Actor Leonard Dozier runs effective Facebook campaign for Magic Johnson/Larry Bird stage production

Aug. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Egg Harbor, NJ – Leonard Dozier has always worked hard at his craft. Whether he is pitching the stage production on the life of Luther Vandross (which Dozier wrote and was approved by the late crooner’s family and is expected to hit the stage in late 2012), filming the recently released first-ever onscreen portrayal of Richard Allen, father of the A.M.E. Church (which was viewed by some 3,000,000 persons), or using his baritone voice on national promos for artists like Ruben Studdard, Dozier puts his heart and soul into his work.

As a young boy and well into his teen years, Dozier was more than an admirer of basketball legend “Magic” Johnson. In fact, some would call his adoration an obsession.

Dozier explains: “Everywhere I went, I was dribbling my basketball: to the neighbor’s house, the corner store, even to school. People in the neighborhood called me “Magic” because of my love for the man. So Johnson was more than a sports figure for me; he was like a father.”

Yes, it’s personal. So personal, in fact, that Dozier recently spearheaded a Facebook campaign just for the opportunity to audition to portray the sports legend in an upcoming stage production called “Magic/Bird on Broadway,” slated for the stage in 2012. The page, called “Vote for Leonard Dozier as Magic Johnson on Broadway,” is steadily growing in numbers each day. It features video samples from Dozier’s past performances as well as accolades from people from every corner of the globe, including Germany and Australia.

For Dozier, he was always meant to play the role of Magic. And for one reason only: Everything Magic did affected Leonard Dozier’s life – even as far as Dozier’s upcoming Luther project.

Says Dozier: “If it wasn’t for Magic I would have never heard of Luther – at least not when I did. As was my custom, when Magic did a TV interview, I was always front and center. Well, the interviewer asked him who was his favorite singer and he answered, ‘Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross.’ Of course I knew who Michael Jackson was, but I’d never heard of Luther, so me being me…well, I just had to go out and get a Luther album…and that was the beginning of my connection to Luther.

“It’s kind of incredible, really. This man I never met, Magic Johnson, had such an effect on my life, my upbringing, my world back then…and even today, years later, Magic is still a positive influence in my life.”

Dozier is the director of Cineplay Productions, which performs classics such as A Raisin in the Sun, Twelve Angry Men and other well-known productions; he is also a voice over expert whose voice has been heard on the BET, Lifetime and MTV networks, as well as nationwide products for well-known authorities, including THE official voice of Boomtown Casino; and his CD, “Vitamin L” is currently being played on adult contemporary stations across the country.

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J Blair Brown Consulting provides PR and marketing branding strategies to individuals in the entertainment industry. Clients represent actors, authors, songwriters and voice over experts who are seasoned performers on stage, in film and TV.