Entertainment

Abena Joan Brown, Black Theater Pioneer, Touched Everyone She Knew

(Opinion) When my dad died, my family scrabbled to find a place to hold his memorial in Chicago. He was an artist reared on the South Side but spent the last two decades of his life operating a gallery in Washington, D.C.

Abena Joan Brown, Black Theater Pioneer, Dies After Short Illness

Abena Joan Brown, founder of the ETA Creative Arts Theater on Chicago’s South Side, died Sunday after a short illness.

Misty Copeland Named First Black Female Principal at American Ballet Theatre

Misty Copeland, the Missouri-born ballerina who's become a forceful voice for diversity in ballet and achieved a celebrity that far transcends that rarified world, was named principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre on Tuesday — the first African-American woman to reach that status in the company's 75-year history.

Bobbi Kristina Brown moved to hospice care

Bobbi Kristina Brown has been moved to hospice care after months in the hospital. In a statement Wednesday, her aunt Pat Houston said Whitney Houston's daughter's condition has worsened.

AACM to Hold Interactive Healing Concerts in Bronzville

In an effort to help restore peace throughout Chicago’s violence-ridden neighborhoods, members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) will present interactive, after-school concerts to begin in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood next month.

SSC Pac Rat Theatre Company Holding Open Auditions for Rick Abbot Comedy

Local thespians who’d like to try their hand at comedy are urged to audition for a local production.

Stevie Wonder to Open Special Olympics Games

Stevie Wonder, Cody Simpson and Avril Lavigne are some of the stars who will perform during next month’s opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games, organizers announced last week.

NBC Boots Brian Williams from 'Nightly News,' Lester Holt takes over full-time

NBC News said Thursday that Brian Williams will not return to his job as "Nightly News" anchor following his suspension for misrepresenting himself, but will be given a second chance as a breaking news anchor at the cable network MSNBC.

Miss Zimbabwe Stripped of Title For Posing Nude

Miss Zimbabwe has been officially stripped of her title after photographs emerged of her posing nude, pageant organizers announced.

Singer Akon Offers Assistance with African Energy Crisis

The initiative “Akon Lighting Africa” trains local African engineers and entrepreneurs in the production of solar power and will bring solar power to over 600 million Africans.

Judge Delays Case After 'Suge' Knight Hires Jackson Lawyer

A judge last week delayed the murder trial of Marion "Suge" Knight after the former rap music mogul hired the attorney who successfully defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges.

Gabourey Sidibe Memoir Coming in 2017

Gabourey Sidibe has been holding back. The Oscar-nominated actress best known for the film "Precious" and hit TV series "Empire" is working on a memoir scheduled to come out in 2017. The book is untitled, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced Wednesday. In a statement issued through her publisher, the 32-year-old Sidibe said she had been writing since childhood and was anxious to share stories "too long, shady and impolite" for interviews. Her other movies include "Tower Heist" and "Yelling to the Sky" and the TV series "The Big C."

Q & A with Star Jones

Star Jones, television personality, attorney, best-selling author and commentator, navigates the world rooted in her southern upbringing. And now, after a successful 25-year television run, Jones says she’s found another “calling” in an unexpected industry. The former star of “The View” television talk show is currently a women’s and diversity advocate.

Denzel Washington’s Daughter Olivia Makes NYC Stage Debut

Like so many other aspiring actresses, Olivia Washington is paying her dues at a small, off-Broadway theater. Unlike so many other aspiring actresses, she’s not relying on her famous dad.

Viola Davis to Star as Harriet Tubman in HBO Movie

“How to Get Away with Murder” star Viola Davis will play Harriet Tubman in a HBO movie about the abolitionist hero.