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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1988)
Page 4, Portland Observer, June 22, 1988 » & ENTERTAINMENT BROADWAY BOUND “Coming To America” REPORT “ Coming to America." Hall also plays multi-roles as a barber, a transvesite, and a holy-roller black preacher, as well as Murphy’s man-servant from their mythical African kingdom. Mr. Murphy, who is recovering from a minor boating accident with overzealous fans in the Baha mas (where else), nevertheless, went into his "act” while fielding questions from a capacity audi ence of journalists, such as Abiola Sinclair of the New York Amsterdam News, Carl Offord, Publisher of the Black American, Florence Anthony of the New York Post, many major out-of- town (me from the Portland Ob server) as well as press and media from fifteen foreign countries. Terrie Williams, Murphy’s new press agent, of the Terrie W il liams Agency, a black New York P.R. firm, did a good job of “ hook ing this party up, with the wine and goodies flowing!' Copper Cunningham, Former Essence cover girl and photographer and Juanita Coles, shooting for the Amsterdam News, were there, to tell us that it was “ hot,” an event of note! It was fun! You would have loved it too! Arsenio Hall (recently of the Fox Network Late Night TV Show) and lovely Shari Headley, debut ing in this new Paramount film, joined one of America's “ hottest” of the new film stars in the mak ing of “ Coming to America.” Picture the idea of our “ main man,” Eddie Murphy as a wealthy young prince from a mythical Af rican country, "Coming to Amer ica,” accompanied by his royal aide, (Arenio Hall) to "sow his wild oats” and with a secret de sire to find his “ true bride-to-be, who turn out to be "Lisa,” played quite neatly by newcomer, Shari Headley. They “ get it together” nicely as Murphy, “ the prince,” finds his “ black queen” living in Queens, New York (why not), until his royal father, the king of Zamunda (James Earl Jones), the queen (Madge Sinclair), shows up. And with his girl’s father (John Amos), who desperately wants her to marry this “ money,” alm ost by Garland Lee Thompson just returned from New York, after attending some theatre, board meetings at the Frank Sil- vera Writers' Workshop, a special press screening and cocktail re ception for Eddie Murphy, who stars as "Prince Akeem," in Para mount Pictures, “ Coming to America." “ The best movie I’ve done as an actor,” says Murphy, and he rates it better than "48 Hours," one of his earlier big box office success. Murphy plays sev eral roles in eye-bogglingly good make-up artistry. You will never recognize him in some cases without the closing visual credits. He's a Rick James-style soul singer, a barber, and a little old Jewish man in the barbershop, that is outrageous "color-blind" casting! This shows you what you can do if your films gross $two hundred and seventy million! Ed die Murphy is reported to be cur rently, Paramount’s top money maker and superstar. I thoroughly enjoyed his hilar ious press conference afterwards, with his “ Black Pack” friend and co-star, Arsenio Hall, with Shari Headley, Friday, June 10th, at the New York Lincoln Center Library of the Performing Arts. The “ Bub ble H ill” (Murphy’s code name for his East Coast estate) gang, bet ter known as the “ Black Pack,” (includes Arsenio Hall and Robert T o w n s e n d of “ H o lly w o o d Shuffle,” who is not in this film) is out to show us their new “ stuff," I for all you theatre buffs to win two tickets to see Langston Hughes’ "Simply Heavenly,” opening Aug ust 18th, 1988, at the Lincoln Hall Theatre at Portland State Uni versity, starring Brenda Philips, Neal Thomas and Michael Holi day. Send entries to us at the "Broadway Bound Report,” Port land Observer, P.O. Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208. (Mary Alice in “ Fences,” in ’87). This Wilson-Richards Writer/ Director team duo is "h o t" with both plays currently running on Broadway, a first for blacks play wrights in drama! Melvin Van Peeples (“ Ain’t Suppose To Die A Natural Death,” "Don’t Play Us Cheap” ) and Micki Grant (“ Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” and I can’t remember her other one) did it as musicals. That’s a good one ‘ P rin c e ’ E d d ie M u rp h y is “ C o m in g T o A m e ric a ,” S e e k in g A B rid e "blews” the whole deal and rela tionship. Calvin Lockhart is Colo nel Izzi, the father of the rejected Zamundan beauty, Imani (Vanes sa Bell), who was trained from birth to be the perfect wife. Mur phy says he wanted to do Africa beautiful, "usually you see people there in the woods with flies. Quoting Ebony Magazine, "Sur prisingly, there was very little dif ficulty in assembling such a cast — all of whom say they were attracted to the movie because they just wanted to work with Ed die.” It’s billed as a comtempor- ary romantic comedy, as you will see in, “ Coming to America.' Its ‘Buppie down time” (black up ward mobile person) with dyna mite wardrobe for all you fashion freaks! "Coming to America,” a pre sentation of Gulf + Western s Paramount Pictures Corp., pre mieres nationally on Wednesday, June 29th, 1988. The new film is an Eddie Murphy Production of a Landis/Folsey Film that also stars James Earl Jones, John Amos and Madge Sinclair. The di rector is John Landis ("Trading Places” ), hand-picked by Murphy, but who had a “ running-on-the- set” artistic battle with his star, but they still pulled it off okay. The screenplay is by David Shef field and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy and was produced by Robert D. Wachs and George Folsey Jr. Leslie Belzberg and Mark Lipsky are the executive producers. The “ Juice N ew s” dept.) August Wilson's new Bfoadway play, “ Joe Turner's Come And Gone,” won the Drama Critics Cir cle Best Play Award for ’87-’88 and one Tony out of six Tony nominations; Best Play, Best Director (Lloyd Richards), Best Featured Actor (Delroy Lindo), Best Supporting Actress (Kim- berleigh Aarn, Kimberly Scott and L. Scott Caldwell, who to every body’s surprise, won it). This is the second year in a row, that a black actress and a friend of my, in a Wilson play has taken the Best Featured Actress category M e d ic a l In s titu te A w a rd s $ 9 0 0 ,0 0 0 T o H o w a rd U n iv e rs ity FAMOUS FACES • r’i vt'- A Vi? * .‘X : V X I J a m e s E arl J o n es M a d g e S in c la ir Broadway Hairwoavara Now Located At Sharon Mitchell, Co-Anchor Women — KGW — Channel 8 5852 N.E. 42nd Phone: 281-9495 by Danny Bell haron Mitchell is presently the morning co-anchor for KGW, Channel 8 Born in Minneapolis, Minne sota, she moved, at an early age, to Portland, Oregon with her mother and sister. She attended her last two years of high school at Jefferson High. It was while at tending Jefferson that she be came acquainted with and even tual friend of Wanda Nichols who was her English teacher. As Sha ron later discovered Ms. Nichols served in the capacity as a drama instructor as well. It was the interest generated by Ms. Nichols that led Ms. Mitchell to get involved in the Jefferson High School Annual Musical dur ing her senior year. This experi ence changed her life and set the direction that eventually led to her present position at KGW. It was during her senior year that she was encouraged to apply to the American Academy of Dra matic Arts in New York City, New York. tend the academy at 17, deriving financial support from her schol arship, student loan, and by work ing part-time at Burger King. Shortly after graduating from the American Academy of Drama tic Arts. She ran out of financial resources and elected to return to Portland. S S h a ro n M itc h e ll She was chosen as the sole re cipient of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. This was signifi cant because she competed with 200 other candidates nationwide. Ms. Mitchell entered the aca demy with the intent of pursuing a career in Theatre and Music. She arrived in New York City to at- Once again her former teacher, Ms. Nichols entered the picture when she learned Ms. Mitchell was working at J.C. Penney's. Ms. Nichols suggested that she apply for an opening at KPTV, Channel 12. KPTV ultimately hired her and Ms. Mitchell, began working as a receptionist. In her 4 years there she served in various capacities; staff announcer, go-fer, assistant production aide and as a substi tute weather person. Upon conferring with various membe-s of management, she came to the conclusion that w ith out a degree there was little else to look forward too. Luckily it was OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Chitterlings • Meatloaf • Mix Greens • Beef Stew Catfish • And Many Other Southern Dishes Mon-Thur SSunday 1 1 0 0 a m 10 30pm Fri and Sat 11 00 a m -11 30 p m Including: Cleo's Zesty Ribs In Sauce The Orient - For Take-Out Orders - Chinese Rest ÍY Lounge 1025 N.E. BROADWAY PORTLAND, OREGON Phone: 282-5811 t <• - ‘i . J ★ HOUSE SPECIALTIES ★ CANTONESE l ,i 3140 N . W illia m s • 284-7150 Ethnic Cuisine Southern Style THE TASTE OF CHINA SZECHUAN • Ms. M itc h e ll dem onstates those qualities of perservance, and what a good attitude can do. tó-y* » V ’ - 1 Naw to our staff: Brunette Johnson & Barbara Owens Drop in and meet the Northwest Hairweaver Tc and find out what we are about Check next month’s Portland Observer for coming events Broadway Hairweavers, Operators & Owners; Flenard Grisby and Hattie Porter MRS C’S WIGS WHOLESALE & RETAIL HUNDREDS OF WIGS FOR YOUR EVEROHAMQINO U F E 1 T Y L E I BETTY CABINE PROPRIETOR • NAOMI SIMS • BORNFREE • MICHAEL WEEKS AND OTHER NAMEBRANDS T U I S-S A T 1 1 (3 0 -6 (0 0 Cleo’ S HUNAN • brought to her attention that there was an opening at KGW Radio, which she secured. This opportu nity allowed her to get hands-on experience as a reporter and Newscaster. Consequently after three years of working for KGW Radio, Ms. Mitchell moved to KGW TV and is presently working as the morning co-anchor with Nancy Francis, Monday through Friday. I asked Ms. Mitchell for some insight into the African-American experience in regard to youth who would desire to pursue a career in journalism. Her response was that from her personal perception is that peo ple be hired on the consistency and quality of their work, rather than be influended by racial over tones. Further more this type of attitudes should carry over into day-to-day contacts with others. EVERYTHING FROM CURRENT S H IE S TO SFECIAIH WIGS UNIQUE HAIR ORNAMENTS HAIR BEADS I BEAUH SUPPLIES MRS. C’S EBONY ESSENCE COSMETICS ZURI COSMETICS BEAUTICIAN A STUDENT DISCOUNTS 281-6525 lM % M A MIAU IIA il FM U A M K iiu n tc — HOME COOKED DESSERTS — Come See 'l.uberta' For Some Down Home Cookin ! MEMBERS & GUESTS » • > a • » »■ » e * a « a . J* \ > 4 A f 4 * ► A >V 7TH A FREMONT (707 NE FREMONT) 1
