Philip and Sand's interview with host Micky Burns - New York City Profiles - September 2005

Photo by Greg Alexander

Jamaican-born Sandi Morais has a passion for teaching and writing.   She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida International University.  She also has a degree in Child Development and Education from Miami Dade College.   She was the Physical Education teacher at Sunset Christian Academy in Miami, Florida.  She was also a Pre-School teacher.   In 1999 Sandi began writing children stories with Philip Michael Thomas who she met in 1984 on the TV Pilot Miami-Vice in Miami, Florida.  Sandi and Philip wrote five short stories which they turned into a musical fairytale titled Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker.  The musical was co-produced with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater in 2001.  Sandi directed six of the nine productions.

    Health and fitness is a big part of Sandi’s lifestyle.  In 1997 she hosted and co-produced Sandi’s Workout and ReggaeMuffins, a children’s fitness show for WLRN  television in Miami, Florida.   In 2004 Sandi published Tune-up fitness book along with her Tune-up workout DVD.  In 2015 when she became a Vegan Chef, she published Vegan Recipe for Life cook-book.
 
     Over the years Sandi wrote articles for newspapers and magazines such as; Caribbean Today newspaper, Caribbean Contact newspaper, Caribbean American Passport, Karibbean Under One magazine(KUO) and Wow magazine.  Sandi also wrote the biography for a book titled Psalms in the Dance of Life, and she co-wrote Abs & Glutes Tune Up with her daughter Kamla Macko, IFBB- Figure-Pro.
 
     Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker and other Short Stories 20 year Anniversary edition includes fun activities and music for
children ages 3-9.

  An Emmy Award speech excerpt by Philip’s Beloved mother Mrs. Lula Mc Morris Thomas ( born in Columbus, Ohio September 21, 1926 - December 28, 2015) prepared in 1986.

“My son Philip Michael Thomas is one whose kind acts were begun with kind thoughts, One whose greatness is not found in his passions, One whose power is not found in his position or his prestige But one who is filled with goodness, humility, service, and character. Philip Michael Thomas was born at 4:04 a.m. May 26, 1949 in Columbus, Ohio.”

      PMT (as he is affectionately called) loves writing poetry, Mother Goose fairy tales, Aesop’s Fables, composes music on piano and guitar. He has been writing children’s stories and lyrics since age eleven. Philip Michael Thomas was cast as Hud in the1969 San Francisco production of “Hair,” Directed by Tom O’ Horgan. Philip’s first Emmy Award nomination was for his staring role as Jesse Thomas in Death Drug 1978. Philip’s starring role as Ricardo Tubbs in “Miami Vice” made him a TV Icon. He won the People’s Choice Award in 1986. In 1985 and 1986 he also won the NAACP Image Awards for “Miami Vice” as the best performance by an actor, dramatic mini series or television movie. In 1991 Philip starred in“ Extra Large” as Dumas with Italian star Bud Spencer. The six episodes were filmed in Miami, Florida. In 1997 Philip received the degree of Doctor of Arts (Honoris Causa) from Shaw University for his contribution to the arts. He also starred as Father Zaccaria in six episodes of We Are Angels Noi siamo angeli with Bud Spencer in Costa Rica. PMT also co-produced  “We are the children of the world,” a television show filmed in Costa Rica in English and Spanish with puppets and original music and lyrics he composed for the show.

        1n 1999, Philip and his creative partner Sandi Morais, who he met on the Pilot of "Miami-Vice " in 1984 began writing chil- dren’s stories together. The first story Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker was about his eldest daughter Sacha and their experience when he took her to the Magic Cookie Factory at four years old in Los Angeles, California. The five stories they wrote were written to help educate and reinforce self-image and self-worth values for children.

       Philip and Sandi turned the stories into a musical fairytale. Sacha & The Magic Cookie Maker premiered January 12th, 2001 at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater with the first published book Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker and other short stories. Philip and Sandi strongly believe,  If children are taught the power of their individual POSITIVE MENTAL AT- TITUDE (PMA) or I AM self-image psychology it can have a positive impact on the rest of their lives. They also believe that theater and music can help to educate and build character.

      Dr. Deborah Levy, a Psychologist, who came to see the play at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater said,  “As a nationally, internationally, and locally renown private educator who has worked in the Flor- ida community for the past 30 years in teaching frustrated children to learn to read, this play (Sacha & The Magic Cooker Maker) is one of the most empowering literary pieces I have seen in decades. We need to encourage and empower our youth, and this play is a must for every child and adolescent.”

        Sandi directed six of the 9 theater productions of Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker. Co-Producing with his beloved creative partner Sandi Morais has been full of Joy, Happiness, LOVE and MAGIC. Philip and Sandi are thrilled to re-published their 20 year Anniversary edition of Sacha and the Magic Cookie Maker and other Short Stories with fun, music and activities for children ages 3-9.

        Philip Michael Thomas - ~ On a more personal note;
“I am so grateful to my Eternal God Omnipo- tent Teacher, my Beloved Father and Mother Mrs. Lula Mc Morris Thomas (The real Magic Good-Moth- er) and the Mc Morris Thomas African and Native American Ancestors! They are the Roots and Legacy that continue to bless our Family.  I respect the wisdom of all the Elders from Laurens, South Carolina, West Virginia and Columbus, Ohio. I honor and respect my uncles (Attorney Samuel Carter Mc Morris and Accountant Arthur Mc Morris) and my aunts (Dr. Eloise Mc Morris Anderson, Anna Mc Morris Ross and Esther Mc Morris Craig.) They are my beloved Earth Angels, Teachers and Guides.  They taught me, my brothers and sisters and our cousins to keep God first. Love is the answer and We CAN start where we are USE what we have and CAN CREATE what we want.  I pray that my grown children, grandchil- dren and children yet unborn will continue to be Keepers our History, Roots and Legacy.  We stand on the shoulders of GREAT ANCESTORS! We are All FAMILY.”

“YOU CAN BE A... DOC-TOR.. A LAWYER POET... EX-TRA-OR-DI-NAIRE USE POETIC DANCE RHYMES SING AND DANCE... LIKE YOU JUST DON’T CARE YOU CAN BE A ...SUPER STAR... HIS-TO-RIC... ED-U-CA-TOR I-CON-IC ... SUPER STAR... IN-SPI-RA-TION-AL REV-E-LA-TOR NEVER FORGET YOUR HIS-TO-RY NEVER FORGET YOUR PAST
THE MIND IS A... GREAT THING ... TO DEVELOP LOOK... THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS WHEN THE MAN OR WOMEN IN THE MIRROR IS SMILING BACK AT YOU
IT'S YOUR TIME YOUNG... SUPERSTAR
TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO”- (Lyrics from “SUPER STAR” Words and Music by Philip Michael Thomas /Sandi Morais & Diamond York).

          1964 thru 1967 Thomas studied the Bible with Pastor, Dr. William Larue Dillard, sang in the choir, and became a 15-year-old youth minister at Delman Heights Foursquare Gospel Pentecostal Church in San Bernardino, California. I give gratitude and praises for my beloved Master teachers and educators; Mr. Charles Seymour and his wife Madelyn, Rev. Ike, Maestro Jon Robertson and his wife Dr. Florence Bellande Robertson, Evan- gelist Dr. Daisy Richards, Charles Gordone (playwright, actor, director, educator,) Fannie Tatum Hawkins (Poet of “Within the Heart of a Woman and Prose for A Prince.) My Friend Musical Director Melton"Shakir" Mustafa Sr. (Jazz musician, educator, co-Arranger on the Sacha on Broadway score 2005,) and ALL the FAMILY and people who contribute and educate Philip Michael Thomas, Sr. from my birth until now. “When you dare to dream and pursue your dream with passion, all things are possible.”

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