Local church hosts gospel musical ‘Another Chance’
Bishop E.Earl Jenkins and his brother Carl Jenkins have always been big dreamers, a religious version of Barnum & Bailey as faith manifests a belief that all things are possible.
The Jenkins have barnstormed toward another adventure as producers and collaborators with playwright Melanie Marie Ford and her husband Emmanuel Ford, Esq. as they present “Another Chance”, billed as a gospel, musical drama.
“No, we don’t think that we’ve overextended ourselves. We’ve figured this all out and know that the play is good enough to attract guests through October. The music, dance and message will connect with almost anyone,” Bishop E.Earl Jenkins predicted.
Written by playwright Melanie Marie Ford, “Another Chance” sets in present day urban America, as the audience walks with troubled teen DJ who contends with forces battling for his life, a circumstance most people can relate to should they undertake a serious investigation of their own lives or people around them.
A human tug of war develops as family and friends hope to save DJ from the lure of unsavory characters who may potentially lead him toward his own destruction. The play maintains relevancy after a 1997 Off-Broadway premier at the Samuel Beckett Theatre on 42nd Street in New York City.
“It’s a story about life,” Bishop Jenkins said. “It’s got a great message and that’s what we hope to accomplish with our new theater, offer people performances about real-life situations, hope, love, life and unity. It’s not going to be some heavy-handed message about religion but we hope to offer plays and musical events that deal with issues people face on a daily basis. The end game is to help people with whatever they’re dealing with.”
Bishop Jenkins and his brother, Carl, hold producer positions for Another Chance while Melanie Ford has oversight for all aspects of the play and husband, Emmanuel stands as executive director. The Jenkins tested the waters of theatre production last year when True Love Center, known then as True Servant Worship and Praise Churck, produced “The Balance of Love”, a musical production that packed the house and led to a one-night performance at Harrah’s Atlantic City in June.
The Jenkins accumulated local talent with most members stepping up from True Servant Worship and Praise pews to deliver an outstanding performance in the successful venture.
“We had offers to take “The Balance of Love” on the road, even to Las Vegas but that would have been time consuming. Instead, we intend to produce and write plays that can be performed here, ones that can reach local residents as well as attract outsiders to come and share the love,” Carl Jenkins said.
The Jenkins brothers have stepped up their game with renovation of the stage at True Love Center with support from Investors Bank. Another Chance features an 18 foot, 3-tier unit set as seating accommodates approximately 450 guests.
The Fords pitch Another Chance as a production that offers “electrifying choreography that merges hip hop, ballet, liturgical and contemporary dance styles, coupled with 12 soul-stirring original songs encompassing pop, gospel, R&B, rap and jazz-inspired music that provides an unforgettable theatrical experience for the entire family.”
Billed as a “heartwarming play for multicultural audiences with a universal message of hope, redemption and God’s unconditional love”, Another Chance begins with preview performances Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16. Tickets are $20. Opening night follows on Saturday, Aug. 17 with an 8 p.m. performance followed by a Sunday, Aug. 18 matinee at 4 p.m. Tickets: $40.
Another Chance expects to run through Oct. 6 with four performances per week. For information and tickets contact anotherchanceplay.com or call (732) 690-3456.
True Love Center is located at 2630 South Broad St. Hamilton Twp. NJ.