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¡ a JUC a JUC a JUC
Page 6, Portland Observer, O ctober 13, 1988
-AMUWS
BCIJMD
DEPORT
by Garland Lee Thompson
■ WE NEED BLACK CRITICS,”
IS THE CRY IN NEW YORK
Nobody was more shocked
than I was when I read Frank
Rick’s New York Times review of
Ron Milner’s (new black broad-
way play), “ Checkmates," quoted
Beth Turner, editor and publisher
of Black Masks, a black arts mon
thly magazine in the New York Ci
ty. “ Having attended opening
night, I had joined the audience in
its standing ovation for the play
and its dynamic and immensely
talented cast (starring Pual Win
field, Ruby Dee, Martha Jackson
and
D enzel W a s h in g to n ).
Although it was not a perfect’
play (and what play is?), it
thoroughly entertained while also
touching on many poignant
elements of black married life to
day and yesterday, and offered
certain wonderful insights and
historical perspectives,” she con
tinues.
"To discover that Frank Rich
found not one commendable
feature in the production was as
tounding.” (Beth, I don’t know
why you were astounded, I
thought). She continued: “ Not
even (black designer) Ed Bur-
bridge’s set escaped the all-
inclusive singe. Perhaps only
(black designer) Judy Dearing's
costume were spared but that
was only by lack of mention at
all,” stated this unhappy black
woman journalist, playwright and
a friend of mine.
i. t r
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Phylicia Rashad and Sara Lee Corporation
CEO To Chair 19 88 Living Legacy Awards Banquet
the eighties,” the winner of six
"Tony” Awards, two "Grammy
Awards, has book and lyrics by
Tom Eyer and music by Henry
Krieger. KGW-TV, Channel 8, is
welcoming this Portland premiere
to the City of Roses.
This is the “ dazzling” show that
made black singer, Jennifer Holi
day, a star along with a friend of
mine, actress/singer, Loretta
Devine, who received fabulous
response as one the original,
"Dreamgirls.” This is a “ must
see" show, theatre fans.
She makes a point that, “ happi
ly, some enthusiastic television
reviews (we do not have any here
:in Portland) by WNBC-TV and
support from Black journalists
such as Abiola Sinclair and Dick
Campbell (two other friends of
mine) in the Amsterdam News
(black press of New York); and an
exuberant word-of-mouth have
been enough to keep the show
alive despite Rich's scathing con
demnation. (This always points
up the question to me: “ Is there
‘ Ilfe-after-Frank’ of the New
Time?” )
Black editor, Turner, whose
monthly black arts magazine has
grown steadily In influence, re
cently in New York Black Theatre
Circles, further said, “ this inci
dent, among others, has painfully
reaffirmed the absolute necessity
of a resurgence of the black
critical voice for Black Theatres.
iBIack Theatres consistently cry
out for coverage by the press for
the review s they feel are
necessary for the survival of their
productions and even for the sur
vival of their theatre (when it
•comes time to document their
work to funding sources.) Most
Black Theatres never succeed in
attracting coverage by the more
prominent white newspapers (we
just noticed the Oregonian did
not review the Portland, October
2nd, “ The Diary of a Black Man).
When they do succeed, the white
critics’ reviews often meander
across the full gamut of reactions
from that of Frank Rich’s toward
“ C h e ckm a te s,” d ire c te d by
Woodie King Jr., to some kind of
paternalistic softening of stan
dards for ethnic theatre as docu
mented by Howard Kissel in the
August 7, 1988 issue of the New
York Daily News. Certainly, the
truth is not to be found in either
instance.”
"Yet, good critical writing can
be an invaluable partner to good
theatre,” she concludes. "When a
critic is not out to make a reputa
tion for himself at the expense of
the artist, then he can often be
one of the most insightful forces
for the understanding and foster
ing of fine drama that there is.
From true criticism, theatre and
artists can develop and flourish in
ways the unwarranted praise and
unfinching condemnation never
allow Black Theatre needs this
■kind of good critical writing."
“ DREAMGIRLS” COMES
TO TOWN!
The touring production of the
Michael Bennett hit Broadway
black m usical, “ Dream girls,"
opens at the Civic Auditorium,
Tuesday, October 25th, and plays
8:00 p.m. through October 30th,
•with a Saturday and Sunday mati
nee at 2:00 p.m. The original pro
duction, billed at “ the musical of
A CHARLES FULLER PLAY IN
REHEARSAL AT THE
STOREFRONT THEATRE
The Storefront Theatre has
black playwright, Charles Fuller's
controversial play, “ Zooman and
the Sign,” directed by Rick Jones,
in rehearsal, featuring actors, Al
Jamison, Wanda Walden, Nyse-
wusi Askari and Anthony Arm
strong, among the cast.
This month of October is
scheduled for the opening of this
powerful piece, written by the
author of the Pulitzer Prize play,
“ A Soldier’s Play,” and the
screenplay of the Academy
Award nominated film.
BLACK WOMAN FILM-MAKER AND
PLAYWRIGHT, KATHY COLLINS
DIES IN N.Y.
Kathy Collins, a noted black
film-maker and playwright, died in
the third week of September in
New York. The film and Black
Theatre circles of New York and
the country mourns the death of
One of its own. I had the pleasure
of presenting one of the first
readings of a play of Kathy Col
lins, several years ago at the
Frank Silvera Writers' Workshop
in New York. Her work as a film
maker and editor is widely known
and respected in the “ fast track’
film and theatre of New York. Ms.
Collins taught film-making at City
College of New York and de
serves a greater recognition in her
field for her craft and professional
achievement and skill. Hopefully,
her films and plays will live on in
her memory. “ Write on, Kathy, we
will miss you!”
J
Phylicia Rashad, “ The Cosby Show” and John H. Bryan, Jr., chairman and
chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corporation (left to right).
John H. Bryan, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sara
Lee Corporation, recently joined television personality Phylicia Rashad
on the set of "The Cosby Show” to promote the 1988 Living Legacy
Awards Banquet to be held at 7 p.m., October 13, 1988, at the Hyatt
Reqency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
.
Bryan will serve as the first corporate CEO to chair the dinner, and
Rashad will serve as executive vice chair. This marks a return engage
ment for Rashad who co-chaired last year’s event with her husband,
NBC Sports commentator and former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Ahmad Rashad.
,
Sponsored by the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged,
Inc., the banquet will honor six recipients of its 1988 Living Legacy
Awards saluting life-long contributions to society:
Maya Angelou, 60, Winston-Salem, N.C., Dr. Elizabeth L. Doles, 77,
of Detroit, Mich.,; Dr. Mary S. Harper, 69, of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Aaron
E Henry 66, of Clarksdale, Miss.; Arthur D. Shores, 84, of Birmingham,
Ala.; and Arnolta I.E. Williams, 92, of Jacksonville, Fla.
Keynote speaker for the event will be Lerone Bennett, Jr., ex
ecutive editor of EBONY and a critically acclaimed author on Black
history. Actress and comedian La Wanda Page, best known as "Aunt
Esther" from the television sitcom “ Sanford and Son,' will serve
as master of ceremonies.
Tickets to the Living Legacy Awards Banquet may be purchased
from the NCBA’s national office in Washington, D.C. (202) 637-8400 for
$200 each or $2,000 for a table of 10 seats. Proceeds from the banquet
will be used to expand NCBA’s successful housing development pro-
qram and advocacy efforts for the elderly.
Founded in 1970, NCBA is 3,000-member non-profit organization
dedicated to improving the quality of life for Black elderly.
Sheila Wills In Latest TV Production “Family Medical Center”
Viewers of “ Family Medical
Center,” the latest production
from the team that brought “ The
People’s Court" to television,
have a new star to watch and get
: involved with - Sheila Willis.
1 The beautiful, intelligent, com
passionate Sheila W illis plays Dr.
K. C. Nicholson on the five-times
a week series. She and two other
performers are the stars of the
Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Produc
tion which is syndicated by
Lorimar. Lauren K. Woods plays
Dr. Miles Jaffee and Wortham
Krimmer Protrays Dr. Alexander
Raines.
Together the trio heads the
“ Family Medical Center," where
patients with problems that en-
DAZZLING
ÌS/Ssei
»me
e«HTlESi
M
I
“ I understand why a lot of peo
ple don’t get out of poverty
because it is so powerful. But my
mind was stronger. I always had a
vision of what I wanted to do and I
was always very interested in
school.
“ The teachers knew I was
motivated, knew I was not lazy
and they supported me, en
couraged me. I’ve had a job since
I was 11 years old. I’ve cleaned
houses, cleaned beauty salons
and, as a kid, I would knock on
doors and ask to go grocery shop
ping for people because I knew
they would give me a tip for that.”
She always turned the money
over to her family because that
was the thing to do — help out.
And now she’s helping out in a
reality drama that will humanize
doctors and those who work in
the medical professions. Dr. K.C.
Nicholson is always on call.
R & B, RAP, JAZZ, BLUES AND GOSPEL
PLUS SNAKE SKIN BELTS, GUCCI HATS,
POSTERS OF YOUR FAVORITY ARTIST AND
s
Boofc ft L ij ììm bq Tom Eg** • Mmlfc by Henny Knirgwt
TICKETS O N SALE N O W
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ple. She cares about them and
she’s there for them. I’ve always
been involved in service for peo
ple and when you think about it,
entertainment is a form of serv
ice, too. I love K.C. and I hope the
audiences will, too.”
A single mother, she is raising
two beautiful young girls from her
liason w ith P h ilip M ichael
Thomas, of “ Miami Vice.” She
recently bought her first home
and Phillip visits as often as he
can, she says. “ We are very good
friends. He lives in Miami and we
live in Los Angeles, so he doesn’t
get to see the girls as much as he
would like.”
Sheila and her family were liv
ing in Watts when the 1965 fierce
riots destroyed people’s lives and
made headlines across the coun
try.
“ We were living at 47th street
and Broadway in what they called
Charcoal Alley Number Three,”
she recalls. “ When the National
Guard came in we could hear the
gunfire and we were all on the
floor crawling around. It was very
scary. It was a frightening time.
A V A ILA B LE
DREfiMGIMS
„
compass all areas of today’s
medicine, come for treatment.
The series dram atizes true
medical cases and premiered
September 12.
Sheila, one of 12 children,
sprung out of the Watts ghetto
with her brains and hard work.
Teachers encouraged her and she
was able to win a scholarship to
Occidental College. Accepted in
to Stanford University’s masters
program, she opted instead to ac
cept a job a Assistant Dean of Ad
mission at Occidental College.
She held that position for four
years before ner dream of being
an actress actually drove her to
“ Go for it.” Her first T.V. commer
cial landed her a contract at
Universal Studios where she re
mained for four years until the
contract program was halted.
She has appeared in a number
of movies and hit television
shows and numerous stage pro
ductions before she accepted the
role of Dr. Nicholson.
“ I see K.C. as someone not very
far from my own personality,” she
admits. “ K.C. wants to help peo-
One Stop Records
and Tapes
TF if Miflintf Bwwftt Pnndurfifwof,
< Tickets M
licity. Said one industry insider
“ all this negative publicity is just
too much. You want a spokesman
ackson’s world tour tops $133
people can relate to ... a good
million mark: Revenues for
Michael Jackson’s current world guy.” However, Tyson’s agency
denies reports of waning interest.
tour have now reached over $133
million racked up in merchandis Agent Norman Brokaw maintains
that both movie studios and book
ing items. U.S. fans paid an aver
publishers are interested in his
age of $23 a-piece. Their Euro
life story, and that an animated
pean counterparts paid an aver
children’s
program about Tyson is
age of $30 each, while fans in
in the works.
Japan and Australia, paid about
Going For The Green: Olympic
$44 per ticket. Fans paid an addi
athletes will not only be going for
tional 7-8 per head in T-Shirts and
the gold, in Seoul, but for the
merchandising. “ If black acts get
green. Carl Lewis, who pulled in
$1-2 per head, they're doing
an estimated $500,000 in annual
great.” This according to Jay
endorsement fees after the ’84
Brown, 37, president of Brown
O ly m p ic s ,
is
lo o k in g
to
Sugar Marketing, who has posted
strengthen his position w ith
net receip ts of more than
a d v e rtis e rs . C a n a d a ’ s Ben
$800,000 in a given year and has
Johnson will make that difficult.
emerged as the leading black
What’s more, advertisers like
merchandiser. “ What happens is
when Black people go to a con Johnson. Last year, he signed a
$2.5 million, five-year contract
cert, they are sharp, whereas
white people will come to a con with an Italian shoe maker. He’s
also made commitments to Maz
cert looking like bums and buy
da, VISA, Toshiba and Johnson’s
T -sh irts.” So, Brown Sugar
Marketing racks up big bucks tak Wax. Jackie Joyner-Kersee just
finalized a two-year endorsement
ing photos of concertgoers set in
a backdrop of the show’s head with McDonald’s — her second
endorsement approaching six
liners. “ They want a picture in
figures. Other key endorsements
their new clothes.” (Other big
include Seven-Up, Primatene
sellers to Blacks are roses and
M ist, and she’s negotiating
glow necklaces). Says Brown,
Disneyland. Her sister-in-law
“ the profits are not tremendous,
Florence Griffith-Joyner is still
but the cash flow in outrageous.”
considering numerous offers. Her
Tyson’s troubles turn off adver
only real firm plans are to come
tisers: In the wake of the latest
out with her own fashion label
bad publicity about boxer Mike
after the Olympics.
Tyson, Diet Pepsi has temporarily
Executive Turntable: Kenneth
discontinued using the champion
in its TV spots. Pepsi did not com Walker, a distinguished ABC
news correspondent noted for his
ment other than to say that Tyson
is someone who appeared in a coverage of the Jackson Presi
dential campaign and South
campaign that has concluded.
Africa politics, has accepted to
Eastman Kodak has also stopped
role of anchor for the Money
running commercials featuring
segment of "USA Today: The
Tyson, though denying the move
had anything to do with bad pub Television Show.”
by Lisa Collins
“ HAIR” IS HERE AT THE CIVIC
The Portland Civic Theatre, the
city’s old community theatre (the
place where I made my debut
many years ago), is currently
presenting the now classic
musical of the sixties, "Hair, on
mainstage, through November
6th, directed by the theatre’s new
artistic director, Michael Jones.
With songs like, “ The Age of
Aquarius," this powerful show
has “ a musical score that has
become a classic, reflecting the
joy, passion and heartache of the
political and social times of the
sixties.”
BEHIND THE
SCENES
oro«. 248 4496 for
charge by phone and info
Group Sales 230-6702
Evenings At 8 00 pm SAt Sun MAt 2 pm
*
$6.99
On Sale This Week For
Is Käryn White and One Way
She’s brilliant, beautiful, compas
sionate! Sheila Wills as Dr. K.C.
Nicholson brings her own special
talents to the role of the caring
physician of “ Family Medical Cen
ter,” which premiered nationwide
on Sept. 12. Wills, a single mother
of two little girls, used brains and
hard work to rise out of the ghetto
to a position as Assistant Dean of
Admission at Occidental College.
Fortunately, for viewers of “ Family
Medical Center,” she abandoned
academia for acting. “ Family
Medical Center," a docu-drama of
medical cases, has the approval
and cooperation of the American
Academy of Family Physicians.
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