Entertainment

ABOVE PHOTO:  Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures’ “Concussion.” Interview with Kam Williams Born in Oxford in the United Kingdom, Gugu Mbatha-Raw trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Her first professional role was in an Open Air production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” as Celia. Following this,…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Artist Norman Lewis at the easel.  (Photo: Courtesy PAFA) By Natalie Pompilio Associated Press There are two questions Ruth Fine has heard repeatedly from visitors emerging from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts’ comprehensive retrospective of work by artist Norman Lewis. “Those who don’t know his work ask, ‘How is it possible we didn’t…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  The legendary Harlem Globetrotters’ Meadowlark Lemon prepares to put the moves on Washington Generals’ Tim Burkhart during their basketball game  in the 1970’s at Madison Square Garden in New York. Lemon, known as the Globetrotters’ “clown prince” of basketball, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 83. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews,…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  In this Jan. 17, 1996, file photo, Gladys Knight, center, William Guest, left, and Merald Knight take the stage as they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during ceremonies in New York. William Guest, a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, has died. He was 74. Guest’s daughter,…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Roger Ross Williams Interview with Kam Williams In 2010, Roger Ross Williams became the only African-American to win an Academy Award for directing and producing the documentary Music by Prudence. Three years later, he directed God Loves Uganda which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to enormous critical acclaim before airing on the…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  The 2015 Kennedy Center Honors Honorees, from left, actress Cicely Tyson, conductor Seiji Ozawa, actress and singer Rita Moreno, filmmaker George Lucas, and singer-songwriter Carole King stand on stage during a reception for them in the East Room of the White House, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) George Lucas,…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Jesse L. Martin in character as Marvin Gaye   Might F. Gary Gray be working on one?   By Tambay A. Obenson Shadow and Act I was updating my annual list of announced biopics of black public figures that still haven’t been made, and, while researching to find out if there have been…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Bill Cosby (Photo: Randy Miramontez / shutterstock) By Denise Lavoie associated press BOSTON– Lawyers for Bill Cosby said Friday they will fight an attempt to require his wife to give a sworn deposition in a defamation lawsuit filed by seven women who accuse the comedian of sexually assaulting them decades ago. A lawyer…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Andra Day  (Press Line Photos / shutterstock) By Mesfin Fekadu associated press NEW YORK — If The Associated Press could create its own “NOW” compilation album of 2015, this would be it. Here are the top 10 songs of the year, according to AP music editor Mesfin Fekadu: 1. “Where Are U Now,” Skrillex…

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By Jake Coyle associated press NEW YORK — Star Wars: The Force Awakens has already surpassed $100 million in North America and $250 million globally, setting it up for a record-breaking weekend. The Walt Disney Co. on Saturday said the film made an estimated $120.5 million from Thursday night previews and opening day Friday. That…

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