For
Openers – It’s been a l-o-n-g time coming – 35 years, in fact! – but finally
Jackie Taylor’s $9 million 49,000-square foot lifetime dream, the brand new
home of Black Ensemble Theatre & Cultural Center (BET), is scheduled to
open on Friday during a star-studded gala at 4450 N. Clark St. (on the corner
of Sunnyside) in Uptown. The initial show: The Jackie Wilson Story – indeed one
of the early successes of Jackie, BET’s oh-so brilliant and talented
60-year-old award-winning founder and artistic director. The showcased will run
through Jan. 8. For $55-$65 tickets, call (773) 769-4451. Other theatrical
musical productions planned for this season include stories about such legends
as Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, “The Ladies of Soul” (Aretha Franklin, Patti
LaBelle, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan) and James Brown.
The Opening Ceremony kicks-off Friday at
7 p.m., followed by the Launch of The Jackie Wilson Story, tickets, $300; the
Grand Opening Ceremony continues on Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (free); The Jackie
Wilson Story, 8 p.m.. tickets. $65; the Official Grand Opening Weekend After
Party (music by Steve Maestro, tickets, $20; Grand Opening Sunday Celebration,
Enjoy Brunch Specials for BET patrons at Uptown and Andersonville restaurants
(brunch priced separately), Experience the First Sunday Matinee of The Jackie
Wilson Story, theatre tickets, $65. Curtain going up!
Kappa Korner – The
ever-popular Temptations come this way Nov. 25 to help the proud brothers who
boast of membership in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Chicago Alumni Chapter
raise scholarship dollars for their Edward G. Irvin Foundation. This year’s $75
per ticket fundraiser, headed by Major Armstead, chapter prez, and Frank Horton
III, benefit chair, kicks off with a 6 p.m. VIP Reception in Merrillville,
Ind.’s Radisson Hotel Ballroom and continuing at 8 p.m., a couple of hours
later, with a concert in the adjacent Star Plaza Merrillville Theatre – also
starring. soul vocalist Terisa Griffin and comic Jimmy “J.J.” Walker, emcee.
The reception will also include dancing with music by DJ Cisco, cocktails, a
bountiful buffet and assorted door prizes. Then The Temps take us “old” and
“new” skoolers back in the day. Established in 1981, the Foundation has been
providing college scholarships on an annual basis for a minimum of four African
American young men. And among others serving on the foundation’s Board of
Directors: Rev. Dr. Leon D. Finney Jr., Melvin Hopson, Lester McKeever, Earl
Barnes, Harry Reid, Donzel Starks, Emmlt Home, LaMar Davis, Byron Thomas,
Torrence Moore, Dr. Alvin Paul III and Timothy Thomas Jr.
Ticket
distribution committee members are Terry Lewis, Jerry Johnson, Al Smith and to
reserve yours, contact one of them or Frank Horton. His digits are (773)
750-5242. For overnight hotel accommodations, check with Tommie King, (773)
519-4712,Yep! We’re there!
Hats Off – to
Reginald “Hats” Adams, who has served as director of community affairs at Rush
University Medical Center since 1974, on being named a Trustee Medical
Recipient, Rush’s highest honor, recognizing “individuals of distinction ...
whose achievements provide exemplary standards for generations to come.” The
Trustee Medal honors “Hats” for his passion, drive and vision for the children
of Chicago’s West Side. He joined the Medical Center Staff in 1968 as chief
youth worker at Mile Square Health Care Center. As community affairs director,
he has developed an extensive program of outreach to the West Side community on
the Center’s behalf.
Throughout
his Rush Hospital career, “Hats” has paid particular attention to the
educational concerns of minority students. Through his efforts, the Science and
Math Excellence (SAME) Network was launched in 1990. It has since has grown to
encompass collaborative programs with 45 elementary schools, six high schools,
14 churches and many local businesses. The Network sponsors after-school
programs for teachers and mentoring of students by Rush employees. Last year,
nearly 4,000 children and teens benefited from SAME Network’s many programs and
services.
College Caper – A number of
local and suburban high school juniors and seniors depart Jewel-Osco’s parking
lot, 87th and Dan Ryan, this Wednesday morning via luxury coach bus for
Nashville and a Fisk University Homecoming Bus Tour sponsored by the Chicago
Area Fisk University Alumni Ass’n. The youngsters will stay in university
dorms; meet, be hosted by and attend classes with current students; attend
financial aid and scholarship workshops; have $50 application fees waived;
attend recognition ceremony for accepted students; participate in all
homecoming activities (pep rally, basketball game, homecoming concert with
Chicago native and R&B artist Jeremiah, Greek Step Show) and much more –
all for only $100 per person for four days and three nights!
Newsy Names –
Ken Bedford, popular party promoter, hosts a “Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Steppers
Set” on Saturday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., for “steppers, boppers and walkers” at Toyota
Park’s new Stadium Club, 7100 S. Harlem, with a live performance by Kjon (On
the Ocean, This Time and Good Morning) and DJ Steve Breeze. It promises to be
“the best ever!” Free parking! Call (312) 608-6358 ... Friends of Dorothy
Brown, clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, present “A Salute” in her
honor on Thursday, 6 p.m.-midnight, at Alhambra Palace. Among honorary chairs:
State Senators Annazette Collins, Mattie Hunter, Emil Jones Jr., State Reps.
Marlow H. Colvin, Monique Davis, LaShawn Ford, Ken Dunkin, Constance Howard,
Camille Lilly, Karen Yarbrough, Alds. Carrie Austin, Walter Burnett, Willie
Cochran, Pat Dowell, Jason Ervin, Lona Lane, Michelle Harris, Deborah Graham
and Roderick Sawyer and a number of steppin’ groups. Also Don Doty, Cheryl
Jackson, Steve Hopson, Don Vic, Tommie Williams, Carl Ellis, Andre Blackwell,
Alonzo Brown, Reginald Brown, Pete Frazier, Clarence Jenkins, Tom Hayes, Tracey
Wheeler, Rose Wellington, Black Mary, et al. Gil Walker is coordinator.
Donation: $150 ... Welcome to Chicago, Kimberly Bainbridge, a Boston Univ.
journalism grad from West Chester County, NY, new to the editorial staff at Jet
Magazine ... Happy b’day to Clarence Waldron, Cheribelle Byrd, Nedra Durham,
Art Sims, Marie Slaughter Brown, Othel Owen, Sylvia Perez, Christi Love, Rae
Jones, Henri “Obie” Bryson, Jalyne Strong-Shaw, Sax Preacher and Bernard
Williams Jr., who celebrates #65 on Friday, 5 p.m.. at Black United Fund of
Illinois, 1809 E. 71st St. ... Lisa Gooch, jazz and gospel vocalist, pianist,
organist, educator and inspirational speaker, performs Saturday, 11 a.m.-3
p.m., at Barclay Sub-Division, 1058 W. 81st St., in Merrillville, Ind. Call
(219) 887-4096 for $15 reservations.
Morning Music – Glitz
and/or Glamour! Choose one or both for your attire on Dec. 10 when Southside
Friends of Chicago Sinfonietta stage Magical Holiday Breakfast, an 8 a.m.
fundraiser in Navy Pier’s Crystal Ballroom. Theme: Lights! Camera! Action! –
The Music of Motion Pictures. Program features: the Chicago SInfonietta
Classical Ensemble, George Cooper on keyboard; Deborah Rountree, soprano;
Sizzling Strings, Sylvia de la Cerna, a silent auction and door prizes. Sharon
Scott is benefit chair. Among other event hosts: Audrey Tuggle, Barbara Wright
Pryor, Sheila Tucker, Joyce Norman, Rita Wilson, Jacqueline Moore, Renee
Butler, Steve Baskerville, Joyce Grey, Cheri Chappelle, Paul Freeman, Mei-Ann
Chen, Gwen Ritchie and Joyce Occomy Stricklin. Donation: $2,000 for a donors’
table of 10; $1,000, benefactor’s table; $750, patron’s table, and $65 for a
single seat. Call (312) 236-3681, ext. 558.
Scholar Dollars – Four law
school students received sizeable grants from the Cook County Bar Assn’s Bench
& Bar Spouses during “Glitz, Glimmer & Glitter,” the annual Scholarship
Luncheon Fashion Show at the Hyatt Regency. The recipients and their schools:
Allysse Eberhardt and Bettina Stanford, John Marshall Law School, and Crystal
Martin and Lakeisha Murdaugh, both of Valparaiso Univ. The presentations were
made by Ruth Wooldridge, Mildred Porter and Ruth Slaughter. Over the years,
some 75 scholarships have been awarded by the group. After the luncheon, B&B
member Dolores Robinson Caldwell, and her daughter, Janell Caldwell West,
treated several lunch guests to “Champagne & Chick’n Wings” (and more!) in
her West Chesterfield home. Yummy to the tummy! ..... Vocalists Kem and Chaka
Khan perform in tandem Nov. 26, 7 p.m., at a Thanksgiving Soul Jam at UIC
Pavilion. Tickets @ Ticketron.
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
