ENTERTAINMENT
BROADWAY
BOUND
Community Artists Opens
Portland Poetry Festival
REPORT
Portland Poetry Festival called ac­
tor/producer, Nyewusi Askari; he
called me; I called David Hedges
(of City Commissioner Bogle’s of­
fice) and Sue Busby, executive
director of IFCC to discuss the
problem. And following rehear­
sals at Lincoln Hall Theatre, PSU,
the “ Simply” cast arrived at the
IFCC in time to present two pro­
duction songs from the show
before the packed house, after
Askari and Useni had presented
an exciting hour and fifteen
minutes of Hughes’ poems and
pieces. This was the first time
that a preview of any of the music
from Langston H ughes’ hit
musical, “ Simply Heavenly,” has
ever been heard in the Portland
community. The response was
great and indeed, Langston would
have loved it! Our “ hats o ff” to
our local community artists who
did come through with a good
show on short notice! “ Write
O n!”
The festival also included
readings by popular national and
regional poets, including Pulitzer
Prize poet, W. S. Merwin, William
Stafford, Oregon’s Poet Laureate
and Ishmael Reed, a noted Black
poet and novelist (“ Yellow Back
Radio Broke Down” and “ Mumbo
Jumbo” ) from Tennessee and
California.
by Garland Lee Thompson_____
he works of poet Langston
Hughes were honored in the
16th Annual Portland Poetry Fes­
tival, held this past week (August
11 - 14). The four day event, the
City of Portland’s largest and
most popular public literary event,
was dedicated to Hughes and em­
phasized ethnic poetry locally and
around the country. Remember,
theatre fans, the first Annual
Black Arts Festival in Atlanta,
Georgia, just ended (August 7th,
1988). So from “ here to Atlanta,”
is about as “ coast to coast,” as
you can get without sounding
down right, “ national!”
T
LANGSTON WOULD HAVE
LOVED IT!
A FULL SEASON OF BLACK
THEATRE SHAPES UP LOCALLY
Community performing artists,
Nyewusi Askari, Useni Perkins
(director of Portland Urban Lea­
gue) and members of the “ Simply
H e a v e n ly C o m p a n y (N eal
Thomas, Brenda Phillips, Michael
Holiday, Raydell Clay and Kirk
Green), performed, to an SRO
(standing room only) house, the
works of Hughes, Thursday night,
August 11th, 1988, thereby saving
the opening of the Festival from
near disaster!
WHERE WAS HERB CAWTHORNE?
E x-P o rtlan der, Herb Caw-
thorne, was scheduled to present
his portrayal of the life and work
of poet Langston Hughes, with
emphasis on the Black author s
work as poet, playwright, bio­
grapher and novelist, as well as
Hughes’ influence on young
Black writers. The performance
was to be at the Interstate Fire­
house Center, 5340 N. Interstate
Avenue. Cawthorne is former
head of the Urban League of
Portland and now president of the
Urban League of San Diego, CA.
His Hughes’ interpretation is well
known to Portland audiences. His
prepaid airline ticket and a “ limo
were standby, but Herb was a
“ no-show.” Jane Glazer of the
This could prove to be the
Black "season to remember,”
with the opening of "Simply
H eavenly,” rescheduled for
August 25th, 1988, 8:00 p.m., at
PSU, running Thursdays, Fridays,
Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. on Sun­
days through September 11th;
“ Zooman and the Sign,” by
Charles Fuller, at the Storefront
Theatre in October; The Actors
C o o p e ra tiv e p ro d u c tio n of
“ Othello,” at the IFCC, opening
September 16th, through October
16th. The second IFCC season of­
fering will be “ The Colored
Museum,” by George Wolfe,
scheduled for January 27th,
through February 19th and at the
Winningstad Theatre, February
21th - 25th, 1989. “ Death and The
King’s Horseman,” by Nobel Prize
African playwright, Wole Soyinka,
is scheduled for March 3th - 26th,
1989, produced by the New Rose
Theatre at the Winningstad. Also
there is talk of Rosemary Allen re­
activating the Portland Black
Repertory with Charles Fuller’s
Pulitzer Prize play, “ A Soldier’s
Play," this season. Is this the
future? We shall see. “ W riteO n!”
The Casting Corner: actor/
singer, Paul Jones, has assumed
the role of "H o p kin s,” the
bartender in “ Simply Heavenly,”
after the “ first cut” on the "Sim ­
ple" team following the third
week of rehearsals at PSU. Under­
studies are being sought for
several roles in the musical for
both singing and non-singing
parts. For further information call
producer, Nina Lowry’s office at
PSU, 464-4452. Send or deliver
photos and resumes to the Edu­
cational Activities office of PSU,
Smith Memorial Center, Room
446, P.O. Box 751, Portland,
Oregon 97207.
Ebony/JET
Headliners
The vocally gifted Pointer Sisters,
actress Helen Martin from “ 227’
and singers Eddie Kendricks and
David Ruffin from the original
Temptations take center stage on
EBONY/JET SHOWCASE the
Weekend of August 19th-21st
(consult your local listing for date
and time).
After 15 years as one of Ameri­
ca’s favorite pop groups, the
Pointer Sisters have decided to
seriously pursue Black fans. The
result is "Serious Slammin’,”
their latest album, which they say
sounds “ funkier" and “ blacker”
and, as June Pointer says, is
“ there in your face." “The Black
direction is something that’s
m anda tory,” e xp la in s A n ita
Pointer. No matter what their
music style, the three sisters say
they're in the music business to
stay. “ As long as I can stand or
sit, I'll be singing, ” vows Ruth
Pointer.
Helen Martin’s role as Pearl
Shay on the TV show, “ 227” is the
continuation of her 40-year acting
career. Martin swears she was
born to be a star, recalling that, at
birth, when the doctor delivered
her, “ I cried, and a star was born.”
(Tyson), Olivia Cole, “ A Different treated by her doctors who hap­
W orld’s” Mary Alice, Lonette pened to be in the audience. Fit­
McKee, and “ 227’s” Jackee, all zgerald returned to the stage and
remain seated for the rest of her
sharing co-starring credits. Wl £
performance. Later this week, the
frey herself, doubles as c
executive producer for the 70-year-old jazz singer said she
telepic, which is slated to be aired was still a little stiff, but other­
wise fine.
sometime this fall.
Smokey Robinson linked roman­
No More Misbehavin’ for Brenda tically to soap star In another
Richie: Turns out, Brenda Richie, tabloid story, Smokey Robinson
the 35-year-old wife of pop super- has been linked to Andrea Evans,
star Lionel Richie, won’t be pro­ the infamous “ Tina” of “ One Life
secuted afterall, as both Lionel to Live” fame. What Is known is
Richie and dancer Diane Alex­ that the singer, said to be a de­
ander refused to cooperate with voted fan of the show, extended
the Beverly Hills police investiga­ invitations to case members to a
tion, regarding her assault on party he threw In New York some
Alexander. Needless to say, with­ time ago. Evans, was one of a few
by Lisa Collins
out their cooperation, criminal who turned out. Adding fuel to the
ittle Richard and Phillip Bailey
charges won’t stick. Both Lionel rumors was the mention of Robin­
team up? Earth, Wind & Fire's
Phillip Bailey and the infamous and Brenda Richie, along with Ms. son on an episode of the show
Alexander, however, will appear at some months ago. When on­
Little Richard, are indeed an odd
a private hearing August 15 In the screen ex-boyfriend Max Holden,
couple. But odd couple or not,
L.A. County DA’s office to settle held out a ring box as he propos­
Bailey and Richard recently team­
their differences. Brenda’s high- ed marriage. When she gasped,
ed up to record a tune called,
powered attorney stated that “ what's this, his reply was: “ well
“ Sweat". Bailey who came across
none of the parties felt criminal ... It’s not an autographed photo
the tune, said “ the song had Little
prosecution should be avoided, of Smokey Robinson” . But, as it
Richard written all over it” . Little
stating that “ emotions ran high turns out, Evans, a divorcee, Is
Richard who jumped at the oppor­
on both ends.” According to just as great a fan of Smokey
tunity to do it, having been a long­
Weitzman, it was, in fact, mutual Robinson, as he is of “ One Life To
time fan of EWF, said he liked the
combat. The hearing is however, Live” . Speaking of soaps, Laura
message the song was sharing.
conditional. Should Brenda mis­ Carrington who plays Dr. Simone
“ To let young people know that
behave, the DA’s office would still Harvey on General Hospital gave
all you have to know is to be w ill­
have the option to prosecute.
ing to sweat and your dreams will
birth to a 7-lb., 7-oz. baby girl nam­
Ella breaks a leg: Ella Fitzgerald ed Danica, earlier this summer.
come to pass” . Certainly it’s a
fell and injured a leg while per­ Carrington, who Is involved on­
w itness Johnny Mathis, now
forming onstage at the Hollywood screen in an interracial marriage,
celebrating is 32nd year in records,
Bowl. As her backup trio rushed expects to be officially back at
can attest to. His new LP, “ Once
to
rescue, she said “ I’m okay, I’ll work on the set any day. Next
In A While” , brings the number of
just
sing from here” . She finished week: Find out whether or not Kool
album’s he recorded to close to
the song and then took a short
& The Gang are splitting up?
100.
break. During the break she was
Oprah’s still beating Phil: The
latest national TV syndication
standings still show Oprah W in­
frey in the Number 3 slot, well
ahead of Phil Donahue (No. 9). But
Q ü'fastií& l& í
these days Winfrey's got more on
her mind than the ratings. She’s
friayride?
excited about her latest dramatic
attempt —a lead role in “ The
Women of Brewster Place". It is
based on a novel by Gloria Naylor
that spans the decades in the
lives of seven tenement women.
¿faZicrcíiUf ~ Sipccmbcr JO,
The three-hour ABC-TV movie,
boasts one of the most talented
cf-farEe? ctynck?
Greek, Or.
cast of black women ever
assembled on network TV, what
with Cicely Tyson, Robin Givens
‘Trcvnspertcvti&v &&ocd> ¿ProvítíeX
L
& 4 r Lansas
<5>
S k in D eep
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WHOLESALE A N D RETAIL
Portland State University Presents
A Musical by Langston Hughes
The Incom parable
MIRIAM MAKEBA
with special guest
HUGH MASEKELA
Book and Lyric« by
Langston Hughes
Music Ov
David Mortin
And An International
All-Star Band
FRIDAY, SEPT. 2
8 :0 0 PM
Tickets $15-18-20-25
All Ticketmaster- locations
w e*
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ONLY Oregon APPEARANCE!
Wed. SEPT. 14 thru Sun. SEPT. 18
$ MEMORIAL COLISEUM
★S H O W T I M E S *
W M . SEPT. 1«
< >
7:30PM
WAYS TO GET
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Miriam Makeba signs her book
at Powell's Books. 4-5 pm,
before the concert.
n o rd s tra m
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2 IN PERSON: MEMORIAL COLISEUM BOX
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RAGIN’ CAJUN MARKET
MON. - FRI. 10-6 P.M.
SAT 9-7 P.M.
1st Annual
Ragin’ Cajun Bayou
Food Fest
August 20, 1988
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
15% OFF
ANY purchase
with this coupon
Register Here To W in A
FREE $5 00 G ift C ertificate
2428 N.E. BROADWAY • PORTLAND, OR 97232
Directed by Garland Lee Thompson
August 25 through September 11
Thursday - Friday - Saturday - 8 pm
Sunday - 3 pm
Uncoln Hall Auditorium • S.W. Broadway a t M arket Street
All Seats Reserved • Admission S12: G eneral - $5: Seniors-Students
Special rates for groups available: 464-4440 • PSU Box O ffice
Presented by The Summer Program o f Educational Activities