In the next few months I’m going to ready myself and my family for the next step in our journey:

My new role as Rachel Marron in
The Bodyguard, A New Musical.

The show opens in the West End of London in December, so we’re packing up and heading over the pond!
The Musical will showcase some of Whitney Houston’s amazing hits, and I have the great honor and challenge of singing many of them. For most of my life, I have been a fan and student of Whitney Houston, and I’m honored and excited, albeit nervous about this new venture. The producers have been working on this show for a few years, and with the passing of Whitney, we all feel a greater responsibility to honor her musical legacy, and I believe we will.

So, I’ll admit it… it’s time that you had some new music from me!
I took two years off to have, and spend time with our son – - and motherhood has been an amazing experience for me. I’ve been working on music, and I’m really excited to announce that my NEW STUDIO ALBUM will be released FALL 2012…Just for you! This will be a group of songs I love: Originals, as well as covers I’ve come to really enjoy performing in my shows. By the time the new album is released, I’ll be leaving the States to begin my run of The Bodyguard in London, so I’ll be depending on you to get the word out.
Over the next few months I’ll give you a few snippets of new music and keep you informed about the progress of the album. So, please sign up on the mailing list for updates. I hope you’ll be with me on this one. I’ll need your prayers, help and support.

So, let’s get ready to start spreading the word!
With love
-Heather

Thea Sharrock is to direct The Bodyguard, a new musical opening at the Adelphi Theatre in Autumn
2012 based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name with screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan. Starring
Heather Headley as Rachel Marron and Lloyd Owen as Frank Farmer in the roles made famous on film
by the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, tickets for The Bodyguard go on sale today (1 May
2012) taking bookings until 27 April 2013 for the production’s first booking period. Previews begin on 6
November 2012, twenty years after the release of the Oscar nominated film. Press performances are 1
December at 7.30pm, 4 December at 7.30pm as well as opening night on 5 December at 7pm with
reviews under embargo until 6 December 2012.

Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron
from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A
romantic thriller, The Bodyguard features a multitude of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits including
Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, I’m Your Baby Tonight, Run
to You, I Have Nothing, How Will I Know, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and one of the greatest hit
songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.

Book is by Alex Dinelaris, with designs by Tim Hatley, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by
Richard Brooker. Choreography is by Arthur Pita, orchestrations by Chris Egan and musical
supervision by Mike Dixon. The Bodyguard is produced by Michael Harrison and David Ian.

Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley will make her West End stage debut as Rachel
Marron. Having originated the role of Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Headley went on to play the
title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her debut solo album,
This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Audience of One, won
the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years she has worked
extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of
President Barack Obama.

Lloyd Owen was last on stage in London playing leading roles in Sarah Helm’s Loyalty at Hampstead
Theatre and J T Rogers Blood and Gifts at the National Theatre. Previously his theatre credits include The
York Realist for the Royal Court, Julius Caesar for the Young Vic, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for the
Almeida Theatre and The Way of the World for the Royal Exchange Theatre. On television Owen is best
known for playing Paul Bowman-MacDonald in the BBC’s long running drama Monarch of the Glen and
Indiana Jones’ father Professor Henry Jones, Sr, in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. His other
television credits include Ghost Squad, The Vice, Coupling, Wire in the Blood and Dead Gorgeous. His film
credits include Apollo 18, Miss Potter, The Republic of Love and Between Dreams and the forthcoming
Free Ride with Anna Paquin and Drea de Matteo.

Thea Sharrock’s production of 13 completed a run at the National Theatre last year where she
previously directed After The Dance for which she won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Revival, Happy
Now? and The Emperor Jones. Later this month Thea Sharrock’s production of Neil Simon’s The Sunshine
Boys with Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths opens at the Savoy Theatre, reuniting her with Griffiths who
she directed in Equus both in the West End and on Broadway and in Heroes at the Wyndham’s Theatre.
Her other theatre credits include Cause Célèbre for the Old Vic and The Misanthrope at the Comedy
Theatre. Sharrock was previously Artistic Director at the Southwark Playhouse (2001-2003) and the Gate
Theatre (2004-2006).

As well as The Bodyguard, Oscar nominated, Golden Bear and New York Film Critics award winner
Lawrence Kasdan has written or co-written the films Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Empire Strikes Back
and Return of the Jedi. He has directed eleven films including Body Heat, The Big Chill, The Accidental
Tourist, Grand Canyon and Dreamcatcher. Kasdan’s new film, Darling Companion, based on a script by
Meg Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan, has recently been released by Sony Pictures Classics.

Alex Dinelaris’ plays include Still Life, produced by Manhattan Class Company and Red Dog Howls, with
the New York Theatre Workshop. Dinelaris was nominated for two Drama Desk awards for his additional
work on the book and lyrics for the musical Zanna Don’t. His other plays include Folding The Monster,
The Chaos Theories, In This Our Time, Pathetique and Big Kids. Film director Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu
will directed Dinelaris’ latest work.

Award-winning designer Tim Hatley’s many theatre credits in London and on Broadway include Betty
Blue Eyes, Shrek the Musical, Private Lives, Spamalot, Suddenly Last Summer, The Crucible, Endgame,
and Another Country. For the National Theatre his work includes Timon of Athens, Welcome to Thebes,
Rafta Rafta,, Present Laughter, Henry V, Humble Boy, The Talking Cure, Vincent in Brixton and Stanley
and for the Royal Shakespeare Company Richard III, Goodnight Children and Talk of the City. On film his
credits include Stage Beauty, Closer and Notes on a Scandal.

Michael Harrison has produced Aspects of Love starring David Essex which transferred to the Jo’burg
Civic Theatre, Jolson & Co starring Allan Stewart, The Witches of Eastwick starring Marti Pellow and Chess
directed by Craig Revel Horwood which played at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto and on tour in
the UK. This year he produced I Dreamed a Dream. He is also Managing Director of Qdos Pantomimes
Ltd.

David Ian has produced theatre shows all over the world. His credits include Grease, Saturday Night
Fever, The King and I, West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain, Anything Goes, The Producers, Guys and
Dolls, The Sound of Music, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Charity, Flashdance, Gypsy, The Phantom of the
Opera, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Chess, Rocky Horror Show, Cats, Chicago, Dr Dolittle
and Starlight Express.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Dates 6 November 2012 – 27 April 2013 (first booking period)
Press performances 1 December at 7.30pm, 4 December at 7.30pm as well as opening
night on 5 December at 7pm with reviews under embargo until 6
December 2012
Address Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2
Performance schedule Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3pm
Box Office 0844579 0094 (no booking fee)
Ticket prices in previews £20 – £57.50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
then £20 – £67-50 including £1 theatre restoration levy
No booking fee for tickets purchased directly from the
Adelphi Theatre
Day seats A limited number of £25 day seats will go on sale from the Box Office
at 10am on the day of the performance
Website (no booking fee)

When I’m 98 years old and sitting on my porch or wherever our son decides to put me, my great grandchildren will be running around and the conversation will go like this:

“By the way, do you little stinkers know where I was on Sunday, January 18^th 2009”?

“Yes Nana, you’ve told us 515 times!”

“Well, I’m getting ready to tell you for the 516^thtime.  I sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for 900 million (the crowd will get bigger over the years) people – - thanks to Marian Anderson. Now go and get me that left over cake…and some iced tea… and my teeth…. and my wig because now I feel pretty and young again…and…what did you mutter under your breath, child….

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. There’s so much to be grateful for – - the list is long, and God knows I shouldn’t need a day to remember that, but it’s good to have it. The food was excellent. I think it’ll take me months to work off the mac and cheese, but it was worth it. My girlfriend (who shall remain nameless) is very bitter and jealous because she doesn’t think that her mother-in-love is as good a cook as mine. And she’s RIGHT! So, in my sweetness, I sent her a picture of the spread, my plate and me eating. She said some bad things to me – - some really bad things – - but I think we’re still friends, at least until the Christmas dinner.

The next few weeks are going to be tough. I’m away from home quite a bit and I’m already missing my “boys.” I start the Andrea Bocelli tour in Ohio (on my son’s birthday, Happy Birthday Sweet Boy) and we end in Los Angeles. It’s going to be hectic, but we can handle it and it’ll be fun. If you think of me, pray for health, protection, safe travel and stamina. I will be trying my best to upload a few shots and behind-the-scenes moments for all of you, so check in to find them. Yes! Yes! I promise I’ll remember to do it.

I end my holiday performance schedule in Trinidad. I’m so excited and nervous about this one. Ahhh! It’s always so sentimental and nostalgic just landing on the island. I feel the breeze, and it brings with it so many sweet memories of my childhood and life there. I was asked to do a private concert for British Gas to benefit the United Way on the island – - A foundation that needs all the help we can give it. Anyhow, they’ve released a few tickets to the public (so for the Trinis reading this, grab them if you still can), but it’s mostly a private affair. It’s been a while since I’ve been to or performed in Trinidad, and this one will be different. So, I’ve placed quite a bit of pressure on myself and everyone with me. But the band and all involved have stepped up to the challenge, and are proving themselves more than capable to tackle all that I’ve thrown at them. The show is going to be a mix of all the music I enjoy, and I’m excited to sing some songs I don’t normally have a chance to perform. I’m also going to be joined by some phenomenal local talent (I’d like to surprise you, so no names just yet), who are going to show why Trinidad is just a haven for talent. I need to get myself together so I can keep up. I’m so excited.

A few friends invited me to attend a weekly women’s fellowship here in town and I’ve truly enjoyed spending a few hours with these amazing, beautiful and inspiring women. Every week we come together, listen to a speaker, and then break into smaller groups where we discuss the weekly lesson and share what’s going on in our lives. Sometimes we get caught up in what’s going on behind our own doors and forget that there are people among us – - people of all walks of life who are going through some trying seasons. Every week I hear another heart breaking story of a woman battling some form of cancer (isn’t cancer tired yet? Why doesn’t it take a break!). There are women trying to save their marriages and love their husbands despite the reality they know. There are ladies, who are in great love relationships and are staying strong, depending on God and adjusting as the family deals with growing children, job loss, or other life changes. And the stories go on…. I know one day I may be in my own season, and I do hope that I can show the same strength, faith and determination I see every week in those ladies.  I know God helps and provides peace and love in our storms – - but it’s still tough.  Women are amazing, though! My mother was and is a great example of that. In the toughest season of our family’s life, she had to take the reins and she got us through.

With that said… I thank God for health. I thank Him for the health of my family – - all of them. I thank Him for an amazing husband who continues to be a dream come true; a girl couldn’t ask for a better guy. I’m grateful for all I have and for this season in my life.  It’s not always sunny – - every now and then a cloud may pass by, but I can’t discount the fact that even on the rainy days, life has been a blessing.

Let’s pray for each other.

The summer has had its highs and lows. Travelling, weighing decisions, begging God for direction, asking friends for advice…I’ve been tired, yet really excited. Disappointed, incredibly sad at times – - but at (so many) other moments overly excited, humbled, and encouraged. God continues to show me that He’s much smarter and bigger than I am, and He can do ALL things – - even things I didn’t know existed or were possible ☺. So, I can’t complain.

Because of my schedule and some other things that have been going on (I’ll have to tell you about that later), I haven’t been recording as much, but, I’m getting ready to get back in there (I promise) – - making the Fall and beginning of the year even more busy. So, speaking of singing…

Our sweet boy enjoys music and loves to listen to his CDs in the car. My husband and I will both admit that we’re getting a little tired of hearing them, but we adore him and we love hearing him sing along, so we bear through it. I’ve always sung around our son, but I thought that maybe it was time to really start introducing him to his “mama.” There’s just one problem, however: He hates my singing. I do solo numbers for him, I try to sing along with his CDs, I do voices, I try riffs, I sing high and low, and still he says ”Mama, no sing” to me. I play the piano for him, and he closes the piano cover on me preferring to hear himself drum the keys before he listens to my rendition of Fur Elise. I’ve pulled up CDs, videos – - I even brought out the scenes I did with Elmo, thinking ‘now, he’ll have some respect for my singing’…nothing! KIDS! I may need therapy for this one. For my whole life, people have asked me to sing, then along comes my child who is constantly begging me to be quiet – - and, I’ll admit, it tickles me. He does allow me to sing to him before he goes to bed at night, however, and those are the best moments. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. So, Mama will gladly be quiet…until then.

I was with a woman a while back whose sister was battling cancer and I asked her how she was doing. She said her sister was having a tough time (as was expected), but was thankful for the cancer. Thankful for the CANCER? What?!?! She told me that through her cancer experience, her sister got closer to God, found a renewed appreciation and love for her family, and started noticing things in nature, around her and in her that she hadn’t before. It got me thinking…can I be thankful for the “not-so-thankful-things” in my life. It’s easy to thank God for my husband, and our son, and work, and my life…. But how can I be thankful when I walk out of Whole Foods to find that someone has rammed into my car and run off without leaving a note, but gifting me with quite a bill at the repair shop? Am I still supposed to be thankful when a policeman, oh-so-sweetly, gives me a ticket for sliding through the stop sign during a BLIZZARD? Can I be thankful for the difficult phone call I had to endure, the hurt I experience, the disappointment I feel? I have to try. Gratitude brings us closer to God. It makes us better people. Happier people.
So I begin…thanking:

1. For a garden of beautiful flowers, and the nails to itch the mosquito bites I got working in that garden. It’s the best “itch” in the world, isn’t it!
2. The sounds of a precious little boy waking up ready to tackle the world
3. Warm comfortable beds
4. Good husband waking early for work
5. Good God awake all night working
6. Amazing people who love me no matter what
7. You
8. The post lady walking up the driveway with her headphones on and the garbage collector dutifully picking up our “remains” with his headphones on.
9. For the fact that I have a car, and found a really great body shop that made it all new again.
10. Good insurance companies who pay those repairmen.
11. That no one was walking or driving through the intersection when I slid through that stop sign.
12. The opportunity to be thankful…