Mama, I Want To Sing (Musical)

10/07/2024

My Sister Friend Cissy Houston is gone, a sister, auntie and best friend. The decades of memories and the decidation to our community we will never forget! We hear your beautiful voice ringing into the universe forever and always. Rest in peace my sister sister 🥺

02/28/2023

Introducing our "Mama Winter": The talented Letrice Arlene Cherry-Sturdivant!

Letrice has been a Professional Vocalist and Band Leader since the late 1990’s. Growing up in East Orange, NJ in a time when music and art was still taught in schools and her church (St. Luke Church of Christ DOC), Letrice honed her craft in various vocal ensembles and choirs at an early age.

Currently, Letrice works various groups including her own band "The LV Project Band" co-founded with her husband Victor Wise (Drummer /Music Director)

Letrice has graced the studio and created her latest single, “Nothing in Life is Free” on her self-titled EP.

As Vocalist of a Saxophone/Vocal duo, “Sax at Night”, Letrice performed 7 nights a week on Bahamas Paradise Grand Celebration Cruise Ship, September 2016 to November 2016.

As a founding member of the “Let’s Go Back” Tour Concert series (October 2009), under the direction of the late Daniel “D.A.” Atherton, the “Let’s Go Back” Tour Concert series showcased hit music from groups such as Change, B.B. & Q, Brass Construction, New Edition and featured special guests such as, Meli’ssa Morgan, Bobby Brown, Alyson Williams, Christopher Williams, and Jeff Redd, to name a few.

Letrice currently lives in New York and enjoys being on the live music scene, meeting new friends, all while adding to her fan-base.

02/25/2023

Another cast reveal! 🎉 Meet Dawn "Déjà" Joyner, who will be one of the two performers playing the role of Sister Carrie in "Mama, I Want to Sing!"

Born into a gifted musical family, Déjà began singing at the tender age of 2. For more than 40 years, she has performed as a solo artist and background singer for many renowned artists.

After performing a stellar rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” while on a tour in 1998, Déjà accepted an offer and produced her own European gospel tour in 1999 with the original NY Gospel Singers.

Déjà is an anointed singer, songwriter, classically trained pianist, minister, author, orator, and Boss Lady. She is the Founder and She-EO of Equalizer Artist Management and “Dope Black Girl World,” a private global alliance she created to empower melanin-rich sisters to live their blessed life.

Déjà is the wife of Christopher Joyner, a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and loyal friend. She gives all praise to God for blessing her with a myriad of gifts to use for Kingdom Business.

02/24/2023

We're excited to introduce another one of our principal roles!
Meet Lamont O’Neil, playing the rotating role of "Rev Winter" in "Mama, I Want to Sing!"

Lamont is a well-traveled performer and educator, whose passion for purpose and building character has guided him along an amazing journey. A graduate of prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, Lamont was first introduced to musical theater, starring in leading roles of High School productions such Jesus Christ Superstar, The Fantasticks and Black Poetry Stage.

Lamont received his BA from Oberlin College where he majored in Hispanic Studies and minored in Philosophy and of course, jazz studies. While at Oberlin, Lamont studied jazz improvisation with Wendell Logan and Kenny Davis, and was a featured vocalist for the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble.

Lamont O'Neil has been a pioneer committed to creating programs that build Godly character in youth since 1994. With a desire to give back to the community, he returned to Brooklyn to begin his career within the New York City Department of Education. As a Spanish teacher and Dean of Students, Lamont has impacted hundreds of youths, instilling valuable tools of discipline utilizing the vehicle of the Arts. This inspired him to birth the Nubian Gents and Feminine Fire step teams as after-school activities with spiritual influence. To date the teams have traveled and performed in England, Holland, Germany, The Czech Republic, South Africa, Austria, Australia, Spain, Singapore, and New Zealand. The team is undergirded by the non-for-profit organization Young Life of NYC, inc and The Christian Cultural Center of Brooklyn NY (CCC), where Lamont serves as an Ordained Minister and Praise and Worship leader to its 30,000+ congregation.

02/23/2023

The first "Mama, I Want to Sing!" show is tonight at 7:30pm, and we're so overjoyed about the musical's return to the stage! 40 years is surely worth celebrating 👏🏾👏🏾

Check out Vy Higginsen - Mama Vy's interview with EBONY about the history of the show, and its exciting 40th anniversary Black History Month celebration!

Vy Higginsen on the momentous return of "Mama, I Want to Sing!" to its original Harlem theater for its 40th anniversary.

02/22/2023

We're thrilled to announce Asa Sulton, Elise Silva, and Faith Cochrane as our lead performers, playing the rotating role of Doris Winter in "Mama, I Want to Sing!" These three talented girls are students at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts and have had a passion for music from a very young age. We are proud and excited to see them lead and inspire the next generation of young Black talent!

02/03/2023

We're excited to be highlighting the lead cast of "Mama, I Want to Sing!" over the next few weeks! Meet MR. RICHARD HARTLEY —one of the performers playing the rotating role of Rev. Winter!

Richard Hartley is a New York-based pastor, singer, arranger, songwriter, actor and musical director who has spent much of his career helping other major artists sound their best. He is recorded and/or performed with Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey lives and in two videos, Ms. Aretha Franklin and a movie with the legendary Diana Ross!

In 1986 After being selected for a role in Vy Higginsen's "Mama I Want To Sing" he went on to hold several principal roles in this hit musical, touring in fifteen countries with this production and appearing on many casts' recordings. He returns after 37 years to reprise one of his roles!

For the past 27 years Rev Richard Hartley has served as Pastor and co-founder of HAVEN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES in
Rockaway New York! Richard and family have recently filmed the first season of “THE REV” Produced by NBC/USA! He also starred in the 2022 BET movie “BLOCK PARTY” and recently off Broadway in his own show “The Gospel According to Richard Hartley," live at the Gramercy Theater!

02/02/2023

The Mama, I Want To Sing (Musical) cast has been killing it at rehearsals! Come see and uplift the voices of the new generation by joining us at El Teatro (formerly The Heckscher Theater) for the Black History Month celebration of this inspiring musical!

Opening night is just a few weeks away! Get your tickets at mamafoundation.org/tickets, or by calling 212-280-1045

01/22/2023

The March 1 show for "Mama, I Want to Sing!" will be featuring an American Sign Language interpreter 🙌🏾 We believe in sharing the joy of musical theater and making it accessible to all! We can't wait to enjoy the show with you 🎶

Get your tickets today at mamafoundation.org/tickets!

01/20/2023

We told you you'd love the new cast of "Mama, I Want to Sing!" This is just a snippet of the stellar performances you'll get at our 40th anniversary production!

The show will only run for 3 weeks, so make sure you secure your seats before they run out. Get your tickets today at mamafoundation.org/tickets, or call 212-280-1045!

01/17/2023

A few clips from the 2013 production of "Mama, I Want to Sing!" We can't wait to bring back this iconic soundtrack 🙌🏾
Come celebrate Black History Month with us next month and get your tickets today at mamafoundation.org/tickets!