GH�350,000 Insurance for Versatile Show Cast

Every single musician, actor, dancer and poet who would be performing at the Versatile Show tomorrow, Saturday, November 8, as well as the entire production crew, has been given a risk and health insurance cover which sums up to an amount of GH�350,000, NEWS-ONE has confirmed. The Versatile Show, put together by ace Ghanaian musician Okyeame Kwame, will be bringing together actors Adjetey Annan and Ekwo Smith Asante, Wanlov da Kubolor, Samini, Bradez, E.L, Kwadey, Pearl, Edem, Ben Brako, Keche, KSM, Adina, Eugene, formerly of Praye fame, and several others for a historic performance designed as a cocktail of drama, music, high-voltage comedy, chorography, acrobatics and poetry. �Nothing like this has ever happened before and the rehearsals have been crazy. It is a rigorous performance and once there would be a rigorous activity, there is a possibility of a casualty; therefore the need to get some risk insurance cover for the performers and the crew,� Annica Nsiah-Apau, Business & Brands Development Manager at One Mic Entertainment, producers of the show, told NEWS-ONE. She revealed that during the pre event rehearsals one of the actors suffered a sprained-arm�an incident that made Okyeame Kwame to start thinking of how to insure the cast against possible injuries. �We discussed the idea with Phoenix Insurance and fortunately they bought into it and decided to insure the entire cast and crew of 70 to the tune of GH�5,000, which sums up to GH�350,000. �Phoenix is doing this to support us because the company believes in creativity and supporting the arts. The whole idea and concept of bringing together versatile artistes to put up a versatile performance for a versatile audience on one night resonates well with the values of Phoenix and the company decided to come on board,� Annica Nshia-Apau added. Okyeame Kwame, in an interview with NEWS-ONE on same subject, said the idea to insure his cast and crew was necessitated by respect and professionalism. �Artistes are professionals and I have a lot of respect for them. Everyone deserves respect and if you respect a professional, you treat the person as such. We are not hoping for casualties or praying for any. But it is prudent to have the foresight and put the proper measures in place rather than allow ourselves to be struck by surprises,� Okyeame Kwame added. REHEARSALS/ TICKETS �The rehearsals have been crazy, amazing, frightening. They are using human props and the dancers are so versatile, so agile, they do not behave like humans�The repertoire of performances are cross generational and you have almost every aspect of performance arts and music genre fused into a fine blend,� Annica revealed. Organisers told NEWS-ONE that though tickets for tomorrow�s show were out some three weeks ago, it was only this week that sales shot up. �When we put out the tickets, there were two other shows coming up an I think people decided to finish with those shows before buying the Versatile ticket. �Apart from our advertised ticket outlets, we are also doing direct sales and door delivery and my phone has not stopped ringing. The response has been very encouraging. We are also doing a discount for students who have their valid IDs or admission letters,� the Business & Brands Development Manager at One Mic Entertainment noted.