Greetings! The legendary Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gladys Knight is scheduled to perform the national anthem (“The Star Spangled Banner”) at this year’s Super Bowl 2019, between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams in Atlanta, Sunday, Feb. 3. The performance is not without controversy because several artists have refused to perform at the NFL’s worldwide event in protest and solidarity with the kneeling protests inspired by Colin Kaepernick. The worldwide telecast will be carried by the CBS Television Network.
The upcoming 2019 Grammy Awards, “Music’s Biggest Night,” returns to the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles Sunday, Feb. 10, broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m., EST. The event will be hosted by brilliant 15-time Grammy-winning artist-songwriter Alisha Keys.
THEATER
The annual The Fire This Time Festival returns for its 10th season at the Kraine Theater in East Village. The two-week event, which celebrates the work of Black playwrights, is featuring eight writers this year, the most the festival has seen, according to its founder and producer Kelley Girod. To honor the milestone anniversary, organizers will celebrate it with a panel discussion on pertinent current issues and all the stories to come out of the festival. Kraine Theater, 85 E. Fourth St. at Second Avenue. Now through Jan. 26 at 7 p.m., Jan. 27 at 3 p.m., Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., Feb. 2 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. Call 212-777-6088 or visit www.horsetrade for information.
“American Son,” a gripping tale about who we are as a nation and how we deal with family relationships, love, loss and identity. Starring Kerry Washington (“Scandal,” “Race”) and Steven Pasquale. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Show runs 90 minutes with no intermission. Call 212-239-6200 or visit www.americanson.com or telecharge.com.
“The Lion King.” Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. Visit minskofftheatre.box-officetickets.com.
“Kinky Boots the Musical.” Al Hirschfield Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. Visit www.kinkybootsth emsuical.com.
“By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” by Lynn Nottage. Directed by Kamillah Forbes, until Jan. 24 at the Signature Theatre, Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd St. Call 212-244 7529 or visit www.signaturetehatre.org.
“The Artivist: The Bayard Rustin Story,” a solo show telling the story and life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin through speeches, songs, monologues, letters and documentary footage. Written-directed by Carla Alleyne. Jan. 24 until Feb. 17. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., East Village Playhouse, 340 East Sixth St., New York, N.Y., home of the CityKids Foundation.
“Choir Boy,” by Alvin McCraney, Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Moonlight.” A talented student has been waiting for years to take his rightful place as the leader of a legendary Gospel choir. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key? Now through Feb. 24. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., New York, N.Y. (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com.
MUSIC
“Amateur Night at the Apollo,” every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. World famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem, N.Y. For information, visit apollotheater.org.
Wu Tang Clan, Saturday, Jan. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m., Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Brian McKnight, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m., Sony Hall, 235 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit Ticketmaster.com.
Toni Braxton, with special guests Kenny Edmonds and SWV, Friday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Anita Baker, Wednesday, Feb. 13, and Thursday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m., Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., New York, N.Y. For information, visit musichall-ny.com.
Boyz II Men, Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m., Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y. For information, visit musichall-ny.com.
DANCE
“Life of a Legend: Carmen de Lavallade,” Thursday and Friday, Jan. 24, and Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. The Appel Room at Lincoln Center celebrates de Lavallade’s love of both dance and jazz, revisiting some of the iconic dance work she performed with jazz musicians. Visit lincolncenter.org/venue/ the-appel-room.
FILM
“If Beale Street Could Talk” is about a woman in Harlem who desperately scrambles to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime while carrying their first child. Directed by and written for film by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins. Based on the book by James Baldwin. Check theaters.
“Creed II” rediscovers what makes a champion in the first place and reminds that no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history, with Michael B. Jordan, Dolph Lundgren, Sylvester Stallone and Phylicia Rashad. Check theaters.
COMMUNITY
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz’s “State of the Borough” Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 at 10:30 a.m., LaGuardia Community College, Mainstage Theater, 31-10 Thomson Ave. in Long Island City. RSVP at queensbp.org/rsvp or call 718-2862661
The Committee for the Elimination of Media Offensive to Black People presents a community forum “Community Cops: Countering Police Brutality & Terror,” featuring Brother Michael Grays and Father Lawrence Lucas, co-hosts of the TV program “Community Cops,” Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m., CEMOTAP Center,135-05 Rockaway Blvd., South Ozone Park, N.Y.
The Partisan Defense Committee presents its 33rd annual holiday appeal, “Free All Class-War Prisoners! Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!” PDC fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 26, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, Parish Hall, 131 E. 10th St., New York, N.Y. (Entrance on 11th Street near Second Avenue.) Telephone 212-406-4252, contact partisandefense@earthlink.net or visit partisandefense.org.
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’s “Beat Experience” is heard 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.