Entertainment

ABOVE PHOTO:  Patti LaBelle  (Photo: Featureflash / shutterstock) Gala Concert on November 15, 2016 to feature music legends Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced last week that Patti LaBelle and Gamble & Huff will receive the 2016 Marian Anderson Award at the annually anticipated Gala on November 15, 2016, at The Kimmel Center for the Performing…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Sonia Sanchez reading at Northern Virginia Community College 2013.  (Photo: slowking4) By Kharisma McIlwaine Recently the Arts Sanctuary hosted their 32nd Annual Celebration of Black Arts. The month-long celebration ended honoring legendary poet, activist, and professor Sonia Sanchez. An attentive crowd gathered at The African American Museum in Philadelphia  for a 90 minute…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Daveed Diggs, from left, winner of the award for featured actor in a musical for “Hamilton,” Cynthia Erivo, winner of he award for leading actress in a musical for “The Color Purple,” Philadelphia native Leslie Odom, Jr., winner of the award for leading actor in a musical for “Hamilton,” and Renee Elise Goldsberry,…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Kevin Willmott Interview with Kam Williams Kevin Willmott grew up in Junction City, Kansas and received his BA in Drama from Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. After graduation, he returned home and worked as a peace and civil rights activist, fighting for the rights of the poor, creating two Catholic Worker shelters for…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Steven Fisher There’s a power-broker convention coming to Philadelphia in July but it’s not the one you’re thinking of. Yes, the Democratic National Convention will be held in Philadelphia in late July, but so will the “Let Freedom SING!” Girlchoir National Convention (LFS! GNC), a six-day choral festival celebrating the beauty, recognizing the…

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By Tambay Obenson Shadow and Act TV One’s first-ever “Unsung” feature film, “Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story” broke record ratings on its premiere night (Sunday, June 12), the network announced this morning, delivering the #1 Original Movie in network history. The biopic, directed by Christine Swanson, stars Teyonah Parris in the title…

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By Ronald Blum associated press NEW YORK — James Taylor thought back four decades to his Carnegie Hall debut and said it was “the sort of cultural sign” that he had made it to a certain level of stardom. “We celebrated,” the singer-songwriter said. “That’s why I don’t remember it that well.” Taylor helped Carnegie…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Captain America’s Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Chris Evans at the Wizard World forum.  (Photo by Bill Z. Foster) By Denise Clay In movies like The Avengers, Loki, the God of Mischief is dressed in a green coat, an ornate brass headdress, and carries a scepter in his hand. He’s also, usually, male…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Sanaa Lathan Interview with Kam Williams Sanaa Lathan is a Tony Award-nominated actress (for A Raisin in the Sun) who delivers a striking presence and undeniable energy to each project she takes on. Sanaa was last seen on the big screen in the thriller The Perfect Guy, which finished first at the box…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Michael Jai White Interview with Curtis Caesar John shadow and act You know him from, well, everywhere, because that’s where Michael Jai White is, and will continue to be. The star of hit films like “Why Did I Get Married?,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” HBO’s “Tyson” biopic (his claim to fame), and of…

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