BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: Urban Bush Women bring ‘Hair & Other Stories’ to the Ford
As part of their 35th anniversary celebration, Urban Bush Women are returning to Ford Theatres Aug. 30 for a one-night-only performance of “Hair & Other Stories.”
Choreographed by Urban Bush Women Artistic Directors Chanon Judson-Johnson and Samantha Speis, in collaboration with the company, the production is described as an experience that blends dance theater with conversations that challenge existing American values and celebrate our choices around “who we be” and “how we do.”
Crafted from personal narratives from our communities, kitchens and living rooms, social media and YouTube, “Hair & Other Stories” creatively examines structural racism in our society, and celebrates the persevering narrative of the African Diaspora in America.
Featuring new music compositions by the Illustrious Blacks (Manchildblack and Monstah Black) with stage direction by Raelle Myrick-Hodges and dramaturgy by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar; The Company consists of Judson-Johnson, Spies, Courtney J. Cook, Du’Bois A’Keen, Stephanie Mas and Tendayi Kuumba (*on leave), with guest performers Marjani Forté-Saunders and Kesha McKey.
LIVING HER BEST LIFE: Keke Palmer just celebrated her 26th birthday with all kinds of announcements. The actress, who is co-starring in the movie “Hustlers” with Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Lizzo and Constance Wu, was named permanent co-host of the third hour of ABC’s “Good Morning America” joining Michael Strahan and Sara Haines. She also has a new single “Twerk & Flirt” out via Entertainment One (“eOne”).
TASTY QUIP: “Populist leaders citing nationalist agendas, or claiming that climate change and its handmaidens are a hoax, are guilty of much more than standing by and doing nothing. This is criminal negligence on a global scale.” – STING in an official statement on behalf of his Rainforest Foundation Fund
CLIPPETTES: Lil Yachty is scheduled to pack Boardner’s Aug. 30. Also that evening, the O’Jays and the Spinners share the bill at the L.A. County Fair; and the Bennie Maupin Ensemble begins a two-night stand at the Blue Whale …
Viola Davis will portray Michelle Obama in Showtime’s upcoming drama series “First Ladies.” This in addition to reprising her Amanda Waller role in “The Suicide Squad” and starring in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” with Chadwick Boseman for Netflix …
Documentarian Stanley Nelson (“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution,” “Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities”) returns with the unveiling of “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool” from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at the Landmark followed by Q&As …
In “Saturday Night Live” news, Leslie Jones will not be returning for season 45 of NBC’s late-night mainstay, but Eddie Murphy will on Dec. 21, marking his first time hosting since 1984 …
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly, Regina Belle and comic Donnell Rawlings, performs at the Greek Theatre Aug. 31; as Morgan Heritage brings reggae to the Observatory; and Amanda Seales and special guests set shop at the Comedy Store …
Among the many announcements made at Disney’s D3 convention was a release date of May 6, 2022 for “Black Panther 2;” and Lawrence Fishburne producing an animated series version of Marvel’s “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” for Disney Channel …
Big Daddy Kane, Mr. Vegas, The Beat Junkies with T3 of Slum Village and more hit the stage of the free West Adams Block Party Sept. 1 at Delicious Pizza. Later, legendary Brit dub group UB40 makes a rare appearance at The Novo …
BET crowned Melvin Crispell III the ninth season winner of their inspirational singing competition “Sunday Best” …
Wicked Paradise, featuring Paul Oakenfold, will have the music spinning from 1 to 7 p.m. at Skybar at Mondrian Sept. 2 …
Deborah Riley Draper premiered her short “Illegal Rose” starring Jasmine Guy on the closing day of the 10th annual BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta. She next serves as the writer/director of “Coffee Will Make You Black” with Octavia Spencer and Gabrielle Union …
Funnymen Russell Peters and David Arnold are scheduled Sept. 3 at the Comedy Store …
Johnny Gill has released a new single called “Perfect” which features his former New Edition mate Ralph Tresvant …
Fresh off touring with George Clinton’s P-Funk farewell tour, rockers Fishbone headline at the Glass House in Pomona Sept. 4 …
The Museum of Tolerance hosts An Evening with Walter Mosley, writer of the Easy Rawlings book series and FX’s “Snowfall,” Sept. 5. That night, KRS-One teaches at La Santa OC; Massive Attack delivers at the Palladium; and Live From The Mayfair has Nikka Costa at the Liberty Bar with no cover.
TASTY QUIP: “Jimmy Kimmel and Norman Lear, they would never hire me. They just don’t appreciate what I do. Norman Lear’s a great guy. I think you have people that you like, but won’t work with again. And I think that’s what Norman thinks about me. He likes Jimmie Walker, will never say anything bad about Jimmie Walker, but I think he feels that because I was on the show, it changed what he had planned for the show. It kind of overtook what he wanted to do.” – JIMMIE “JJ” WALKER on “Good Day DC” regarding his relationship with the talk show host and the producer of his hit 70s sitcom “Good Times.”
TC ON TV: Aug. 30 – “Styling Hollywood” (Netflix): Whether styling superstars or elevating A-list homes, couple Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis of JSN Studio connect famous clientele like Taraji P. Henson, Yara Shahidi, Ava DuVernay and more with awards-season couture on this reality show. “Good Morning America” (ABC): Kane Brown and Marshmello
Sept. 1 – “A Year in Music” (AXS): “Downtown” Julie Brown looks back at 1985. That would be when Whitney Houston debuted, Phil Collins scored with “No Jacket Required” and Prince was going “Around The World in a Day.”
Sept. 2 – “Live with Kelly & Ryan” (ABC): Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
Sept. 3 – “Greenleaf” (OWN): Season four of the hit megachurch drama series that was Wednesday night’s No. 1 original cable series for African-American women and total views will find the show moved to a new night – Tuesdays. Beau Bridges (“Homeland” “black-ish’) joins the cast as a rival minister. “Mayans M.C.” (FX): JD Pardo and Edward James Olmos return for a second season of the next chapter in Kurt Sutter’s award-winning “Sons of Anarchy” saga. “The Shop” (HBO): Maverick Carter, Kevin Hart, Rob Gronkowski, Kevin Love, CJ McCollum, Charlamagne Tha God, Lil Nas X and Paul Rivera.
Sept. 4 – “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (Hulu): Set in early ’90s New York at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, the show tracks the Clan’s formation, a vision of Bobby Diggs aka The RZA, who strives to unite a dozen young, black men that are torn between music and crime but eventually rise to become the unlikeliest of American success stories.
Sept. 5 – “Lights Out with David Spade” (Comedy): J.B. Smoove
TASTY QUIP: “I’ve given this a lot of thought. I don’t see any peaceful way to disarm America’s whites. There’s only one thing that’s going to save this country from itself. Same thing that always saves this country from itself. And that is African-Americans. And I know the question a lot of y’all have in your minds is, should we do it? F–k yeah, we should do it.” – DAVE CHAPPELLE from his Netflix stand-up special “Sticks & Stones”
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to tastyclips@yahoo.com or via Twitter @tastyclips.