Greetings! With the backdrop of Women’s History Month, the Academy Awards 2018 saw a trifecta of amazing Black women—Mary J. Blige, Dee Rees and Octavia Spencer—nominated and, although they didn’t win, make Oscar history. Filmmaker Jordan Peele became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for best original screenplay for “Get Out.” Peele was also nominated for Best Director and “Get Out” was nominated for Best Picture. Retired NBA legend Kobe Bryant won an Oscar for his animated short film “Dear Basketball,” an animated version of a poem Bryant wrote about his love for basketball, produced by his production company, Kobe Studios.
THEATER
“Chicago,” the Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical recently celebrating its 21st anniversary on Broadway welcomes legendary singer-songwriter Valerie Simpson, making her Broadway debut in the role of Matron “Mama” Morton, starting Monday, March 12, at the Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St. For show information and tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
“The Wiz” is an Afro-futuristic funky musical take on L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” winner of seven Tony Awards in 1975, including Best Musical. Embark on this “Oz-some” adventure, featuring Bad Boy recording artist Robert Curry of Day26 as the Tin Man. Part of the New York Black Arts Festival. Saturday, March 31, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Auditorium at Columbia-Secondary Schools, 425 W. 123rd St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit newyorkblackartsfestival.org.
“Sistas: The Musical,” St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St. (between Eighth and Ninth avenues), New York, N.Y. Now through June 24, 2018. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
“Subway Story (A shooting),” final installment of the GUNPLAYS series, written and directed by Electric Black. Theater for The New City, 155 First Ave. (at 10th Street). For information, visit theaterforthenewcity.net.
MUSIC
The Temptations & the Four Tops, Friday, March 9, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y.
Nina and Me, Friday, March 9, at 8 p.m. Ledisi celebrates Nina Simone live one night only at the Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Jeffrey Osborne, Saturday, March 17, at 8 p.m., The Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn.
Brandy, Friday, March 23, at 9 p.m., B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y.
Brandy, Friday, March 24, at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn.
Aretha Franklin, Sunday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J.
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly, Thursday, March 29, at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y.
COMEDY
D.L. Hughley, Friday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., Saturday, March 17, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Sunday, March 18, at 7 p.m., Nyack Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Dr. A-401, West Nyack, N.Y.
TV
PBS TV American Masters documentary “Lorraine Hansberry: “Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” explores the inner life and works of the activist, playwright and author of “A Raisin in the Sun.” Visit pbs.org.
“Winnie” explores the life of Winnie Madikizela Mandela, one of the most misunderstood and intriguing of contemporary female political figures. Tuesday, March 27, 2018, PBS.
FILM
“Black Panther,” starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker. Boseman stars as T’Challa, who takes over as the king of Wakanda after his father T’Chaka is killed, as shown in “Captain America: Civil War.” Check local listings.
“Color of Water,” featuring Academy Award winner and Golden Globe Nominee Octavia Spencer. Check local listings.
COMMUNITY
March is National MS Education and Awareness Month, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. For information, call 888-MS-FOCUS (673-6287) or visit msfocus.org. Contact awareness@msfocus.org.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Central Brooklyn Leadership Council and the Men’s Ministry of Historic First Church of God in Christ invites you to an important and timely discussion: “Recognizing the Dignity and Power of Black Women,” moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jeanette Evans Copeland and national radio personality Bob Law, Saturday, March 10, 2018, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Join us at Historic First Church of God in Christ, 221 Kingston Ave., Brooklyn N.Y. This free public forum is presented in association with the Women’s Ministry of Historic First Church.
The 14th National Black Writer’s Conference returns to Medgar Evers College, CUNY. This year’s theme is “Gathering at the Waters: Healing, Legacy and Activism in Black Literature.” Thursday, March 22, to Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Central Brooklyn. This year the honorees are Colson Whitehead, Kwame Dawes, David Levering Lewis, Susan L. Taylor, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due and Eugene B. Redmond. Locally, regionally and nationally celebrated writers, scholars, literary professionals, students and the community-at-large will convene over four days to examine the state of literature produced by Black writers, to listen to writers read from their works, to attend a variety of informative workshops and to fellowship with other supporters of Black literature. For general information and registration call 718-804-8883 or visit centerforliterature.org.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com.,WLIB.com and iHeartRadio. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: “The Global Black Experience” and “The Global Beat Experience,” Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Archived online at www.wbai.org. For bookings or to reach us about your GBEvent or for comments, email co-editor Nyerere, nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.