring story is that of Gregory Kenton, Sr. played by Carlton Wilborn who portrays the pastor at Union Church. The story takes you on a heart-wrenching journey showing the twists and turns of his life, serving as a General Sergeant in the U.S. Army and left to raise four children by himself after his wife dies of breast cancer. His children; Gregory, Jr., Paris, Siena, Niles and Venice, are all very talented and do everything in their power to keep the memory of their mother alive. This inspirational production deals with love, loss and love again.

Show dates and times are as follows: Saturday, July 28th (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and Sunday, July 29th (3 p.m.). Tickets are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/248483. The El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 .

For more information, visit www.charoproductions.com or call (424) 888-2770. For press interviews, photos or for press comps, contact Deborah Griffin at [email protected] or 323-839-4521.

ABOUT THE CAST

Charlia Boyer
Multi-talented entertainer playwright, songwriter, vocalist and actress is no stranger to the stage. She has been seen in several musicals and stage plays, and has toured with Walt Disney's "Hercules" as one of the Muses. This sought-after session vocalist and established songwriter recently received her Master's Degree in Creative Writing. Charlia feels exceedingly blessed to have seen one of her visions come to fruition with the production, "Overcome, Overjoyed".

Carlton Wilborn
This extremely talented lead dancer, actor, singer, life coach, public speaker and author of an award-winning book entitled, "Front & Center - How I Learned To Live There" manages to remain a very humble man.

DeShaude Barner
An actor, singer and dancer who is a performer to the core will be making his first major stage debut on the West Coast in "Overcome, Overjoyed". Some of his past credits include reenactment work for the National Geographic Channel, the 2011 LA Web Fest and the film Pretty Brown Eyes.

Shayla-Rose Reed
Shayla is a military kid, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is now transitioning to the 10th grade at Great Oak High School in Temecula, California. She has landed two supporting roles in her local community theatre and recently joined a country-pop singing group, the Wildflowers.

Audrianna Bartholomew
Audrianna is a 13-year-old multi-faceted artist who hails from Pasadena, California. Her diverse ethnic background of African-American and Armenian has exposed her to an array of cultural influences that spawned a unique style. She has been selected as a concert choir chorister for the world renowned Los Angeles Children's Chorus. Over the last 5 years, her passion for theatre has grown exponentially as she became more involved in the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program. Audrianna was crowned the 2011 winner of Pasadena Teen Idol.

Na'Kia Bell
Na'Kia started dancing and performing at age 3, from Jazz to African and Tap & Hip Hop. She is also a singer, loves to write music and play the drums. Na'Kia is a SAG Actor from national commercials, TV and Film. Na'Kia has been accepted into Milikan Performing Arts Program for Middle School.

Hunter Greene
Hunter is a "Southern Gent" who has appeared on television, and in several short films and commercials. His most recent stage appearances include "A Memory Of What Might Have Been" and "DUI Cop Comedy Sketch". Other credits include Kadeem in Theatre Musical Review, Mak in The Second Shepherds' Play, and Wilmer Cook in The Maltese Falcon.

Michael Monte-Q Williams
Born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Michael began singing as a little boy in the church choir. He later studied Opera and English Drama at Norfolk State University and has been involved in numerous stage plays and musicals, such as: The Wiz, Gypsy, Applause, River Niger, Man for All Seasons, Dat's the Blues, to name a few. He also starred in the national syndicated soap opera, "Another Life" for a year. He toured with the musical, "Over My Head There's Music in the Air", starring LaShun Pace, who later invited him to do a song with her on her album entitled, "Shekinah Glory".

Cindy Clarke
She greatly enjoys tackling any role in musical theatre and had the pleasure of originating the role of Queen Victoria in Tsarina, The Musical (soon to be published by Samuel French) and recording the cast album. Last year Cindy appeared in 'To Kill A Mockingbird' as Miss Maudie. She began her professional acting career in her native Salt Lake City in feature films. Cindy was also seen on the big screen starring in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Award winner. Her television credits include Mad TV, The Man Show and Nickelodeon's All That. She has recently appeared in a sketch on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Efe'
Efe (pronounced E-Fay, meaning Love in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, West Africa) relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles after a career as a modern dancer/teacher/administrator to pursue what she thought would be her main responsibilities. Grandma to two boys, now 8 and 12, her new career was launched after being asked multiple times, "Are you in the business?" while on set and at auditions with her grandsons. This 'organic' foray into the industry within the past two and a half years has netted her commercials, industrials, short films, and four feature films including the most recent 3rd Generation Female Gangsta, as well as a pivotal role in a twelve episode TV pilot Premiering on the new network, Punch TV in July, Get Thee Behind Me. She just completed Myron Ward's original play, An Unfinished Man.

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