“Runt” Director, Kimberly Elise, Stars In No. 1 Boxoffice Movie

Runt director and critically lauded actor Kimberly Elise is currently enjoying success on both big screen and stage.

Starring in the nation’s No. 1 movie Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, Elise is also the director of the critically acclaimed stage play RUNT, which will make its New York debut at the world famous Nuyorican Poet’s Café located at 236 East 3rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, March 3-6, and March 10-13, 2005.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 6, 2005 -- Runt director and critically lauded actor Kimberly Elise is currently enjoying success on both big screen and stage. Starring in the nation’s No. 1 movie Diary Of A Mad Black Woman, Elise is also the director of the critically acclaimed stage play Runt, which will make its New York debut at the world famous Nuyorican Poet’s Café located at 236 East 3rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, March 3-6, and March 10-13, 2005.

The autobiographical Runt, produced by Oshun55 Productions and Michael R. Blaha, and written by/starring Michael Phillip Edwards, follows a Jamaican-American’s journey to self-identity and courage as he frees himself from the domineering shadow of his father - a driven, self-made millionaire.

Advanced tickets are now available at www.runtproductions.com. Runt will run for eight (8) performances only at the Nuyorican Poet’s Café. Showtimes are as follows: March 3, 7p.m., March 4, 7 p.m., March 5, 7 p.m., March 6, 4 p.m., March 10, 7 p.m., March 11, 7 p.m., March 12, 7 p.m., March 13, 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door on a first-come-first-served basis, so don’t miss out on this groundbreaking event. Group rates are available for parties of 6 or more. Venue information is available at the Nuyorican Poet’s Café website, www.nuyorican.org.

Runt, as a stage play and radio play, has reached over 140 million people worldwide with performances and tours in Africa, Australia, London, Scotland, and Chicago. It was featured at the 2003 National Black Theatre Festival, where it was labeled “memorable” by Audelco Awards Chair Mary B. Davis. It has won several awards including the 2003 Sony Academy Gold Medal Award for Best Radio Drama in the UK. Runt is also the proud recipient of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’s highest honor, the 2001 Scotsman Fringe First Award, marking the first time in the festival’s 53-year history that a Black solo performance piece has achieved this honor.

Runt, which the BBC quoted as “sensual, cruel and loving,” has also been adapted into a full-length motion picture, scheduled to make its world premiere Sat. February 12, 2005, at the 2005 Pan-African Film Festival.

“I am honored and excited to be promoting this riveting show,” said Oshun55 Productions president, Ifè Oshun. “I believe its universal appeal will reach out to millions more people before we’re done.”

Los Angeles-based Oshun55 Productions is a production company committed to helping develop and promote emerging writers and are focused on developing and producing film, television, music and Internet projects that reflect and appeal to a diverse audience.

For more information, visit www.runtproductions.com or contact Alex Plantino at e-mail protected from spam bots or 310.358.2970.