Greetings! Welcome to May 2015, GBE African Liberation Month.

It is with deep sorrow that we begin this month with the xenophobia gripping parts of Africa, pitting Africans against Africans. Africa unite!

It is also Arthritis Awareness Month, Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, Hepatitis Awareness Month, National Cancer Research Month, National High Blood Pressure Education Month, National Lupus Awareness Month, National Mental Health Month, National Stoke Awareness Month and Vision Health Month. Join us as we “Make a Difference in Life Experience.”

THEATER

“ Autumn,” by brilliant playwright, screenwriter and NYU professor Richard Wesley, tells the story of Franklyn Longley, a veteran big city mayor in line to become the first Black governor of his state, at Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J., through Sunday, May 3. For ticket information, call 732-545-8100 or visit www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org.

“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.

“Kinky Boots,” featuring 2013 Tony Award winner Billy Porter, is at the Al Hirschfield Theatre, 302 W. 45th St. Visit broadway.com/ shows/kinky-boots.

“Aladdin,” featuring James Monroe Iglehart, the 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actor, as the uniquely modern genie, is now playing at the New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St. Visit broadway.com/shows/aladdin-broadway.

Smash Hits LLC presents America’s most beloved inspirational musical, Adrian Williamson’s “My Grandmother Prayed for Me!,” the off-Broadway hit at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Limited engagement. Opening May 5 with previews May 1 through May 3. It’s hilarious, dramatic and uplifting! Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and adrianwilliamson.com.

“Baby Hold On to Me,” inspired by the music of Gerald Levert, starring Eddie Levert at Newark Symphony Hall, Friday and Saturday, May 29 and May 30 at 7 p.m., 1030 Broad St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-643-8014 or visit ticketmaster.com.

MUSIC

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., presents Sheila E. Friday, May 1 at 8 p.m. and Erica Campbell of Mary Mary. Saturday, May 2, Kool and the Gang. Thursday, May 14 or call 212-997-4144. For information, visit bbkingblues.com.

An evening with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds at Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J., Thursday, May 7. For information, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 201-227-1030.

The Whispers and Stephanie Mills appear at NYCB Theatre at Westbury, Friday, May 8 at 8 p.m. 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-247-5200.

The mighty O’Jays appear Saturday, May 9 at 9 p.m. at Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com or email boxoffice@kingstheatre.com.

McDonald’s Gospelfest 2015 “When the Choir Meets the Quarter,” featuring Hezekiah Walker and the Blind Boys of Alabama, Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. The Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For ticket information, call 800-745-3000 or 866-448-7649 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Toni Braxton and El DeBarge, Sunday, May 10 at 7 p.m. Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6000 or visit www.prucenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Whispers, Newark Symphony Hall, Sunday, May 10 at 8 p.m., Newark, N.J. For ticket information, call 973-643-8014 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Kool and the Gang appear Saturday, May 16 at Resorts Atlantic City, Atlantic City, N.J. For ticket information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Earth, Wind and Fire appear at Mohegan Sun Arena, One Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, May 21 at 8 p.m. For information, visit ticketmaster.com or call 800-515-2171.

The Stylistics, Heatwave, Rose Royce, Peaches and Herb, and Three Degrees reminisce 1970s style Saturday night May 30 at 8 p.m. at NYCB Theatre, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. Call 516-334-0800. For ticket information, visit www.marqueeconcerts.com.

DANCE

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day) at 3 p.m. For information, visit njpac.org or ticketmaster.com or call 800-GO-NJPAC, One Center St., Newark, N.J.

FAMILY

The UniverSoul Circus is back. For tickets and the full schedule of New York City locations, visit ticketmaster.com.

COMEDY

Comedienne and TV actress Wanda Sykes is coming! Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m., State Theatre, 151 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. For ticket information, call 732-246-7469 or visit www.StateTheatreNJ.org.

COMMUNITY

The Men’s Ministry of Brooklyn’s Historic First Church of God in Christ will present the third annual Mary McLeod Bethune Light of Our Life Award, created by the Central Brooklyn Leadership Council and the First Church Men’s Ministry to honor the extraordinary women in both the church and community. The banquet, held Sunday, May 10 at 2 p.m., will feature music by contemporary gospel saxophonist Craig Crawford and poetry by local talent Octavia Jackson, will be held in Bishops Banquet Hall at the First Church of God in Christ, 221 Kingston Ave., Brooklyn N.Y.

Urban Arts Festival’s “Pack the Palace” celebrates the academic and artistic achievements of New York City youth, presented by the Urban Arts partnership and co-hosted by School District 6, Wednesday, May 13, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at United Palace, 4140 Broadway in New York City. For information, visit packthepalace.splashthat.com to reserve your seat. Open to the public.

Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190A.M. 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. Both shows are archived online at www.wbai.org. To contact us for bookings or to reach us about your event or for comments, email igbexp@gmail.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.