Greetings! Our July 2014 GBE Black Media Month opens up with news and congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, a longtime civil rights activist and member of the historic and only recently exonerated “Wilmington 10,” who has been named interim president-CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
We are also sending out congrats to Dr. Leonard Jeffries, who has been named International executive director of Malcolm X’s still functional Organization of Afro-American Unity. The official announcement was made on my “GBE Mind Flight” broadcast over 1190 WLIB and WLIB.com Sunday night by OAAU Vice President professor James Smalls.
On a sadder note, our condolences go out to Angelo Ellerby of the veteran media relations firm Double EXXposure, who lost his mother, mentor and manager, the late Eva Leak Ellerby, as well as the family of Jersey City, N.J.-born Walter Dean Myers, a famed children’s author and youth advocate who also recently passed.
Theater
“After Midnight” celebrates Harlem’s golden age and the timeless songs of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Harold Arlen, all woven around the prose of Langston Hughes, and featuring the legendary Patti LaBelle. The music is by select Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. Fourth St. For information, call 212-719-4099 or visit brooksatkinsontheatre.com.
Tyler Perry presents “Hell Hath No Fury, Like A Woman Scorned” coming to the Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway (between 74th and 75th streets) in October 2014. Box Office: 212-465-6500
From the producers of “Best Kept Secret,” “The Dwelling Place” is a production where nothing is at it seems. With lives in the balance and heavy consequences, it will make you laugh and cry. Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre, 2033 Fifth Ave., between 124th and 125th streets.
“Holler If Ya Hear Me,” directed by Kenny Leon (“Fences,” “A Raisin in the Sun”), is a musical inspired by the late rapper Tupac Shakur’s music and lyrics. It’s now playing at the Palace Theatre. The cast will be led by performance artist, poet and musician Saul Williams. For more information or tickets, call 212-730-8200 or visit palacetheatreonbroadway.com.
“Aladdin,” featuring Tony Award winner James Monroe Igleheart as the uniquely modern Genie, is playing now at the New Amsterdam Theatre, located at 214 W. 42nd St. Visitbroadway.com.
“Motown: The Musical,” with book by Berry Gordy Jr., 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.
“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” a tribute to jazz legend Billie Holiday, features 2014 and multi-Tony Award winner Audra McDonald channeling Holiday’s classic moods and melodies, now through Aug. 10 at Circle in the Square Theater, 1633 Broadway. Call 212-239-6200 or visit ladydayonbroadway.com for more information.
Music
Smooth Cruises presents Grammy-nominated saxophonist Najee at Pier 40 (Houston Street at West Side Highway) on Thursday, July 10 at 6:30 p.m. Cruises depart promptly at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For information, visit marqueeconcerts.com.
The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival’s 10th anniversary is set to take place through Saturday, July 12, featuring Raekwon, DJ Rob Swift and more. Hosted by Uncle Ralph McDaniels and Tora at 50 Kent Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Visit bkhiphopfestival.com for more information.
The Blue Note presents the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band now through July 13; the Wallace Roney Quintet with Lenny White and Buster Williams plus a special guest July 24-27; and Harvey Mason Chameleon July 28-30. The Blue Note is located at 131 W. Third St. Call 212-475-8592 or visit bluenotejazz.com.
The Aaron Neville Duo performs July 13, Aug. 1, 8 and 17 at City Winery, 155 Varick St. Call 212-608-0555 or visit citywinery.com.
B.B. King’s presents the Original Wailers Thursday, July 10, with opening act Rebel. B.B. King’s is located at 127 west 42nd St. in Manhattan. Coming soon: Kenny Latimore, July 13; Rahaan Paterson, July 19; and Alexander O’Neal, July 26. Call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingsblues.com.
Anthony Hamilton performs at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Wed., July 16 at 8 p.m. with special guest Keke Wyatt at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and thetheatrewestbury.com.
Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn presents the brilliant John Legend on Aug. 6. Early tickets are a must.Visit centerbrooklyn.com for more information.
Film
“Vote: It Aint Illegal Yet,” directed by Nelson George, at Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell through August 2014. Visit BRICartsmedia.org or follow @celebratebrooklyn on Twitter.
Comedy
The Wayans are coming! The Wayans brothers bring their outragous humor to the New Jersey Performing Art Center’s Prudential Hall, One Center St., Newark, N.J., on Aug 1. Visit njpac.org for more information.
Community
Celebrate Dr. John Henrik Clark’s legacy of excellent scholarship, nation building, cultural exposition, research and teaching. Dr. Adelaide Sanford (founder of the Dr. John Henrik Clarke House), attorney Gloria Brown Marshall, Dr. Leonard Jeffries and others help keep Clarke’s great work alive at the 16th annual tribute.
The event will be held on Sunday, July 20 at 3 p.m. at the Church of Gethsemane, located at 1012 Eighth Ave. in Brooklyn. Members of the Board for the Education of People of African Ancestry, an educational institution housed at the Dr. Clarke House in Manhattan, invite all who were inspired by Clarke’s work to join in the celebration of the life of one of the African world’s most important scholars. Call 347-907-0629 for more information.
The People’s Organization for Progress will host its 47th annual observance of the anniversary of the epic Newark Rebellion on Saturday, July 12 at the Newark Rebellion Monument, located at Springfield Avenue between 15th Avenue and Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark ,at 1 p.m. This anniversary is the first to take place since the death of Amiri Baraka, whose savage beating by the police made the Newark Rebellion an international story. It is also the first to take place with his son, Ras Baraka, as mayor.
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.
