Features To Watch At 34th Kingdom Day Parade

(l-r) Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Dodger's Dave Roberts, Hon. Young-Jin Kim and Glynn Turman 

Los Angeles, CA — Dr. Adrian Dove, president, and CEO, 34th Kingdom Day Parade is proud to keep Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy alive as he announces Dave Roberts, Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Official 2019 Grand Marshal.

ABC-7 will again broadcast the 34th Annual Kingdom Day Parade Live on Monday, January 21, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to a media audience of over 2.4 million viewers and listeners. The Parade is proud to welcome back its Presenting Sponsor; Blue Shield of California.

Features to Watch at the parade:

• Blue Shield of California presenting sponsor float
• 2019 Grand Marshal Dave Roberts, Manager, L.A. Dodgers
• South Korea Delegation 60 plus members comprised of South Korea’s longtime Speaker of National Assembly, the Hon. Young-Jin Kim is this years’ International Grand Marshal. Pastor Seung Hee Lee will serve as a Celebrity Grand Marshal. The entry will include the Grandmaster Tong Suk Chun, Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Company, Voice of Angels choir and Pastor Kang Suk So.
• Congresswoman Maxine Waters will join us as a Long-time Supporter in the parade.
• An Entry comprised of an LA METRO Vintage Bus (circa 1955), representing Rosa Parks, followed by the Teamsters Union (Designer) 18 Wheeler Semi, & the LA City Sanitation/SEIU Local 721 Sanitation Workers’ model Sanitation Trucks. These (3) entries represent a Tribute to the (13 Years) that Dr. King fought for Civil Rights from 1955 to his death in 1968.
• The Opening Mule Drawn Buck Wagon is to symbolize the mourning of Dr. King ’s passing; and the New Orleans 2nd Line Jazz Quartet is to symbolize the Celebration of his Life.
• Tribute to Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle’s, (who recently married Prince Harry) alma mater Immaculate Heart High School. The entry will feature 30 female students, from the private Catholic girls’ school, marching in honor of Duchess Markle.
• Chris “Animal” Hyche of the world famous Harlem Globetrotters will be among the parade participants. He is one of the best dunkers on the team and is fluent in sign language as the child of deaf parents.
• Emmy Award Winning Actor Glynn Turman, the Grand Marshall for the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo will ride his horse with Buffalo Soldiers 10th Calvary Mounted Unit, who are flying in from all over the country to participate in this parade entry.
• Equestrian Units for this year’s parade along with the Bill Pickett Rodeo/Buffalo Soldiers will include; The Equine Advisory Council Riders, The California Park Rangers Mounted Unit, California Highway Patrol Mounted Unit and the LA County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit.
• TMZ Raquel Harper and host of BET’s Raq Rants Late-Night Show
• Big Boy and the REAL 92.3 team will ride in the parade
• 10 High School bands including the Award-winning LAUSD All-City Band, Centennial, Inglewood, and Compton High School Bands.
• Kingdom Day Queen and Royal Court
• Our Local TV, Radio, Politicians, Community, and corporate and many more surprises!

The Kingdom Day Parade passionately honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and has grown from its humble beginnings into the largest and longest-running Birthday Celebration of Dr. King, Jr. in the nation! This year, 2019 would have been Dr. King’s 90th birthday. Although he never reached the age of 40, his legacy will live forever. This years’ theme is “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, Healthy Democracy”.

The three 3-Mile parade route begins at 10:15 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd & Western Avenue proceeds west to Crenshaw and then South to Vernon Ave, with a post-parade festival at Leimert Park.

Tens of thousands of spectators every year line the parade route which has remained true to its roots, still winding through the same inner-city streets in South Central Los Angeles. Some of the most enthusiastic spectators reserve sidewalk space with sleeping bags, as early as the night before in what has become a unique Kingdom Day Los Angeles tradition. The Parade features more than 150 units involving over 3,000 individuals including Special Community Service Honorees and other Heroes and Sheroes including the Kingdom Day Parade Queen, Her Royal Court, and the Scholarship Program. Also, featured are elaborate Floats, Marching Bands, High School and Middle School Drill Teams, Novelty Acts, Equestrian Units, and an exciting turn-out of Celebrities, Entertainment Legends, and Community Leaders.

 U.S. Senator Kamala Harris was the 2018 Grand Marshall. Among other past, Parade Grand Marshalls are Stevie Wonder, The Godfather of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday national holiday recognition, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Karen Bass, Governor Jerry Brown, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmembers Herb J. Wesson, III and Curren Price, TV Host Steve Harvey, LA Dodger’s star Matt Kemp, Little Richard, dance legend Debbie Allen, former Police Chief Bernard Parks, media mogul Danny Bakewell, Sr. and a host of other very special people.

The Kingdom Day Parade’s community and corporate/supporters include the current Presenting Sponsor, Blue Shield of California. Additional sponsors include the Los Angeles Dodgers and The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, Farmers Insurance, Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw Mall, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, KNBC Channel 4, KTLA Channel 5, Radio Free 102.3 KJLH, The Real 92.3 Home of “Big Boy”: 94.7 The Wave, Power 106 (105.9) Hip Hop Live; KDAY 93.5- Back in the Day, Downtown LA Motors-Mercedes, AIDS HealthCare Foundation, Denny’s Crenshaw, LAUSD’s Beyond The Bell, McDonalds, and Wescom Credit Union. The Parade is also appreciative of the in-kind and moral support from the City and County of Los Angeles and their various departments, as well as the Los Angele Unified School District and METRO, along with the businesses and residents and the alignment.

About the Kingdom Day Parade

The Kingdom Day Parade is way more than just another parade. The unique purpose of this Parade is celebrated each year on the only Holiday whose sole purpose is to embrace all segments or identities in our democracy and the world. It is dedicated to the conscious aggressive non-violent pursuit of Dr. King’s noble goals.

In America’s current somewhat divided year, the mission of bringing people back together is needed now more than ever. Our Work Is Not Yet Done! More than just a one-day event, the Kingdom Day Parade and its Organizing Sponsor, CORE-CA, have a year-round focus of bringing everybody back together in harmony in the spirit of Dr. King. It  was conceived more than 37 years ago as a small neighborhood tribute to the life, work, dream, and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since its inception, Stevie Wonder, completed a successful nationwide effort that resulted in Dr. King’s birthday becoming a National Holiday, on the third Monday in January every year. It was the untimely death of the original founder Larry Grant seven years ago, that Dr. Adrian Dove, who had been (and still is) Chairman of the Parade’s Organizing Sponsor (CORE-CA), stepped forward and has continued management of the Parade with the help of a strong team of volunteers and professional staff. The Parade has continued to grow, evolving into the major iconic event it has become today while remaining on the same inner-city streets in the same spirit that it began with. With an emphasis on community, welcoming everybody as equals.

To become a participant, volunteer, sponsor or for more information, visit the website at: www.kingdomdayparade.org

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/kingdomdayparade

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kingdayparade

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kingdomdayparade

What Men Want in Theatres February 8

SYNOPSIS

Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is a successful sports agent who’s constantly boxed out by her male colleagues. When Ali is passed up for a well-deserved promotion, she questions what else she needs to do to succeed in a man’s world... until she gains the ability to hear men’s thoughts! With her newfound power, Ali looks to outsmart her colleagues as she races to sign the next basketball superstar, but the lengths she has to go to will put her relationship with her best friends and a potential new love interest (Aldis Hodge) to the test. WHAT MEN WANT is the latest comedy from director Adam Shankman (HAIRSPRAY) and producers Will Packer and James Lopez (GIRLS TRIP), co-starring Tracy Morgan, Richard Roundtree, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Josh Brener, Tamala Jones, Phoebe Robinson, Max Greenfield, Jason Jones, Brian Bosworth, Chris Witaske and Erykah Badu.

TRAILER:  https://youtu.be/m0fXlriDIVw

DIRECTED BY

Adam Shankman

PRODUCED BY

Will Packer, p.g.a., James Lopez, p.g.a.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

Taraji P. Henson, Amy Sayres, Adam Shankman,

Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Dete Meserve

STORY BY

Jas Waters and Tina Gordon

SCREENPLAY BY

 Tina Gordon and Peter Huyck & Alex Gregory

STARRING

Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Josh Brener, Erykah Badu, Richard Roundtree, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Tamala Jones, Phoebe Robinson, Max Greenfield, Jason Jones, Chris Witaske, Brian Bosworth, Kellan Lutz, and Tracy Morgan

Pitt Hosts Screenings Of If Beale Street Could Talk

(l-r) Stephan James, Brad Pitt, Barry Jenkins, and Kiki Layne

Brad Pitt hosted two special screenings of If Beale Street Could Talk over the weekend. The events took place at a private residence in the Hollywood Hills. Both screenings were hosted by Brad Pitt with a reception between screenings.

Attendees from the film included Writer and Director Barry Jenkins, Cast members KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Brian Tyree Henry, Colman Domingo, Finn Wittrock, Michael Beach, Producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Cinematographer James Laxton, Composer Nicholas Britell, Editor Joi McMillon, costume designer Caroline Eselin, Hair department head Kenneth Walker.

Notable guests included Timothée Chalamet, Catherine Hardwicke, John Ridley, Maria Conchita Alonso, Diane Warren, Shamier Anderson, Beth Grant, Sarunas J. Jackson.

About If Beale Street Could Talk

Academy Award-winning writer/director Barry Jenkins’ first film since the Best Picture Oscar-winning Moonlight is If Beale Street Could Talk, his adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel — the first English-language feature film based on the work of the author, to whom the movie is dedicated.

Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (screen newcomer KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Through the unique intimacy and power of cinema, If Beale Street Could Talk honors the author’s prescient words and imagery, charting the emotional currents navigated in an unforgiving and racially biased world as the filmmaker poetically crosses time frames to show how love and humanity endure.

Director: Barry Jenkins

Writer: Barry Jenkins

Producers: Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Sara Murphy, 

Jeremy Kleiner, Dede Gardner

Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael Beach, Ed Skrein, Diego Luna, Dave Franco, Pedro Pascal

Now playing in theaters.

Critics' Choice Awards Winners Announced

The Critics' Choice Awards were held in Santa Monica, Calif on Sunday. The show was hosted by Taye Diggs. 

Below is a complete list of winners. 

FILM

BEST PICTURE

“Roma” (Netflix)

BEST ACTOR

Christian Bale – “Vice” (Annapurna)

BEST ACTRESS – TIE

Glenn Close – “The Wife” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Lady Gaga – “A Star Is Born” (Warner Bros.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Mahershala Ali – “Green Book” (Universal)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Regina King – “If Beale Street Could Talk” (Annapurna)

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS

Elsie Fisher – “Eighth Grade” (A24)

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE

“The Favourite” (Fox Searchlight)

BEST DIRECTOR

Alfonso Cuarón – “Roma” (Netflix)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Paul Schrader – “First Reformed” (A24)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Barry Jenkins – “If Beale Street Could Talk” (Annapurna)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Alfonso Cuarón – “Roma” (Netflix)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Hannah Beachler, Jay Hart – “Black Panther” (Disney)

BEST EDITING

Tom Cross – “First Man” (Universal)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Ruth Carter – “Black Panther” (Disney)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

“Vice” (Annapurna)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Black Panther” (Disney)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (Sony)

BEST ACTION MOVIE

“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (Paramount)

BEST COMEDY

“Crazy Rich Asians” (Warner Bros.)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

Christian Bale – “Vice” (Annapurna)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Olivia Colman – “The Favourite” (Fox Searchlight)

BEST SCI-FI OR HORROR MOVIE

“A Quiet Place” (Paramount)

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

“Roma” (Netflix)

BEST SONG

Shallow – “A Star Is Born” (Warner Bros.)

BEST SCORE

Justin Hurwitz – “First Man” (Universal)

The Americans

TELEVISION

BEST DRAMA SERIES

“The Americans” (FX Networks)

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Matthew Rhys – “The Americans” (FX Networks)

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sandra Oh – “Killing Eve” (BBC America)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Noah Emmerich – “The Americans” (FX Networks)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Thandie Newton – “Westworld” (HBO)

BEST COMEDY SERIES

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Bill Hader – “Barry” (HBO)

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Rachel Brosnahan – “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Henry Winkler – “Barry” (HBO)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alex Borstein – “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)

BEST LIMITED SERIES

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX Networks)

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” (NBC)

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Darren Criss – “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX Networks)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION – TIE

Amy Adams – “Sharp Objects” (HBO)

Patricia Arquette – “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Ben Whishaw – “A Very English Scandal” (Amazon)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Patricia Clarkson – “Sharp Objects” (HBO)

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

“BoJack Horseman” (Netflix)

Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston Star In 'The Upside'

By Darlene Donloe 

The Upside, in theaters nationwide today, is inspired by a true story about two men, one is an Arab and the other is Parisian.  Rumor has it that the two men are still friends.

In this movie, however, the men are white and black and portrayed by Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart.

As the story goes, Phillip (Cranston), who is a very wealthy white man, was in a hang gliding accident, which left him paralyzed from the neck down.  Unable to take care of himself, Phillip has someone live with him to take care of his everyday needs. When that person leaves, he must quickly find someone else. He ends up hiring a young, black, ex-con named Dell to become his arms and legs. Of course, Dell has no clue how to take care of a quadriplegic, but because he has to find a job in order to fulfill his legal obligations, he’s willing to give it a shot.  Dell has a son and an ex, played by Aja Naomi King, with whom he has a bitter relationship. He wants desperately to mend his relationship with his family and is hopeful that the job may be just the blessing he needs.

When Dell begins the gig, chaos ensues. He has to learn how to feed Phillip, bathe Phillip, and most important of all - change Phillip’s catheter. The scene where he has to change Phillip’s catheter for the first time is priceless. In fact, it’s hysterical!

Both Hart and Cranston bring their A-game to The Upside. It’s like watching a championship tennis match with equally effective and talented competitors. 

There is great chemistry between Hart and Cranston. This is some of Hart’s best work. He’s not as over the top as he has been in his previous celluloid efforts.  Cranston is brilliant!  He is incredible considering he can only express his feelings through his eyes. He communicates solely through his eyes – delivering some very touching and emotional moments in the film. Eventually, these two become very cool buddies.  Each one teaches the other how to live their best lives.

The Upside, based on the 2011 motion picture Intouchables by Eric Toldedano and Olivier Nakache, has some wonderfully dramatic moments and some delicious comedic moments.

Although it’s predictable, the movie is still entertaining.

The movie, directed by Neil Burger, was slated to come out last March. It premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017.

The Upside stars Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Golshifteh Farahani, Aja Naomi King, and Nicole Kidman.

Producers are Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Upside gets an O (oh, yeah).

Pasadena Playhouse To Host Ragtime: The Musical

Bryce Charles

Clifton Duncan

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, will transform the historic theater with an all-new version of Ragtime: The Musical as it returns to Los Angeles more than two decades after its premiere at the Shubert Theatre.  With 21 actors and a 16-piece orchestra, this is one of the most ambitious productions in the Playhouse’s recent history.

Danny Feldman, Pasadena Playhouse Producing Artistic Director said, “We’re thrilled to be producing one of the largest-scale projects in our history. Not only have we assembled a veritable fleet of actors, designers and musicians to bring this musical to life, with visionary director David Lee at the helm, but we are pleased that this production will employee over 100 LA-based theatre artists. This local production, created for our theatre, of Ragtime: The Musical will be a landmark theatrical event for Los Angeles once again.”

Based on the novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime: The Musical is written by Terrence McNally, and composed by Stephen Flaherty with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.  This production is directed by David Lee with choreography by Mark Esposito and musical direction by Darryl Archibald.

The cast of Ragtime: The Musical is led by Clifton Duncan (Broadway’s The Play That Goes Wrong, Off-Broadway’s Carmen Jones) as Coalhouse and Shannon Warne (Guinevere in Camelot at Pasadena Playhouse, directed by David Lee; Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme at the Ahmanson Theatre, Ovation recipient) as Mother. The production also stars Bryce Charles (The Book of Mormon national tour, Blues in the Night at Wallis Annenberg Center) as Sarah and Marc Ginsburg (Ovation nominee: Che in Evita at Cabrillo Music Theatre’s, and Aaron in First Date at La Mirada/McCoy Rigby Entertainment’s) as Tateh.

The production features Zachery Ford (Camelot at Pasadena Playhouse, Spamalot at Wynn Casino) as Father, Katherine McDonough (Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady at Musical Theatre West) as Evelyn Nesbit, Iara Nemirovsky (First National Tour of School of Rock) as Little Girl, Valerie Perri (Broadway National Tours of Evita, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Off-Broadway’s Diamonds) as Emma Goldman, Dylan Saunders (King Charles lll at Pasadena Playhouse, AMC’s “Turn: Washington Spies”) as Younger Brother, Benjamin Schrader (Broadway’s The Book of Mormon, Ragtime, Avenue Q) as Harry Houdini, and Luké Barbato Smith (Debbie Allen’s Freeze Frame…Stop  the Madness at The Wallis Annenberg and The Kennedy Center) as Little Boy.

The cast is rounded out by Dedrick Bonner as Booker T. Washington, Michael Deni as Male Ensemble, Ryan Dietz as Henry Ford, Cornelius Jones Jr. as Coalhouse’s Friend, Gregory North as Grandfather, Tom G. McMahon as J.P. Morgan, Molly Stilliens as Female Ensemble, Michael Thomas-VIsgar as Willie Conklin, and Candace J. Washington as Sarah’s Friend.

The design team features scenic design by Tom Buderwitz; costume design by Kate Bergh; lighting design by Jared A. Sayeg; sound design by Philip G. Allen; projection design by Hana Sooyeon Kim, and wig and hair design by Carol Doran.

Tickets for Ragtime: The Musical start at $25 and are available at pasadenaplayhouse.org, by phone at 626-356-7529, and at the box office at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. 

Jenifer Lewis To Perform For One-Night-Only

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center has announced a special, one-night-only performance by the iconic actress and singer Jenifer Lewis at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre on Saturday, January 26, at 8 p.m.

An entertainer of stage, screen, and television, Lewis has seen and done it all — and tells the truth about it in her acclaimed best-selling memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood. To celebrate the book’s publication in paperback – as well as her birthday! – Lewis returns to the LGBT Center for an evening of new songs and stories as only she can sing and tell them. Following the performance, there will be a birthday party with cake and champagne, and Lewis will be signing copies of her book purchased at the event.

General admission tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre or by phone at (323) 860-7300. Net proceeds from all ticket sales will support the full range of free and low-cost programs and services offered by the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The Renberg Theatre is located at 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood, 90038.