Greetings! The Queen of Soul is dead! Long live the Queen! Millions of fans, celebrities and superstars around the world are in mourning and celebration of Soul Sister No. 1, Aretha Franklin, who passed Thursday Aug.16. Our “Radio GBE” and “Express Yourself” broadcasts were blessed to be joined by classic soul legend Chuck Jackson, urban soul diva Alison Williams and esteemed theatrical event producer and VP of Harlem week Voza Rivers. Another Motown legend, our own Herb Boyd, author of “Black Detroit: A Peoples History of Self Determination” took us into the world of Detroit royalty and shared powerful insights into the amazing generosity of Miss Franklin. We also got to play some of her last CD, called “A Brand New Me,” featuring a fully orchestrated remixed version of her classic anthem, “Respect,” and other brilliant Aretha classics.
THEATER
“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” The Iconic Disco Diva Donna Summer comes to Broadway. The musical includes more than 20 well-known Summer hits. Starring Tony Award winner LaChanze, Anana Dubose and newcomer Storm Lever, who portray three different phases of her life and career. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. Call 212-379-0370 or visit luntfontannetheatre.tickets.com.
“Little Rock,” written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. History called it heroism. They called it high school. The riveting true story of the Little Rock Nine, the first Black students to attend their city’s formerly segregated Little Rock Central High School three years after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Limited run through Sept. 8, 2018, at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, 18 Bleecker St., New York, N.Y. Visit littlerockplay.com or sheencenter.org.
MUSIC
City Parks presents SummerStage and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Admission is free. For more information, visit cityparksfoundation.org/plan-summerstage-visit/.
“Amateur Night at the Apollo,” every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. World famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem. Featuring WHCR DJs. Visit apollotheater.org.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Smokey Robinson, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Saturday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., The Rooftop at Pier 17, 89 South St., New York, N.Y.
Circle of Sisters R&B live show. See Bell Biv Devoe, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike, Tamia, Brandy, Dru Hill, Stokley of Mint Condition and 702. Sept. 30, Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster or the Prudential Center box office.
KEM, with special guest Marsha Ambrosius, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
The Memory Lane Tour, featuring R. Kelly and Tank, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m., Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue at 32nd Street, New York, N.Y.
Bell Biv DeVoe and Bobby Brown, Friday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
FILM
“Whitney,” an in-depth look at the life and music of Whitney Houston. At select theaters.
“BlacKkKlansman,” an incredible true story. A Spike Lee Joint. In theaters Aug. 10. Check listings.
“King of Stage,” the story of New Federal Theatre’s Woodie King Jr. will be screened Thursday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m., at Nuyorican Poets Café, 236 E. Third St., between Avenue B and Avenue C. For tickets, visit nuyorican.org or kingofstage.info.
COMEDY
Tracy Morgan, Saturday Sept.1 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Nyack Levity, 4210 Palisades Center, Dr A-401, West Nyack, N.Y. For ticket information, visit:ticketmaster.com.
Leslie Jones, Wednesday, Sept. 5, through Saturday, Sept. 8, at Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, New York, N.Y. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Trevor Noah, Friday Sept.7 at 7 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. Visit ticketmaster.com.
EXHIBITIONS
The elegance and intelligence of former First Lady Michelle Obama is on view at Harlem’s Dwyer Cultural Center through Aug. 26 in a dramatic dot mosaic portrait created by artist Lennox Commissiong. The portrait is part Commisiong’s “Wizard Hands” exhibition, which also showcases dynamic portraits of cultural legends such as Tupac Shakur, Bob Marley, Muhammad Ali and Thelonius Monk. The exhibition is on view throughout Harlem Week at the Dwyer Cultural Center, 258 St. Nicholas Ave., Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. By appointment at thedwyccc@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY
Harlem Week 2018—“Women Transforming the World: Past Present and Future.” Subtheme, “The Community Within the Community,” recognizing and celebrating the LGTBQ community.
Still to come: Summer in the City, Family Festival, Uptown Saturday Night, Harlem SummerStage/Jazzmobile at Grant’s Tomb, Friday Nights Out/5K Run, Children’s Run and Health Walk, Restaurant Week in Harlem, Sunday Gospel Services, International Art Exhibit. Call 877-427-5364, visit iloveny.com/HarlemWeek or visit harlemweek.com.
Two modern day female warriors, Judge Nichelle Johnson Muhammad, acting chief of staff at the Corporate Counsels Office in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. and Dr. Tyrene Wright, professor at Medgar Evers College, author and activist, will grace the stage at CEMOTAP Center, 135-05 Rockaway Blvd., Queens, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. to tackle the topic, “Ignored and Overlooked: Black Women’s Heroism Throughout History.” The public is invited. Admission is free.
The International African Arts Festival (IAAFestival), in conjunction with the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO), will host a slide show and lecture with Dr. Christopher Williams, entitled, “Africans in China,” Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Restoration Plaza, 1360 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N.Y., at the IAAFestival office, Room 401. Space is limited, so please RSVP. A suggested minimum donation is requested. For more information, call 718-789-3264 or 718-638-6700. Visit www.iaafestival.org.
Tune in to 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly for “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, nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or call 212-592-3279.