Greetings! On the 100th anniversay of WWI, the Insitute of African American Affairs and NYU’s Department of History present a two-part WWI program featuring the Randy Weston African Rhythms Orchestra in concert, celebrating the music of James Reese Europe and the 369th Regiment, Sunday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
There will also be a roundtable discussion of the combat unit, the Harlems Rattlers Monday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 Laguardia Place (corner of Laguardia Place and Washington Square South).
For ticket information, call 888-611-8183 or visit nyuskirball.org/calendar. For the roundtable discussion, space is limited. Please RSVP by calling 212-998-4222. For more information, visit nyuaaa.org.
THEATER
Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre kicks off its 45th season with Karimah’s “Accept ‘Except’ LGBT NY,” a tale about gay rights from slavery to modern day, directed by Tony Award winner George Faison and performing at the Castillo Theatre, 543 W. 42nd St., now through Nov. 23, with opening night set for Nov. 6. Performances take place Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets can be ordered through www.castillo.org or by phone at 212-941-5800. Visit www.newfederaltheatre.com or call NFT at 212-353-1176.
“Self Made Man: The Frederick Douglass Story,” a new play written and performed by Phil Darius Wallace, has its world premiere off-Broadway at the ArcLight Theatre (152 W. 71st St.), beginning Tuesday, Nov. 18, with its opening set for Monday, Nov. 24. The journey takes the audience through Douglass’ life, dramatizing the heartbreak, humor, outrage and charisma embodied by the slave-turned-abolitionist leader. The production is adapted from the writings, speeches, letters and autobiographies of Douglass. Call 866-811-4111 or visit frederickdouglass
pla.com for more information.
Vy Higgensen’s musical “Alive! 55+ and Kickin’” is at the Dempsey Theater, 127 W. 127th St. in Harlem. For tickets and information, call 212-868-4444 or visit smarttix.com or www.mamafoundation.org.
“The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Changing Perceptions Theater and the Creative Collective have announced that Homage 3: Illmatic,” an original play by Shaun Neblett, will be performed Saturday, Nov. 22. The show takes place at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) at the Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd. at 135th Street. “Homage 3: Illmatic” comes out of the spirit of Nas’ debut album, arguably one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all times. For tickets and more information, visit:h3illmatic.com.
MUSIC
Mavis Staples, hailed as one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine, will perform a solo concert Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Alice Tully Hall in the fifth season of Lincoln Center’s “White Light Festival.” Visit lincolncenter.org.
Carnegie Hall’s series “Ubuntu: Music and Arts of South Africa” presents “Angelique Kidjo and Friends,” with special guests Ezra Koenig and Laura Mvula, and “Mama Africa: A Tribute to Miriam Makeba” Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.For tickets and information, visit the box office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, call 212-247-7800 or visit carnegiehall.org/southafrica.
Stevie Wonder is taking his landmark 1976 multiplatinum classic “Songs in the Key of Life” on the road. The legendary singer-songwriter-musician will launch his 11-city tour Nov. 6 at Madison Square Garden. Tickets can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets, on www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000, via the LiveNation app or www.livenation.com.
B.B. King Blues Club, located in the heart of Times Square, presents the star-studded 100th birthday celebration of the late, great Hal Jackson, creator of “Sunday Classics.” The event will feature Evelyn “Champagne” King, Mel’Sa Morgan, Cece Peniston, Alyson Williams and the Fred Mac Band, along with surprise special guests. The evening, hosted by Clay Berry and Debbie B of “Sunday Classics” on WBLS, is set for Monday, Nov. 10. Call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingsblues.com or wbls.com.
The Apollo Theater presents the induction of Apollo legend and jazz architect Louis Armstrong into its Apollo Walk of Fame in November, kicking off a special weekend of New Orleans jazz in Harlem, headlined by jazz impresario Irvin Mayfield (Nov. 7 and 8), while reggae superstar Maxi Priest joins “One Love: A Bob Marley Tribute Concert” Nov. 29.
Ginny’s Supper Club at Red Rooster Harlem proudly presents the legendary Bobbi Humphrey, the “First Lady of Flute,” in “Harlem River Drive Live” Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at 310 Lenox Ave. Reservations at can be made by calling 212-421-3821. Tickets are available at www.ticketfly.com.
Multiple Grammy winners Fantasia and Philip Bailey, along with Jose James, Jazzmeia Horn and the Grammy Award-winning Christian McBride Big Band, are set to appear at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center for the TD James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival, Thursday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. in Prudential Hall. For tickets, call 888-GO.NJPAC or 888-466-5722 or visit NJPAC.org.
COMMUNITY
An intimate panel discussion will take place featuring David Dinkins, the 106th mayor of New York City; Dr. Roscoe C Brown Jr., a Tuskegee Airman and president emeritus of Bronx Community College, moderated by R.L. Heureux Lewis-McCoy, P.h.D., Saturday, Nov. 15, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the City College of New York, 160 Convent Ave.
QSCAN is reaching out to the sickle cell community to complete a one-minute survey to improve follow-up, care and outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies. Participation is important to address patient needs and improve quality of life for all affected by sickle cell. Individuals can take the survey using the following link: surveymonkey.com/s/XZGCLRC.
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.