Greetings! “Black Detroit—A People’s History of Self-Determination,” the 25th book by ace AmNews reporter and City College of New York adjunct professor, Herb Boyd, is a finalist for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the nonfiction category. The winner will be announced Jan. 14 in Los Angeles.
THEATER
“Dorothy Dandridge: Hollywood’s Sepia Goddess,” the story of groundbreaking African-American silver screen star Dandridge (“Carmen Jones”), is Robert Mitchell’s biographical musical, starring N’Kenge, who played Mary Wells in Broadway’s “Motown the Musical.” Jerry Foley directs the three-performance run, presented as part of Amas Musical Theatre’s series “Dare to Be Different.” A.R.T./New York Theatres, 502 W. 53rd St. (at 10th Avenue), Thursday, Dec. 7, to Friday, Dec. 8. For information, call 212-352-3101 or visit amasmusical.org.
“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
K. Michelle, Thursday, Dec. 7, at 11 p.m., Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Fantasia, Monday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m., Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16 St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
The World Famous Apollo presents “Live Wire—How I Got Over: The Spirit of Gospel Music” (Sunday, Dec. 10); Fantasia “Christmas After Midnight” (Wednesday Dec.13), starring Grammy Award-winning singer Fantasia Barrino; and “Holiday Joy: A Gospel Celebration” (Saturday, Dec. 16), featuring Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Greater Allen Cathedral Choir. For information, visit apollotheater.org.
Carnegie Hall presents “Sing Along: The Music of Stevie Wonder,” Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m., Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. For information, visit carnegiehall.org.
Christmas with Aaron Neville, Friday, Dec. 15, at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Fantasia, Christmas After Midnight, Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m., Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125 St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-531-5305 or visit ticketmaster.com.
The Roots, Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 7 p.m., The Wellmont Theater, 5 Seymour St., Montclair, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Thursday, Dec. 28, 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.
The Final 40th Anniversary Saturday Night Fever Concert, featuring Tavares, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and more, Saturday, Dec. 30, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Charlie Wilson, Sunday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Ja Rule, Thursday, Jan. 4, at 9 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 in concert, Friday, Jan. 12, at 8 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
The Spinners, with special guests Heatwave, Sunday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m., St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island, N.Y.
DANCE
An Evening with Savion Glover, Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
“The Hip-Hop Nutcracker,” featuring Kurtis Blow, Friday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 888-466-5722 or visit njpac.org.
COMEDY
Trevor Noah, Friday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m., Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. For information, visit http://radiocitymusichall.box-officetickets.com.
TV
“Showtime at the Apollo: Christmas,” Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. on FOX. Host Steve Harvey presents top musical acts with their favorite Christmas songs, including Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, Fifth Harmony and DMX, as well as some up-and-coming hopefuls.
FILM
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is back in another iconic character portrayal in the film “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” Available at selected theaters. Check your local Listings.
“Last Flag Flying,” starring Laurence Fishburne, is a film about three Vietnam War veterans taking an unexpected trip to accompany the coffin carrying the body of the slain Marine son of one of the friends to New Hampshire for burial. Check your local listings.
COMMUNITY
GebHetep Pre-Kwanzaa Extravaganza and Vendor Workshop, Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1344 Pacific St. Lower Level, Brooklyn, N.Y., from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Health and wellness therapy/children’s storytelling/Kwanzaa workshop/entertainment and more! For more information, call 718-501-6044.
Celebrate Kwanzaa in Queens, Saturday, Dec. 9, with the 22nd annual Kwanzaa Celebration at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, 100-01 Northern Blvd., Corona Queens. Begins at 11 a.m. All-day food, shopping and live performances, featuring author and performance artist, Nana Camille Yarbrough; Philadelphia’s African dance and drumming ensemble Kulu Mele; and former Def Jam/Columbia recording artist Alyson Williams, accompanied by the Nat Adderly Jr. Trio. Hosted by Dr. Bob Lee of WBLS-FM. For more information, call 718-651-1100 or visit queenslibrary.org.
Our 11th annual Kwanzaa Celebration: “Regeneration Night,” Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Apollo, honors the principles of Kwanzaa through music, dance and community celebration, featuring Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and French music duo Les Nubians. Hosted by yours truly, Imhotep Gary Byrd. For more information, visit apollotheater.org.
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,” Friday 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.