Greetings! With the new year beginning, we wish a “Happy New You” to everyone as we all pursue our dreams and manifest our inner visions for 2014.
The Kwanzaa and Christmas season took an unexpected turn with the sudden death of legendary Pan-African cultural activist Brother John Watusi Branch, founder of the African Poetry Theatre in Jamaica, Queens. Our condolences go out to the Watusi family and supporters. Condolences to fellow Buffalonian the sultry “Sheila” of WBLS-FM, who lost her mom as we ended the year.
Condolences to all who lost loved ones or family in 2013.
THEATER
Ishmael Reed’s “The Final Version,” which sheds light on the African-American community and communism, is now playing at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, 236 E. Third St. It’s directed by and starring Rome Neal, with an awesome cast. Call 212-780-9386 or visit nuyorican.org org.
“After Midnight,” a new musical celebrating the glamour and exuberance of Harlem’s Golden Age and featuring the timeless songs of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Harold Arlen woven around the prose of Langston Hughes, is now playing. The production stars Grammy Award winner Fantasia and Emmy Award nominee Dulé Hill. The music is by select Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars, handpicked by multi-Grammy winner Wynton Marsalis. It’s now playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St. (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). For more information, call 817-502-2929 or visit aftermidnightbroadway.com.
“Motown: The Musical,” with book by Berry Gordy Jr. and featuring Felicia Boswell as Diana Ross, Tony nominee Charl Brown as Smokey Robinson and Brandon Dixon as Berry Gordy, is now playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St. (between Eighth Avenue and Broadway). For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com or motownthemusical.com.
“Platanos, Collard Greens & Callaloo”—that’s right, “callaloo!” This hilarious remix of the successful franchise brings the West Indian brethren in. It’s now playing at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave. (enter on 25th Street, between Lexington and Third avenues). Call TheaterMania at 212-352-3101, visit theatermania.com or visit plantanosandcollardgreens.com.
“Lady Day: The Billie Holiday Musical,” featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater and written and directed by Stephen Stahl, is now playing at the Little Shubert Theatre, 422 W. 42nd St. between Ninth and 10th avenues. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com or ladydaythemusical.com.
MUSIC
Live Nation is pleased to present Motown’s iconic Grammy winners, the Temptations and the Four Tops, in a special night of music at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale by phone at 800-745-3000, at the Westbury box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
“The Queen of Soul,” Grammy winner Aretha Franklin, will appear at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 18. Visit radiocity.musichall-ny.com.
FAMILY
“Mother Africa” (“Circus Der Sinne” from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) is playing now through Jan. 5 at the New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St. Visit newvictory.org.
The Big Apple Circus welcomes you to its all-new show, “Luminosity” playing now through Jan. 12 at Lincoln Center! Visit bigapplecircus.org.
FILM
“Long Walk to Freedom,” starring Idris Elba, depicts Nelson Mandela’s life story. It is out in theaters now. Check your local listings.
Oscar frontrunner “12 Years a Slave,” starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northrup, is now playing. Check your local listings.
COMMUNITY
The world-famous Apollo Theater will host two events to celebrate the 2014 Super Bowl in Harlem and pay tribute to Black History Month on Thursday, Jan. 30. The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, WBLS-FM and WLIB-AM will present a tribute to gospel music themed “Let the Music Say Amen.”
The concert, which will honor the music of Mahalia Jackson and Whitney Houston, will feature performances by gospel superstars Bishop Hezekiah Walker and pastor Marvin Sapp and will showcase the extraordinary Mass Gospel Choir from First Corinthian Baptist Church. The evening will include Black History Month award presentations to National Football League players and other selected sports, public, business and entertainment personalities who attended historically Black colleges and universities.
A special inaugural presentation of the Whitney Houston Living Legend Award will be announced. The evening’s not-for-profit beneficiaries are the New York state NAACP youth programs and the New York Road Runners’ Mighty Milers children’s health program.
The next evening, Friday, Jan. 31, will be themed “Friday Night in Harlem.” It will pay tribute to jazz legends Edward “Duke” Ellington and Charles Mingus with featured performances by the Mingus Quintet and the Manhattan School of Music Swing Jazz Orchestra, with special performances by Cecil Bridgewater and Arturo O’Farrill.
The second portion of the evening will feature an all-star band led by extraordinary contemporary jazz musicians Alex Bugnon, Victor Bailey, Lenny White and award-winning vocalist Regina Belle. The evening will also include Black History Month award presentations. A special inaugural presentation of the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Living Legend Award will be announced. The evening’s not-for-profit beneficiaries are the Manhattan School of Music Youth Summer Camp and the National Historic Black College Fair & Expo.
Tickets for these special events celebrating Black History Month are on sale now at Ticketmaster and the Apollo Theater box office. For tickets, call 800-745-3000 or 212-531-5355.
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.
