Greetings!

Our April 2016 “Living in the Spirit” month began with a two-hour Radio GBE special over WBAI, commemorating the passing of two of our greatest civil rights spirit icons, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., April 4, 1968 and Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., April 4, 1972.

THEATER

“Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” a musical entertainment by Micki Grant, conceived by Vinnette Carroll and directed by Leslie Dockery. Described as “a cultural pulse-taking of the challenges facing the Black community in America,” it was the first Broadway musical written entirely by a woman, and the first Broadway production directed by a female African-American.The York Theatre Company, 619 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. For ticket information, call 866-811-4111.

“Eclipsed,” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress Danai 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 diaplay increasingly greater strength. Golden Theatre (252 W. 45th St.). For tickets and information, please visit: www.EclipsedBroadway.com.

“The Color Purple,” now on Broadway, featuring Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo and Danielle Brooks, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit colorpurple.com.

“Hamilton: An American Musical,” continues to captivate audiences at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St. For information. call 800-276-2392 or visit boxoffice.broadway.com.

“Sugar Ray,” a one-man show commemorating boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, starring Audelco winner Reginald L. Wilson, written and directed by theatrical legends Laurence Holder and Woodie King Jr. Dinner shows Feb. 25 through April 26 at New Harlem Besame, 2070 Adam Clayton Blvd. (124th Street and 7th Avenue ), legendary site of Sugar Ray Enterprises. For more information, call 646-863-2077, 646-261-5397 or 646-261-5334.

MUSIC

Diana Ross, Tuesday, April 12 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.

Ms. Lauren Hill, Friday, April 15 at 9 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com or ticketmaster.com.

Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden,

7th Avenue and 32nd Street, New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Mint Condition/Floetry, Thursday, April 21 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

Cameo, featuring Larry Blackmon, Saturday April 23 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42 St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com.

Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton, Thursday, April 28 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

Keith Sweat album release party, Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m., B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42 St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com.

Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton, Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m., Theater at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue and 32nd Street, New York, N.Y.. For information, call 212-465-MSG1 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

“I Love the 90s,” featuring Salt ‘n Peppa, Tone Loc, Coolio, All-4-One and Biz Markie, Friday, April 29 at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Kool & the Gang, Saturday April 30 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Grammy Park presents Ne-Yo, with Jasmine Sullivan, Thursday, May 5 at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com or ticketmaster.com.

The Whispers and The Manhattans, featuring Gerald Alston, Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m., St. George Theater, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y. For information, call 718-442-29009 or visit ticketmaster.com.

The Whispers, The Manhattans and Regina Belle, Saturday May 7 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information call 516-334-0800 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Smokey Robinson, Sunday May 8 at 7 p.m., Newark Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad Street Square, Newark, N.J.. For information call 973-643-8014 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Grammy Park presents Toni Braxton, Sunday, May 8 at 7 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit kingstheatre.com or ticketmaster.com.

Kool & the Gang, Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J. For information, call 201-227-1030 or visit ticketmaster.com.

COMEDY

J.B. Smoove, Friday, April 8 at The Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Nick Cannon, Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino,

39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Mike Epps, Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m., NYCB Theater at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, call 516-334-0800 or visit ticketmaster.com.

FILM

Stephan James as Jesse Owens in “Race,” www.focusfeatures,com/race. Check local listings.

COMMUNITY

Harlem Great Debate, “2016 Presidential Elections, Delivering the Black Vote, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, Our Choice?” Monday, April 11, 2016 at 6:30 p.m., Columbia University Law School, 435 W. 116th St. and Amsterdam Avenue, New York, N.Y. For information, call 718-398-1766.

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.