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)
love jones THE MUSICAL SET FOR NATIONAL TOUR THIS FALL
STAGE ADAPTATION CELEBRATES 20th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED '90s FILM
Starring Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild,
MC Lyte, Dave Hollister, Marsha Ambrosius,
Raheem Devaughn and More
NEW YORK, August 19, 2016 — love jones The Musical, a stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed 1997 love jones film, is scheduled to tour nationally this Fall/ Winter. The stage production will boast an all-star cast of R&B music’s biggest names including Chrisette Michele, Musiq Soulchild, Marsha Ambrosius, MC Lyte, Raheem Devaughn and Dave Hollister whowere all carefully selected to star in the must see musical event of the year. love jones The Musical will debut in Oklahoma City on September 9th.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the popular romantic comedy, the stage play takes the essence of the film and tells its story through music. Fusing chart-topping hits and fan favorite songs from the music artists, along with a few original songs, love jones The Musical, will be a transformative experience for the audience.
Produced by veteran theater producer Melvin Childs of Produced By Faith with stage play written by Timothy Allen Smith and directed by Zadia Ife, love jones The Musical tells the universal and timeless story of love, heartbreak and starting over. The film’s original writer and director, Theodore Witcher, serves as consulting producer.
“We are really excited about this opportunity to break new ground with this musical, as it relates to African American offerings in theater around the country,” says producer Melvin Childs. “Our team has created something truly special and sincerely hope to live up to the expectations of the fans of the iconic film love jones.”
love jones was originally released on March 14, 1997 and became a cult classic film that captured the hearts and imagination of an entire generation. The soundtrack was equally impressive with a blend of neo-soul and R&B hits that fueled the 90s. The film was written and directed by Theodore Witcher and tells the classic, yet gritty, love story of Darius Lovehall (an up & coming writer and self-proclaimed renaissance man) and Nina Mosley (an aspiring photographer). The film starred Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Isaiah Washington, Bill Bellamy and Lisa Nicole Carson.
Set in Chicago, Darius (Larenz Tate) and Nina (Nia Long) meet in a nightclub, where an unassuming open mic event quickly turns into an explosive spoken word give and take that leaves the audience speechless. From the moment they lay eyes on each other, Darius and Nina’s lives are turned upside down. Their mutual attraction is obvious, but they are both on the rebound from unfinished previous relationships and neither of them are ready for “the real thing.” As much and as hard as they try and fight it, neither of them can resist what is pulling them together. It’s a passion, an obsession…a ‘love jones’ that comes along once in a lifetime.
The film was considered one of the greatest cinematic love stories of the 90s and portrayed a side of black culture that was not reflected onscreen at a time when heavy drug and violent gang films populated the theaters.
Join the conversation and stay informed about love jones The Musical on social media using the hashtag #LoveJonesTheMusical and by following the musical on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @LoveJonesTheMusical.
