TRENDS, TRAVEL, FILM, HISTORY and BOOKS

Trends, Travel, Film, History and Books provide readers with information that might be off the beaten path of their traditional news sources.   Whether its innovation, unique travel, classic or new age films and documentaries, looking at history from a different perspective or discovering new and established authors, it brings a fresh look to things that are either old or new again.

Courtesy: Lady Day on Broadway.com

Lady Day at EMERSON’s Bar & Grill …

40 Performances Left!!

SOURCE:  CBS / Broadway / Tony Awards

Audra McDonald – Photo Courtesy: Lady Day on Broadway.com

Audra McDonald as Lady Day at EMERSON’S Bar & Grill. Photo Courtesy: Lady Day on Broadway.com

Winner of six Tony Awards® (Lady Day, Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess), Audra McDonald has also appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden, Marie Christine (Tony® nomination), Henry IV, and 110 in the Shade (Tony® nomination). A two-time Grammy® Award-winner, she has released five solo albums on Nonesuch. On television, she was recently seen as “Mother Abbess” in NBC’s The Sound of Music Live! and played “Dr. Naomi Bennett” on ABC’s Private Practice for four seasons. She has received Emmy® nominations for A Raisin in the Sun, Wit and her role as official host of PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center. The Juilliard-trained soprano has also appeared on opera stages in Houston and LA and regularly performs with leading orchestras and in concerts with her own ensemble. Her film credits include She Got Problems, Best Thief in the World, It Runs in the Family, The Object of My Affection, Seven Servants and Rampart. Of her many roles, her favorites are the ones performed at home: wife to her husband, actor Will Swenson, and mother to her daughter, Zoe Madeline.

Lanie Robertson • Writer

In 1987, Lanie Robertson won the Outer Critics Circle Award for his Off-Broadway hit, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, which starred Lonette McKee as Billie Holiday, a role later assumed by Eartha Kitt, S. Epatha Merkerson, Loretta Divine and Jackée Harry. His other New York productions include Back County Crimes at Playwrights Horizons, Nasty Little Secrets at Primary Stages, Bringing Mother Down and Cannibal’s Waltz at the Abingdon Theatre and Woman Before a Glass at the Promenade with Mercedes Ruehl. For television, Mr. Robertson wrote the Diana Ross special Red Hot ‘n’ Blue for ABC and Journey Into Genius, which aired on PBS’s American Playhouse and starred Matthew Modine.

Lonny Price • Director

Broadway: Audra McDonald in 110 in the Shade, Danny Glover in Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys, Joan Rivers in Sally Marr and Her Escorts (co-written with Ms. Rivers and Erin Sanders) and himself in A Class Act (co-written with Linda Kline), for which he earned a Tony Award® nomination. He recently directed the New York Philharmonic’s production of Sweeney Todd (starring Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel), as well as Company (starring Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer and Patti LuPone). He received an Emmy Award® for Sondheim: The Birthday Concert. Other Philharmonic collaborations include Candide (starring Kristin Chenoweth), Camelot (starring Gabriel Bynre), Sweeney Todd (starring Ms. LuPone and George Hearn), for which he received an Emmy®, and Sondheim’s Passion starring Ms. LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris.

Courtesy: RICK BARTALINI PRESENTS

AFRICA’S REPUBLIC OF GUINEA, CONAKRY’S FIRST LADY VISITS ATLANTA ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS RELATIONS TRIP

S. Benjamin Enterprises Spearheads Tours of Governor’s Office, CDC, MedShare International

SOURCE:  Black News.com

Left to Right is Her Excellency First Lady Madame Djene Conde’ of The Republic of Guinea, Conakry, on the right front is Mason Brown, III, Legal Director and General Partner S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., creator of the Guinea Development Project. Photo Courtesy: Blacknews.ccom

Atlanta, GA – Madame Djéné Condé, the First Lady of the Republic of Guinea, Conakry in Africa, took a series of tours in Atlanta, Georgia, during a recent visit to the United States. Madame Condé was on an exploratory mission for international business development between the Republic of Guinea, Conakry and Georgia, which included a private meeting with Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal.

The historic trip which took place from August 11-13, marked a new chapter for business relations between Georgia and the Republic of Guinea, Conakry. The Republic of Guinea, Conakry is a small West African country located on the coast that is rich in natural resources including the largest reserve of bauxite in the world. Bauxite is an aluminum ore and is the world’s main source of aluminum. The country is also rich in other vast resources ranging from oil, gas, iron ore, gold, diamonds, etc.

Coordinated by S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., a private wealth management consulting firm specializing in international business development that is assisting the Republic of Guinea, Conakry with the development of its agriculture, the three-day visit opened doors of opportunity for business development between the two countries.

“Although a small country, The Republic of Guinea, Conakry has the capability to effect global consumption of food and global trade,” says Mason Brown, general partner of S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC. “We have been working closely with the University of Georgia which has expertise in agricultural soil testing in The Republic of Guinea, Conakry,” he shared. “This will certainly help increase Georgia’s business growth by creating jobs associated with institutions of agricultural expertise from Georgia, including but not limited to direct Guinea to Georgia businesses on multiple levels,” he said.

During the visit, Madame Condé met with Governor Nathan Deal’s wife, Sandra in a private meeting, who issued her a decree of honorary citizenship of Georgia. The visit to Atlanta also included tours of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MedShare International. At the CDC, Madame Condé toured its Emergency Operations Center and met with Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, and other leaders on CDC’s Ebola efforts. She also taped a public safety announcement in the CDC studios to be used for Ebola prevention efforts in the Republic of Guinea, Conakry. During her tour of MedShare International, Madame Condé discussed opportunities for medical missions to the Republic of Guinea, Conakry with MedShare representatives.

S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., is helping to develop the Republic of Guinea, Conakry’s agriculture, and is concentrating on ways of providing the area with fresh water, fresh food and the availability of continuous electricity, all of which are critical to the growth and sustenance of every society and community. The company’s representatives are preparing for a return trip by the First Lady within a few weeks, where she hopes to visit with Congressmen from Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, as well as former President Jimmy Carter.

“The implementation of the agricultural project in the Republic of Guinea, Conakry is expected within 30 to 90 days, where there has been no outbreak of Ebola, and by all accounts it is quite safe to travel there,” says Brown. “As a result, the Republic of Guinea, Conakry’s government is preparing to direct business between Georgia and The Republic of Guinea, Conakry,” he said.

S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., is a private wealth management consulting firm which provides wealth management consulting services to professional athletes, businesses, real estate owners, local governments, individual and charitable organizations. Their expertise includes but is not limited to real estate development, housing, oil and gas production, electric utilities development and infrastructure, legal consulting, transportation and mining.

SOURCE:  OWN / Oprah.com

What’s Gayle Reading?
O‘s editor at large got a lump in her throat reading this poignant true story. Plus, she shares the books that made her

Gayle King – Photo Courtesy: Omagthink and promote kindness, as well as the luscious read that made her want to “lick every page.”

think and promote kindness, as well as the luscious read that made her want to “lick every page.”

• The memoir Gayle King’s raving about
• How many of these books turned into new movies have you read?
• 15 books that will bring joy to your life
• 9 secrets you can only learn by turning 40

2014 NAACP THEATRE FESTIVAL SETS THE STAGE FOR 10 MINUTE PLAYS

— Featuring plays by Kinnik Sky, Carl Gilliard, Tammy Townsend, Lakinah Lestage, Terrell Tilford and more! –

SOURCE:  Black News.com

Los Angeles, CA — The 2014 NAACP Theatre Festival will take place September 12th­ – 14th, at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center located at 4718 West Washington Blvd in Los Angeles California. The week-long festival consists of 10­Minute Plays, acting and dancing workshops, as well as networking opportunities with some of the industries most talented entertainers.

This year the NAACP and its partners Wells Fargo, The City of Los Angeles and Rent-­A­-Center will kick off the 2014 NAACP Theatre Festival week with an Opening Night VIP Reception to be held on Friday, September 12, 2014. Opening night will feature the return of first ­time playwright Kinnik Sky’s Award Winning Play “Sunday Mourning“. “Sunday Mourning” garnered seven nominations and three NAACP Theatre Award wins in 2012.

Renown Theatre, Television and Film Actor, Carl Gilliard known for his television roles in sitcoms such as “Freddie”, “Barbershop” and “Family Matters”, Tammy Townsend starring in the 2015 Disney release “K.C. Undercover” with Zendaya and Kadeem Hardison and Actor, Curator and Producer, Terrell Tilford known for the role of Dr. Barton Shelby on “The Young and the Restless”, will host the 2014 NAACP production of 10 ­Minute Plays taking place Saturday, September 13th and Sunday, September 14th. Attendees can expect two ­days of short entertainment plays that will cover a variety of genres including comedy, drama, action, and other focuses.

In addition to viewing plays, patrons will have the opportunity to attend free acting and dancing workshops, panel discussions and stage readings. The workshops are designed for novice actors, playwrights and those looking to network within the industry. Workshops include but are not limited to “How to Produce a One Person Play” (moderated by stage and film actress Iona Morris), “So You Want To Be an Actor, Writer, Stuntperson or All of the Above and More: What do you do Now?” (moderated by veteran actress Patricia Belcher who can currently be seen on the TV Series “Bones and Partners”), and “Actors Equity on Stage” (moderated by actor and producer Kim Estes). A special “Access to Capital” workshop will be led by Wells Fargos Professional Bankers Team, who will lend their expert professional advice for starting your own business, growing your existing business or seeking project funding.Attendees can expect to enjoy 10 ­Minute Play performances by Sakinah Lestage (choreographer for Taylor Swift, Austin Mahone), Terrell Tilford (Single Ladies), Roger Guenveur Smith (American Gangster), Ted Lange (The Love Boat), Dan Martin (The Bold and The Beautiful), Phil Morris (Love That Girl, Boondocks), Gil Smith (music director for Lil Wayne, Faith Evans) and many more.