Moonlight Over Paris

1994 New York City: Long before American Idol hitthe airwaves the way to a recording contract was theOpen Mic Circuit at the nite clubs in Manhattan.From Caf Wah to Chaz and Wilsons to Nells theCircuit is jammed with talented singers until oneyoung woman begins to separate herself from therest.Meet Monique Paris Stevens. She creates buzz withher melodic fl ow and builds a large following whereever she shows up to sing. Moonlight Over Paris isMoniques story a Brooklynite by way of Chicago whoaspires to become a professional singer and recordingartist. By day she pays the bills working for a fi nancialservices company and is thriving there as well.Her boss Bill Russell is grooming her for a bigmanagerial position with the main offi ce she wouldbe the fi rst African American and woman to do sowhich would be ground-breaking to say the least. Billwants her to get the position he never could. Moniquewill hear none of it because she is focused on singing.Bill demeans her efforts telling her those singers area dime a dozen you can tell by how many come outfor the Open Mic contests.Meanwhile the relationship with her girlfriendDonna Owens is anything but cordial. Donna aclothing designer with her own boutique isnt happywith just ruining her own business but has in mind toruin any chance of Monique reaching her goal. WhenMonique discovers the level of hate Donna has forher the outcome is tragic.Maurice Stevens Moniques father biggest supporterand best friend dies unexpectedly sending her worldinto a tailspin. The multiple tragedies are more thanshe can take. But in many tragedies come blessingsthusly Moonlight Over Paris is founded.