(M) Black News

Geva Theatre Center presents Hair, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with musical direction by Don Kot, and choreography by Liz Ramos in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from September 4 through October 7.

On August 26, 1968, two weeks after releasing his civil rights anthem, 'Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud,' James Brown recorded his concert at Dallas, Texas' Memorial Auditorium. First released on CD in 1998, Brown's Say It Live and Loud: Live in Dallas 08.26.68 album will make its vinyl debut in an expanded 2LP 50 th Anniversary Edition, to be released October 12 by Republic/UMe. The album's new, expanded digital edition will be released on the same date.

The Apollo Theater today announced special guests and additional programming for Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud at 50, a one-night-only concert produced by the Apollo Theater and curated by musical director and multi-Grammy Award winner Christian McBride.

The Apollo Theater today announced that it will bring to its iconic stage two new performances that continue its commitment to articulating and projecting the African American narrative through arts and culture.  In October 2018, The Apollo will celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud," the Godfather of Soul James Brown's seminal Black Power anthem, with the premiere of Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud at 50 under the musical direction of six-time GRAMMY®- Award-winner Christian McBride.  In May of 2019, in a co-production between The Apollo, Baltimore Center Stage, and Mosaic Theater, Kelvin Roston Jr. will pay homage to Donny Hathaway in the New York premiere of the one man play Twisted Melodies.  Tickets for both productions will go on sale July 1st.

AbunDance Academy of the Arts, an established non-profit arts organization dedicated to offering children and adults affordable dance, theater, and musical instruction at all levels, presents a new work, "DREAM, AbunDantly!", a theatrical dance performance featuring students and seasoned Broadway artists on the same stage. Inspired by the hit movie "Dreamgirls," "DREAM, AbunDantly!" tells the story of four African American girls who follow their dreams to become top performers, while using their platform to champion the fight against racism: segregation, police brutality and cultural appropriation. An inspiring story expressed primarily through dance, song and live music, "DREAM, AbunDantly!," is a celebration of black women reaching across generations to achieve their dreams.

In the movie, 'FIELD OF DREAMS,' Annie Kinsella attacks a conservative member of the school board who wants to ban the writings of Terrance Mann with the line, 'I think if you had just experienced the Sixties ...'

In a dystopian South Africa, even the superheroes are dysfunctional. When friends, colleagues and family come together to mourn and remember slain Superhero Eskombuso, we find out more about them too. Confession Sessions is hilarious, moving, and scarily familiar; an original mockumetary-style theatre piece.

The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert will be held Saturday, May 28, at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles presented by Goldenvoice. It will be a retrospective of Keith's entire career from the Nice, to ELP, to the Keith Emerson Band and Three Fates Project. Many of the artists who were close friends and have worked with Keith will be performing some of his most famous works.

A gathering of Southern California authors and people who love books will enjoy the Beach-Bound Book Brunch on May 21st, 2016, starting at 11am at The Anchor, 235 Main Street, Venice, California.

Inspired by the oubliette inside Leap Castle, the famed most haunted castle in Ireland, and driven by historically accurate events, Oubliette-A Forgotten Little Place (Oubliette) by Vanta M. Black, is now available.

Dr. Maya Angelou sat down for an exclusive interview with her former student turned educator and MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry yesterday to talk about her life and accomplishments, the meaning of courage and the importance of education in forming one's identity. The interview, in two parts, can be viewed and embedded at the below links, and a transcript is also available. If used, kindly credit "Melissa Harris-Perry."

Lorenzo Lamas gets top billing as Zach in the 44th season opener at Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham. He is joined by a stellar cast of twenty-six young people vying for their place on the line. This is a worthy production in the annals of the groundbreaking 1975 Tony Award-winning Best Musical.

Inspired by true events that let to a 1969 race riot in author Monica Bauer's hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, 'My Occasion of Sin,' is a study on the power of music to unite and racism to destroy and is running at Urban Stages until April 15.