The Knockturnal was on the scene for The Color Purple Broadway cast soundtrack Listening Party on Thursday, February 11 at The W Hotel Times Square.
On Wednesday (February 10th) Harlem non-profit independent film production foundation Imagenation hosted their annual Revolution Awards ceremony at the SVA Theater, honoring black excellence and achievement in film, media and activism. This year’s honorees included Oscar nominated ‘Selma’ director Ava Duvernay, actor/author/motivational speaker Hill Harper, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry, and The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira. 103.7 FM on-air personality Tony Bello was in attendance as host, and radio personality Sway Calloway and renowned psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere were also in attendance. Honoree Ava Duvernay wasn’t at the ceremony to accept her award, but accepted via a special videotaped message.
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Before the awards were presented to the honorees, a special screening on Tommy Oliver’s film “1982” was shown. The film shows the effects of a family struggling with one member’s drug addiction. We spoke to Oliver about what can black filmmakers do to promote black history and culture in film Oliver said, “I think for me it goes back to something that Du Bois said years ago is the idea of the Talented Ten. If you are fortunate enough, lucky enough creative enough, smart enough to achieve success that’s it’s important to give back to the remaining ninety percent and help them achieve success as well, that also includes telling stories that are important and that are uplifting. For me it’s about doing all that I can to make a positive impact”.
Producer Scott Rudin announced that To Kill a Mockingbird will be coming to Broadway.
Just when we thought we’d seen the last of it…
The Super Bowl fun started hours before the North Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos hit the field at Levi Stadium in San Franciso as a who’s who in entertainment hit the city in celebration of the big game over the weekend.
Kicking off the Super Bowl weekend MGM Grand presented Leather & Laces 13th Annual Two-Night Mega Party which was hosted by Jeremy Piven and Emmanuelle Chriqui. The party which was sponsored by Monster Energy and Medea Vodka along with Sushi Confidential, Sqor.com, 99.7 Now, Bauers Transportation and Mymojo.com had a guestlist which included Chuy Bravo, James Hall, JJ Stokes, James Anderson, Sam Barrington, Johnny Gill, Carissa Rosario and Charles Woodson during the first night and Alessandra Ambrosio and Emily Ratajkowski were on hand to host the second night’s celebration of Leather & Lace, while Shaquille O’Neil, Andrew Sendejo, Adrian Ross, Daryl Johnson, and Cage The Elephant were in attendance.
On Saturday afternoon Pepsi hosted their Black History Month celebration event #theRecipein partnership with the NFL highlighting players, celebrities and local champions for their achievements on and off the field. The brunch was hosted by Terrence J, Angela Simmons and featured a live performance from Miguel and DJ D-Nice.Special guests in attendance included T.I., DJ Envy, Legendary Damon and Karen Civil. Guests were also able to go online and take #TheRecipe quiz and share their personalized recipe cards on social media.
Meanwhile also taking place in San Francisco was the sixth annual DIRECTV Super Saturday Night at Pier 70 co-hosted by Mark Cuban’s AXS TV featuring a performance by the six-time Grammy Award-winning band, Red Hot Chili Peppers and special guests Run DMC, plus surprise performance by DJ Snoopadelic. Run DMC opened the show with their classic hits “It’s Tricky,” “Walk This Way,” and many more. The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed over an hour set with “Californication,” “By The Way,” “Otherside,” “Under The Bridge,” and “Can’t Stop” among other hits. Among those in attendance included: Reggie Bush, Alicia Keys, Liam Hemsworth, Kate Hudson, Julianne Hough and Nick Jonas.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 06: Recording artists Joseph Simmons (L) and Darryl McDaniels of RunD.M.C. perform onstage during the DirecTV and Pepsi Super Saturday Night featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers at Pier 70 on February 6, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for DirecTV)
DIRECTV Super Saturday Night closed out three nights of live concert performances, with Dave Matthews Band performing at DIRECTV’s Super Thursday Night and Pharrell Williams at Pepsi’s Friday Night Live.
Over Big Game Weekend, Hennessy V.S presented the Marquee Takeover at Verso in San Francisco. The nightly parties featured performances by DJ’s Jermaine Dupri, Tiesto, DJ Vice & DJ Khaled and specialty Hennessy V.S cocktails.. Celebrity guests including Cuba Gooding Jr, Ludacris, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Justin Bieber, Reggie Bush and Jerome Bettis were all in attendance.
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Photo Credit: Noel Vasquez / Getty Images for Hennessy V.S
A burlesque Snow White
In celebrating Black History Month, Macy’s locations in nine cities are hosting panel discussions with black celebrities in art, music, film, television, literature, culinary arts and journalism throughout the month of February.
Macy’s recently kicked off the first of eight panel discussions on Wednesday (February 3rd) in New York City in which Grammy Award winner Monica, Actor, author and Former 106 & Park Host Terrence J, and actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell (who stars in upcoming show Underground) were on hand to participate.
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Essence Fashion Editor Joiee Thorpe served as moderator during the panel discussion where Monica, Jurnee and Terrence talked about a variety of topics including their personal influences and overcoming obstacles and giving inspirational words of advice. “God blessed all of us with something in us that’s great, it’s just up to us to tap into what it is find out what we’re passionate about and use your passion in order to become that success that you want to be,” Terrence J told the attendees as inspiration to follow their dreams and goals.
Those in attendance were also given the opportunity to ask the three celebrities questions during a Q&A, and also had the opportunity to pose for pictures with the stars during a post discussion meet and greet. Attendees also had the opportunity to win tickets to see the Brooklyn Nets vs the Charlotte Hornets.
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Following Wednesday’s kickoff event Macy’s will hold Black History Month panel discussions in Chicago, Philadelphia, Aventura, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington D.C. Other celebrities who are participating include Taye Diggs, Chef G. Garvin, sports reporter Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, Black Girls Rock! founder Beverly Bond and social activist Eunique Jones Gibson and illustrator Shane Evans.
Exclusive: Jurnee Smollett-Bell Talks New Series ‘Underground’
No mess is strong enough for this duo
Singing, acting, writing; Melissa Errico does it all!
A play worth seeing!