Greetings! A highlight and “must see” as we move to the holiday season is “Harriet,” the biographical film about slave-turned-abolitionist Harriet Tubman. Directed by Kasi Lemmons—who wrote the screenplay with Gregory Allen Howard—it stars Cynthia Erivo as Tubman, with Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monáe in supporting roles with music by Terence Blanchard. Story by Gregory Allen Howard. In theatres now.
THEATER
“Fires in the Mirror” is a reimagining—with new performers and collaborators—of Anna Deavere Smith’s Drama Desk award winning groundbreaking response to a civil outbreak. The work reveals the underlying racial tensions in the nestled Brooklyn community of Crown Heights during the summer of 1991. This landmark play is launching Anna Deavere Smith’s Residency 1 at Signature…Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre. For more information, contact the Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd St., Manhattan; call: 212-244-7529 or visit www.info.comSignature+Theatre.
“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered SuicideWhen The Rainbow Is Enuf” The late legendary playwright/poet Ntozake Shange tells the amazing survival stories of seven women of color using poetry, song, and movement. Directed by Leah C Gardener, choreographed by Camille A Brown. Running now through Nov. 17. For more information, contact the Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette St (at Astor Place), Manhattan; call: 212-967-7555 or visit: www.publictheater.org.
“Slave Play” comes to Broadway. Written by Jeremy O. Harris, directed by two-time NAACP and OBIE Award winner Robert O’Hara. The Old South lives on at the MacGregor Plantation—nothing is as it seems, and yet everything is as it seems ripping apart history to shed new light on the nexus of race, gender, and sexuality in 21st-century. For more information, visit: www.slaveplaybroadway.com
“Porgy & Bess” One of America’s favorite operas returns to the Met for the first time in nearly 30 years. James Robinson’s stylish production premiered in London in 2018 transports audiences to Catfish Row on the Charleston waterfront, vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants. Now through Feb. 1, 2020 at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, Manhattan. For more information, visit: www.metopera.org/season/tickets/
“The Best Things In Life” playwright David Lamb; producer Jamillah Lamb (creators of “Platanos and Collard Greens”) are back with the hilarious, romantic, redemptive story of music’s biggest star who’s sold out to have it all, until an unwanted visit from the ancestors upends his world. Sat., Dec 7 at 8 p.m. For more information, contact Improv Asylum, 307 West 26th Street, Manhattan; call: 212-352-3101 or visit: wwwthebestaughs.com
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street, Manhattan. The ‘Queen of Rock n Roll,’ in performances now; official opening Nov. 7. Tony Award and Olivier Award nominee Adrienne Warren (“Shuffle Along”) is cast in the title role, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Tina at select performances Daniel J. Watts as Ike Turner. For information, visit: www.ticketmaster.com/lunt-fontanne- theatre-tickets-new-york/venue/24583
“Ain’t Too Proud” celebrates The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, written by three-time Obie Award winner Dominique Morisseau. The Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street, Manhattan. For information, call: 844-379-0370 or visit: www.secureboxoffice.com
MUSIC
Buddy Guy & Mavis Staples, Sun, Nov 10, 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For information, call 1-888-GO-NJPAC or visit www.njpac.org
Chaka Khan, Nov. 14, 8 pm, Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For information, call 1-888-GO-NJPAC
The Roots, Sat, Nov 16, 8pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For information, call 1-888-GO-NJPAC
Musiq Soulchild, Fri, Nov. 22, 8 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For information, visit www.njpac
Lalah Hathaway, Fri, Nov 15, 7:30 and 10pm, Sony Hall, 235 W 46th Street, Manhattan. For information, contact ticketmaster.com.
K. Michelle, Mon, Nov 18, 8pm, Sony Hall, 235 W 46th Street, Manhattan. For information, contact ticketmaster.com.
The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, will be gracing the stage Sat., Nov 23 with special guest Will Downing at Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn. For information, visit: www.kingstheatre.com/ Tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
KEM and Joe are “Home for the Holidays,” Thurs, Dec. 19, 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102. For information, call 1-888-GO-NJPAC.
TV/FILM
“Hitsville: The Making of Motown” a new documentary featuring Motown co founders-legends, Berry Gordy and Smoky Robinson with Motown greats and vintage footage. Showtime.
“Godfather of Harlem” Forrest Whitaker as notorious drug dealergangster Bumpy Johnson, takes on the mob over the Harlem drug trade, while giving back to the community and renewing a relationship with an old friend named Malcolm. Available on Epix.
“Smart and Classy” Arsenio Hall is back in standup mode in San Jose. Netflix
“Dolemite” Eddie Murphy’s brilliant tribute to actorcomedian and Black exploitation era filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore. Netflix
COMMUNITY
BE NYC is a new SBS initiative to work together with community leaders and aspiring and current entrepreneurs to co-design tailored programs to help more Black-owned businesses start and grow in NYC. To learn more visit www.nyc.gov/benyc
Join Commissioner Gregg Bishop and the NYC Department of Small Business Services at the upcoming BE NYC Tech Founders Forum to learn, network, and share your feedback in order to advance Black entrepreneurship across the five boroughs. Nov. 13, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. NYC Department of Small Business Services, 1 Liberty Plaza, 11th floor, Manhattan.
Listen to Imhotep Gary Byrd’s “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on WBLS-FM and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com, WLIB.com. IGB’s “Radio GBE” is heard Fridays 7p.m. to 9p.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.
