WE09: "Fifteen Feelin’ Fabulous!”

FANTASIA!

did her THANG!  Despite a broken foot, Ms. "Idol" came to let the Kids know she meant business!!!  At one point during her electrifying performance that had the WE-Audience literally on it's feet the entire time, she remarks... "Hey, I'm 24 years old!" as if to explain why she brings so much fire and talent.  Makes perfect sense to me, however, there is really no explanation for how and why she blew the mountain OFF Winter Explosion 2009, leaving the audience breathless, clamoring for more and ultimately ignited to party all throughout the final night of the event.
After experiencing Fantasia at Winter Explosion 2009, there's no question about the legacy of 'music mastery' as created by the black female artist.   Fears of it dying with Billie, Ella, Sara or not being properly handed-off by living legends such as Aretha, Gladys, Diana, Natalie, Chaka or Patti can safely be put to rest.  As long as Fantasia Barino is on the planet, the legacy of black music and the ART of performing is more than safe.  "Thank you 'Tasia!!"
It can not go without being reported, that after a solid one hour "explosive" performance, where selections ranged from "Hood Boy" to Aretha's "Rock Steady" to her rivoting "Summertime" (performed acapela standing atop a table in the middle of the audience with a single spotlight illuminating the wonder that is Fantasia)... it cannot be missed that after ALL that and MORE, Fantasia literally partied 1/2 the night away with WE-Explosion guests in spite of her broken foot.  She danced with, got close to, took pictures with EVERYONE who wanted to and had to literally be carried to her room (I'm not lying) when she could no longer walk on her own and doctors who happened to be attending Winter Explosion insisted she get off her foot.  How's that for "fan fair"?!

Fantasia and Winter Explosion's Executive Producer, Don eL Johnson, met and became 'fast friends'.  She was excited about being the featured artist at WE09 at it showed!

and what can we say about...

 ELISABETH WITHERS Affectionately dubbed  "Queen Elisabeth" by WE-Host Extraordinaire Rayceen Pendaravis, Ms. Withers seemed to float down to Winter Explosion like an angel and spread her "goodness" all around the resort.  She too ROCKED the WE-Stage with a high-energy, gritty and 'mesmerizing' performance.  WE-Executive Producer, Don Johnson, later told Elisabeth and it's absolutely true: "You just earned yourself 500 new fans for life!"  With the stage transformed into "Liz's Juke Joint" replete with full bar and a bed (set designer Ray Dandridge did his thing!), Liz burst onto the stage with an incredible interpretation of Ms. Ross's "The Boss".  Her instant rapport with the audience beckoned her to share who she is, where she's been and she took her time getting to know us over the next 45 minutes.  Each song drew the audience deeper and deeper into "the world of Liz", the climax perhaps being "Sista" which she did upon request, musically re-enacting the scene from the film adaptation of "The Color Purple".  During that particular performance, Elisabeth Withers once again channeled "Shug Avery", the character she breathed new life into during her impressive Broadway run.  In her creative genius, she somehow secretly collaborated with WE-Host Rayceen Pendaravis, who made his brilliant acting debut as "Ms Celie".  Together they titillated the audience with a fusion of the jukejoint scene where Shug sings to Celie about affection and appreciation ("Sista, you been on my mind..."), all the while affirming the shy, self-conscious Celie.  Since nothing about Rayceen is shy, one can only imagine him -in full costume- coyly and quite convincingly putting hands over mouth, head down averting his eyes from Shug's just like Whoopi did 25 years ago... the audience went wild! 
Toward the end of her performance, Liz found herself standing in the middle of the audience where she paused for several seconds, appearing to bask in the warmth of the audience's love.  The song had ended but she was clearly not finished as she emotionally reprised the chorus acapela along with her exquisite-sounding background singers, bringing the WE-Audience to a peaked FRENZY!  Gesturing for the music to come back in, Liz made her way back to the stage where she finished the song and bid the audience goodnight.  A full 5-minute standing ovation, deafening cries and pounding by the "Liz-captivated" audience demanded her attention and she came back for a sensational encore.  Somewhere in the midst of all this, requests from "The Color Purple" musical began to be shouted out.  "Queen Elisabeth" graciously obliged, thrilling the audience once again with a gritty acapela version of "Push The Button", a song she made famous as "Shug" on Broadway.  Amazingly, the audience knew the song and exuberantly responded at precisely the right moments, giving Liz quite the pleasure jolt! 
The next morning, Ms. Withers took Winter Explosion to CHURCH as featured guest soloist during the "Oh Magnify The Lord" Worship Service.  With nothing more than simple piano accompaniment by talented Chester Brooks, she demonstrated with utter ease, inimitable skill and a comfort that can only come from many Sunday morning solos, just where her talent, strength and hope come!  Her emotional rendering was so powerful, the congregants stood, clapping, crying and screaming until the Reverend Kenneth King had to move the service along.  Ever graceful and gracious, Ms. Withers remained through the beginning of Fantasia's performance, during which Fantasia said to her Color Purple colleague "Hey Liz!" and then shared with audience that the two were, indeed, friends.  It was a crowning moment of 'sisterhood' and an homage to "Queen Elisabeth", one of many to take place this Winter Explosion weekend!  Thank you Elisabeth Withers for the gift of YOU during our special 15 Year Anniversary Celebration!

Below, Elisabeth Withers experiences her musical self while Winter Explosion Operations Director, Anthony Smith, enjoys the moment.

Not only did Elisabeth Withers Headline Winter Explosion's Saturday Night "Urban Lounge" concert, but she was also the featured psalmist during the Sunday Morning Worship Service!

 SPECIAL FILM SCREENING:
"FRIENDS & LOVERS: SKI TRIP 2"
(so nice, we had to screen it twice!  Thanks Maurice!)

(Screenings hosted by the Film's writer, producer, director MAURICE JAMAL.  Saturday, February 14, 2009 was officially named "MAURICE JAMAL DAY" at Winter Explosion.  The entire film festival was dedicated to Maurice Jamal films: "The Ski Trip, "Ski Trip 2: Friends and Lovers" and "Dirty Laundry".  Winter Explosion guests loved and appreciated his presence and accessibility.  Many were inspired and are now life-long Maurice Jamal supporters!

And YES, We Still Ski...
 

See YOU Next Year!

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