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BROADWAY p E7p z -) /?
BOUND
by Garland Lee Thompson
received an "ear-full” in a call
from New York Amersterdam
News drama and film critic,
Abiola Sinclair, this past week.
First of all, August W ilson’s two
award-winning plays, “ Fences”
(Pulitzer Prize and Tony Awards)
and “ Joe Turner’s Come and
Gone," have now both closed on
Broadway in New York. Actress,
L. Scott Caldwell won a Tony
Award for the Best Featured Ac
tress in “ Joe Turner’s Come and
Gon.” She was wonderful in the
role on the night I saw the show
this past spring and told her so
backstage after the show. This
marks the second season in a
row that a black actress has won
the Tony Award in the Best
Featured Actress catetory.
I was at the opening night of
“ Fences,” on Broadway in New
York, starring James Earl Jones,
featuring my friend Mary Alice,
who won the Tony Award for her
moving role as “ the w ife.” I sat
in the first row during the per
formance when a piece of "The
Fence” flew off the stage and hit
me right below my black bowtie.
Like a good old stage manager
and theatre person, I quietly
placed “ the piece of one by
three' back on the stage near the
apron as the show went on. And
to think, I had “ a piece” of the
show in my lap and I dutifully
gave it back. I should have kept
I
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TT August Wilson Plays
-* Close On Broadway
it and had the cast autograph it
when I went backstage after the
show.
Also, after the show, I went to
the cast party with Mary Alice
and some friends, at Saudis,
Broadway’s famous theatre dis
trict “ watering hole,” where they
gave Mary Alice a standing ova
tion on our entrance. After that, I
correctly predicted that she
would be nominated for a Tony
Award along with the show and
the rest is history. The play and
the director, Lloyd Richards,
also won Tony Awards. The
same playwright and director
teamed up to create “ Joe Tur
ner’s Come and Gone.”
Billy Dee W illiam s replaced
James Earl Jones in the lead in
“ Fences,” last spring and the
show has now closed, which
now makes it available for other
regional productions. Film star,
Eddie Murray’s company has
purchased the film rights for the
movie that w ill star James Earl
Jones, of course.
Black or white, as the saying
goes, “ a playwright can’t make a
living in theatre, but can make a
‘k illin g !’ ”
IT ’S LANGSTON HUGHES MONTH
W ithout a doubt, it is Langs
ton Hughes Month in town this
August '88. Addition to the 16th
Portland Poetry Festival (August
11th-14th) to laud his works
(presented Thursday, August
11th, 1988, 8:00 p.m., at the IFCC
Theatre, 5340 N. Interstate) the
new book is out (“ The Life of
Langston Hughes: Volume I,
1902-1941 I, Too, Sing America,
by Arnold Rampersad, Oxford
University Press), Portland State
University is presenting Hughes’
most famous musical, “ Simply
Heavenly,” opening Thursday,
August 25, 1988 in Lincoln Hall
Theatre.
MT. HOOD IS ROCKING
WITH JAZZ
The Annual Summer Mt. Hood
Festival of Jazz was “ jum ping,”
according to Michaei Holiday,
The St. Martin de Porres Court 225 offers a scholarship to a
deserving black student from the inner city of Portland for attendance at
a Catholic grade or high school.
The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 225 is a
Catholic Service Organization working to improve religious educational
opportunities and community outreach.
Applicants will be selected based on acceptance in a Catholic
grade/high school and financial need.
Scholarships in the amount of $200 to $500 will be awarded for the
1988-89 school year.
A completed application must be submitted by August 26,1988
For additional information, contact Teletha Benjamin at 284-0518
-evenings.
EVENING AT POPS - 1988 — Trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis and jazz
singer Sarah Vaughan (top) shared the spotlight with other jazz and blues
greats in an encore presentation of ‘Evening at POPS’, Saturday, August 6
at 8:00 p.m. on PBS. ‘Evening at POPS reprises one of its best-loved pro
grams Saturday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. with “ A Tribute to Nat King Cole’
featuring daughter Natalie Cole and singer Johnny Mathis (bottom). ‘Even
ing at POPS’ is a joint production of WGBH Boston and the Boston
Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
Photos by Michael Lutch
actor/singer, who was rushing
back and forth from rehearsals
of “ Simply Heavenly,” and tap
ings of the show’s song, "Did
You Ever Hear The Blues,” with
actress/singer Brenda Phillips,
on "NW Faces,” KGW-TV, Chan
nel 8 (airs Sunday, August 14th,
1988 at 7:00 a m.) and back to the
Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in Gres
ham, Oregon. Michael Holiday is
also a photographer for the Ore
gonian Newspaper. Is he busy or
what? In this town it seems, if
you are as artist, you can’t do
just one thing, you have to do a
lo t of th in g s to make it!
“ Write on!”
THE FIRST ANNUAL BLACK ARTS
FESTIVAL OPENS IN ATLANTA
Also this month of August,
the First Annual Black Arts
Festival gets underway in Atlan
ta, Georgia, with such theatre
productions as the Negro En
semble Company of New York
presenting Black Pulitzer Prize
playwright, Charles Fuller's new
play, “ Sally,” the first of a series
by the author on Blacks in slav
ery in America. So, you would
not be wrong to say that from
Portland State University, on
Broadway, to the shores of
Atlanta, Georgia, Black culture
is continuing too enrich our
lives in America. “ Did You Ever
Hear The Blues?"
been known to be extremely pri
vate with his personal business,
is upset by all the media atten
tion. Castmate and real-life pastor
Clifton Davis was given the Ameri
can Bible Society’s symbolic 5
billionth copy of the scriptures.
by Lisa Collins
T
he tabloids have got it all
wrong again: For weeks now
a rumor has been circulating that
claims “ Amen” star Sherman
Hemsley wants to cast his stun
ning blonde 25-year-old g irl
friend— Joane Garcia, as his love
interest on the series and it's
causing an uproar among the
show’s executives. Further, that
executives fear that the viewers
won’t accept a younger white wo
man dating an older black man on
TV — and they’re concerned that
the whole thing doesn't suit
Hemsley’s TV persona of Deacon
Frye. Fact is, according to those
close to Hemsley, there’s no truth
to the rumor at all. And it is further
reported that Hemsley, who has
Davis, who portrays the Rev. Rue-
ben Gregory on NBC's "Amen,”
says he shares faith behind the
scenes, and uses the acting as a
secular powerbase “ to share a
sacred message that Jesus Christ
can change your heart.” Davis,
became a born-again Christian
after he says God spared his life
and rescued him from drug abuse
a little more than eight years ago.
“ I tried all sorts of things to quit
and couldn’t. Finally, before it kill
ed me, I tried Christ. And I com
mitted my life to him and sharing
that reality.”
LA & Babyface picked up this
year's top producers’ award, from
music trade magazine, Black Ra
dio Exclusive. The talented duo,
who also make up two-fifths of
“ The Deele,” have produced
some of this years top artists, in
cluding Pebbles, Bobby Brown,
the MAC Band, and Shenna Eas
ton, while writing and performing
top hits like “ Two Occasions” on
their own LP. Meanwhile “ 21
Jump Street's Holly Robinson, is
set to make her singing debut on
Atlantic Records.
Popular T.V. Show Expands To Two Hours
transpired recently within the
arry Dunham, executive pro
community.
ducer of NorthEast Spec
trum, a popular community serv Following a discussion of the
issues, questions will be taken
ice television show which airs
from
the audience. Persons in the
over Channel 38 every Friday
audience
also will be invited to
night at 7:00 p.m., will be expand
enlarge
upon
certain aspects of
ed to a live two-hour format for
the
question
that
are developed.
the August 5th show.
Mr.
Dunham
also
will air foot
In an exclusive interview with
age
from
previous
activities
the Portland Observer in his office
within
the
Black
community.
at 3075 N.E. Sandy Blvd., Mr.
Some of this material has never
Dunham stated:
been aired.
Referring again to the media,
“ I think we have a
Mr. Dunham said, “ It is very inter
responsibility to dispel the
esting to observe that the local
notion that the Black
daily had the same information as
community has gone amok
did the Portland Observer with
and that we are hovering
regard to the manner in which
under siege as suggested
young Kalima Shamdin-sin was
treated at the Emmanuel Medical
by the local daily.”
Center, after getting shot in the
head, but chose to publish it
Mr. Dunham referred further to
some weeks later. Emmanuel
the reckless abandon with which
pital has refused to explain their
the media has sought out and re
position even though they were
ported every conceivable negative
offered two opportunities to do
aspect of a group of citizens
SO.
whose vast majority are hard
Every summer newspapers suf
working and law abiding.
fer a dearth of interesting stories.
“ The very positive side of Port
Editors become desperate by the
land was demonstrated by what
time they have published the last
the community contributed to
cute little human interest story.
Jesse Jackson and the real ‘Rain
Every time news gathering be
bow Coalition’. Further, the crea
comes difficult, the “ Long Hot
tion of the Coalition of Black Men
Summer’ is re-invented. That ap
should have sent a special mes
proach has worked very well for
sage to the detractors of the
the last twenty years. Problems
Black Community.”
that have been ignored all year
The extended Northeast Spec
round now become major stories.
trum will be co-hosted by Gina
The Black community in any ur
Wood and Art Alexander, both
ban area can be depended upon
well-known to the Portland view
to give hungry readers something
ing audience. They will be talking
of interest with an exotic touch. It
to a distinguished panel that is
is not surprising that the North
highly regarded by the Black
east Section of Portland has be
Community and knowledgeable
come a cause celebre. It doesn’t
about the series of events that
L
matter if all of the facts have not
been reported and even if some
that were reported suffered in
accuracies. One doesn’t have to
observe such niceties when we
talk about part of our subculture.
By now everybody knows that
“ The Northeast” is a eupeh-
emism. Polite society does not
employ the pejorative when re
ferring to things racial anymore,
but couch such references in
code words. It does not matter
that the infamous Northeast sec
tion of Portland Is mostly white
and contains lovely homes that
would rival those of any other sec
tion of town. Once such termin
ology gets chisled into the
lexicon it is there forever.
The purpose of the Channel 38
Northeast Spectrum is to bring
together a group of know l
edgeable people from the entire
community who will give their
first hand accounts of what is
happening within the entire Black
community. It is to be hoped that
such a process will dispell any
false notions some persons
might harbor with regard to
gangs, drugs, prostitution and
safety.
300 N.W. 10th
Portland, Oregon
227-1991
/
Monday — Performer's Showcase - Open Mike
Downstairs - Playback Theatre 994
Tuesday — Lynn Neil & Conover Gilpin
Wednesday — Steve Hettum & Friends
Thursday — Margo Tufo’s Blues Review
Downstairs - Triple Threat Jam
Friday — Jane & His Wife
Downstairs - Dub Squad
Saturday — Napoleon's Mistress
Downstairs - Zoomorphics
It's back to work for Deneice
Williams: Just a little more than
three months after the birth of
third son, Forrest Mathew Wes-
te rlin g , son g stre ss Deneice
Williams is back at work. Having
shed most of the weight she gain
ed during her last pregnancy, she
looked just great as she sang at
the LA Greek Theater as part of
GospelAmerica. It was her first
stint since the birth of her son.
And Williams has alot to be ex
cited about, what with her new
son and a new album, due to be
released by CBS next month.
Bobby DeBarge ordered to live in
a residential drug treatment pro
gram while awaiting trial for
allegedly conspiring to smuggle
2.2 pounds of cocaine to Michi
gan. DeBarge is admittedly a
heavy drug user, having confess
ed to using every major drug.
Confirmation of that came from
his mother, who reportedly noted
that the singer has had a drug pro
blem since 1980. In January he
flunked out of a drug diversion
program he was ordered to enter
in connection to another federal
case. M eanwhile, in Grand
R apids, Jonathon “ C h ic o ”
DeBarge, pleaded innocent in
federal court. Chico, 22, was ar
raigned on four counts relative to
the trafficking of cocaine. He re
mains free on bail pending a pre
trial conference next week. The
DeBarge family aren’t the only
ones with their share of drug
troubles, as musician Ike Turner
was sentenced. The ex-husband of
R&B/rock superstar Tina Turner
was given a one-year sentence in
jail for the possession and trans
porting of cocaine.
Meanwhile, Danny Glover will
star as a prison psychiatrist trying
to assess a death-row inmate’s
sanity in “ Dead Man Walking,” to
be released in November. Glover
is most remembered for his pro-
trayal of the cold-hearted hus
band in the “ Color Purple.” Next
week: Smokey Robinson is linked
romantically to soap star.
THE TASTE OF CHINA
•?fB
HUNAN • SZECHUAN • CANTONESE
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Mon -Thur & Sunday 11 00 a m ,0 30 p m
Fri and Sal
11 00 a m -11 30 p m
The Orient
Chinese Rest ör Lounge
1025 N.E. BROADWAY
PORTLAND, OREGON
Cleo’ S
THE LONG
GOODBYE
Howard Rollins arraignment this
week: East Baton Rouge assistant
DA said, "there was no basis for
dropping any charges.” Thus, “ In
The Heat Of The Night” actor Ho
ward Rollins, will be charged with
speeding, driving while intox
icated and cocaine possession.
However, it is felt by most that
Rollins’ completion of a sub
stance-abuse program at a noted
Center in Minnesota "w ill prob
ably get him in good shape if he
pleads guilty.” Rollins, 37, was ar
rested in March while on location
for the shooting of the series, co-
starring Caroll O’Connor, in Loui
siana. Police, who clocked his car
at more than 100 m.p.h., also
found cocaine in it.
- For Take-Out Orders -
Phone: 282-5811
3041 N. W illiams • 284-7150
Ethnic Cuisine Southern Style
★ HOUSE SPECIALTIES *
Chitterlings • Meatloaf • Mix Greens • Beef Stew
Catfish • And Many Other Southern Dishes
Including: Cleo’s Zesty Ribs In Sauce
— HOME COOKED DESSERTS —
Come See ‘Luberta' For Some Down Home C ookin'!
MEMBERS & GUESTS
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