Behind every Smyles is a nation of thousands laughing
Chicago promoter brings feuding comics together for
all star performance
Rickey Smiley and Lathea Smyles backstage at the Arie Crown
November 18 (more photos below) |
By
Tasha Lester
November
28, 2005
Hats
off to the women who wear many hats. Lathea
Smyles, Chief Creative Officer of Sta’ Phocused Productions, Inc. pulled off
the “Laughing on the Lakefront” comedy series with God’s help and the
level of spiritual professionalism needed to bring together three well-known
comics in the comedian industry.
Even though two were publicly feuding.
The
event, held November 18 at the
Arie Crown Theater, 2301 S.
Lake Shore Dr.,
presented
a hilarious night of comedy featuring irreverent, witty, in-your-face comedy
from veteran comedians Rickey Smiley, Adele Givens, Arnez J, Tony Sculfield,
and Tornado. Their
sets spanned all topics such as kids, sex, celebrities, families, and
marriage.
Speaking
of Rickey and Arnez, these comedians have exchanged words and Rickey even
turned down an event Tom Joyner was in the midst of putting together. The beef between these two got to a point where they did not want to
perform with each other.
How
did both comedians with the help of Lathea agree to perform on the same stage?
Lathea says, “by the grace of God.
My partner and I happen to be true Christians.
We had a heart to heart with Adele Givens, Rickey Smiley and Arnez J
and it happened. It was about
them needing to come together as black men and as a people.
If we are all screaming we Love Jesus then we need to love thy
neighbor. Let go whatever beef
there is. We are supposed to
forgive. God is amazing.”
Indeed
He is amazing. Lathea has an
inner burning planted by The Father. Her
light never stops shining. She
received a degree in Business Management but was searching for something more.
She worked as a producer/editor for five years at a network owned by
Comcast and always knew she wanted to start her own company, but just did not
know what it would be.
One day
she had a conversation with a gentleman at a car wash about her envisioned
career changes. The man was an instructor in the production department at Colombia College.
She went into the studio at Colombia and the rest is history.
At the time she oversaw events at her mom’s non-profit business.
Lathea
then created Sta’ Phocused Productions, Inc. and its goal is to
independently produce television programming and movie screen productions.
Her work includes executive producing shows from different genres
including sitcoms, documentaries and talk shows for pure entertainment.
For future event divisions, she would like to have a huge event once a
year that will pull in at least twenty thousand plus spectators and
would like to have home video entities where film projects would go straight
to home video.
Her
film editing and production company is getting into positions to compete.
At one time, she was running off of the Artistic Communications Center
who’s been in existence in Chicago for sixteen years.
They served as an umbrella to her company.
She signed a contract with them so they can outsource projects to her.
She
has since worked with the Essence Awards, put together a training video for
the Chicago Police Department and did commercials for George Foreman and Power
92. In five years, Lathea would
like to have at least two to three projects on home video in different
outlets. She already has one DVD
deal on the table right now, which will be distributed throughout Wal-Mart and
Blockbuster stores.
For
the past four years, the company’s star-studded “Laughing on the
Lakefront” comedy series has entertained Chicagoans at the prestigious South
Shore Cultural Center’s Paul Robeson Theater.
“I want to see Laughing on the Lakefront grow to at least two sold out shows in
one day. I
can see it being a star studded laughing force for upcoming comedians; it
could make stars and should be the household name for comedians in the city of
Chicago,” proclaims Lathea.
Be
on the lookout for Lathea’s company to have a talk show on WGN or WTTW.
They are looking to put on a comedy soul fest in May 2006.
Her company is always looking for positive people with good ideas to
come in to join their company.
This
truly inspiring talented woman never gave up on her aspirations and is very
successful in over-achieving her determination. Lathea should be recognized as a developing pioneer with
visions far beyond her time. Never
underestimate the power of wishful thinking and a wonderful
"Smyles."
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| Comedian /Actor Grady and Comedian/Actor Arnez J |
Sta' Phocused head Lathea Smyles and Comedian Adele Givens |
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| Comedians/Radio Personalities Tornado and Tony Sculfield mix it up
with performers backstage. |
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Tasha Lester writes and performs poetry. Her goal is to write songs
for artists and obtain a law degree. |
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