Brooklyn Producer Carl-Arrin Hicks hits the ground running this summer

(PRWEB) May 31, 2004--Off-Broadway Playwright/Producer Carl-Arrin Hicks hits the ground running months after an angel investor secured funding for the biggest gospel musical of his career at the Covenant House Theatre in New York City.

Playwright/Producer Carl-Arrin Hicks is no stranger to the world of entertainment. At the age of 16 Hicks landed a role in the 1987 Broadway show “The Lord Will Make A Way� starring renowned gospel artist Twinkie Clark-Terrell at the Lamb Theatre in NYC.

His unbridled passion for the arts continued to grow and intensified when he spearheaded an effort to create a voice for a fallen classmate who lost her life to a random act of violence. The production began what has now become a ministry. Hicks has become a “New Age Poet� chronicling both the tragedies and joys of every American.

His first production, “God Don’t Need No Matches,� premiered in 1989, was his response to his friends lost and landed him much acclaim and success amongst the Tri-County community.

In 1995 Hicks penned his sophomore work “Sand In My Shoes� which landed Off-Broadway at the Lortel Theatre on 42nd Street. Two years later his vision expanded when he launched the national tour of “The Streets Can’t Save My Son.� The production, grossing over $2 million dollars to date, starred leading lady and Broadway Diva Jennifer Holliday and included such legendary acts as Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Alyson Williams, Glenn Jones, comedian J’vonne Pearson and the Dramatics. The tour included stops at The Miriam Theatre in Philadelphia, Raleigh Auditorium in North Carolina, Gusman Theatre in Miami before ending its 8-week run in 1998 at the Von King Cultural Arts Center in Brooklyn’s own Tompkins Park.

In 1997 Hicks hit home when Grammy Award Winning Gospel Singer Shirley Caesar recorded “Strong Man� from the soundtrack to “The Streets Can’t Save My Son.� The song received many accolades including several SESAC awards and the album “Miracle in Harlem� won a Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award. Jive Records also inked a deal with Hicks later that year to feature “Strong Man� on the Soundtrack on the “WOW Gospel Compilation�. Gospo-Centric also joined the line with artist Natalie Wilson & SOP Chorale to record the hit song “Your House� which scored Hicks regional success as the #1 Gospel song in Baltimore, Maryland for 3 months.

The kick-off to the new millennium opened up many doors for Hicks. In 2002 his ministry and work moved to an even higher level when he was ordained to the Office of Eldership by his mentor, Arch Bishop Anthony Monk of Brooklyn, New York. His appointment inspired him to pen yet another new work entitled “The Broken Pulpit,� directed by Marc-Anthony Thomas, starring the legendary 1st Family of Gospel Michael & Regina Winans, Michael Winans Jr. from Winans Phase II, Bet Comic Views Sister Quintella, and national renowned mime artists K&K Mime Troupe which has been featured on Bobby Jones Gospel, Bishop Eddie Long, and Bishop TD Jakes television ministries. The production is preparing for an Off-Broadway run in August 2004 before embarking on a major National US Tour this fall. Hicks' promise “The Broken Pulpit� guarantees you a soul-stirring, hand clapping, spirit filled, experience that will capture the heart strings, minds, and souls of gospel music enthusiasts everywhere.

Previews to “The Broken Pulpit� begin August 3, 2004. Performances begin August 6 through September 5, 2004 at the Covenant House Theatre, 346 West 17th Street NYC (between 8th and 9th Avenues) Tickets $27.50 – $40.00 available through TicketMaster or www.carlhicks.com. For groups of 20 or more please call 800.304.3169.

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Devin Sartin
(800) 303.5978