D'Errico Wylie

Nashville – Kings Konnection, a national male competition system, has begun the state-wide search for the next Mr. Tennessee. The Competition, that is set to take place January 31, 2010 at Tennessee State University’s Humanities Building, will promote scholarships for education or to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors. The winner will receive $1,500 along with other prizes and trophies.

The idea of the Mr. Tennessee Competition was created to advance educational and professional opportunities for men within the state of Tennessee and will provide scholarships allowing the participants to achieve their educational, career and personal goals. The competition is open for men aged 18-27 of all races, ethnicities, religious affiliations and origins.

The current Mr. Tennessee 2007-2008, D’Errico Wylie, has spent the past year traveling across the state of Tennessee promoting his platform, “Empowering Youth Through Exposure,” which he has created a mentorship program that is based within the metro school system and after-care programs such as the YMCA and the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. As Wylie’s reign comes to an end, he is taking part in the search for the next Mr. Tennessee and states, “this year has been extremely fulfilling. Being able to create a program that benefits my community as well as continuing my education as a PhD candidate has been challenging, yet rewarding. I will be aiding the committee in recruiting males that I know are up for the task of becoming the next King for the state of Tennessee.”

“The Mr. Tennessee Competition sets out to accomplish two major goals; showing the community positive male role models, and providing a platform that will aid the King in making a difference,” states Dwight Pope, Executive Director of Kings Konnection. “The title of Mr. Tennessee comes with several responsibilities in the community; speaking out as a State representative and encouraging their younger counterparts to take a stand within the community. We are looking for those males in the community that will step forward and follow the big footsteps set forth by our current Mr. Tennessee.”

Candidates will submit a 5 x 7 color or black and white photograph (non-returnable), a completed official entry form, and a one-page typed essay indicating “Why you feel you should be considered as a contestant for the Mr. Tennessee Competition”. The essay should also include the candidate’s personal accomplishments and ambitions, and it should describe past or current community service involvements.

Entries should be sent c/o Mr. Tennessee Competition, P.O. Box 331174, Nashville, TN 37203. Entries must be received no later than Friday, January 22, 2010 to be eligible for consideration.

For more information on eligibility, judging requirements, prizes, or applying visit www.DiavonttiProductions.com or email .

Interviews and photos of the current King are available.

• http://www.mrtennesseecompetition.blogspot.com/
• http://www.kingskonnection.blogspot.com/
• http://media.www.tsumeter.com/media/storage/paper956/news/2008/04/22/ArtsCulture/Mr.Tennessee.Has.Tsu.Roots-3339261.shtml
• http://www.blackgreeknetwork.com/blog/_archives/2007/6/27/3050562.html
• http://www.myspace.com/mrtennesseecompetition

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Immediately following the screening there will be a Town Hall meeting, Vicki Yates from WTVF News Channel 5 will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

For more information contact or 615-329-0999

Their summer program offers youth between the ages of 9 and 13, the opportunity to train under some of the top performing artists in Nashville. The program runs for six weeks, and provides rigorous daily instruction in Drama, Dance, Music, Public Speaking, Creative Writing, and the Visual Arts. The young people learn self-esteem through the arts and how to express themselves in a positive way. The youth will be visited weekly by working artists, and other celebrities who will provide motivational instruction to help in allowing the students to embrace their own hidden lights. Students are held to the highest artistic standards.

This year they are proud to host the camp in their own facility on Clifton Avenue. The Amun Ra Theatre’s summer program  is proud to receive support from Tennessee State University each year. The Program well regarded and highly respected citywide. The Theatre is one of Nashville’s premier performing arts ensembles.

For more information contact the Amun Ra Theatre at 615-329-iACT (4228), or send an email to . They welcome the public’s assistance as they continue in their mission to uplift and enlighten the local community and its youth.

Editor’s Note: The Urban Resource Center provided this release.

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Gregg Steinberg

Key “sports psychology” into the search field on YouTube.com, and Gregg Steinberg’s image is among the top video results.

Steinberg, an associate professor of health and human performance at Austin Peay State University, is a noted sports psychologist and frequent media personality on national television networks such as CNN and the Golf Channel to speak about the mindset of an athletic champion.

He will do the same Oct. 28 when he appears on ABC’s hit competition show, “Dancing With the Stars,” to analyze the mental toughness of the remaining contestants. Steinberg said the show’s producers contacted him two weeks ago after discovering him through a YouTube Web site search of sports psychology experts.

“I will be analyzing objectively by listening to what the contestants say, paying attention to body language and watching the performance,” he said. “I’ll be discussing why the dancers got kicked off the program and make recommendations for the dancers still in the contest.”Steinberg, a faculty member at APSU for the past 11 years, most recently provided analytical commentary for Fox News during the 2008 Summer Olympics, especially on the performance of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, who went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing to break Mark Spitz’s single-Olympic Games record for gold medals.

In addition to being a guest on several broadcast outlets, Steinberg, 45, is the author of two books, “Mental Rules for Golf” and “Flying Lessons.” His third book, “Full Throttle,” is scheduled for release in 2009. He also has written a newspaper column, “The Head Coach,” for The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville and continues to publish extensively in academic journals.

A sports psychology consultant for more than 10 years, Steinberg has worked with many professional and college athletes, including teams at Vanderbilt University, APSU, Belmont University, Tennessee State University and the University of Florida.

A native of Los Angeles, Steinberg earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, master’s in education psychology from Florida State University and doctorate in human performance from the University of Florida.

For more information, contact Steinberg by telephone at (931) 221-6113 or by e-mail at .

The tenderness and angst of a love forbidden is the central focus of William Shakespeare’s classic, Romeo and Juliet. The 2008 summer stock production staged at Tennessee State University was a brilliant jewel of a production. Directed by Barry Scott, a renowned stage performer in his own right, the staging gives the play a new flesh to fill. The young cast of newcomers and unknowns acquaints itself well in a production that keeps Shakespeare’s original language and feel alive and vibrant. The dynamics of the play flow evenly and smoothly through out the performance.

But this production did offer something different. This time, the locale was not the standard Elizabethan Italian village setting. Director Scott, in a daring move, chose to transpose the setting to one of Nashville’s older troubled public housing communities. Additionally, daggers and swords were replaced with stage versions of handguns and automatic rifles. Costuming reflected urban street fashion instead of flowing gowns and bustiers. Strumming minstrels were replaced with modern day music. These changes, however, do not distract from the central focus of the play. Quite to the contrary, they serve to enhance the performance.

Nonetheless, “the play’s the thing,” and here indeed it is! The young cast give their all and carry the audience into Shakespeare’s story will full authority. The cast’s displayed mastery of Shakespeare’s language and the demands he makes of actors to control their breathing to deliver these lengthy declarations is most admirable. The family conflicts are fully portrayed. The young lovers budding involvement is sweet and tender and totally engrossing. You are in their corner from the very outset. You cheer them on at every obstacle. And your heart tears itself apart at the shockingly dramatic conclusion. Knowing how it ends does not spare you the heartache of the final reality. Tears do come. Young love lost so early , and for naught, is made tragically, bitterly real.

At the conclusion of the performance, an additional new twist is introduced. Director Scott comes center stage and addresses the audience, declaring that, for him, his art, his craft, is no longer merely an instrument of entertainment. For him, he must use this skill as a tool for social change. Thus begins an intense dialogue with the audience about what can be done to change the urban landscape of Nashville’s communities, to reclaim lost assets in our youth. To prevent the loss any more to the cycle of lack of self-love and self esteem, gangs, violence, crime, incarceration and death. Testimonies and declarations flow from those who just had sorrowful memories newly awakened and some tears are shed anew. Ideas of engagement and involvement come forth. A new realm to the theatre experience has been born from a timeless English literature classic. William, himself, would be proud.

Patrons of live theatre would do themselves a great favor to include this entertainment venue in their schedule of events. A Barry Scott production is not to be missed. The young cast gave commendable performances on all levels. The staging of this production saw talents beyond merely speaking lines, the creation of sets, lighting, stunts, sound, props synchronization were accomplished by the players. Total utilization of all players helped make this production an enjoyable and unique event. Bravo!