The Final Call

Mahdi Theater’s ‘Testimony’ Brings Tears, Joy To Diverse Audience

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(l) Singer Lestine Muhammad (r) Mahdi Theater’s “Testimony” featured diverse and talented performers in a beautifully-composed musical.

(l) Mahdi Theater co-owner and producer, Margaret Mahdi. (r) The musical represented the voice of various faiths and walks of life.

“This production is the cultural revolution of Master Fard Muhammad,” Kenny Muhammad, also known as the “Human Orchestra” whom contributed to clever musical pieces in the show, told The Final Call. Master Fard Muhammad is founder of the Nation of Islam and is the fulfilment of scripture of the coming of the long-awaited Messiah of the Christians and the Mahdi of the Muslims.

“It’s so powerful, it touched so many walks of life that was touched by Allah, by Minister Louis Farrakhan and what’s so beautiful about the ‘Testimony’ is that this was a musical of medicine,” he continued Sept. 15.

The musical featured various testimonies of God’s intervention in the lives of those who suffer, who have acquired success and those simply seeking guidance. Ms. Mahdi said the musical represents the “voice of the Christian, voice of the Muslim, voices of the person who may not know which religion to claim but knows God came.”

From a mother raised in the turmoil of slavery; to a suave businessman fired from his job; to a mother who lost her child in a tragic accident, “Testimony” touched on the importance of humility, family and love in different scenarios.

A special tribute was given to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam and The Final Call newspaper. The curtain closed with performances by Ken Davis and the Ken Davis Project; violinist Henri Star Muhammad; choir singers Lisa R. Muhammad, Anita Patterson and Searl Patterson; long time contributor and singer for Mahdi Theater Lestine Muhammad and a breathtaking praise dance.

“Usually when you come to a production like this, you expect it to be just a regular production, but this was all-inspiring, beautiful,” a member of the audience said after the show. “I enjoyed the whole thing and I’m going to have a lot of good to talk about.”

Many congratulated Ms. Mahdi on her marvelous work with tears, hugs and continuous applause.

Also involved with the production were Christina Page who played in Chicago productions of “Orange Flower Water” and “Back in the Day: The Musical;” Tashika L. Benson who toured throughout the USA in “The Color Purple” as “Celie” and played in many great Chicago performances; Robin Watson who starred in Chicago’s “Bronzeville” play; Rob North of Home Improvement Television, HGTV, ABC and WCIU; Kelly Longmire who has been featured in European gospel and jazz performances; Brandon J. Minor, who starred in “Bronzeville: The Musical”; Rome Anthony, a Southside comedian and TV host for “Rome’s Way;” and Mildred Cruzart, a 91-year-old choreographer, world traveler, “vibrant and electric” woman.

Ms. Mahdi personally thanked Toure Muhammad of Bean Soup Times, Theresa A. Moore from the Inc. Hip Hop for Justice activist Miles Muhammad, Final Call editor Richard B. Muhammad, and “all those who provided a helping hand, purchased tickets, prayed for us, and sent great energy our way.”