Greetings! Oscar night is coming in a month with “Black Panther” and “Green Book” earning multiple nominations, including Best Picture nods. Spike Lee has scored multiple nominations for Best Picture, Best Director and more from the Academy Awards for the first time in his amazing career for ‘BlacKkKlansman.” Regina King “If Beale Street Could Talk” and Mahershala Ali of “Green Book” both received Best Supporting Actor-Actress nominations.
THEATER
“M L: The King Years 7 to 34” Celebrating the living legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at 6 p.m. Featuring Michael Green as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Admission Required. 1199 SEIU Martin Luther King Labor Center, 310 West 43rd Street, Manhattan. For info or bookings: M. Green (646)488-9576 or shadesoftruththeatre.com@gmail.com. Visit: EventBrite.com
The annual “The Fire This Time Festival” returns for its 10th season at the Kraine Theater in the East Village. The two-week event, which celebrates the work of Black playwrights, features 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, Manhattan. Now through 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.info.
“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.kinkybootsthemsuical.com.
“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., Manhattan. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit www.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 www.apollotheater.org.
Will Downing, Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m., Sony Hall, 235 W 46th Street, Manhattan. For info call (212) 997-5123 or Visit: sonyhall.com.
Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, N.Y. 11590. For information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Toni Braxton with special guests SWV – “As Long as I Live Tour,” Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m., King’s Theater, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11226. For information, visit www.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 www.ticketmaster.com.
Anita Baker, Wednesday, Feb. 13, and Thursday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., Manhattan. For information, visit www.musichall-ny.com.
Boyz II Men, Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue, Manhattan. For information, visit www.musichall-ny.com.
DMS Productions presents a soulful “Pre Valentine’s Day Night of Jazz,” with a touch of R&B, featuring legendary jazz-funk master Roy Ayers & Friends. Special guest, the soulful Natasha Howard. Sunday, Feb. 10 at the City Winery, 155 Varick St., Manhattan. Hosted by Debi B and Dave of DMS.
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 us 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
Be there at the Apollo Open House 85th Anniversary Celebration “Say It Loud! We’re 85 and Proud!” Saturday, Feb. 2, from 2-6 p.m. Co-hosted by PBS/Thirteen’s “MetroFocus” reporter and host Jenna Flanagan and Apollo historian Billy Mitchell, whose memories and knowledge are so great that he’s known as “Mr. Apollo.” The afternoon will include discussions; film clips; Hip-hop, Jazz, Salsa, Spoken Word performances, and more. Free. Visit: www.apollotheater.org
In celebration of African American History Month, the National Writers Union presents “Writing While Black,” Wednesday, Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m., at 256 W. 38th St, 12th floor, Manhattan. Event features Amsterdam News writer Herb Boyd; New York Beacon scribe Yusef Salaam; Poet-in-Residence at Black Agenda Report Raymond Nat Turner; acclaimed labor writer and social justice advocate Bill Fletcher, Jr.; poet-educator JP Howard; and Eartha Watts-Hicks, award-winning author and marketing consultant. The event is free. RSVP: sheard2001@gmail.com
“No Matter What: Celebrating the Journey of Nana Camille Yarbrough” as an artist and cultural custodian. Performances by Ghail Rhodes Benjamin and Talivu Donna Cumberbatch, plus many, more. Special Guests: Pam Afrika, Bob law and Imhotep Gary Byrd. Live at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture-Langston Hughes Auditorium, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., Manhattan. Thursday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) An Ancestor House Production. Call:(212) 865-7460 or Visit: www.CamilleYarbroughNoMatterWhat2019.EventBrite.com
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.