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D e c e m b e rs , 1988 • P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r • P age 5
ENTERTAINMENT
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A******************
IC'OHJNID
REPORT
George C. Wolfe’s “The Colored
Museum," which is going into
rehearsal this week at the Interstate
Firehouse Cultural Center here in
Portland, broke all previous box
office records, closed June 19,1988
and became the highest grossing
show in the history of the Mark
Taper Forum in Los Angeles, CA.
The Colored Museum,” the fifth
lay of the M ark Taper Forum’s 21 st
eason at the Los Angeles Music
enter, finished with a total of
749,293. The previous record at
he Taper, held by this season’s “ A
ie of the Mind," was exceeded by
ome $19,000. Prior to this season,
he record was held by the 1987
ouble bill production of “ Loot" and
Entertaining Mr. Sloane." Almost
9,000 people saw the L.A.
jro d uctio n of “ The Colored
duseum" which played at 99%
apacity.
The Taper’s production of “The
Colored Museum” has now moved
the Westwood Playhouse, for a
mited engagement. “The Colored
Museum” is also now playing in San
rancisco, according to our latest
nformation. I saw the New York
jroduction of “ The Colored
vluseum” at Joseph Papp's Public
Theatre last year and I reviewed it
ecently here in BROADWAY
3OUND REPORT and now we shall
oon see it here in Portland at the
FCC, directed by Al Jamison,
opening January 27th through
February 19th, w ith special
performances at the Winningstad
heatre in the Portland Performing
Arts Center, February 21-25,1988.
In “ The Colored Museum, “
playwright George C. Wolfe shows
his mastery of satire in this fiercly
funny play which has entertained
audiences across the country.
Against a museum background
there are eleven "exhibits” or
ske tch e s in w hich com edy
predominates, but which also make
some chilling dramatic points.
Using a carefully concocted mixture
of song, wit and wisdom, "The
Colored Museum” is a supei
exploring the myths and changes of
Black America. It is wild to say the
least! Wait until you see it to believe
it, theatre fans, it is a trip, so fasten
“ your seat belts” for “the Celerity
Slaveship flight through LA LA Land
in America!"
The IFCC, under Executive
Director Sue Busby, is about to
make theatrical history with its
Oregon premiere production of what
she, the cast (headed by Brenda
Phillips, Shirley Nanette and
Gregory Donavan), and the staff
promise to be a very special
theatrical event. “ Write on, Sue, Al,
the cast and crew of C M ”
The Could Turn Out To Be The
Black Season To Remember
With the opening of Langston
H ughes’ “ Sim ply H eavenly,"
Charles Fuller's, "Zooman and the
Sign," “The Colored Museum" and
N obel P rize W inn e r, W ole
Soyinka’s, “ Death and the King’s
Horseman, this maybe the Black
season to remember in 1988-89!
Has Money Spoiled The Lottery Millionaires?
Though some might expect an instant millionaire to go on a
spending spree, or otherwise squander his winnings, most Black lottery
winners have changed their lifestyles for the better, reports the December
EBONY.
Several of the lucky winners of lottery games across the country
nave made contributions to civic groups, and given portions of their winnings
to family and friends, while others have set up trust funds for their children,
sought out better neighborhoods in which to live and purchased homes for
their families in those areas. Few, if any believe they have been changed
or spoiled by their wealth, and virtually all continue to play the lotteries.
Deloise Singletary, a 58-year-old mother of four won $5.5 million in
the Maryland State lottery the first time she played. Having worked low-
paying jobs most of her life, and never owning a house or a car, Ms.
Singletary purchased a three-bedroom suburban home and a Mercedes
Benze automobile with her winnings, while enjoying annual payments of
$250,000.00.
t
4
,
Denying rumors that extravagance has forced him into debt,
celebrated lottery winner Curtis Sharpe, who won $5 million in the New York
State lottery says "People look at me and they see a chance. They say, ‘If
he can do it, I can do it too,” ’ he adds.
CORRECTION
The Portland Observer's story on The Second Annual Minority Artist
Talent Showcase and the National Black Talent Directory N.W. unveiling
was inaccurate. For that, we apologize. Fact is, the event which was
scheduled for Dec. 19th has been cancelled and will be rescheduled after
the first of the year. Please read the Observer for a future date. For additional
information, please call: Joe (Bean) Keller at (503) 288-1662.
Willy T. Ribbs
In every aspect of his life, Willy T.
Ribbs makes an impression.
Whether it's on the roof of his
race car with his famous victory
shuffle; with his legion of fans
charmed by his charisma; or with his
competitors with his talented
driving, Ribbs always leaves his
mark.
Ribbs has also left his mark on
the record books in 1988.
He
powered his Toyota Celica turbo to
victories at Sears Point and Del Mar
and earned his second consecutive
GTO
N o re lco
D riv e r's
Championship. A Norelco Driver’s
Cup is awarded each race to the
driver who is voted by the media to
have the best perform ance,
regardless of finish. The driver who
accumulates the most votes at the
end of th e ye ar w ins the
Championship and receives a
$10,000 bonus.
“ W inning
the
N o re lco
Championship two years in a row
really means a lot to me,” says
Ribbs, 32, of San Jose, California.
“ It tells me that people are paying
attention to what I'm doing on the
track. And for two years running
they respect what they see ”
People have watched Willy T. do
magic with vehicles since he first got
grandfather’s V-8-powered Willys
Jeepster. "As soon as I could see
over the steering wheel, I was racing
it around, drifting it through corners
up on two wheels, “ Ribbs
remembers.
His love for racing took Willy to
England at the age of 21. After
winning the prestigious “ Star of
T o m o rro w "
fo rm u la
car
championship, he returned to
America where he participated in
the Formula Atlantic series. In 1983
he progressed to the Trans-Am
series and earned the honor of
Sports Car Club of America Pro
Rookie of the Year. From that year
to 1985, Ribbs was the winningest
driver in Trans-Am He has also
accum ulated num erous price
purses, making him the all-time
biggest money winner of the series.
Ribbs is hoping his 1989 racing
efforts will be as successful. He will
continue with Toyota in the jump
from GTO to the highly competitive
IMSA Camel GTP (prototype)
series.
“The GTP series is a whole
different ball game from the GTO
scene. I can’t think of any team I
would rather be associated with
than Dan Gurney and his Toycta
crew at All American Racers,” says
Ribbs. “ I’ve worked with them for
two years and I know their
dedication to getting the job done
right and being the first to get the
checkered flag I'm ready to get in
there and battle it out with the
established guys.”
With his increased visibility,
other doors are opening for Will T.,
as well. He has signed with Koala
Springs fruit juices to represent the
beverage company at race tracks
across the country.
"Everything is really starling to
happen. Moving up the ranks to
GTP is a great opportunity for me an
I am planning on making the most of
it,” says Ribbs.
Service
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depth in a varie’ y of contexts, and
the m asteiy with which he
approaches his music, each genre
draws upon a wide range of
released and umeieased material.
More than ha'* of Miles nearly
fifty exta n t and o u t-o f-p rin t
C olum bia ca ta lo g LPs are
represented ’ by no more than one
track each; with nine digitally-
remixed selections, along with six
rare a lte rn a te ta ke s a n d /o r
previously unreleased versions.
(The concep’ ua framework and
contents of the 5-L P/4-cassette/4-
compact disc se* are detailed on the
following pages.,
M ILES___ DAVIS.______IH E
Years
1955-1985 5-LP Boxed-Set
Presents Thematic Concept
Columbia Records takes a giant
step in the ongoing documentation
of the jazz world most important
living artist with the release of the
thematically-arranged 35-track, 258
minutes-plus box-set. MILE DAVIS,
THE COLUMBIA YEARS 19S5.
b
Sam Cooke
jobs. “ I don’t think many people look
at this as a TV glamour job," says
Roker. “ Everybody gives us a hard
time, but look at the economic
forecasters,” he adds. “ We look like
Nostradamus compared to those
guys, and they’re talking about
people’s money. All I’m talking
about are a couple of raindrops."
As their field is now attracting
increased educational emphasis
and
in te re s t,
T V ’s
B lack
meteorologists predict expanding
growth opportunities in television as
well as in the public sector for those
who choose to follow them.
1985. All selections have been
d ig itally rem astered at CBS
Records Studios in New York, and
the results are the best-sounding
Miles Davis sides ever.
The
specially-priced boxed-set will be
available in-store on December 6th.
Cannonball Adderley, Kenny
Clark, John Coltrane, Chick Corea,
Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Keith
J a rre tt,
E lvin Jo ne s, John
McLaughlin, Marcus Miller John
Scofield, Wayne Shorter, Tony
Williams, Joe Zawinul, and the Gil
Evans Orchestra headline the
Who’s Who of jazz musicians heard
on the boxed-set, which spans the
’50s, '60s, '70s and '8 0 s.
Accompanying this compilation is
an exquisitely-designed 24-page
booklet containing authoritative
liner notes by jazz critic, novelist,
and Village Voice columnist Nat
Hentoff, plus many rare and
unpublished photographs.
In its 5-album configuration, the
set devotes one record (two full
sides) apiece to Miles’ recordings in
the following genres: 1) Blues, 2)
Standards, 3) Originals, 4) Moods,
and 5) Electric. Demonstrating his
3041 N. Williams
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Southern Style
HOUSE SPECIALTIES
Including:
Cleo's
Zesty Ribs In Sauce
-
MEMBERS & GUESTS
YEARS
1955-1985
now joins Miles Davis’ active catalog
Thirteen of these have been issued
(or reissued) on the highly
successful Jazz Masterpieces
series over the past two years,
including the most recent Friday
Night at the Blackhawk. Voi. I.
Upcoming in January 89 is
Saturday Niuht at the Blackhawk,
Voi, il.
In April, the Jazz
Masterpieces series will reinstate
Jazz Track, an album that provided
three cuts for this new boxed-set.
M ILES
DAVIS;______ L H L
COLUMBIA YEARS 1955-1985
also loins the label s ongoing series
of boxed-sets and anthologies
known as The Columbia Years,
featuring Bing Crosby, Sarah
Vaughan and a Grammy award
winning entry on Frank Sinatra.
Upcoming in 1989 are sets on Fred
Astaire and Tony Bennett.
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Correspondence:
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• F-
1980s
1970s
Black Network Weathermen:
TV's Newest Imagemakers
TV's Black weathermen, on both
the network and local levels, forge
new ground in their industry, reports
the October EBONY.
On the three major networks,
meteorologists Mark McEwen of
CBS, Spencer Christian of ABC and
Al Roker of NBC-TV together reach
audiences of 10 million. In the
nation's top 20 television markets
however, Steve Baskerville of
Chicago and Steve Pool of Seattle
are th e only o th e r B la ck
weathercasters on weekday news
program s.
Joined by their
colleagues at smaller affiliates in
New York, St. Louis, Atlanta, Detroit
and
Los
A ng e le s,
B lack
weathermen maintain one of the
m ost
h ig hly
v is ib le ,
yet
misunderstood jobs in television.
Although weather forecasters
boast an accuracy rate of only 88
percent, this doesn’t lessen the
sense of se rio u sn e s s
and
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-
REMEMBERING...
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Miles Davis
Ribbs Wins Second Consecutive
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