Greetings! A who’s who of celebrities have joined former First Lady Michelle Obama in a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote push. Launching earlier last month, the nonprofit effort, When We All Vote, is aiming to “spark a conversation about our rights and responsibilities in shaping our democracy.” The collection of famous celebrities includes actor, “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda; singer, model, “Hidden Figures” actress Janelle Monae; Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks; country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; and NBA star Chris Paul.
THEATER
“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” The Iconic Disco Diva Donna Summer comes to Broadway. The musical includes more than 20 well-known Summer hits. Starring Tony Award winner LaChanze, Anana Dubose and newcomer Storm Lever, who portray three different phases of her life and career. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. Call 212- 379-0370 or visit luntfontannetheatre.tickets.com.
“Little Rock,” written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. History called it heroism. They called it high school. The riveting true story of the Little Rock Nine, the first Black students to attend their city’s formerly segregated Little Rock Central High School three years after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Limited run through Sept. 8, 2018, at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, 18 Bleecker St., New York, N.Y. Visit littlerockplay.com or sheencenter.org.
“Class,” by author, playwright, educator, activist, attorney and media commentator Gloria J. Browne-Marshall. It’s life or death when an angry white student confronts his privileged Black professor. A one-night-only staged reading will take place on Thursday, August 16, at 7pm at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 524 W. 59 St., New York, N.Y. For ticket information, call 718-707-1253.
MUSIC
“Amateur Night at the Apollo,” every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. World famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem. Featuring WHCR DJs. Visit apollotheater.org.
70s Soul Jam, featuring the Stylistics, The Delfonics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Heatwave, Carl Carlton and Ray, Goodman & Brown, Saturday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Visit fordampitheater.com.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sunday, Aug. 5 at 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 1-888-gnojpac or visit www.njpac.org.
Boyz II Men, Sunday, Aug. 5, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, visit: ticketmaster.com.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour, Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m., PNC Bank Arts Center, Exit 116, Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Black Summer Night for Social Justice, featuring Maxwell, Fantasia and others, Saturday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m., Forest Hills Stadium, 1 Tennis Place, Forest Hills, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Anita Baker: Farewell Concert Series, Saturday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m., 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Smokey Robinson, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Saturday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., The Rooftop at Pier 17, 89 South St., New York, N.Y.
COMEDY
Tracy Morgan, Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Nyack Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Dr. A- 401, West Nyack, N.Y. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Eddie Griffin, Saturday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com.
FILM
“Whitney,” an in-depth look at the life and music of Whitney Houston. At select theaters. Visit www.imdb.com/title/tt5740866/.
BOOKS
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture announces that a “lost” chapter and manuscript of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” are returning home to Harlem at the Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd. (135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard), New York, N.Y. Visit www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg.
COMMUNITY
Second annual “Ode to the Black Fiddler” Music Festival. Free live string music—jazz, alternative, hip-hop, spiritual and classical—performed by professional musicians of color. Food, drinks, vendors, giveaways and more. Suitable for the entire family. Saturday Aug. 4 at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise Gallery, 439 W. 127th St. Donations suggested.
Harlem Week 2018—“Women Transforming the World: Past Present and Future.” Subtheme, “The Community Within the Community,” recognizing and celebrating the LGTBQ community.
Economic Development Day. Saluting Women: keynote speaker, White House correspondent April Ryan saluting “Women in Media.” Summer in the City. Family Festival. Uptown Saturday Night. Harlem Havana Kick-off /Afro-Cuban Musical Festival /ImageNation Film Festival. Harlem Summerstage/Jazzmobile. Friday Nights Out/5K Run and Health Walk. Visit harlemweek.com.
For Harlem is an inclusive annual event that celebrates Harlem’s youth, heritage and community. Monday Aug. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. Marcus Garvey Park and Richard Rodgers Amphitheater. Visit forharlem.nyc.
Tune in to 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly for “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 call 212-592-3279.