Branice McKenzie News

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) concludes its live, in-person Main Stage season with the musical Crowns by Regina Taylor, adapted from the book “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre concludes its live, in-person Main Stage season with the musical Crowns by Regina Taylor, adapted from the book “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats” by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Directed by Kimberly Ridgeway, with music direction by Branice McKenzie and choreography by Jennifer Frazier, Crowns plays for 15 performances from April 15-May 15.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) today announced plans to reopen the theatre to live in-person performances as its 62nd season begins October 1.

San Francisco North Bay theater artists gathered Monday night at 3 Disciples Brewing in downtown Santa Rosa for the Fourth Annual Marquee Theater Journalists Association Awards. Eighteen awards were given to local theatre artists and productions whose nominations were culled from the sixty-eight Sonoma County productions attended by members from September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2019.

The San Francisco North Bay's Marquee Theater Journalists Association has released the list of nominees for its 4th Annual MTJA Awards. The Association recognized the exemplary work of Sonoma County theater artists with nominations in eighteen categories that were culled from the sixty-eight productions attended by MTJA members. Recipients will be announced at the 2019 MTJA Awards - A Celebration of Sonoma County Theater which will be held October 14th at 3 Disciples Brewing in downtown Santa Rosa.

Audiences will have another chance to celebrate the life of the trailblazing entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte with artists who knew him well, as the uplifting  and dynamic concert "Turn the World Around: The Music and Legacy of Harry Belafonte" returns to Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m.  Presented by City College of the Arts (CCCA), the musical tribute on the icon's 92nd birthday will feature songs from the Belafonte songbook performed by members of the Belafonte Alumni Group, a collection of artists who have performed with the star for decades. Vocalists Ty Stephens and Branice McKenzie as well as keyboardist and longtime Belafonte musical director Richard Cummings Jr. will be among the performers.

On Nov. 19, 2018, the 46th Annual Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre were held at Tribeca Performing Arts Center. On Kentucky Avenue, a new original musical created by Jeree Wade and written by Adam Wade and Ty Stephens, was nominated for 10 AUDELCO Awards, taking home a total of six, the highest number of wins for the evening, including for "Best Musical."

Historic Club Harlem will roar back to life as City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) presents a special three-week return engagement of On Kentucky Avenue: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Famed Club Harlem at Aaron Davis Hall in New York beginning on Thursday, July 12. The show, which thrilled audiences when it premiered at Aaron Davis Hall in 2016, offers viewers a glimpse inside the celebrated nightclub that was the center of nightlife in Atlantic City's segregated Northside beginning in the 1930s. On Kentucky Avenue: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Famed Club Harlem was created by Jeree Wade, written by Adam Wade and Ty Stephens, and directed by Lee Summers.

The work and life of legendary artist and activist Harry Belafonte will be celebrated during a concert at Aaron Davis Hall on Thursday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. "Turn the World Around: The Music and Legacy of Harry Belafonte" will present audiences with a special evening of songs and stories in honor of and on the icon's 91st birthday.

Celebrate summer in New York City in July at the hugely entertaining On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City, Club Harlem Musical at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street, 2nd Floor) with 7pm shows on July 11, July 12, July 13, July 14 & July 15 and a 2pm show on July 15.

Celebrate summer in New York City in July at the hugely entertaining On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City, Club Harlem Musical at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street, 2nd Floor) with 7pm shows on July 11, July 12, July 13, July 14 & July 15 and a 2pm show on July 15.

Get ready for an inspiring, joyful, heartfelt evening from the music stage of one of the most beloved legends of our time. The performing family of Harry Belafonte is coming together to celebrate this pivotal birthday and to reflect on life on the road with Harry. Join us for a special and rare evening of a loving celebration concert in appreciation of what it is to be an artist, a humanitarian, an activist for human dignity and justice.

Back by popular demand, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Historic Club Harlem returns to City College's performing arts center Aaron Davis Hall tonight, February 19, for a three-day encore engagement. The show, which shines a red-hot spotlight on a little-known piece of Black history, is presented by the City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) and Byron and Sylvia Lewis. An audience favorite, last February, the production was created by Jeree Wade and directed and written by Adam Wade with Ty Stephens. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Back by popular demand, On Kentucky Avenue: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Historic Club Harlem returns to City College's performing arts center Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, February 19, for a three-day encore engagement. The show, which shines a red-hot spotlight on a little-known piece of Black history and a famed club that came out of the segregation era, is presented by the City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) and Byron and Sylvia Lewis. An audience favorite, last February, the production was created by Jeree Wade and directed and written by Adam Wade with Ty Stephens.

Today, January 16th at 2pm, Sunday, January 17th and Monday, January 18th at 7pm, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue returns to The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street.

On Saturday January 16th at 2pm, Sunday, January 17th and Monday, January 18th at 7pm, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue returns to The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street.

Back by popular demand, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Historic Club Harlem returns to City College's performing arts center Aaron Davis Hall on Friday, February 19, for a three-day encore engagement. The show, which shines a red-hot spotlight on a little-known piece of Black history, is presented by the City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) and Byron and Sylvia Lewis. An audience favorite, last February, the production was created by Jeree Wade and directed and written by Adam Wade with Ty Stephens. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

The critically acclaimed musical revue On Kentucky Avenue: A Celebration of Atlantic City's Club Harlem, starring Tony nominee Brenda Braxton and recording artists Ty Stephens and Rosalind Brown, will return to its original theatrical home, Stage 72/The Triad (158 West 72nd Street), for one performance only on Sunday, August 23, at 7 PM.

The Triad will host an encore performance of ON KENTUCKY AVENUE: THE ATLANTIC CITY CLUB HARLEM REVUE on Sunday, August 23rd at 7pm at The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street.

On Tuesdays, today, December 2nd and 9th, Wednesday December 3rd @ 7pm, The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical 'Club Harlem.' Club Harlem was an Atlantic City venue, which hosted all 'the greats' such as Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and many more.