Greetings! Our brother Bob Law and the Economic Withdrawal Group would like you to consider this message in the spirit of the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King: It is not how much you spend that demands respect. It is how well you control your spending that counts. It is when you refuse to spend that you influence corporate and political policy. Join the economic withdrawal movement. Don’t shop on Black Friday.
Also, congratulations to all the Black theater activists on the 43rd annual AUDELCO Awards (“the VIV”)!
THEATER
“The Color Purple,” now on Broadway, featuring Jennifer Hudson,Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. Visit colorpurple.com.
“The Hip Hop Nutcracker” returns to the United Palace (4140 Broadway at 175th Street). Opening night is Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m., with returning special guest Kurtis Blow, the “King of Rap.” The Saturday, Nov. 21 matinee at 2 p.m. benefits UPCA’s Performing Arts Academy. For tickets, call 866-811-4111 or visit www.unitedpalace.org/UPCA. For group sales, call 212-568-1157 or email mikef@unitedpalace.org.
In “Hamilton: An American Musical,” Lin-Manuel Miranda takes the stage as the unlikely Founding Father making his mark on a hungry, new nation at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com
“The Gin Game,” featuring James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson, at the John Golden Theater, 252 W. 45th St., running now through Oct. 31. For information, call 800-BROADWAY or visit broadway.com.
“Sistas” tells of the struggles, the joy and the triumphs of being Black and being a woman in America, Saturdays and Sundays, now through January 2016 at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th St., New York City. Call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
Tyler Perry’s “Madea on the Run,” Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21 at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit ticketmaster.com.
MUSIC
Stevie Wonder, in a historic, one-night-only event, presents “Songs in the Key of Life,” Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, Seventh Ave. and 32nd Street, New York City. For more information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit ticketmaster.com.
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com, ticketmaster.com.
Kem’s “Promise to Love Tour” with special guest star Tamar Braxton, Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m., the Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Penn Plaza, New York City. For information, call 212-465-6741 or visit ticketmaster.com.
B Mogul presents Ashanti, Friday, Nov. 27 at 11 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com, ticketmaster.com.
“Ladies Night Out” featuring Keith Sweat, Guy and Johnny Gill, Saturday, Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Road, Manshantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Erykah Badu, Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Hot 97 presents “Hot for the Holidays,” featuring Busta Rhymes and friends Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Sean Paul and Jeremih, Saturday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit prucenter.com.
“Monica: The Code Red Experience,” Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd St., New York City. For information, call 212-614-6932 or visit venue.thegramercytheatre.com.
“The Jacksons and The Commodores: A Motown Xmas,” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., NJPAC, One Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
“Christmas in the City” featuring New Edition, Tyrese, Jaheim, Monica and Patti LaBelle, Friday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit prucenter.com.
Bobby Brown, Saturday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com, ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Paul Mooney and Dick Gregory, Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com.
Mo’Nique, Bruce Bruce, Capone, Smokey, Tone X, Earthquake and Deja vu, Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, One Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Mo’Nique, Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m., the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Road, Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMMUNITY
Esteemed educator-activist Queen Mother Dr. Adelaide L. Hines Sanford’s 90th birthday celebration is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MIST Harlem, 46 W. 116th St. For ticket information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-adelaide-l-hines-sanfords-90th-birthday-celebration-tickets-18993837078.
The Board for the Education of People of African Ancestry will host a lecture by prolific writer and scholar Dr. Molefi K. Asante Sunday, Nov. 22. Asante, author of more than 70 books, will discuss his book “African Pyramids of Knowledges.” The lecture will be held at John Henrik Clarke House, 286 Convent Ave., Harlem, N.Y., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free but call 347-907-0629 to RSVP.
“We Fought Back,” with Charles and Inez Barron, Sunday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. at the CEMOTAP Center, 135-05 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone Park, Queens, N.Y.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. 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.
