Opening next week for a two-night run at City Hall is Molessia Joynes-Foniciano's latest production, `I Have Arrived'. This will be the third show staged through her Midland Drama Association.

"One of the reasons I formed the Midland was to try and build a bridge from Court Street to City Hall, to serve as an inspiration to Bermuda's youth,'' explains the author, who also acts as director and producer. ` `This is one of the reasons,'' she adds, "why I prefer to work with young people, to give them the opportunity to do something constructive and to open a door for them -- especially those who, for one reason or another, have dropped out of school. It's an outlet for them and I think it helps them to feel they're a part of society and to be involved.'' Describing her play as "a drama with music and dance'', Ms Joynes-Foniciano says the music includes gospel, R & B and reggae. Elizabeth Pimental is the choreographer, featuring ten of her students in dances ranging from the '60s to the '90s. Another group from the St. George's majorettes also take part.

The author says the plot is based on a true story "with a stimulating and powerful message'' about a young single mother's battle to survive economically, financially, and spiritually in Bermuda's "hostile'' employment market. Finally succeeding as an `entrepreneur', she rejects a wealthy suitor, realising her independence, so dearly won, would be compromised.

Admitting to an element of autobiography in her theme, Ms Joynes-Foniciano, a former Whitney Institute student who attended the University of Maryland but did not graduate, comments: "It is a jungle out there if you don't have any qualifications!'' Her interest in theatre was aroused when she saw a video of the musical `Annie'. "I enjoyed it so much I realised I wanted to do drama. I then worked for the Bermuda Sun and I did some reviewing, and that got me even more interested.

I was determined to do a play at City Hall. I didn't have any real knowledge or backing, so I had to learn as I went along -- from the janitors and so on -- about how to do the lights. But I did it, and I've done it each year since.

The first two shows were `Escape from the Mob' Part I and then I did `Part II'.'' `I Have Arrived' will be performed at the City Hall Theatre on December 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. with a pre-performance reception for patrons on the opening night. Tickets at $20 from Changes Hair Salon (Victoria Street) and Cafe Latte (upper level Washington Mall), or $25 at the door.

ONSTAGE -- Dancers from In Time studio take the stage at City Hall for the production, `I have Arrived.' From left, back row, are: Andrea Viera, Elizabeth Pimental and Raquel Knight. (Front row:) Tamara Lewis, Jan Soares, and Shoeiko Ingham.