Fashion Designer/Stylist Gail Ambeau Enters Graduate Program at Academy of Art

by Cyrus Webb


(Monday, December 27, 2010) For Toledo, OH native Gail Ambeau, 2010 has been an exciting journey on the path of achieving her dreams. Everything the fashion designer/stylist/radio show host touched over the past 12 months has seemed to succeed, taking her to fashion week events, hosting her own weekly fashion segment and even having her designs featured on a recording artist's cd cover! As Shadow Play Entertainment is celebrating 2011 as a year of new beginnings, Ambeau is celebrating her newest adventure: being accepted into the Master of Fine Arts Graduate Program!

"I am so excited to be accepted into the graduate program at Academy of Art," says Ambeau. "It has taken me a while to get here, but I don't think I would have made it before now."

The MFA fashion masters degree curriculum refines and focuses the fashion graduate school candidate's individual vision. MFA candidates are prepared to launch themselves into the industry upon graduating. It is the only school invited to participate in Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. The Academy of Art University has showcased graduate collections during fashion week since 2005. The Academy of Art University has one of the top fashion schools in the nation, with the most famous show in the industry.

"My past experiences have gotten me to this point," says Ambeau. I mean really...I've been out of school for 21 years. I had to sell myself. I mean really prove to them that I was worthy of being a part of their graduate program. I was sweating bullets trying to pull everything together."


The hard work paid off for the self-taught designer that has now worked with Grammy winners, nationally recogized models and had her work featured from coast to coast. In evaluating her work, her portfolio reviews stated: "Gail’s work to date is impressive in a dramatic sense and we are excited to see her explore The World of Fashion at the Academy of Art University. Her three dimensional skills appear to have a keen sense and knowledge of the body".

Gail, who now lives in Jackson, MS, will be attending school from home via the internet. "The online aspect of their program was very appealing to me," she says. "It will allow me to pursue my dreams and goals, while maintaining stability for my family. I am enthusiastic about the knowledge that I will gain through the Master of Fine Arts in Fashion program, as well as the hands on experiences that I can apply to Ambeau’s Art and Fashion."

As many are making their New Year's Resolutions, Gail has this piece of advice for anyone who thinks they can't achieve their goals and live their dreams: "All I can say is it's never too late. I am living in faithfulness on the edge of excitement on purpose everyday!"

To find out more about Gail Ambeau and her company, visit www.gailrayfordambeau.com.

Mississippi Native Encourages Others To "Take Time To Read"

(Monday, December 27, 2010) Though a lover of books all of his life, 35 year old Mississippi native Cyrus Webb didn't realize the true importance of words until his adult years. "For me reading was a means of escape and a way to learn about the world," he says. "Today I realize that in many cases it can be the deciding factor between success and failure."

Because of this, in 2006 Webb began what has become the United States largest co-ed reading group, Conversations Book Club. Over the past four years it has hosted literary events across the country, creating spin-offs that embrace sports and music lovers. To date Conversations Book Club has hosted free events featuring 93 authors in Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia. "We are all about encouraging reading," says Webb. "Since that is our aim, we have to be all things to all people to get them involved."

Since Mississippi still ranks at the top of the list when it comes to illiteracy, Webb feels obligated to focus his main literary efforts at home. His organization Shadow Play Entertainment recently announced its theme for 2011 as "A Year Of New Beginnings". Though this applies to various areas in life, for Webb, helping others to fall in love with books is at the top of his list of priorities.

On Thursday, December 30, 2010, Webb will be visiting two libraries sharing his organizations message for the New Year and giving out free books for all ages to help others get started reading as soon as possible. From 10-12p.m., he will be at the Pearl Public Library (2416 Old Brandon Rd * Pearl, MS) and from 1-3p.m., he will be at the Margaret Walker Alexander Library (2525 Robinson St. * Jackson, MS). The books have been donated by Shadow Play Entertainment, Great Little Books, LLC and author Jackie Carpenter.

Webb also encourages individuals to visit his webpage www.taketimetoread.com and sign the pledge committing to reading in 2011.

For more information about events scheduled by Conversations Book Club around the United States, visit www.thebestbookclub.info. Cyrus Webb can be reached at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616. His website is www.cyruswebb.com.

Shadow Play Entertainment Welcomes Its Newest Members

(Friday, December 24, 2010) Over the past 5 years, clients of Shadow Play Entertainment have literally been from all corners of the world, each with his or her own gifts. As we prepare to usher in a brand new year and more exciting possibilities, we are pleased to announce the newest members of our growing family.


Author M. Beatryce Shaw is Shadow Play Enterainment's first children's book author and has already given the world two books that deal with the issues of race and discrimination. Shaw is available for interviews, booksignings as well as speaking engagements. Additional information can be found at www.schoonerpublications.com.


Stefhen Bryan is the author of the book BLACK PASSENGER, YELLOW CABS which chronicles his personal battle with depression as well as the vices of the world while living in Japan. Bryan will be participating in a 3-month campaign with Shadow Play to discuss these issues and share the revelations that have helped him along the way. You can find out more at www.blackpassenger.com.

To hear interviews with the clients above or to find out more information about Shadow Play Entertainment, visit www.shadowplayent.com. You can contact Shadow Play Entertainment President Cyrus Webb directly at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

On behalf of Cyrus Webb and all of the clients of Shadow Play Entertainment, we wish you a happy holiday season as well as a productive 2011.

(Sat. Oct. 23, 2010) Conversations Book Club Uses Books To "Make A Difference"

On Saturday, October 23, 2010, Conversations Book Club Founder and President Cyrus Webb traveled to Appetizers Restaurant in Pearl, MS to give the gift of books for National Make A Difference Day. The day has been set aside to do something nice for someone, and for Webb books seemed like the perfect thing.


"Mississippi still ranks among the states with the highest rates of illiteracy," says Webb, 35. "Conversations Book Club has teamed up with authors from across the country to make sure that we begin changing that one book at a time."

Anyone who came by Appetizers Restaurant from 10-2p.m. were treated to as many books as they wanted. Barbara Worton, Linday Jenkins and Robert Brown of Great Little Books, LLC donated books for the event as well as Rapper/Author Jacki-O. Webb donated children's books for the event.



Webb reached out to Rhonda Teague, the owner of a 24-hour child care facility in Jackson, MS, inviting her to get books for her children as well as their parents.
Joseph Henderson, author of I DON'T WANT TO DIE ALL ALONE, also joined the event.


"It's a little thing," says Webb, "but it is the little things that really make a difference."

For more information about Great Little Books, visit www.greatlittlebooksllc.com. Additional information about Joseph and his book can be found at www.joseph-henderson.com. To see what's next for Conversations Book Club, visit www.thebestbookclub.info.

Multi-media Personality Cyrus Webb Shares A Decade Of His World Through The Arts

On Thurs. September 30, 2010, Mississippi native Cyrus Webb hosted "MY VOICE: A Decade In The Arts" at the Pearl Public Library in Pearl,MS.


The public event was to highlight Webb's contribution to the arts from 1999 to 2009 and show the world what he is doing moving forward.

In the first corner of the exhibit Webb exhibited some of his artwork.



Next he had some of his poetry chapbooks on display as well as his spoken word cd MY CONTROVERSY that is now available on http://spokencontroversy.blogspot.com.

From there Webb highlighted his community involvment since 1999 with organizations like the Partnership for a Healthy, Mississippi, VSA of Mississippi as well as speaking about the importance of the arts at schools in Mississippi such as Pearl High School, Peeples Middle School, Calloway High School, Lake Elementary School, Pecan Park Elementary School, Hardy Middle School, Jim Hill High School and Forest Hill High School.


On the next phase of the journey, Webb showcased the publications that he has written for over the years, including The Clarion Ledger, Rankin Ledger, Mississippi Link, Jackson Advocate, Blagazine.com, Crunk Magazine (ATL).
In 2006 he became the publisher and Editor-In-Chief of his own magazine called Conversations. The next issue debuts in mid-November and is the Dec. 2010/Jan. 2011 issue.

What those who attended the event saw next is what has become the largest part of Webb's life: the radio and tv versions of the Conversations Brand. He played the first tv edition of Conversations which debuted in April 2004 on 16 WAPT (ABC affilliate) in Jackson, MS as well as had interviews from his radio show available to listen to.
To date, Cyrus Webb has interview over 1,000 individuals on Conversations LIVE, the radio show that began on WMPR 90. 1 FM in July 2003 which is now heard on the radio dial on affilliates as well as online.

Those in attendance also saw Webb's only acting performance thus far. He was a part of the cast for the short film BROKEN SILENCE that addresses the issues of HIV/AIDS. It debuted at Crossroads Film Festival and later showed at other festivals in Mississippi.

Just two years after debuting the radio show, Cyrus Webb began Conversations the book club. Started with 3 members in November 2006 in Jackson, MS, the co-ed, multi-cultural reading group now has chapters in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana and has been written about not only in the South but by the Chicago Tribune as well. To date, Conversations Book Club has hosted literary events with 90 authors and is the largest co-ed reading group in the United States.


What's next for Webb? During the event he worked on a new piece of art called "Walking On Egg Shells", a pieces that is a part of a new series where he takes figure of speech and brings them to life. He is also working on his latest literary project, a religious thriller called BLESSED.


For more information about Cyrus Webb visit www.cyruswebb.com, email him at cawebb4@juno.com or contact him at 601.825.5883.

Bigg Marv and Brite Mic Show Support For Breast Cancer Awareness

by Cyrus Webb

In recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month tv personality Bigg Marv of A&E's HAMMERTIME show and Joey Calendar of Brite Mic Ent. took time out to support an event while in Los Angeles.



"It's just important for all of us to realize how serious breast cancer is and how we have to work together to bring attention to it," says Bigg Marv.

Joey Calendar agrees. "We all have women in our lives that we care about," he says. "It's important for us to make sure that they are testing on a regular basis."

To stay updated with what Bigg Marv is doing, follow him on www.twitter.com/biggmarv. Brite Mic can be found at www.britemic.com.

Shadow Play Ent. Announces The Return of Conversations Magazine's Print Edition In November 2010!

Shadow Play Entertainment is pleased to announce the return of Conversations Magazine's print edition.

Founded by Mississippi native Cyrus Webb,35, as the third component of the Conversations Brand (following Conversations the radio and tv shows), Conversations Magazine originally debuted in print in April 2006. Months later Webb and founding member Stanley Clark would begin Conversations the book club. Based solely on subscriptions at the time and sold online, the magazine gained a modest 100 monthly subscribers to the publication that focused almost entirely on books and those who were living their dreams as published authors.

Like other publications, when costs outweighted the actual profit of the publication, Webb made the decision in 2008 to take Conversations completely online. Ironically, it was that year that the Conversations Brand began to change, including health and fitness items, food and then in 2009 adding fashion. Today, thanks to the eclectic nature of the brand, Conversations the radio show averages over 100,000 online listeners each month, garnering partnerships with national as well as up-and-coming businesses.

"The timing is just right," says Webb, who has been building the Conversations brand since the first component Conversations the radio show began on WMPR 90.1 FM in Jackson in July 2003. "Conversations has grown alot since the print edition of Conversations last saw the light of day. I think more importantly I have grown in my understanding that you have to feed more than a person's love of books. You have to feed their love of life. That is what my team it doing."

The reemergence of the print edition of Conversations Magazine will take place in mid-November with the December 2010/January 2011 issue. The 40 page edition will feature Conversations' Top 100 Books of 2010, profiles of authors Nancy T.Rosenberg, Mikki Zimmerman, Michael Dillon Scott and entrepreneurs like actor/author/recording artist Tray Chaney, actress/director/author Cherie Johnson and model/actor Nicoye Banks. Also included will be styling tips by fashion designer Gail Ambeau, cooking tips by Chef Bruce Tretter, and musical profiles of Laura Pascarella, The Artist Company and the rap groups Authentic and Dem Raleigh Boyz as well as Conversations' Artist of the Year 2010.

The magazine will be available at independent bookstores in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Pearl/Brandon and online at www.conversationsmag.com. It will be marketed through paid ads on Facebook,social networking sites, posters, Conversations LIVE radio, and other sites operated by Shadow Play Ent. PDFs of the bi-monthly edition will also be available through www.payloadz.com.

For additional information about Conversations Magazine including how to be featured and advertising in the publication, contact Cyrus Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or601.896.5616. Details can also be found at www.conversationsmag.com.