Greetings! Memorial Day 2016 marked the debut of the eight-hour remake of the iconic miniseries, “Roots.” The American slavery drama on the History Channel stars Forest Whitaker (“Last King of Scotland”), Anna Paquin (“True Blood”), Laurence Fishburne (“Black-ish”), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“The Tudors”) and Grammy winner Tip “T.I.” Harris. Filling out the cast is Anika Noni Rose, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Matthew Goode, Mekhi Phifer, James Purefoy, Regé-Jean Page and Malachi Kirby. The groundbreaking 1977 ABC miniseries, based on Alex Haley’s novel, won nine Emmy’s and shattered Nielsen ratings. LeVar Burton, who starred in the original miniseries, is co-executive producer.
THEATRE
“Shuffle Along,” now on Broadway starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, is a musical revival of the 1921 sensation featuring the original show’s music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, with choreography by Savion Glover. Music Box Theatre, 238 W. 45 St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit shufflealongbroadway.com.
“Turn Me Loose,” a new comedic drama by Gretchen Law tells the story of comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory. Currently in previews and opening Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St. Starring Tony Award nominee and Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner Joe Morton, best known for his portrayal of Rowan Pope on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal,” as Dick Gregory. The play also features an original song by John Legend. Tickets are now on sale via www.telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200. For more information, visit www.TurnMeLoosePlay.com.
“Eclipsed,” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress Danai Gurira, directed by South African Liesl Tommy and featuring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. Women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia, Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. For tickets and information, visit
EclipsedBroadway.com.
“The Color Purple,” now on Broadway, featuring Heather Headley, 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.
MUSIC
Hot 97 Summer Jam, Sunday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m., MetLife Stadium, One MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Beyoncé—The Formation Tour, Tuesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m., Citi Field, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
MusiqSoulchild/Lalah Hathaway/Raheem DeVaughn, Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888- 466-5722 or visit ww.njpac.org.
National MS Society Musical Moments for MS presents Aretha Franklin, Thursday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit ww.njpac.org.
“Bad/Dangerous/Invincible: Michael Jackson’s Epic Years,” Thursday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m., World Famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., New York, N.Y. Mark Anthony Neal, author and Duke University professor of Black Popular Culture, will take us behind the music for a look at Michael Jackson’s impact on music, culture and entertainment and his evolution in becoming one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Admission is free. RSVP required. Once you’ve registered online, you will receive an email confirmation. You must print out your email confirmation and bring it with you the evening of the event. Note: Entry is not guaranteed. For information, call 212-531-5300 or visit apollotheater.org.
Earth, Wind & Fire, Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m., Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, N.J. For information, call 732- 224-8778 or visit countbasietheatre.org or ticketmaster.com.
Boyz II Men, Sunday, June 19 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.
COMMUNITY
Participants from across the country come to New York City Saturday, June 4, to walk more than 16 miles from sunset until sunrise to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk. The walk begins at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum located at Pier 86, on the West Side of Manhattan at 12th Avenue and 46th Street, and continues throughout lower Manhattan. To register or donate for the Overnight Walk, please visit www.theovernight.org.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna invite you to get help acquiring your citizenship. Receive free assistance with your naturalization application. Persons who are serving or have served under specified conditions in the United States Armed Forces are granted certain exemptions from the general requirements of naturalization. June 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, 209 Joralemon St. For information and reservations, call 718- 802-3809 or visit Brooklyn-usa.org/citizenship.
Join Women in the Black at their 18th annual “Who’s the Boss” women’s conference Saturday, June 11 at 8 a.m. at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 W. 125th St. in Harlem. Visit wbls.com for information.
The Women of Proverbs 8 Council, Inc. and The World Yoga Community Inc. presents a Stop the Violence Conference/Banquet and Concert, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Thursday, June 16, to support the youth/community and commemorate the 40th anniversary of Soweto youth protest and massacre in South Africa in 1976. The event will feature an open discussion/conference with presenters and panelists on the increasing violence in families and the community at large at the International Inter-Faith Center, 4 W. 43rd St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Call 347-869-0523 or email Lahhwoods@hotmail.com.
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.
