Everybody Loves Raymond: The Celebration

“The attributes of a good actor are the attributes of a good person” ~ Raymond Choo Kong

As accolades continue to pour in for Raymond Choo Kong, the theatre community have come together to hold a grand memorial in his honour. Everybody Loves Raymond: The Celebration, a collaboration between the National Drama Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDATT), Queen’s Hall, Friends of Raymond, and the family of the late award winning producer, director, and actor, will be held on Thursday 18^th July 2019 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.

Raymond, who was also a member of Queen’s Hall’s Board of Directors, is best known for his comedy theatre company Raymond Choo Kong Productions, and is the holder of the most Cacique Awards — Trinidad and Tobago’ equivalent to Broadway’s Tony Awards.  Raymond was a member of Helen Camps’ Tent Theatre ensemble and forged a successful career as a comic actor, director and producer. He went on to direct large musicals such as The Sound of Music, The King and I, and Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, and worked on projects in the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, the Trinidad Theatre Workshop with Derek Walcott, films, commercials, band launches and many other productions.

At the time of his passing Choo Kong was a mentor to participants in the area of Self Development through the Theatre Arts as part of the Ministry of Community Development Culture and the Arts’ Mentoring by the Masters Program. He was also involved in Pride TT 2019 celebrations as part of Generation Gap, an ongoing series between elders and youth in the LGBT+ community. Raymond was producing a contemporary revival of Diva, a show he created in 1993.

To celebrate the diversity of this director extraordinaire and his impact on the TT theatre landscape, the memorial will feature excerpts from productions and projects that Choo Kong has directed, including Mary Could Dance and Mahalia, and tributes from performers he has worked with both on stage and off. There will also be a lineup of speakers including the Minister of Community Development Culture and the Arts, Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly.

Everybody Loves Raymond: The Celebration will be held on Thursday 18^th July 2019, 7:30PM, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. The house opens at 7PM. Patrons and well wishers will be accommodated on a first come first serve basis. Dress in light or bright colors. Remember, it’s a celebration.

A condolence book will also be stationed at Naparima Bowl from Friday 19^th July for those who wish to pay their respects.

For media inquiries contact Lisa Allen-Agostini: email 2trini.lise@gmail.com or WhatsApp (868)753-6220