Monique News

SHOWTIME continues its month-long celebration of Black History Month with a new docu-comedy PHUNNY BUSINESS: A BLACK COMEDY chronicling the rise and fall of Chicago's All Jokes Aside, one of the preeminent comedy clubs in the country which gave early exposure to many of the nation's most important young comedians. For a decade, All Jokes Aside was the most influential Black comic showcase in America. With no comedy clubs booking minority acts on a regular basis at the time, the 300-seat venue in Chicago's South Loop filled a void by showcasing Black talent and entertaining Black audiences in an upscale setting.

In the span of just a few years, Tim Mosley transformed from a struggling teenager sleeping on an air mattress to a Grammy- winning artist known worldwide as Timbaland. Having collaborated with the likes of Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Madonna, Timbaland's music is as infectious as it is successful.

For more than a decade, the East Village's iconic Obscura Antiques & Oddities shop has been New York City's foremost destination for one-of-a-kind, bizarre - and often shocking - artifacts

In the span of just a few years, Tim Mosley transformed from a struggling teenager sleeping on an air mattress to a Grammy- winning artist known worldwide as Timbaland. Having collaborated with the likes of Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Madonna, Timbaland's music is as infectious as it is successful.

USA Network's Character Approved Blog (characterblog.com) has chosen Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch The Throne, the film The Tree Life, Spotify and Miss Piggy as some of the biggest cultural influencers, trends and ideas of 2011.

The Drama League has announced complete details for DirectorFest 2011, the 28th annual presentation of one-act plays staged by the Fall Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project (Roger Danforth, Artistic Director; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director).

For more than a decade, the East Village's iconic Obscura Antiques & Oddities shop has been New York City's foremost destination for one-of-a-kind, bizarre - and often shocking - artifacts

Over the past three years, the members of Brooklyn's ageless Life in a Blender have been skidding to their deaths-off a cliff-plunging into the deepest parts of their souls.

Beautiful Planning Marketing & PR Announces "The Reality of FASHION The Reality of AIDS" Celebrity Runway Show Details For World Aids Day. Young PR Firm Sets Fundraising Goals of $300,000 to Raise Awareness for Estimated 300,000 Americans Unaware They are Infected with HIV/AIDS.

The Drama League has announced complete details for DirectorFest 2011, the 28th annual presentation of one-act plays staged by the Fall Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project (Roger Danforth, Artistic Director; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director).

Carla Cook, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox have been cast in Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, opening November 18 at New York City Center.

Carla Cook, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox star in Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, which opened November 18 at New York City Center and Broadway Beat got an exclusive look at the show on stage!

History Theatre celebrates the holiday season with the regional premiere of an epic Christmas musical written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel. The show's director, Austene Van, describes A Civil War Christmas as a show that celebrates the joy of finding what has been lost, and the power of the holiday season to bring out the best, most generous parts of people and communities.

With Duke Ellington's music as the centerpiece, Cotton Club Parade reimagines one of the composer's Cotton Club floor shows. Ellington and his orchestra began a four-year residency at the Club in 1927 and continued making guest appearances throughout the 1930s. Legendary performers such as the Nicholas Brothers, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Snake Hips Tucker, Peg Leg Bates and a 16-year old Lena Horne all performed at the Club.

I don't think I'm giving away a major spoiler when I mention that toward the end of Thomas Bradshaw's Burning, there's a reference to one of the characters as having won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play.  I'm not sure I'd appreciate the honor if I was John Benjamin Hickey, as the character referred to is one of the sleazier ones in a play filled with sleaziness.

Carla Cook, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox have been cast in Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, opening November 18 at New York City Center.

In the 70's, Nigeria rose up and struck a new chord for justice with Afrobeat founder and political activist, Fela, as their controversial leader. The show, which opened last night at San Francisco's Curran Theatre, sways, plays and sings the political heart song of Nigeria through the life story of this musician turned activist, Fela Kuti. In its west coast premiere, the Tony-winning Broadway sensation packed a powerful opening night musical and political punch that was dynamic and experientially transformative. Everybody, please say "yeah yeah!"

An all-new Australian production of one of the most successful American Broadway musicals of all time, A CHORUS LINE is coming to the Festival Theatre, Adelaide in December 2011.

Last night, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue announced the recipients of the eighth annual awards from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF). Check out photos from the event below!

Carla Cook, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jared Grimes and Adriane Lenox have been cast in Duke Ellington's Cotton Club Parade, opening November 18 at New York City Center.