HARLEM, New York  Performing artist, author and certified personal trainer --Monifa Maat stars in CRAVE, the clever and hilarious one-woman musical comedy that explores the power of food that affects every aspect of our lives from a physical, mental and spiritual point of view. It will be presented on Saturday, July 28th from 1:00pm  3:00pm in the auditorium at the historic Countee Cullen Library on West 136th Street (close to Lenox Ave.) in Harlem, New York. This production is FREE to the public.

According to Net Wellness.org, recent statistics show that up to 66% the U.S. population is overweight or obese. Even more shocking that 78% of African American women are overweight and over 50% obese; and 60% of African American men are identified as overweight and nearly 30% obese. Research studies conclude that obesity leads to many other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke according to the same source. In addition, high fat diets have been linked to colon, breast and prostate cancer. The Columbia Spectator reports that 48% of children in Harlem fall into the category of obese.

CRAVE follows the hour-long live hit radio broadcast of local talk show host Rakia Roots, a West Indian/American young woman; whose syndicated broadcast about nutrition, staying fit and finding the power within to crave a healthy lifestyle is touching a cord with her listeners nationwide and changing lives. Join Rakia, with her show guests and telephone callers -- all characters played by Ms. Maat -- for a wild ride as they navigate the peaks and valleys that come with pursuing a healthy lifestyle. The play will also include a unique fitness demonstration for the audience.

One thing is sure: whether you leave the theater laughing, crying or ready to chow down&one taste of CRAVE will leave you hungry for more!

Following CRAVE, delicious, healthy refreshments will be served by Chef Alcee James of My Life Cuisine, including some of the recipes highlighted in the play! All refreshments are complimentary.

Monifa Maat is an Audelco Award nominated performance artist who starred as Dinah Washington in the hit musical Moms Mabley and Her Ladies at the Producers Club featuring the late actress, Clarice Taylor and as Billie Holiday in the Audelco Award nominated one woman show, Yesterdays at National Black Theatre. CRAVE is an outgrowth of The Healthy Roots Fitness & Nutrition Camp, an 8-week nutrition and fitness workshop series founded by Monifa Maat in 2009 as part of the Health, Wellness and Outreach Ministry at Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem. Ms. Maat wrote the production based upon her desire to merge her passion for singing and the performing arts with her mission to inform and inspire people  particularly the youth, to choose healthier habits to reach greater success. CRAVE will be sponsored by Sister To Sister Inc., an organization dedicated to providing women of color with unique opportunities to nurture their body, mind and spirit at the historic Countee Cullen Library; named after the Harlem Renaissance poet and teacher. Ironically, the library is also the former site of the mansion of A'lelia Walker, daughter of beauty products tycoon Madam C.J. Walker.

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