The information about actors in Serious Business was written by Stages Productions and placed in its original form and grammar.

   KEITH ‘SHEBADA’ RAMSAY (BROTHER SHEBBIE)

It is hard to believe that Shebada, who first rose to national attention through the Comedy Buss Series, entered commercial theatre just over three years ago with his debut in the smash hit Bashment Granny.  Several productions later and a starring role in Bashment Granny: The Movie has made Shebada a household name not just locally, but has earned him huge fan base around the world. Born February 14, and raised in Franklyn Town, Kingston.  Keith Ramsay is one of the most talented actors on the Jamaican stage.  Ramsay first rose to national prominence after participating in the first season of Comedy Buss- a local television series to develop and highlight the next generation of stand up comedians. His short but extremely successful acting career includes starring roles in Bashment Granny, Shebada Comes to Town, Like Father Like Son, Di Driva, Bashment Granny Two and Serious Business.

MAXWELL ‘MAAMA MAN’ GRANT

(SHEPHERD)

Maxwell Grant has almost three decades of theatre under his belt having started out with Ralph Holness in such plays as Once is Enough and Maama Man. Grant has steadily established himself as a major player in commercial theatre through roles in Passa Passa, More Passa Passa, Man Fi Get Bun, Bashment Granny 1 and 2, Di Driver and Like Father Like Son to name a few.   

VOLIER JOHNSON (ELDER)

While still a schoolboy, Johnson did his first commercial theatre production for Trevor Rhone, More Please, in 1970.   Right after graduating from STATHS, he did a series of productions with Lloyd Reckord, among them Junction Village, Amen Corner, Rose Slip and Pillars in the Mud.   A string of work for Ed Wallace including Operation P, Boeing Boeing, Love and Marriage and The Rapist followed soon after.  Then Rhone put Johnson on the big screen in The Harder They Come, in 1972.

 In the 1980s, Johnson did a number of Pantomimes (Tantaloo, Trash and Schoolers among them), Ginger Knight plays (including Higglers, Stepfather and Room For Rent) and Basil Dawkins' productions, that period extending into the 1990s. One of the Dawkins plays, Toy Boy, won Johnson the Actor Boy Award for Best Actor in 1996.

It was also in the 1990s that the Oliver at Large series took off and he also did a number of JAMBIZ productions (Pinocchio, Children Children and Breadfruit Kingdom among them), there were the UK productions Trench Town and Used. Past the turn of the millennium he has done Strength of a Woman with Andrew Roach and the Stages Productions plays Below The Waist, Bashment Granny 2 and Serious Business, which is now running. Johnson has also done several sitcoms, including Lime Tree Lane, Just One More, Claffy and Sarge in Charge and has gone into radio with FAME FM's Full House Fridays.

 DEON SILVERA

(SISTER SONIA)

A scholarship to the School of Drama at the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts in 1979 cleared the way for the extremely talented Deon Silvera to pursue a successful career as an actor. With her unmistakably husky voice and brilliant role portrayals, Silvera has established herself as one of Jamaica’s leading ladies having starred in numerous productions including The Last Stand, Oliver at Large, Single Entry, Dem Good Ole Days, Front Room, Jamaica Pepperpot, Jamaica 2 Rahtid and Bashment Granny 2.

 ABIGAIL GRANT

(HOT PEPPER)

Although displaying signs of her tremendous talent as early as primary school, Abigail Grant’s shyness always kept her at bay, preventing her from making that bold move towards commercial success.  The year 2007 changed everything for the young actress for that was the year she participated in the nationally acclaimed Ashe production Curfew.   This provided the springboard Grant needed to kick start her professional career because shortly after she made an extremely memorable entrance into the mega hit Bashment Granny.   Grant’s portrayal of Babalita not only won over the massive audiences who attended the shows but earned her subsequent roles in Shebada Comes to Town, Like Father Like Son, and Bashment Granny 2.  At present, Grant plays the feisty and very mysterious Hot Pepper in the smash hit Serious Business which has also provided another opportunity for Grant to showcase her beautiful singing voice.  This summer, she takes the role of Bablita to another level as one of the major stars in the film Bashment Granny:The Movie.                                           

JUNIOR WILLIAMS (FINGER)

Williams got involved in theatre by pure chance. On accompanying a friend to meet with Producer/Director Paul Beale, he happened upon auditions for a new play Pastor Houdini. A role in that production has seen Williams following up with subsequent plays like Too Young For Love and Did Mama Know for Pragmatic Entertainment…Love him and Then Bun him, Dirty Wine and Deportee with Blue Mountain in England and with Stages Productions, Like Father Like Son (alternating for Garfield Reid), Below the Waist, and Bashment Granny 2.  Williams’s film credits include Jealous to Death, Maternal Instinct and Only Love Knows.                                      

Volier Johnson celebrates 40 years in theatre

Mel Cooke, Jamaica Gleaner

Volier Johnson knew the value of really getting into character from the outset of what has turned out to be a lifetime in theatre. Auditioning for a role in Rip Van Winkle when he was a student at St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS), Johnson dressed for the part and made an indelible mark on his drama teacher.

"Two of us going for the part. Me go home for a old pants and draw it right up. Trevor Rhone said, 'Audition done!'," Johnson told The Gleaner. After that production and A Christmas Carol (in which he played the miser Scrooge), the following year Johnson - still a schoolboy - did his first commercial theatre production for Rhone, More Please, in 1970. Then Rhone put Johnson on the big screen in the biggest Jamaican movie to date, The Harder They Come, in 1972.

"Me was the handcart boy who tief Jimmy Cliff tings," Johnson said. He earned all of $30 for his role and was off to a flying start. Hugh Campbell is organising a programme to celebrate Johnson's 40 years in theatre, starting with a night of Serious Business on April 1, the Legends for the Legend party with Bunny Goodison and Winston Blake on May 9, a one-off play in August and a gala dinner in December.

Johnson pointed out that he did not really start earning money from his theatre endeavours until he started doing Ed Wallace productions, those 1970's plays including Operation P, Boeing Boeing, Love and Marriage and The Rapist. Earlier in the decade, right after graduating from STATHS, he did a series of productions with Lloyd Reckord, among them Junction Village, Amen Corner, Rose Slip and Pillars in the Mud. From those, he earned something which has lasted longer than cash would have.

Much more cultural

"It was more cultural when I started out and me thank God for that. It teach me how to characterise. During that period you had to have character. When you look onstage you see 10 different man in 10 different character," Johnson said. "I'll never forget when I did Rose Slip. When you look on the stage you in a tenement yard," he said. Leonie Forbes and Pauline Stone were also in that play. For commercial theatre, Johnson said, "You really feel satisfied when you have the people a tear down the place. It is entertainment". 

In the 1980s, the prolific Johnson did a number of Pantomimes (Tantaloo, Trash and Schoolers among them), Ginger Knight plays (including Higglers, Stepfather and Room For Rent) and Basil Dawkins' productions, that period extending into the 1990s. One of the Dawkins plays, Toy Boy, won Johnson the Actor Boy Award for Best Actor in 1996.

It was also in the 1990s that Johnson said he really took acting "serious". The Oliver at Large series took off and they started touring, this allowing Johnson to leave his day job in the sugar industry. He had done steel fabrication after leaving STATHS and then dabbled in chicken rearing. Looking back, Johnson said, the pace was hectic. Then, "it was nice. You leave work, you go home and organise yourself for rehearsal. When you like something it is not stress. It never come in like anything. Is a part of my life".

Johnson stepped into the director's role once, on a production for Ginger Knight. He has also written skits for other persons, but never a full-length play. "Sometimes I say to myself, it easier you stick to the evil you know," he said. He also did stand-up comedy once, with Miss Kitty at Love is a Funny Little Thing two years ago. "I never had anything scripted, I never had anything in my mind. Me just bounce off Miss Kitty. Me surprise myself," he said. Although it was a good experience, Johnson said he would not venture further into stand-up comedy. "Me have a big reputation. Me no waan kill it," he said, laughing.

Starting in the 1990s, he did a number of JAMBIZ productions (Pinocchio, Children Children and Breadfruit Kingdom among them), there were the UK productions Trench Town (for Kay Osbourne) and Used. Past the turn of the millennium he has done Strength of a Woman with Andrew Roach and the Stages Productions plays Below The Waist, Bashment Granny 2 and Serious Business, which is now running. Johnson has also done several sitcoms, including Lime Tree Lane, Just One More, Claffy and Sarge in Charge and has gone into radio with FAME FM's Full House Fridays.

Popular names

Claffy bestowed upon him one of his three popular names, the other two being Maffy (from Oliver at Large) and Fishead (Traxx). His favourite characters have been Gus (Rose Slip), Grantley Cox (Operation P), Lord Bag and Pan (Trash) and Wrap Up (Toy Boy). For Gus, the permanent drunkard, Johnson had to keep twitching onstage for two hours. Cox had to wiggle as a roach made its way through his innards, Bag and Pan had to tip toe until the final scene and Wrap Up was a depressed man.

The directors Johnson has been most comfortable with are Keith Noel, Pablo Hoilett, Michael Nicholson and Trevor Nairne, and he lifts his hat to Lloyd Reckord. With Trevor Rhone "you always look forward to working towards something else". Among those who have encouraged him are Leonie Forbes, Angella Jarrett, Deon Silvera, Terri Salmon, Christine Bell, Oliver Samuels, Basil Dawkins, Ginger Knight, Grace McGhie and Fae Ellington.

Having done it all and intending to cut back on his performances ("me sort of tired now"), Johnson has one more 'to do' on his theatre list. At least, 'to do again'. "My dream is to do another two-hander with Oliver. I don't know what format it going take yet, but something like that is nice," Johnson said.

Nicole R. White is a Canadian writer/director, of Jamaican heritage, born in Montreal, Quebec. In 1998, she graduated from Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology with a diploma in Business Management. White held on to the dream of starting her own theatre production company, so, in December of 2003, she produced the romantic comedy play, Fools In Love.  She later wrote, directed, and produced another play, Choices, which addressed the issues of youth violence.

Currently, White is working on her novel Destiny’s Quest, a comical but profound narrative about finding one’s true love, which will be available at online bookstores in early 2010.  In addition, White is also working on her biggest project yet, she is collaborating with Karl Haughton of RINKAH Entertainment to present to you the major theatrical production General Macbeth: Castle Pon De Sand, written by Nicole R. White and produced by RINKAH Entertainment. This hilarious island rendition of the original Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ will be coming to theater audiences soon.

White is also the CEO of Court Jester Presents, which will be producing numerous theatrical plays and stage presentations in the coming future. White also has a passion to help the youth and strives to be a positive role model. Eventually, she would like to initiate a non-profit organization to support this significant cause. There will be a lot more to come from White so, as she would always say, stay tuned. 

NADERA JACKSON

Nadera Jackson, model, actress and recording artist was born on February 21st in Kingston, Jamaica. She was bitten by the entertainment bug at the age of ten when she was thrust into several of her primary school plays. Her music and drama teachers were so impressed with here unique talent and writing ability at such an early age they encouraged her to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, she hasn’t looked back since.

When she migrated to Canada in 1997, Nadera studied her craft at The Reel Fact Film & Television Studio in Toronto and also at the Mark Baur Studio in Vancouver. Since then she has made her mark as one of Toronto’s and Jamaica’s finest Multi-Talented Artist. Nadera has appeared in commercials, short and independent films, and she has also worked in theatres such as Toronto Centre For The Arts in the production ‘Curse Of Ham’ a Roots International Production, playing the role of Miss English. She also played the role of Josephine in the production of ‘Domestic Science,’ and has also worked at the Hart Theatre Company playing the role of Red in the production of ‘Colored Girls.’

She has appeared on the music stage in Toronto, Vancouver and Jamaica with artist such Chuck Fender, Johnny P, Horace Martin, Eyesus, Exco Levi, Tony Anthony and Richie Stephens. In 2009 after a grand performance in Canada’s first reggae musical “Soundclash” she was approached by Phylani Music’s Executives to record for their label and be a part of their artist roster. The first single release by the record company “Cheater’s Loss” showcases the enormous talent of this artist and designate that she is a superstar in the making.

Nadera and her label are currently working on her debut album which is slated for release in the fall of 2010. Contact: Phylani Music 905-956-1227 phylani.music1@gmail.com

INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOR CARIBBEAN FASHION ROCKS

Images News Letter

                    CARLA CAMPBELL

          Jaunel McKenzie

New York is buzzing with the news that internationally Pulse super models Jaunel McKenzie, Carla Campbell, and Oraine Barrett are confirmed to grace the runway for the 3rd staging of Caribbean Fashion Rocks' in New York City at 511 Lexington Ave on Sunday April 25th at 6pm.

Campbell, McKenzie and Barrett will join numerous New York models on the Caribbean Fashion Rocks! runway. The models will wear clothing by local fashion designers Michael Gillings, Kay Dane, Rep JA, and Royal Rush, among many others.

At the same event, Kingsley Cooper, of Pulse Investments Ltd in Jamaica, who launched the careers of several international models, including Vogue and Gucci models Nadine Willis, Jaunel McKenzie, Gaye McDonald, Jeneil Williams, as well as Sports Illustrated swimsuit model & Esquire cover girl Carla Campbell, will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the fashion industry.

Live performance at the event by Gappy Ranks who will perform his smash hit "Heaven In Your Eyes". The event will be hosted by DJ Roy. Music by Dub Master Chris, Killa Boo, Road International and Mr. Cee from Hot 97 FM.

LAUGH WITH US

The Jamaican Ginnal

A Jamaican guy walks into a whorehouse in New York and asks, "You have a girl work here from Jamaica name Arlene?" 
"Yes," answers the madam. "Go on up to Room 6." So the fellow went up to Room 6 and knocked on the door. When the woman answered, he asked "Yu name Arlene, don't it?" 
"Yeah man, a me dat," replied the woman. 
"Well, a have a couple Hundred dollas...." he proudly announced. 
With that, the hooker interrupted him, grabbed the money, opened the door wide and hauled him by the shirt into the room. After a little rest from the vigorous sex, the fellow got up to leave. "Will you be here tomorrow?" he asked. 
"Yeah Man," Arlene said, "Me will deh yah."
The next night, the fellow comes back and gives up $200. When they were done, he's sitting on the side of the bed, and asks. "Will you be here tomorrow night?" 
"Honey," replied the hooker, "Mi deh yah every night fi you".
Night comes and the fellow was back in action. When they were done, they are both sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Tell me sumthin'," Arlene said, "what part of Jamaica yu from?"
"Portmore," replied the fellow with a satisfied grin.
"True ? Me have one sister live inna Portmore yuh know!" the hooker exclaimed.
"I know dat," the fellow replied, "She gimme six hundred dollas fi gi yu!"

What They Want People To Say At Their Funeral

           Three buddies talking bout if they in they casket and friends and family are mourning over them, what they would like to hear them say 'bout them?

          The first fella say, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor, and a great family man."

          The second fella say, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher who mek a huge difference in the children of tomorrow."

          The third fella say, "I would like to hear them say......LOOK DEY, HE MOVING!!!!!"

 Two West Indians were drinking in a bar and complaining about their boss that he was a real pain in the butt always giving them a hard time. The next day they met at bar again and the Bajan began boasting to the Trini, "boy ah cuss out de boss man real good, and when ah done, ah ask 'e fuh a raise and he gih it to me." 
   

Trini looked at Bajan in suprise and asked "you mean he did'n fire you?". So the next day Trini went in to work and began to cuss up the boss who looked at him and promptly fired him on the spot. 
 

That afternoon when Trini met Bajan in the bar again, he told him what happened earlier. Bajan explained "Trini muh friend, when I cuss de bossman, I cuss he in muh mind."   

A man walked into a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Jamaica and "passed out" on the floor. People gathered around to help him by fanning and doing everything they could to help him regain consciousness. 

Someone peeled an orange and started squeezing the juice into his mouth, whereupon the man suddenly came back to life, pushed the person away and yelled, "Luk yah man! If me did want orange, me woulda fall down in
de market."

Only A Jamaican....

           There were three men from the Caribbean living together in London;  a Trinidadian, a Barbadian and a Jamaican who were all starving because they didn't have money to buy food.  However, upon coming close to a posh restaurant they came up with a plan. 

          The Trinidadian went in first. After being seated he ordered a three course meal with white wine. When he had finished the meal the waiter came by with the cheque. 

          "But I paid you!" the Trinidadian shouted. 

          The waiter was very confused as he could not remember being paid, but as he did not want to cause any trouble...he let the Trini leave. 

          Five minutes later the Barbadian walked into the restaurant and ordered a five course meal with red wine.  When he was finished eating, the waiter came by to collect the money for food. 

          "But I paid you!" The Barbadian shouted. 

          This time the manager came and had to calm down the Bajan, and as he did not want anything to upset the other customers he let the Bajan go. 

          Ten minutes later the Jamaican walked in, sat down, lit a cigarette, and ordered the most expensive meal on the menu plus two Red Stripe beers.  After he had finished, the waiter came to collect the money for the meal and before asking for it, the waiter said, "Sir... I have been having a sort of problem all day and I can't understand it. Other people like you came in earlier and ate and they said that they paid me but I don't remember getting any money from them, so........ 

          Before he could finish, the Jamaican chimed in loudly "Hear mi nuh boss, that ah fi yu problem...jus gimme mi change!" 

Three pastors in a certain denomination - an American, Chinese and a Jamaican - were having some difficulty making a decision regarding their Sunday church offering; specifically, which portion they should keep as salary, and which portion should go to the Lord.

The American said, "Whenever I collect the offering and the service is through, after church I put the money in a box- go outside- take a stick
and draw a line on the floor and throw the money in the air. Whatever falls on the right is for the Lord and whatever falls on the left is mine."

The Chinese said, "I put money in box, I dont draw line - I draw circle! I stand in center, throw box wit money in air- whatever fall on outside is mine and what fall inside is for Lord."

The Jamaican then replied "Mi naw draw a circle,  mi naw draw a line. All
I do is put de money inna a box and fling it inna de air....whateva de Lawd
want, him betta grab it fast cause what drop on de groung a fi mi.

John woke up after the annual office Christmas party with a pounding headache, cotton-mouthed and utterly unable to recall the events of the preceding evening. After a trip to the bathroom, he made his way downstairs, where his wife put some coffee in front of him. 
"Louise," he moaned, "tell me what happened last night. Was it as bad as I think?" 
"Even worse," she said, her voice oozing scorn. "You made a complete ass of yourself. You succeeded in antagonising the entire board of directors, and you insulted the president of the company, right to his face." 
"He's an idiot," John said. "Piss on him." 
"You did," his wife said, "and he fired you." 
"Well, screw him!" said John. 
His wife replied, "I did. You're back at work on Monday."
 

A beautiful young ebony woman dressed in her "batty-riders" with her
hair dyed blonde and green-(contact lens)-eyes boards a certain American airline from a certain Caribbean island to go to New York. She has a ticket for a seat in the economy section. 

She looks at the seats in economy that are so small and can't hold her much (less her derrierre). Then she looks into the forward cabin at the first-class seats. Since the first-class seats appear to be much larger and more comfortable, she decides to sit in one that was empty. 

The flight attendant checks her ticket and tells the woman that her seat is in economy. The woman replies, "me young, black and beautiful, and me goin' to sidown yasso all the way goa New York.

Flustered, the flight attendant goes to the cockpit and informs the captain
of the problem. The captain goes back and tells the woman that
her assigned seat is in economy. Again, the woman replies, "me young, black and beautiful, and me goin' to sidown yasso all the way goa New York."

The captain doesn't want to cause a commotion, and so returns to the
cockpit to discuss the problem with the copilot. The copilot says that he has a voluptuous Caribbean girlfriend, just like her, so he knows how to take care of the problem. He then goes back and briefly whispers something in the woman's ear. She immediately gets up, says "Tank you much," hugs the copilot and rushes back to her seat in the economy section.

The pilot and flight attendant, who were watching intently, together ask
the copilot what he had said to the woman. He replies, "I just told her that
the first class section nah goa New York."

There was once a Trini and a Guyanese who lived next door to each other.  The Trini owned a hen and each morning would look in his garden and pick up one of his hen's eggs for breakfast.
 
One day the Trini looked into his garden and saw that the hen had laid an egg in the Guyanese's garden. He was about to go next door when he saw the Guyanese pick up the egg.
 
The Trini ran up to the Guyanese and told him that the egg belonged to him because he owned the hen. The Guyanese disagreed because the egg was laid on his property.

They argued for a while until finally the Trini said, "Back home, we  normally solve disputes by the following actions:
I kick you in your kook-a-looks and time how long it takes you to get back up, then you kick me in the kook-a-looks and time how long it takes for me to get up, whomever gets up quicker wins the egg."

The Guyanese agreed to this and so the Trini went inside and found his heaviest pair of boots and put them on, he took a few steps back, then ran toward the Guyanese and kicked him as hard as he could in the balls.
 
POW! The Guyanese fell to the floor clutching his groin howling in agony for 30 minutes.

Eventually the Guyanese stood up and said, "Now it's my turn to kick you,"

The Trini said, "Nah, keep the egg.