Greetings! We open July GBE Black Media Month with the announcement of the Broadway return of the smash hit, “Motown the Musical.” The limited engagement begins performances Tuesday, July 12 at the Nederlander Theatre with a 33-member ensemble cast.

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Oscar-granting Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has led the academy in the first important step toward diversity by inviting 683 new members into the fold, announcing the academy’s plan to double the number of women and members from diverse backgrounds by 2020.

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. 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. At the Westside Theatre, 407 W.43rd St. Extended by popular demand to July 17. Starring Tony Award nominee, Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner Joe Morton, who plays Rowan Pope on the hit ABC drama, “Scandal,” as Dick Gregory.The play features an original song by John Legend. Tickets are on sale via www.telecharge.com or by phone at 212-239-6200. For more information, visit TurnMeLoosePlay.com.

“Eclipsed” written by Zimbabwean playwright and actress, Danai Gurira, directed by South African director 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 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

Mint Condition, Wednesday, July 6 through Friday, July 8 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.

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 St., 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.

New Edition and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Saturday, July at 8 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic, Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 917-618-6700 or visit barclayscenter.com.

New Edition, This One’s for You Tour, Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

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 7 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

Aretha Franklin, Friday, July 29 at 8 p.m., Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel, N.Y. For information, call 866-781-2922. To buy tickets, call 1-800-745-3000 or visit bethelwoodscenter.org.

COMEDY

Deray Davis, July 7 to July 10 at 7:30 p.m., with late shows July 8 and July 9 at 10 p.m., Caroline’s On Broadway, 1626 Broadway, New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

Chris Tucker Live, Saturday, July 30 at 8 p.m., NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.

COMMUNITY

Summer Stage Kick-Off, Family Fun Celebration, Thursday.July 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. through August at the Harlem State Office Building Plaza, with The People Plezzer DJ Mitch, DJ Enuff, DJ Spazzo and DJ Kool Red Alert.

The Maat Communiversity Dr. John Henrik Clarke-Dr. Ben Jochannon 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 mattcommuniversity.org.

King Simon presents a Numerology & Raw Food Health Sunday, July 10, featuring Lloyd Strayhorn and introducing Keirra Strayhorn and her new book with signing at Nicholas Brooklyn, 570 Fulton St. near Flatbush Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn. Doors open at 2 p.m. Event begins at 3 p.m. For information, call 347-496-1022 or visit: wordpress.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.