ENTERTAINMENT
MUSICAL TRIBUTE
The musical catalog of activist and singer Harry Belafonte’s will be celebrated with a concert on his 92nd
birthday at Aaron Davis Hall on March 1.
Caribbean Life, F BQ eb. 22–28, 2019 45
By Alexandra Simon
Renowned activist and calypso legend
Harry Belafonte will be celebrated
with a birthday concert at Aaron
Davis Hall on March 1. On what will
be his 92nd birthday, members of the
Belafonte Alumni Group — a collective
of performers that toured with
the entertainer in his heyday — will
be honoring him with a musical
show of some of his greatest songs.
Every year at the “Turn the World
Around: The Music and Legacy of
Harry Belafonte” show, the alumnus
group consisting of more than 12
members, perform an entire concert
dedicated to his songs. They plan on
replicating previous shows, but also
intend to play tracks that crank of
nostalgia in longtime fans, said the
group’s musical director.
“We’re going to perform many of
the same songs we’ve always done,
but we’re also going to do some songs
that people haven’t heard since the
eighties,” said Richard Cummings.
He said if Belafonte made a surprise
appearance at the show, he will
be more than pleased to hear some of
the 80’s tunes and enjoy the twist.
“He ought to get a kick out of that
because we’re going to keep it fresh,
but make it very memorable,” said
Cummings. “We are going to sing
in Harry’s style but at the same time
keeping things up to date.”
A few songs slated to be performed
include Belafonte’s biggest and most
popular hits, such as “The Banana
Boat Song (Day-O),” “Jamaica Farewell,”
and others.
Continued on Page 46
Actress Liza Jessie Peterson in “The
Peculiar Patriot.” Garlia C. Jones
By Alexandra Simon
It’s a milestone year.
The National Black Theatre is going
to continue celebrating its 50th anniversary
from now until mid-fall. The
premier Harlem-based arts organization
was founded half a century ago by
artist and writer Dr. Barbara Ann Teer
on Oct. 24, 1968 — creating a space of
originality for black artists and creatives.
Now 50 years into its existence,
the company hopes to maintain its role
Continued on Page 46
“Meet Miss Fancy” by Irene Latham,
illustrated by John Holyfield
c.2019, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
$17.99 / $23.99 Canada
32 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Ever since you were a little kid, you’ve
had a great big wish.
You’ve always wanted that one thing.
You’ve schemed and asked, begged and
plotted, but you still don’t have it. As in
the new book “Meet Miss Fancy” by Irene
Latham, illustrated by John Holyfield,
whatever’s stopping you just isn’t fair.
More than anything in the world,
Frank adored elephants.
He loved everything about them: their
big long trunks, their “flap-flap ears,”
and the way their feet looked like the bot-
Continued on Page 46
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Black theatre
celebrates 50
Kid’s tale of
injustice
he rthday Concert to celebrate Belafonte’s birthday
/ENTERTAINMENT