Greetings! Summer has arrived and the International African Arts Festival is coming to Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Park, Friday July 1 through Monday July 4. This years theme is “Sisabalandela: We Are Still Following Them.” For general information, call 718-638-6700 or visit iaafestival.org. See COMMUNITY.

THEATER

“Shuffle Along,” on Broadway starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. “Shuffle Along” is a musical revival of the 1921 sensation featuring the show’s original music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, with choreography by Savion Glover. Music Box Theatre, 238 W. 45th Street, 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. At the Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St., until July 3. Starring Tony Award nominee, 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, 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,” a Tony winner, 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,” the multiple Tony Award winner, 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

The Temptations and the Four Tops, Friday, June 24 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.

Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents Al Jarreau at The Town Hall, Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m., 123 West 43rd St., New York, N.Y. For info call 212-997-6661 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Ziggy Marley Live! with Steel Pulse and Maxi Priest, Saturday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m., the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information visit ticketmaster.com

Blue Note Jazz Festival Presents Maxi Priest, June 30 at 8:30 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit: ticketmaster.com.

Mint Condition, Wednesday, July 6 through Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., State Theater, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J. For information, call 732-246-7469 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Maxwell, Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For ticket information, call 800-200-2882 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Lauryn Hill, Friday, July 8 at 9 p.m., Toyota Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Rd., Wallingford, Conn. For information, call 203-265-1501 or visit:livenation.com.

For The Love of Hip Hop Concert Series, Friday, July 8 at 11 p.m., featuring Kool G. Rap, Nice and Smooth, Brand Nubian, Lil’ Mo and Roxanne Shante, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. For information call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

Maxwell, Saturday, July 9 at 8 p.m., the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit: ticketmaster.com.

Ohio Players, Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit: ticketmaster.com.

Blackstreet, Saturday, July 16 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.

Stephanie Mills, Saturday, July 23 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.

Boyz II Men/En Vogue, Sunday, July 24 at NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit ww.njpac.org.

COMEDY

Jill Newman Productions Presents: The Legendary Dick Gregory Hosted by Joe Morton, Monday, June 27 at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.

COMMUNITY

The Maat Communiversity Dr. John Henrik Clarke-Dr. Ben Jochannan 10-week lecture series features more than 40 brilliant African-Americans every Thursday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., now through Aug. 18 at the Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood’s Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 212 Tompkins Ave., Brooklyn N.Y. For more information, call 302-465-3787 or visit www.mattcommuniversity.org.

The New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations in conjunction with the International African Arts Festival hosts its 27th annual Symposium on Culture, Community and Struggle, Saturday, July 2, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PS 287, located at 50 Navy St. in Brooklyn, N.Y. The symposium brings together outstanding scholars, intellectuals and activists to discuss, dialogue and come up with solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the global African community. An admission fee is required. For further information, please call 718-789-3264 or emailnakoinfogroup@yahoo.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.