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That's right, Jesus is going to work it out

By Tasha Lester

Work It Out, a controversial yet inspirational play all can relate to starring Malik Yoba, Dianne Williams and Kaye Fox comes to Chicago July 20^th thru July 23^rd at the McCormick Place. Does the title of this play sound familiar to you?  Well, if you guessed that its title spins from the number one gospel song in the country ‘Jesus Can Work It Out’ by Dr. Charles G. Hayes, then you are absolutely correct.

The storyline of the play tells about life, love, betrayal and deception.  It deals with the trials and tribulations we endure on a spiritual level and shows us the remedy through the importance of sticking with God when storms come our way.

Have you noticed the all-star cast?  Malik Yoba plays Anthony Jackson, a loving father who gets caught up in past issues that cause him to change for the worst.  Yoba is best known for his roles in the Disney classic, “Cool Runnings” and the hit Fox television series “New York Undercover.” 

Diane Williams plays Jeanetta Jackson, a woman who comes from “the hood” and relocates to a different neighborhood in search of a new church home, though her husband really does not see the point in church.   Williams has traveled throughout the U.S. and abroad telling stories. Her specialties include original tales, folktales, fables, literary works, and poetry for old and young alike.  She is also the lead vocalist on ‘Jesus Can Work It Out.’ 

Kaye Fox plays Candace, the Jackson’s sixteen year-old daughter who loves her family very much.  She meets a new boyfriend in her new neighborhood and turns to him for attention she no longer gets at home.  Fox is from the West Side of Chicago and was discovered by producer No I.D.  She is currently signed to his record label Beat Machine.

Work It Out will tour thirty U.S. cities and capture joy, hope and happiness to all who come see it.  Issues people face everyday in today’s times behind closed doors, are a part of its production.  The play is called Work It Out and yes Jesus can work out anything!  This is the message its creators would like the world to know. 

I am sure you are wondering how did this play come about.  Well, “The feedback from the record ‘Jesus Can Work It Out’ had a massive impact on people so turning it into a play was second nature,” says Dr. Charles T. White, CEO of Eyes Have Not Seen Inc.  Dr. White’s company produced the play.  Also the people who actually sing “Jesus Can Work It Out” are on his record label, ICEE Records.  This includes Diane Williams, one of the stars of the play who sings on the record as well.  Dr. White and his executive team, which consists of the production staff, prepared six months to a year for the play’s debut.  They applied basic marketing strategies in the development stage so when someone hears ‘Jesus Can Work It Out,’ they automatically bridge the song and the play together. 

If Dr. White and his executive team receive the right response from the play and the opportunity is there, they will transform Work It Out into a sitcom or movie.  All of this “Hollywood talk” sounds great but there is a ton of hard work that goes into this production not to mention all of the hours each person puts into it.  On the technical side, moving the different sets from city to city can be strenuous and time consuming.  It is difficult to set up sets for the play at the very first city on the tour but once the crew and cast members get more accustom to the sets, traveling to other cities become easy. 

At the end of the day it is worth every blood, sweat and tear because this play is taking off by storm, the producers say, because whatever you are going through in your life, know that Jesus Can Work It Out!

For tickets and more information, log onto http://www.workitoutplay.com.

                         email: tasha@beansouptimes.com