Twenty-seven years after it was first staged in Atlanta, Pearl Cleage's celebrated Harlem Renaissance era play Blues fror an Alabama Sky finally made its debut in Los Angeles last night, Wednesday, April 13, under the direction of that premiere production's original lead star, Phylicia Rashad. A number of notables from Hollywood were in attendance for the opening night performance at the Mark Taper Forum.
The Los Angeles premiere production of Blues fror an Alabama Sky is now playing at the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles through Sunday, May 8.
This afternoon, Thursday, March 24, the 15th annual EssenceBlack Women in Hollywood Awards luncheon took place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. As it has in previous editions, Essence, the only 100% Black-owned publication media company dedicated to Black women and communities, used the occasion to celebrate four notable Black female figures in entertainment: actress Aunjanue Ellis, who was saluted by her King Richard co-star and producer, Will Smith actress, producer, and director Nia Long, who received a warm tribute by her love jones leading man Larenz Tate; Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson, who was honored by Donald Glover; and actress Chanté Adams, most recently seen alongside Michael B. Jordan in Denzel Washington's A Journal for Jordan and on Broadway in Skeleton Crew, who received her award from her Roxanne Roxanne producer Mimi Valdés. Snowfall star Damson Idris served as the master of ceremonies for the event, which featured a live performance by Tank.
Aunjanue Ellis, Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew,
Demi Singleton, Will Smith
(video edited by Michael Dequina)
