Greetings! We have moved into GBE Black Music Month 2015. Get ready for a month full of great performances.
THEATER
“Black Angels Over Tuskegee” is the story of six men embarking on a journey to become pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corp despite the overwhelming odds against them. Going beyond the headlines of the popular stories of the Tuskegee Airmen, it exposes the men who exhibited the courage to excel in spite of the overwhelming odds against them. St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 46th St. Saturdays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27 and Sunday, June 28 at 1 p.m. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com.
Grammy Award winner Brandy Norwood joins the cast as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago” (winner of six Tony Awards and a Grammy), a tale of greed, murder and show biz. Ambassador Theater, 219 W. 49th St. Now through June 21. For information, visit boxoffice.broadway.com or chicagothemusical.com.
“Sistas” tells of the struggles, the joy and the triumphs of being Black and being a woman in America, as told through the life of one woman and the women in her family. Moving from the days of Jim Crow to the present, the narrative is presented through songs like “Strange Fruit,” “Society’s Child” and “Taint Nobody’s Business,” right up to the present. Saturdays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27 at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th St., New York City. Call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
Adrian Williamson’s “My Grandmother Prayed for Me!,” the off-Broadway hit at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Limited engagement. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and adrianwilliamson.com.
The Apollo Theater and London’s Southbank Centre are presenting a four-day Women of the World festival with performances, talks, mentoring sessions, films and debates celebrating the formidable power of women June 11 to 14. Participants include Macy Gray, Iyanla Vanzant, Naomi Wolf and many others. WOW’s opening night is June 11 at 6:30 p.m. It will be a discussion with Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Toshi Reagon and Tashawn Reagon, three generations of extraordinary women who have used their artistry and scholarship to advance social change. Sign language interpreters will service this event. Visit apollotheater.org.
MUSIC
Gladys Knight and the Spinners at NYCB Theater at Westbury, Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m., 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight at Kings Theater, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. For ticket information, email boxoffice@kingstheater.com or call 800-745-3000.
“The Forever Charlie Tour” with Kem, featuring Joe, Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For ticket information, call 860-862-8489 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Hot 97 Summer Jam, Sunday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m., featuring Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown, TreySongz, Big Sean, Fabolous, Meek Mill, Ty Dolla Sign, Omarion and Childish Gambino, at MetLife Stadium, 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, N.J. For information, call 201-559-1515 or visit metlifestadium.com.
Jill Scott, Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. at the NJPAC, One Center St., Newark, N.J. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com or call 888-GO-NJPAC.
Jill Scott, Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theater, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford, Conn. For information, visit ticketmaster.com or call 844-854-1450.
Jill Scott, Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23 at 8 p.m., Kings Theater, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit kingstheater.com or ticketmaster.com.
R. Kelly, Thursday, July 16, Friday, July 17 and Sunday, July 19 at 8 p.m. at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Foxwoods Resort and Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-369-9663 or visit Foxwoods.com.
R. Kelly, Saturday, July 18, at 8 p.m. at the Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6000 or visit prucenter.com.
Sunday Gospel Brunch, featuring the world famous Harlem Gospel Choir and an all-you-can-eat buffet at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com.
COMEDY
Wanda Sykes, Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, at 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J. For tickets, call 609-317-1000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Chris Tucker, Saturday, June 13, at 8 p.m., at Foxwoods Resort & Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-369-9663 or visit Foxwoods.com.
Kevin Hart’s “What Not?” tour, Tuesday, July 7 at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, New York City. For ticket information, call 800-628-1430 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Kevin Hart’s “What Not?” tour, Thursday, July 9 at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For ticket information, call 917-336-9048 or visit centerbrooklyn.com.
Kevin Hart’s “What Not?” tour, Saturday, July 11 at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6000 or visit centernewark.com.
COMMUNITY
Meeting an Emergency Need presents “An Important Public Forum Bridging the Gap Between Church and Community,” Saturday,June 6 at 10 a.m. Join with members of the faith community and members of the activist community in the pursuit of justice and equality. Bob Law, Pastor Kevin Jones, the Juvenile Justice Project, Pastor T.J. Williams, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America Pastor David Wright and the New York Fellowship Choir at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ. 10 E. 130th St., Harlem, N.Y.
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.
