Greetings! “Eclipsed” makes history during Black History Month 2016 with the distinction of being the first show on Broadway being led by an all female cast-creative team and an entirely Black cast and creative team. The production also holds the distinction of being led by the only two African-American lead producers on Broadway, Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones Harvey. (See Theater.)
Speaking of extraordinary women, I am sending out waves of appreciation for the hospitality and love shown to yours truly by the members of the Nassau Long Island alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, who invited me to be the keynote speaker at their annual luncheon. The theme: “They Came For You, But We Were There.” As one of our ancestors on historic Princeville said, “It’s the people what makes the town.”
THEATER
“Eclipsed,” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress Dana Gurira, directed by South African Liesl Tommy and featuring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, tells the tale of five unique women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. They develop a community that inspires them to accomplish increasingly greater strength. Previews began Tuesday, Feb. 23, with opening night set for March 6 at the Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th St.). For tickets and information, please visit www.eclipsedbroadway.com.
Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker stars in Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie” (Tony Award winner). This is a strictly limited engagement. Visit telecharge.com or hughiebroadway.com or call 212- 239-6200.
“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.
In “Hamilton: An American Musical,” Lin-Manuel Miranda is the unlikely Founding Father at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information, call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.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 at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th St., New York City. Call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
MUSIC
Regina Belle, Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com.
Talib Kweli’s Blue Note residency, featuring a live band, Wednesday, March 2 and Thursday, March 3 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W. Third St., New York City. For information, call 212-475-8592 or visit www.bluenotejazz.com.
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.livenation.com.
Maysa, Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York City. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com.
Trey Songz, Saturday, March 5 at 11 p.m., Stage 48, 605 W. 48th St., New York City. For information, call 866-468-3399 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Ms. Lauren Hill, Sunday, March 6 at 8 p.m. at the Wellmont Theater, 5 Seymour St., Montclair, N.J. For information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
’70s Soul Jam featuring the Stylistics, the Dramatics, Bloodstone, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and the Main Ingredients, Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.livenation.com.
The Temptations and the Four Tops, Saturday, March 19 at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com.
Rhonda Ross, Tuesday, March 22 at 8:30 p.m., Iridium, 1650 Broadway, New York City. For information, call 866-468-3399 or visit www.ticketweb.com.
The Big Hits Throwback Festival featuring TLC, Shaggy, Ja Rule, Bobby Brown, Lisa Lisa, Naughty By Nature, C and C Music Factory and more, Saturday, March 26 at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit www.prucenter.com.
Diana Ross, Tuesday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m., St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y. For information, call 718-442-2900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Patti LaBelle, Friday, April 1 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit www.livenation.com.
Diana Ross, Tuesday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m., St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y. For information, call 718-442-2900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Mike Epps, Friday, March 11 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, One Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722.
FILM
Stephan James stars as Jesse Owens in “Race.” Visit www.focusfeatures.com/race for information and check local listings for showtimes.
“Concussion” features Will Smith as accomplished pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu as he uncovers the truth about brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play. Check your local listings for showtimes.
COMMUNITY
Dr. Marimba Ani visits the John Henrik Clarke House (286 Convent Ave., Harlem, N.Y.) Sunday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. to present a lecture on the work of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing. Admission is free. Also, take the opportunity to meet the new chairperson of BEPAA, Dr. Shelia Evans Tranumn. Call 347-907-0629 for more information.
Join the “Rise Up Black America Movement” and the Rev. Dennis Dillon, publisher and Black empowerment activist. At this action rally, Monday, Feb. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Freedom Hall Church, 629 Albany Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y., bringing Black History Month to a close. Discover Black America’s “Redemption Song,” the 12-step program to redeem, revive and retool Black America, strengthen Black media, empower Black banks and redeem Black neighborhoods. Call 718-638-6397.
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.
