Greetings! Welcome to our GBE “Living in the Spirit” month.
THEATER
“Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” a musical entertainment by Micki Grant, conceived by Vinnette Carroll and directed by Leslie Dockery. Described as “a cultural pulse-taking of the challenges facing the Black community in America,” it was the first Broadway musical written entirely by a woman, and the first Broadway production directed by a female African-American. The York Theatre Company, 619 Lexington Ave., NYC. For ticket information, call 866-811-4111.
“Eclipsed,” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress Danai Gurira, directed by South African Liesl Tommy, featuring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, tells the tale of five unique women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. They develop a community that inspires them to display increasingly greater strength. Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., NYC. For tickets and information, please visit www.EclipsedBroadway.com.
“The Color Purple” now on Broadway, featuring Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., NYC. For information, visit colorpurple.com.
“Hamilton: An American Musical,” continues to captivate audiences at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St., NYC. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com
“Sugar Ray,” a one man show commemorating boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, starring Audelco winner Reginald L Wilson, written and directed by theatrical legends Laurence Holder and Woodie King Jr. Dinner shows, Feb. 25 – April 10 at New Harlem Besame, 2070 Adam Clayton Blvd., NYC, legendary site of Sugar Ray Enterprises. For more information call 646-863-2077, 646-261-5397 or 646-261-5334.
MUSIC
Diana Ross’ “In the Name of Love Tour,” Thursday March 31 at 8 p.m., State Theater, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. For information, call 732-246-7469 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Patti LaBelle, Friday, April 1 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.livenation.com.
Diana Ross, Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m., St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y. For information, call 718-442-2900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Lauryn Hill, Friday, April 15 at 9 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, NYC. For information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Mint Condition and Floetry, Thursday, April 21 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call (888) 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Cameo featuring Larry Blackmon, Saturday April 23 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., NYC. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit: bbkingblues.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton, Thursday, April 28 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Keith Sweat, album release party, Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m., B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd Street, NYC. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton, Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m., Theater at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, NYC. For information call 212-465-MSG1 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Kool and the Gang, Saturday, April 30 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit wwwticketmaster.com.
The Whispers and The Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston, Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m., St. George Theater, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y. For information call 718-442-29009 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
The Whispers, The Manhattans and Regina Belle, Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Smokey Robinson, Sunday, May 8 at 7 p.m., Newark Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad Street Square, Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-643-8014 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Sinbad, Saturday April 2 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
J.B. Smoove, Friday, April 8 at The Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information call 800-200-2882 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Nick Cannon, Saturday April 9 at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit www.ticketmaster.com
Mike Epps, Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
FILM
Stephan James as Jesse Owens in “Race,” www.focusfeatures.com/race. Check local listings.
COMMUNITY
The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, will present a conversation with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad on the topic of “Writing Race, Embracing Difference.” This event takes place Sunday, April 3 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Center at Medgar Evers College, Edison O. Jackson Auditorium, 1638 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, N.Y. and is free and open to the public.
People’s Organization for Progress, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Rally and March, Observance of the 48th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday. April 4 at 4:30 p.m., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument, Corner of 13th Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-801-0001.
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. Both shows are archived online at www.wbai.org. To contact us for bookings or to reach us about your event or for comments, email igbexp@gmail.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.