Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK-- Dee Vee Productions and Derek Ventour will again bring quality Caribbean culture and entertainment to New York City with three back to back shows of the hit musical produced by Grenada's Richardo Keens-Douglas.

"Ay Ay Yai Ivan" is a musical about Hurricane Ivan that ravaged Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in September 2004.

The show has played to sold-out audiences in the Caribbean and Toronto in Canada. "We believe that this is the kind of topically current show that we need to bring awareness to the broader community about the ravages of Hurricane Ivan.

“Richardo Keens-Douglas is eminently qualified to present this picture. He's an award winning actor, playwright, director and storyteller. DeeVee Productions is pleased to present his latest work over a three day period to Brooklyn and New York City," said Derek Ventour, President of Dee Vee Productions.

The musical play will run from November 25-27 and will be held at Gladstone Middle School Auditorium (MS 61) which is located at 400 Empire Blvd, Brooklyn, New York, (between New York and Nostrand Avenues).

Show time is 8:00 P.M. sharp and the price of admission is $30.

"We chose Thanksgiving weekend to do this show because it is family-friendly - people can bring their children and enjoy a cultural family event. “So if folks are too busy on Friday there is always Saturday and Sunday. This show has been chalking up rave reviews in the Caribbean for its quality and ability to present a serious event in an objective but light manner," Ventour said.

The play touches every aspect of the Hurricane Ivan experience artfully presented and inter-spaced with twelve songs. Critics say that Ay Ay Yai Ivan dealt with such hurricane issues as sadness, trauma, devastation of Grenada, looting in the aftermath of the hurricane, food distribution and politics.

Richardo Keens-Douglas' musical play The Nutmeg Princess won the Dora Mavor Moore Award, (Canada's highest Theatre Award) for Outstanding New Musical of 1999. In 2003, Keens-Douglas was inducted into the Caribbean Hall of Fame for Excellence in Theatre.

He has also produced and directed shows and launches for major companies in the Caribbean. Keens-Gouglas has toured Canada, USA and the Caribbean with his award nominated one-man show “Once upon an Island”, playing to sold-out audiences.

He is also making Caribbean history by being the host of the Caribbean version of the hit show, “Who wants To Be a Millionaire”.