Here is a sneak peak at a documentary about Nigerian-Irish Double Bass Player and Broadcaster Chi-Chi Nwanoku. She’s a member of the British ensemble “The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment” and is accomplished not only in music, but in athletics as well. Take a peak at this preview :

                          

The cross-city project allowed young people in London and Birmingham to learn and develop skills in media, research and film-making in a practical hands-on way and follows previous youth-led film and heritage projects from Octavia Foundation including Grove Roots and Hidden Herstories.

The groundbreaking film explores the history and heritage of black theatre in Britain, examines the different interpretations of ‘Black British Theatre’ as a label and genre and catalogues the incredible contribution of black actors, producers and playwrights to the UK theatre tradition. Featuring previously unseen footage of seminal plays, fascinating interviews with theatre heavyweights, ‘Margins to Mainstream’ tells the story of a dynamic art.

Zakiya, 18, who took part in the project explains ‘it was great to take part in this project, it helped to develop my film-making skills and I learn a lot about theatre and productions and it was great to meet new people. I’m really pleased with the film, it’s really unique and eye-opening, it’s a colourful film and about much more than just theatre; it’s a fascinating social history full of positive stories and inspirational people.’

Historians, playwrights, producers and actors that contributed and appear in the film include writer and playwright Courttia Newland, actor Javone Prince, actor, playwright and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah and Pat Cumper, Director of the Talawa Arts Centre. The film was shot at locations including Theatre Royal East, London Southbank Centre, Royal Court Theatre, Old Vic and The Tabernacle.

From Ira Aldridge playing Othello in Covent Garden in the 1830s, to Bashy playing Markus the Sadist in a ‘rap opera’ in 2010; the richness of this story is in its diversity. The film looks at the forgotten treasures and the landmark performances in the huge canon of work that exists. The film is pioneering in its subject and approach, highlighting the battles and the triumphs of Black British Theatre, on its journey from the margins, into the mainstream.

Gabrielle Tierney, Head of Community Initiatives at the Octavia Foundation explained, ‘we were delighted when NuCentury Arts approached us to be their youth media partner as our young film-makers are always looking for new opportunities to train and flex their media muscles. We have a history of supporting talented young people to tell untold stories, and the story of Black Theatre in Britain is most certainly a hidden gem.’

Filming took place throughout the summer months in 2011 and the film will receive its London premiere at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square on Friday 11th May.

After the premiere the film will be screened at venues throughout London, Birmingham and the rest of the country and made available to theatres, arts and community groups and other interested groups later on this year. Visit this link for screenings.

                          

Entitled “First Hearing …”, the program will showcase several works receiving either their world or New York State premieres. The highlight of the program will be the world premiere of Carlton L. Winston’s “Dionysian Mysteries.”

Winston, a native of Columbus, Ohio, is a promising young composer whose “When the Great Owl Sings” was a highlight of the band’s 2010 summer concert series. The performance of “Dionysian Mysteries” will include a brief introductory narration written by Winston to complement the music and recorded by principal horn Christine Chase Sacchi under the direction of Kevin Scott, band director.

The evening’s musical slate will also feature the first New York State performance of Gary Powell Nash’s “Giovanna’s Song and Dance,” a festive dance celebrating the birth of his daughter and employing African rhythms alongside jazz and rhythm and blues riffs.

Rounding out the concert are three concertos, including Persis Parshall Vehar’s “Bright Phoenix Ascending” for alto saxophone and wind ensemble, which will be receiving its first performance in Orange County. Featured soloist during this piece will be Tonie DePasquale, chair of the Middletown City Schools District’s music department and vocal/general music teacher at Maple Hill Elementary School.

The remaining concertos include Eric Joseph Richards’ “Dance of the Southern Lights” for piccolo and wind ensemble, and Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City” in an arrangement for wind ensemble by Donald Hunsberger. Stefanie Proulx (below), a senior at Monroe-Woodbury High School, will play a solo during the Richards piece while soloists for the Copland arrangement include Scott Suckling (the band’s principal trumpet player) and Natassia Velez (principal oboist/English Horn).

Rounding out the program will be Maurice C. Whitney’s “Dramatic Episode” and a Glenn Cliffe Bainum arrangement of Jaromir Weinberger’s “Polka and Fugue” from “Schwanda, the Bagpiper.”

The concert is sponsored by the College’s Arts and Communication Department. General admission is $5. SUNY Orange Students with a current ID and active military personnel will be admitted free. The Paramount Theatre, located at 17 South St. in Middletown, is universally accessible. For more information, contact the Arts and Communication Department at (845) 341-4787.

                          

Regardless of what you think of his current film ” Red Hook Summer”, you have to agree that Spike Lee is an American Icon with an amazing body of films to his credit. He is known for his signature “Dolly Shot” ( The shot where it looks like the featured character is floating. Here is a collection of them that we found at High Snobiety.

                          

Secrets & Stories features nine textile artists who tell a story or suggest a secret, May 4 – July 22, 2012. The stories are as varied as the artists themselves. There are political and personal stories, relationship stories, and passionate statements about the environment, women’s issues, and families. Some references are subtle, others are in-your-face.

Rachel Brumer says she creates work with a personal vocabulary of images that have strong metaphoric potential. Anna Torma is influenced by Visionary and Outsider art because of its expressive directness.

Michael James says of Michael Cummings, “He’s committed to telling the stories of African-Americans across a broad historical, social, cultural, philosophical, and mythological spectrum.” (The Art Quilt: A Critical Perspective, Surface Design Journal, Fall 2010)

See the stories and discover the secrets within the work of these amazing contemporary quilt artists: Rachel Brumer, Michael Cummings, Karen Cunagin, Wendy Huhn, Carolyn Mazloomi, Lori Lupe Pelish, Wendeanne Ke’aka Stitt, Susan Shie, Anna Torma. For more information visit their website here.

                          

The husband and wife team, Salim and Mara Brock-Akil, who founded Akil Productions, in 2000, instantly broke ground, when the company created CW’s hit, GIRLFRIENDS, which aired for eight years and became one of the longest running sitcoms on television. In 2006, the sitcom THE GAME, also created by Akil Productions, premiered and aired for three seasons on the CW before being picked up by BET Networks. Mara Brock-Akil is also credited as a Key Consulting Producer on ABC’s COUGAR TOWN.

The dynamic duo’s feature film credits are just as impressive as their television success. Salim Akil teamed up with Sony Pictures and Our Stories Films to direct the feature film JUMPING THE BROOM, starring Angela Basset, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso. This film’s success led to the highly anticipated musical, SPARKLE, also produced by Akil Poductions. Written by Mara Brock-Akil and directed by Salim Akil, SPARKLE stars Whitney Houston, Jordan Sparks, Mike Epps and Cee Lo Green.

Salim and Mara Brock-Akil continue to create, develop, and produce projects that entertain as well as bring individuals together and highlight shared human experiences. This year, Mara Brock-Akil has a new series, which she created and wrote, coming to BET Networks. SINGLE BLACK FEMALE, which will premiere on BET later this year, is a biopic about a woman in search of the missing pieces of her successful life as an influential news anchor.

Jeff Friday, Founder and CEO of ABFF states, “This year’s “A Conversation With” discussion is special because we have two guests with individual stories and experiences.” He adds, “Yet, as a married couple, the Akils also bring a very unique perspective about surviving the many pitfalls of the industry and being successful as a team.”

By engaging guests in thought provoking conversations, “A Conversation With” continues to be a special highlight of the festival. Past “A Conversation With” guests include: Paula Patton, Idris Elba, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Jeffrey Wright and Cuba Gooding Jr.

                          

Pharrell williams is one of the music industry’s hottest producers. What he touched turns to gold in almost every field he enters. we expect his new book ” Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been” to be just as eye catching and interesting as his music from ” Despicable Me”.The book, published by Rizzoli ” “This is a coffee table style book which will feature conversations between Pharrell and some friends who have inspired him such as Anna Wintour, Nigo, Buzz Aldrin, Takashi Murakami, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Hans Zimmer, Ambra Medda, Chad & Shae. The rest of the book will contain photos which cover most of Pharrell’s career. The book will be released October 16th and will retail for $55. Multiple colored cover options will be available as well as a limited edition version ($250) which will include something special which we won’t unveil until closer to the release date.” The book is now available for pre sale on Amazon.

                          

Our favorite songstress Nneka is starting the French leg of her tour for the album ” Soul is Heavy”. Nneka put on a good show and is a great date if you’re in France this April. Check out the dates here:

19.04. Reims – La Cartonnerie
20.04. Lille – Zenith
21.04. Cergy – L’Observatoire
22.04. Strasbourg – Zenith
23.04. Nantes – Stereolux
25.04. Toulon – Six Fours – Espace Culturel André Malraux
26.04. Toulouse – Le Bikini
27.04. Bourges – Le Palais D’auron
28.04. Lorient – Parc des expositions Lanester

12.10. Paris – Olympia

                          

So, while reading the Miami Herals, I saw the President Michel Martelly of Haiti AKA” Sweet Micky” was back in Miami for medical care. Martelly was one of , if not THE hottest Kompa (Kompa is what I call hatian pop music) performer ever. I had a blast seeing him perform and dancing all night to his music. Sugarcane wishes him a speedy recovery and continued good health. As a tribute to one our favorite performers ( and a secret crush-that was years ago people) Here is a live performance of one of hits ” Dola”

                          

The Anguilla Tourist Board will host its first annual literary festival May 24th through May 28th at the statuesque, Paradise Cove Resort.

Best-selling authors, publishing industry power brokers, celebrity notables and book enthusiasts will converge on the peerless Caribbean destination, known for its buttery soft vanilla sand, beautiful people, rich history and seductive water in shades of blue – turquoise, aqua and marine.

Officially billed as “Anguilla Lit Fest: A Literary Jollification,” the auspicious five-day event will be a celebration of literature, arts and culture featuring an array of distinguished authors from the Caribbean and Abroad. Best-selling author, screenwriter and professor Terry McMillan (‘Waiting to Exhale’) will join esteemed lawyer, activist and author Randall Robinson (‘The Debt’) in top-lining the festival, which will include exclusive author readings, informative workshops, empowering panel discussions and other specially-tailored activities.

Award winning author and actor Hill Harper (‘The Conversation’), producer/author Crystal McCrary (‘Inspiration: Black Woman Who Are Changing The World’) and actress/singer/activist and new author Sheryl Lee Ralph (‘Redefining Diva’) are also confirmed, along with literary industry key influencers Malaika Adero (Atria/Simon & Schuster), Lasana Sekou (House of Nehesi Publishers) and Marva Allen (Hue Man Books), among others.

The distinctive name of the festival speaks to a very important facet of Anguilla’s cultural heritage–the Jollification, a gathering of people to share and help neighbors. This was traditionally done through the plowing and planting of ground, all against the backdrop of men working together, women cooking, and children playing, while the work was carried out free of cost, with much laughter, singing and “jollification.”

“This festival could not have been staged without the Anguilla Jollification approach,” said Director of Tourism Candis Niles. “Through the assistance, support and sharing of the Ministry of Social Development, the Anguilla Tourist Board, the Anguilla Social Security Board, Paradise Cove Resort & Conference Centre, Cuisinart Golf Resort & Spa, DaVida’s Restaurant, and our partners from the business sector, Coral Reef Bookstore, Merchants’ Market and Tropical Flower Distributors, we have been able to make the Anguilla Literary Festival a reality, and for that we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation.”

“Literacy has always been of paramount importance to the people of Anguilla,” said Hon. Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary Tourism. “The Anguilla Literary Festival was conceived to highlight the creative mastery of celebrated authors to promote excellence in publishing while also igniting the imagination and aspirations of book enthusiasts. We look forward to kicking off this worthwhile effort celebrating the literary arts and by so doing, motivate young prospective writers to embark on a career in writing.”

Special packages for the event are being offered by Anguilla’s leading accommodation establishments, including Paradise Cove Resort’s “Lit Talk Anguilla” package; Cuisinart Golf Resort & Spa’s “Invitation to Exhale with Terry McMillan” package; Little Butterfly’s “Lit Talk Anguilla” package, Anguilla Great House presents “Great Anguilla Lit Talk” and Anacaona Boutique Hotel’s “Book Binder Girls Getaway” package. For more info on exclusive hotel packages please visit www.ivisitanguilla.com/anguillas-literary-festival-accommodations-packages/