Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour Kicks Off In LA

The West Coast portion of Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour kicked off today, with an invite-only brunch held at Millwick in downtown Los Angeles.

Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour is a multi-city event series that honors the life and legacy of late blues singer Bessie Smith, in advance of HBO’s film Bessie. The film premieres on May 16 and will feature Queen Latifah as Bessie.

In attendance at today’s brunch were actress Tika Sumpter and actor Tory Kittles, who both have roles in the film; HBO Films President Len Amato and Bessie executive producer Shelby Stone. Guests mingled and enjoyed the venue’s outdoor space before sitting down to brunch, which kicked off with a viewing of the film’s trailer.

Photo credit: Dorothy Hong