Anita Pollard´s project `ROUND THELONIOUS´

Thursday Jammin’ host Anita Pollard has been working hard on creating a one-woman stage show based on the incredible, true story of a rebellious baroness who fell under a musical spell when she heard a recording of African-American jazz legend Thelonious Monk’s ‘‘Round Midnight’. The English-born Rothschild Baroness, Nica, left her husband and children, moving to New York where she became Monk’s friend and patron for the rest of his life.

Whilst Anita was in New York to perform an excerpt of ‘ROUND THELONIOUS, she met with director/producer Shidan Majidi, who has been running theatrical-producer giant Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s New York office for over fifteen years. Anita asked if she could send him the script of Round Thelonious for feedback. He was open to the idea, so she sent it – but she could not believe what was to follow. Incredibly, Shidan Majidi has offered to direct her in a workshop reading of Round Thelonious!

 

“I have just finished reading your script, and quite frankly, I have nothing but great admiration and congratulations to shower upon you…I think you have something very special on your hands. I would love to direct a workshop of it here in New York and discuss various theatres or jazz clubs off-Broadway or in the Village where it can be eventually staged at.”

To take advantage of this thrilling opportunity Anita first needs to grow her acting skills. She is an accomplished jazz singer, having performed at corporate and private events for over ten years for clients such as Gucci, Zurich Financial Services and Virgin Airlines. Now she needs to develop her acting ability to the same level as her singing skills. Anita has applied for and has been accepted into a 5-week solo-show workshop at the prestigious Barrow Group Acting School in New York!! (Academy award-winning actor Anne Hathaway is a graduate!)

But this project needs your support as well! Anita invites people to help her ‘live out loud’ by becoming a patron of the arts. The campaign has already raised a whopping 28% of the $8000 goal – THANK YOU! If you would like to know how you can support this world-first project, click here.

The campaign ends on July 10th, and all donations over $2 are tax deductable. Even contributing as little as $20 will go a long way – as the old Chinese proverb goes, “Many hands make light work”!

To be updated on the progress of Round Thelonious, please click here.