Greetings! As we opened our GBE Black Arts Month, Lloyd Williams and Voza Rivers of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce joined us, and Rivers set the stage for the month with what he and the Harlem Arts Alliance are calling “Art-ivism,” i.e., activism in the arts. We are sending out appreciation to all our artistically gifted ones this month but especially to those who choose to use their art to make a difference in the world. Onward to the “Art-ivists” among us!

Janet Jackson, John Legend, Janelle Monae, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, The Weeknd, Gov. Cuomo and thousands gathered on the Great Lawn, here in Central Park, for the 2018 Global Citizen Festival event. Despite a false alarm terror-scare, Global Citizens, standing for gender equality and education, took actions, with world leaders affecting the lives of 254 million people by the year 2030.

THEATER

“Once on This Island” is the story of a fearless peasant girl who takes a remarkable life journey for love. Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 W. 50th St., New York, N.Y. A Tony award winner. For more information, call 800-447-7400 or visit onceonthisisland.com.

“Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties” introduces five women named Betty who provoke each other to take a look in the mirror and face the people they didn’t know they could be. Featuring Chaunte Wayans of the famed Wayans family. MCC Theater at The Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St., New York, N.Y. Now through Oct. 7, For information, visit www.mcctheater.org.

“Smokey Joe’s Café,” an all new incarnation of the record-breaking Broadway hit, returns to New York City. Featuring 40 of the greatest soulful songs of the past century. Stage 42, formerly the Little Shubert Theatre, 422 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” brings the iconic disco diva, Donna Summer, 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 Summer’s life and career. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. Call 212-379-0370 or visit luntfontannetheatre.tickets.com.

MUSIC

“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.

Bruno Mars 24K Magic World Tour, Thursday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave. (at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue), Brooklyn, N.Y.

Leon Bridges: Good Thing Tour, Saturday, Oct. 6, 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.

An Evening with Wyclef Jean, Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

So So Def 25th Cultural Curren$y Tour, featuring Jermaine Dupri, Xscape, Anthony Hamilton, Jagged Edge, Da Brat and more, Thursday, Oct 18, at 7:30 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave. (at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue), Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud at 50! Saturday, Oct. 20, at 8 p.m., Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-531-5305 or visit ticketmaster.com.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour, Monday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call or visit Ticketmaster.com.

The Whispers, Saturday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m., Newark Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad St., Newark, N.J. For ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com.

Tyrese & Tamia, Friday, Oct. 26, at 8 p.m., Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. For ticket information, call 718-856-5464 or visit ticketmaster.com.

TV-FILM

Netflix presents “Quincy,” a new documentary (streaming now) written and directed by Quincy Jones’ actress daughter, Rashida Jones, and documentarian Alan Hicks. Check listings.

COMEDY

Tracy Morgan, Saturday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m., Uncas Ballroom, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

Shawn Wayans, Friday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Nyack Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Dr. A-401, West Nyack, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.

COMMUNITY

Watch and listen to Serena Williams singing a touching message for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Visit www.instagram.com/p/BoUJN25na2Y/?taken-by=serenawilliams.

The Fourth Madiba Humanitarian Awards: Celebrating the Legacy of Nelson Mandela will be at the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy., Brooklyn, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year would have been Madiba’s 100th birthday. The event honors Ruth E. Carter, the costume designer for the “Black Panther” movie, as well as James Shaw, who foiled the gunman at the Tennessee Waffle House. Visit brooklynmuseum.org.

See photography from around the world, including a Havana courtyard, a French Chateau and ruins in Panama, when Debi Jackson exhibits her works in the Sandy Bennett Art Gallery in the Bergen Performing Arts Center. Jackson is the former co-host of the top-rated “Sunday Classics” on WBLS with her legendary husband, the late Hal Jackson. All proceeds from the sales of her photography are donated to the Youth Development Foundation, Inc. The Sandy Bennett Gallery is on the mezzanine level of the Bergen PAC and is open to the public 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For information, call 201-816-8160. 

Tune in to 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly for Imhotep Gary Byrd’s “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 NextRadio. 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.