Sherman Hemsley was TV dad George Jefferson in 'The Jeffersons. by Myron Mays As far back as television goes, TV dads have been a common figure. They were prominent on older shows such as "Leave it to Beaver," "My Three Sons" and the "Dick Van Dyke Show." And no less so later on with African-American viewers, thanks to shows such as "Sanford & Son," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times." I'm not really sure why it took so long for shows with African-American dads to be presented to America. There have always been strong and present Dads in the African-American household.
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA A lot of traditional and contemporary gospel mixed with a little bit of country is what Pittsburgh audiences can expect when the Blind Boys of Alabama take the outdoor stage to close out the Three Rivers Arts Festival June 16.
CMU Alumni Patina Miller and Billy Porter pose with their awards in the press room at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, in New York, June 9,(Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) by Mark KennedyAP Drama Writer NEW YORK (AP) — There was plenty of applause heard during the Tony Awards — and perhaps no place louder than from as far away as Pittsburgh. Six alumni from Carnegie Mellon University took home Tonys in five categories, a glittery haul that was both a school record and a huge source of pride for a theater department that turns 100 next year. Billy Porter, Patina Miller and Judith Light each took home acting Tonys, while Ann Roth got one for best costume design, and partners Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer won for best lighting design of a play. "We've had a bumper crop," said Peter Cooke, head of the university's school of drama. "I'm just delighted that they received rewards from their peers. It was just a terrific night."
Throughout your life, you’ve dodged a lot of bullets. By accident or design, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time but somehow remained unscathed: the almost-hazard while driving, the near-miss at work, the moment you caught yourself just in time from falling. Things could’ve been worse – much worse - but you dodged a bullet. So did it make your heart pound, or did it change your life?
OVERALL PERFORMANCE—Bridgette Perdue performs with dancers from CAPA High School. (Photos by J.L. Martello) Bridgette Perdue believes that every person was created for something. The Pop and R&B artist put out a call for everyone to make their dream a reality during her “Wake Up And Dream” concert.
James Darwin came home from Baltimore, Md. to hang out with his friends in Pittsburgh. This week I visited I visited Pittsburgh Obama’s Prom Line-Up, Kenny’s Place in Uptown, Pittsburgh, Black Beauty Lounge in the Hill District and Savoy Restaurant and CJ’s in the Strip District. My first stop was at Kenny’s Place in Uptown Pittsburgh where everyone came out to get their Karaoke on for the evening. The place was packed and everyone had a great time.
Thursday 13 Savoy LiveThe Savoy Restaurant & Lounge presents Savoy Live from 6-9 p.m. at 2623 Penn Ave., Strip District. Every Thursday, Savoy will showcase live music in Pittsburgh. The guest artist will be Hakim Rasheed. For more information, call 412-281-0660.
Patina Miller, Tony Award winner of the best actress in a musical category for her role in "Pippen," left, Cicely Tyson, winner of the best actress in a play category for "The Trip to Bountiful", center, and Billy Porter, winner of the best actor in a musical category for his role in "Kinky Boots," pose with their awards in the press room at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 9, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) by Jocelyn Noveck AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — On a feel-good night for Broadway, it was only natural that the Tony award go to its most feel-good musical, the joyous "Kinky Boots." But most everything about Sunday's Tony telecast was warmhearted, from inspiring speeches about the theatrical community to the inspired antics of Neil Patrick Harris, who should officially be awarded the host job on a permanent basis.
Billy Porter accepts his award for best actor in a musical at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 9, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh native Billy Porter, who plays a fierce drag queen in "Kinky Boots," has strutted off with the Tony Award for best actor in a musical.
This theater image released by The O+M Company shows the cast during a performance of the musical "Kinky Boots." The Cyndi Lauper-scored "Kinky Boots," based on the 2005 British movie about a real-life shoe factory that struggles until it finds new life in fetish footwear, is nominated for 13 Tony Award nominations. The play stars Pittsburgh native Billy Porter. The awards will be broadcast on CBS from Radio City Music Hall on June 9. (AP Photo/The O+M Company, Matthew Murphy) by Mark Kennedy NEW YORK (AP) — The great comedian W.C. Fields is credited with the line, "Never work with children or animals." He would have had trouble on Broadway this season.
