Greetings! Our GBE Black Media Month sadly notes the passing of the beloved Kimati Dinizulu. Dinizulu brilliantly represented the legacy of his father, the late, acclaimed Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu in celebration of African culture and the “talking power” of the drum as the earliest of communication technologies. Our condolences to his family and followers on their great loss.
THEATER
The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) (Producing Artistic Director Ty Jones) presents the Shakespeare classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Artistic Associate Justin Emeka, this summer in Harlem’s Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park (18 Mt. Morris Park West and 122nd Street). Opening night of the free play is on Saturday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances run through the end of July. For more informationz, contact cheryl@cherylduncanpr.com.
“Motown: The Musical,” directed by Charles Randolph Wright and with the book written by Berry Gordy Jr., features 2013 Tony nominee Valisia LeKae as Diana Ross and Tony nominee Charl Brown as Smokey Robinson. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St. (between Eighth Avenue and Broadway). For group sales, call 212-339-6262 or 800-432-7780; purchase regular tickets at www.ticketmaster.com and at www.motownthemusical.com.
“The Trip to Bountiful,” directed by Michael Wilson and featuring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Tony nominees Vanessa Williams and Condola Rashad and legendary three-time Emmy Award winner and 2013 Tony Award winner Cicely Tyson, is now playing at the Sondheim Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St. For more information or tickets, call 800-901-4092 or visit www.newyorkcitytheatre.com.
“Lucky Guy,” featuring 2013 Tony Award winner Courtney Vance and Hollywood icon Tom Hanks, is playing at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St. (between Eighth Avenue and Broadway). For more information, call 212-239-6200 or visit www.shubertorganization.com/theatres/broadhurst.asap.
MUSIC
New York City’s premier Brazilian music and arts festival Brasil Summerfest returns July 20-27 at several high-profile venues in Manhattan, including Central Park SummerStage, City Winery, Joe’s Pub, South Street Seaport, Nublu, Standard East, Brooklyn Public Library and more. On opening day (July 20) at Central Park SummerStage, the lineup will include the U.S. debut of the show-stopping performer Gaby Amarantos, touted as the “Brazilian Beyoncé.” More artists will be added soon. For more information, go to www.centralpark. com/guide/attractions/ summerstage.
R&B supergroup TGT is hitting the road and heading to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center this summer! Don’t miss Tank, Ginuwine and Tyrese live on July 20. Get your tickets at all Ticketmaster outlets, www.Ticketmaster.com or the NJPAC box office. For more information, visit www. wbls.com.
Newark’s Revered Lincoln Park Music Festival, a multi-day event, has occurred without safety incidents of any kind for eight years and has been a model of safe, family-friendly fun for the residents of Newark plus a growing number of regional and national guests. During the days of the festival (July 25 – 28), attendees can mix and mingle in the arts and crafts marketplace, enjoy food from scores of food vendors and learn more about getting in shape in the health and wellness pavilion. The first day of the festival will feature the Bernie Worrell Orchestra. (NJPAC’s Sounds of the City and the LPMF are co-presenting this FunkFest event.)
For jazz lovers, there will be a musical tribute to the legendary Wayne Shorter by Amiri Baraka’s New Arkestra, with an all-star lineup. For house music lovers, LPMF welcomes Terisa Griffin and Jihad Muhammad.
For lovers of gospel music, there will be Will Brown and Another Level, and Jules Bartholomew and JudaCamp.
For lovers of the golden era of hip-hop, Newark native Redman, Lords of the Underground and Black Thought of the Roots will be on deck.
The event takes place in Lincoln Park, located at 1035-1071 Broad Street, Newark, N.J. For information about the Lincoln Park Music Festival, call 973-242-4144 or visit www.lpccd.org/arts-culture/music-fest.
“Smooth Cruises” presents Najee on Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. on the Spirit of N.Y. at Pier 61. For more information, go to http://marqueeconcerts.com or www.wbls.com.
FILM
CEMOTAP presents the award-winning film “Mugabe: Villain or Hero” on Sunday, July 14 at 2 p.m. at the CEMOTAP Center, located at 135-05 Rockaway Boulevard, South Ozone Park, Queens, N.Y. Admission is free, but space is limited. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.
COMMUNITY
Auditions for “Amateur Night at the Apollo” will be held in Philadelphia on Saturday, July 27 and in New York City on Saturday, Aug. 3 for gospel talent. “Apollo Live” music experts Doug E. Fresh and Michael Bivins, “Apollo Live” producers and Amateur Night producer Marion J. Caffey will screen hundreds of vocalists, dancers, comedians, spoken word artists and others trying to win a coveted spot on the Apollo stage. For more information, call 212-531-5334 or visit www.apollotheater.org or www.BET.com/Apollo.
The 15th annual Dr. John Henrik Clarke Tribute, “Failure is Not an Option,” will take place Sunday, July 28 at 2 p.m. Participants include Imhotep Gary Byrd and Lisa Noble, Adelaide Sanford, Councilman Charles Barron, Assemblywoman Inez Barron, the Rev. Herbert Oliver, Nana Camille Yarbrough, Newark City Councilman Ras Baraka, Sister Betty Dopson, Brother Bernard Gassaway and more! It will take place at the Boys & Girls High School, 1700 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Admission is free.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM daily with “Imhotep’s On-Air Guide to Black Events” and “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., and on WLIB-AM with “The GBE Mind Flight,” Sunday evenings from 9 p.m. to midnight. The full show can be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: The “Global Black Experience” and “Global Beat Experience,” Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. We are archived online with both shows at www.wbai.org. To contact us, for bookings or to reach us about your event, email igbexp@gmail.com, find Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.