Greetings! I had the opportunity to attend a screening of “Marshall,” based on a true incident in the life of Thurgood Marshall, when he was a young lawyer, long before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. The film stars Chadwick Boseman (of James Brown “Get on Up” and Jackie Robinson “42” fame) as Marshall. The film sets the stage for a full-blown biography. It is directed by Reginald Hudlin and scheduled for release October 13, 2017.
THEATER
“Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” now in its eighth year off-Broadway. St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues. For more information, call 212-246-8140 or visit telecharge.com.
“Sistas: The Musical,” St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues, running through January 2018. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
MUSIC
An Intimate Evening with Al B. Sure, Friday, June 30, 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.
Lionel Ritchie, Saturday, July 1, 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.
Boyz II Men: The Total Package Tour, Sunday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 973-757-6600 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Boyz II Men: The Total Package Tour, Thursday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m., Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, call 860-862-TIXX (8499) or visit ticketmaster.com.
Boyz II Men: The Total Package Tour, Friday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m., The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Ruben Studdard, Saturday, July 8, 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.
Jill Scott, Wednesday, July 12, at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, call 718-856-5464 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Jill Scott, Thursday, July 13, 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.
Jill Scott, Saturday, July 15, at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888- 466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths & Third World, Saturday, July 15, at 9 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths & Third World, Saturday, July 22, at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
John Legend, Thursday, July 27, 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.
Diana Ross, Sunday, July 30, at 7 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.
Fantasia and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Friday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Dru Hill, Thursday, Aug. 8, at 7:30 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.
Lionel Richie: All the Hits, with very special guest Mariah Carey, Friday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. 07102. For information call 973-757-6600 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Mary Jane Blige: Strength of a Woman Tour, Friday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
David Alan Greer, Thursday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, at 7:30 and 10 p.m., Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, New York, N.Y. For information, call 845-353-5400 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Marlon Wayans, Friday, July 7, and Saturday, July 8, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Sunday, July 9, at 7 p.m., Nyack Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Dr. A-401, West Nyack, N.Y. For information, call 845-353-5400 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Dave Chappelle, Tuesday, Aug. 1, through Saturday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m., Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-247-4777 or visit ticketmaster.com.
COMMUNITY
The theme for the 46th annual IAA-Festival, which takes place Saturday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 4, is “LONGER” (pronounced “longeh”), from the Douala people of the Cameroon, meaning “Greatness.” For tickets and other information call 718-638-6700, contact the office by email at info@iaafestival.org or visit www.iaafestival.org.
The New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations in conjunction with the 46th annual International African Arts Festival hosts its 28th annual Symposium on Culture, Community and Struggle, Saturday, July 1, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some of the confirmed speakers will be community economic developers such as former Assemblyman Roger Green and UNIA-ACL President Michael R. Duncan, with special presentations from State Senator Kevin Parker and others. The keynote address will be given by art historian and curator, Dr. Rosalind Jeffries. Also, a film, “Kemtiyu,” will be shown on the life of intellectual scholar, historian and physicist Chiekh Anta Diop. For further information, call 718-789-3264 or email nakoinfogroup@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. Archived online at www.wbai.org. For bookings or to reach us about your GBEvent or for comments, email co-editor Nyerere Shannon @ nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.