'Fake It Until You Make It' Announces Cast

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 15, 2025)— Casting has been announced for Center Theatre Group’s world premiere of Fake It Until You Make It by Larissa FastHorse, the first Native American playwright to be featured at the Mark Taper Forum. Fake It Until You Make It will be directed by Michael John Garcés. It is a co-production with Arena Stage, Washington D.C.

The production will run January 29 to March 9, 2025 (press opening February 5) at the Mark Taper Forum, as the third offering of Center Theatre Group’s One CTG. One LA. Season, previously announced by Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker.

The cast at the Mark Taper Forum will be Noah Bean (David Mamet’s Romance), Eric Stanton Betts (Holiday Down Under), Julie Bowen (Modern Family) Tonantzin Carmelo (NBC La Brea), Brandon Delsid (Amazon Prime This is Me … Now), and Dakota Ray Hebert (Marvel’s Echo).

The production then transfers to the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage, Washington D.C. April 3 to May 4, 2025 where the cast will be Noah Bean (David Mamet’s Romance), Eric Stanton Betts (Holiday Down Under), Amy Brenneman (NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Private Practice, The Leftovers), Tonantzin Carmelo (NBC La Brea), Brandon Delsid (Amazon Prime This is Me … Now), and Dakota Ray Hebert (Marvel’s Echo).

A bold world premiere comedy from Los Angeles-based playwright, Larissa FastHorse, about being whoever you want to be, even when it’s not who you are. In her uproarious new comedy, a collision of friends and foes within the non-profit sector sets the stage for a whirlwind of competition, chaos, and comedic revelation.

Meet Wynona, the Native American proprietor of N.O.B.U.S.H., and River, her white counterpart at Indigenous Nations Soaring. Their escalating rivalry ensnares colleagues and bystanders, leading to the unraveling of secrets that highlight the absurdities of ambition and authenticity. Amidst the laughter, genuine connections form, emphasizing the value of unexpected paths to success. Fake It Until You Make It  takes an absurd look at what defines who we are, and the lengths some people will go through to change it.

“After re-opening the Mark Taper Forum in the fall, we are excited to partner with our friends at Arena Stage and get back to what the Taper has been celebrated for over the course of its history—and that’s by continuing to be the home for bold world premiere productions,” said Snehal Desai, CTG’s Artistic Director. “I am particularly thrilled that LA's own Larissa FastHorse and her new comedy, Fake It Until You Make It, will be making its premiere at CTG this season. We are already laughing out loud in the rehearsal room with this incredible cast as they bring this fantastic and hilarious play to life and we can’t wait to share it with all of you.”

"Arena Stage is delighted to collaborate with Center Theatre Group on this hijinks-filled world-premiere comedy, featuring a fierce and funny ensemble that will rollick audiences from coast to coast," said Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif. "Larissa FastHorse's writing exposes the fragile yet ruthless underbelly of the nonprofit sector, where coworking and culture clash. In a town that runs on identity politics, Larissa dares to unmask us all."

Fake It Until You Make It is an Edgerton Foundation Commission that was awarded to Center Theatre Group. The play was originally commissioned by Center Theatre Group.

2024/25 Season programming at the Mark Taper Forum is made possible through the generous support of the S. Mark Taper Foundation. Additional season support is provided by Perenchio Foundation.

Tickets for Fake It Until You Make It are available through CenterTheatreGroup.org, Audience Services at 213.972.4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Offices at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown LA 90012. 

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967,  Center Theatre Group has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as Zoot Suit; Angels in America; The Kentucky Cycle; Biloxi Blues; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Children of a Lesser God; Curtains; The Drowsy Chaperone; 9 to 5: The Musical; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. CenterTheatreGroup.org

Arena Stage. The first racially integrated theater in our nation’s capital and a pioneer of the regional theater movement, Arena Stage was founded in 1950 in Washington D.C. Today under the leadership of Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theatre is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists.  Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and present diverse and groundbreaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Consistently contributing to the American theatrical lexicon by commissioning and developing new plays, Arena Stage impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement and serves a diverse annual audience more than 300,000.

CALENDAR LISTING FOR FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT

Venue: Mark Taper Forum, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012

Dates: Wednesday, January 29 to Sunday, March 9, 2025; Press opening is Wednesday, February 5.

Schedule: Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m

Tickets:

Prices — begin at $35

Website — CenterTheatreGroup.org

Phone — Audience Services at 213.628.2772 

In-person — Center Theatre Group Box Office (at the Mark Taper Forum) at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012

Groups —CenterTheatreGroup.org/Tickets/Groups-and-Corporate-Offers

Access — Center Theatre Group offers services to accommodate persons requiring mobility, vision, and hearing access. 

For more information, please visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/Access. 

Chromolume Theatre Announces 2025 Season of Musicals

The Chromolume Theatre at The Zephyr on Melrose in Los Angeles has announced a season of musicals for 2025, kicking off in February with the off-Broadway hit I Love You Because by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham followed in June (in the Hollywood Fringe Festival) by Marry Me A Little (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by Craig Lucas and Norman René), The Bridges of Madison County (music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, book by Marsha Norman) in July, and concluding with Passion (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine) in November. 

I Love You Because is set in modern-day New York and is based on Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. The show premiered off-Broadway in New York in 2006 and subsequently had productions in the UK, Australia, and Canada. It will open on February 28 and run through March 16.

Marry Me A Little uses songs cut from Sondheim's better-known musicals to create a dialogue-free plot about the relationship between two lonely New York single people who are in emotional conflict during an evening in their separate one-room apartments. Despite knowing of the other's existence, they never get up the courage to talk to each other, though they imagine what such an encounter might be like. Marry Me A Little is part of the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival in June. 

The Bridges of Madison County is based on the 1992 novel by James Waller, about a forbidden love affair between a photographer and a housewife that changes them forever. The show premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2013. With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Marsha Norman, it ran on Broadway in 2014, garnering four Tony Award nominations and winning two for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. The Bridges of Madison County will run from July 18–August 3.

Passion is a one act musical adapted from Ettore Scola’s film Passione d’Amore, itself adapted from the novel Fosca by Iginio Ugo Tarchetti. Set in Risorgimento-era Italy, the plot concerns a young soldier and the changes in him brought about by his obsessive love of Fosca, his Colonel's homely, ailing cousin. Passion is notable for being one of the few projects that Stephen Sondheim himself conceived (along with Sweeney Todd and Road Show). After opening on Broadway in 1994, it was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning four, including Best Musical. Passion is set to run November 14–30.

Season tickets are $90 for three shows and $105, including the Hollywood Fringe production. Single tickets are $40 each ($20 for Marry Me A Little). They are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.chrtheatre.com. The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, 90046.

Pasadena Playhouse Cancels 'Anything Goes' and 'Follies In Concert' Due To Eaton Fire

PASADENA, CA (January 10, 2025) –  Anything Goes in Concert and Follies in Concert, which Pasadena Playhouse was to have presented over two consecutive weekends at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (January 24-25 and January 31-February 1, 2025), have been canceled due to the ongoing situation with the Eaton Fire affecting Pasadena, Altadena, and surrounding areas. 

Danny Feldman, Producing Artistic Director of Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California and recipient of the 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award, says, “Pasadena Playhouse is heartbroken by the devastation that this week’s fires have inflicted on so many within our community, and we continue to be grateful for the outpouring of concern and support. We are fortunate that our historic building has not sustained any significant damage.  

Given the extensive impact of the fires on Playhouse staff, artists, and audiences, we have decided to cancel the upcoming In Concert productions of Anything Goes and Follies at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 

This was not an easy decision, but our theater-makers and staff cannot unite to continue creating these monumental productions. We remain committed to the safety and support of all the artists, crew, and staff who have been deeply impacted. 

If you are a current ticket holder for one or both of these productions, please hang tight. We will contact you soon regarding your ticket options. If you have immediate questions, you can email boxoffice@pasadenaplayhouse.org, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please be patient with us, as our Box Office is currently closed, and our team will work hard to answer all of your questions.  

Most importantly, our thoughts are with everyone in our community. Please know that we are thinking of you and that Pasadena Playhouse is committed to doing all we can to support the people of Pasadena, Altadena, and Los Angeles, who have done so much to support us. For those needing assistance or updates, please visit lacounty.gov/emergency for more information.”

'Plain Jayne,' A Memoir By Jayne Kennedy Set For Release

 

"Plain Jayne” is the latest tome from actress and sportscaster Jayne Kennedy.  

Kennedy’s life and career include her groundbreaking and dynamic work on the Emmy Award-winning CBS show The NFL Today, becoming the first Black woman to win Miss Ohio USA and the only woman to host the long-running syndicated show Greatest Sports Legends. Plain Jayne is a compelling, inspirational, and honest must-read memoir. 

It is currently available for pre-order from retailers at www.penguinradomhouse.com. 

Actress Jane Fonda Hosts 'Sing Sing' Screening

Colman Domingo and Jane Fonda

Hosted by Jane Fonda



From the film: Writer-director-producer Greg Kwedar and cast Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin, and musician Abraham Alexander ("Like a Bird," Sing Sing Original Soundtrack)

Additional guests: Ariana DeBose, Rosario Dawson, Ron Perlman, Eric Roberts, Saffron Burrows, Cheri Oteri and others

WINNER - NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS

Best Actor - Colman Domingo

WINNER - GOTHAM AWARDS

Outstanding Lead Performance - Colman Domingo

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Clarence Maclin

2024 Gotham Social Justice Tribute

NOMINEE - GOLDEN GLOBES

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama - Colman Domingo

NOMINEE - 5 CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Ensemble, Best Adapted Screenplay

Synopsis:

Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer (Clarence Maclin), in this stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors. 

Directed by Greg Kwedar

Written by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Based on “The Sing Sing Follies” by John H. Richardson and “Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code” by Brent Buell 

Produced by Monique Walton, Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar

Starring Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San Jose, Paul Raci, Sean "Dino" Johnson

 

In Memoriam

By Darlene Donloe

Many noteworthy people closed their eyes for the last time in 2024. They were writers, actors, directors, musicians, publicists, entertainment executives, activists, community leaders, and politicians. All were influential in their own way. Before leaving the planet, they made their mark and touched many lives. This column remembers their legacies and pays tribute to those who passed this way. Respect! 

JANUARY

Jan. 5 – Lucius ”Tal/Tawl” Ross,  guitarist of Funkadelic.  He was 75. 

Jan. 9 – Reggie Wells, makeup artist who worked on Michelle Obama, Oprah, Beyonce, Whitney Houston and more. He was 76. 

Jan. 12 – Josephine Wright resisted the development of the family’s Gullah land on Hilton Head Island. She was 94. 

Jan. 12 – Diane Larche, Larche Communications LLC's publicist, president, and CEO. She was 65. 

Jan. 15 - Ronald Powell, former NFL player. He was 32. 

Marlena Shaw

Jan. 19 – Marlena Shaw, singer (California Soul, Woman of the Ghetto). She was 81. 

Jan. 30 - Chita Rivera, the singer and actress who leaped to stardom in Broadway’s production of “West Side Story.” She was 91. 

Jan. 30 - Hinton Battle, Tony Award-winning actor. He was 67.

 

FEBRUARY

Feb. 1 – Joe Madison, civil rights and radio legend.  He was 74. 

Carl Weather

Feb. 2 – Carl Weathers, actor – Rocky, Predator, and Mandalorian. He was 76. 

Feb. 7 – Henry Fambrough, the last original member of The Spinners. He was 85. 

Feb. 21 – Hydeia Broadbent, HIV/AIDS activist. She was 39.

Feb. 28 – Michael Jones, former pro wrestler – best known as “Virgil.”  He was 61.

 

MARCH

March 4 - Anthony “Baby Gap” Walker, a former member of The Gap Band. He was 60. 

March 8 – Ernie Fields, Jr., musician and music contractor. He was 89.

March 9 – Julie Robinson Belafonte, wife of Harry Belafonte. She was 95. 

March 11 – Everett Collins, Isley Brothers drummer in the 70s. 

March 11 - Bo$$, a rapper best known for her album Born Gangstaz and for being the first female rapper to sign with Def Jam. She was 52. 

March 17 – Sandra Crouch, gospel singer. She was 81. 

March 18 – Kevin Toney, The Blackbyrds, pianist and composer. He was 70. 

Louis Gossett Jr.

March 29 – Louis Gossett Jr. is the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He was 87.

 

APRIL

April 2 – Casey Benjamin, saxophonist. He was 45.

April 5—Rev. Cecil Murray, civil rights activist and former pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles died at the age of 94.

April 10 – O.J. Simpson. He was 76.

April 10 – Mister Cee, New York radio personality. He was 57. 

April 13 - Rico Wade co-wrote and produced TLC’s 1995 hit “Waterfalls.” He was 52.

April 17 - Arthur “Pooch” Tavares, founding member of the legendary group Tavares. He was 74. 

Mandisa

April 18 – Mandisa, American Idol, Grammy-winning Christian singer. She was 47. 

April 23 – Terry Carter, actor on Battlestar Galactica, McCloud and Foxy Brown. He was 95.

 

MAY

May 4 – Darius Morris, former Los Angeles Lakers guard. He was 33. 

May 12 – Sherif Lawal, boxer. He was 29. 

May 13 - Samm-Art Williams, playwright, screenwriter, and actor. He was 77.

Peggy Blu

May 19 – Peggy Blu, soul singer. She was 77.

May 31 – Drew Gordon, former NBA player. He was 33.

 

JUNE

June 3 – Brother Marquis, a rapper known for being a core member of 2 Live Crew.

June 9 - Rev. James Lawson Jr., Civil Rights Giant. He was 95.

June 12, Ron Simons, actor, and four-time Tony-winning producer. He was 63. 

June 13 – Angela Bofill, singer. She was 70.

June 16 - Cedric Napoleon, Pieces of a Dream co-founder, Fo Fi Fo singer. 

Willie Mays

June 18 – Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, baseball legend (Giants) and Hall of Famer. He was 93. 

June 20 - Taylor Wily, actor (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hawaii Five-O), a former sumo wrestler. He was 56. 

June 23 – Pat Colbert, actress on Dallas. She was 77. 

June 23—Julio Foolio, a Florida rapper, was born Charles Jones. He is known for “Crooks” and “Reach The Top.”  He was 26. 

June 25 – Sika Anoa’i, WWE Hall of Famer and father of fellow pro wrestling star Roman Reigns. He was 79.

June 26 – Bill Cobb, actor, The Bodyguard, The Brother from Another Planet, Night at the Museum, and Oz the Great and Powerful. He was 90. 

June 26 - Renauld White, actor/model. The first African American to appear on the cover of GQ Magazine. He was 80. 

June 26 - Dr. Doris Yvonne Wilkinson, the first African American female appointed to a full-time position at the University of Kentucky in 1967. She was 88.

 

JULY

July 2 – KeKe Jabbar, cast member of the OWN reality show, Love and Marriage: Huntsville. She was 42.

July 6 - Khyree Jackson, Minnesota Vikings rookie. He was 24. 

July 14 – Jacoby Rashi’d Jones, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver. He was 40.

July 15 – Joe ‘Jellybean’ Bryant, former Philadelphia 76er NBA player and father of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. He was 69.

July 17—Bernice Johnson Reagon was a civil rights activist who co-founded The Freedom Singers and later started the African American a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. She was 81. 

July 18 – Gail Lumet Buckley, daughter of Lena Horne. She was 86.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

July 19 – Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, former Democratic Congresswoman. She was 74. 

July 21—Evelyn Thomas, disco singer best known for her hit track “High Energy." She was 70.

July 21 – Ron Charles, Basketball player. He was a member of Michigan State University’s 1979 national championship team and played professionally in many leagues, including Italy’s Lea Baset Serie A. He was 65. 

July 22 – Abdul “Duke” Fakir, original Four Tops member. He was 88.

July 27 – Rapper DJ Polo. He was 56.

July 28 – Alma Powell, civic leader and wife of Secretary of State Gen. Colin L. Powell. She was 86.

July 28 – Rapper Chino XL. He was 50. 

July 29 – Erica Ash, actress, Survivor’s Remorse, TV One original movie, Miss Me This Christmas, Scary Movie. She was 46.

July 29 - Reyes Moronta, former Dodgers pitcher. He was 31. 

July 29 - Oba Adefunmi II: King of the Yorubas in the United States, son of Oba Oseijiman Adefunmi,  founder of Oyotunji Afrikan Village and “pioneer” of Afrikan Traditional Religion (ATR) in the U.S. 

July 30 - Winzell Kelly, member of The Dramatics since 1994. He was 71.

AUGUST                                                       

Aug. 2 – Ellis Gordon, Jr., financial executive, and community advocate. 

Aug. 6 – Connie Chiume, “Black Panther” actress. She was 72. 

Aug. 6 – Maurice Williams, legendary “Stay” singer. He was 86. 

Aug. 14 – Wally “Famous Amos” Amos, creator of Famous Amos Cookies. He was 88. 

Aug. 20 – Al Attles, Warrior Hall of Famer. Among NBA’s first Black head coaches. He was 87. 

John Amos

Aug. 21 – John Amos, ‘Good Times,’ ‘Roots,’ ‘Coming to America,’ ‘Die Hard 2,’ ‘Mary Tyler Moore’ actor. He was 84.

Aug. 27 – Betty Bridges, actress and director. Also, the mother of actor Todd Bridges. She was 83. 

Aug. 30 – Fatman Scoop, rapper and hype man. He was 53 or 56.

Aug. 31 – Obi Ndefo, known as Bodie on Dawson’s Creek. He was 51.

 

SEPTEMBER 

Sept. 5 - Boris ‘Bo’ Ricks, CSU-Northridge Educator. 

Sept. 5 - Rich Homie Quan, rapper.  He was 34. 

Sept. 8 - James Earl Jones, legendary actor. He was 93. 

Sept. 10 - Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a ballerina from war-torn Sierra Leone. She was 29. 

Sept. 11 - Antoinette Russell, Los Angeles Black radio personality (KJLH, KACE, KOST). 

Sept. 11 - Legendary R&B singer Frankie Beverly of Frankie Beverly and Maze. He was 77. 

Sept. 11 - Tina McElroy Ansa, noted novelist. She was 74. 

Tito Jackson

Sept. 15 –  Toriano Adaryll ‘Tito’ Jackson, member of The Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and the brother of Michael Jackson. He was 70. 

Sept. 21 - Bennie Golson, saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He composed the soundtrack for Room 222, Mash, Mission Impossible, and more. In 2009, he was inducted into the International Academy of Jazz Hall of Fame. He was 95. 

Sept. 27 – Warren Wilson, Los Angeles broadcaster and KTLA reporter. He was 90.

Sept. 30 – Dikembe Mutombo, Hall of Fame – NBA player. He was 58.

 

OCTOBER 

Cissy Houston

Oct. 7 – Cissy Houston, Grammy-winning singer and mother of Whitney Houston. She was 91.

 

NOVEMBER

Quincy Jones

Nov. 3 – Quincy “Q” Jones, legendary musician, producer, and composer. He was 91. 

Nov. 6 - Tony Todd, ‘Candy Man’ and ‘Final Destination’ actor. He was 69. 

Nov. 9 - Ella Jenkins, American singer/songwriter and children’s singer. She was 100.

Nov. 9 – Judith Jamison, Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer. She was 81. 

Nov. 12 – Roy Haynes, pioneering modern jazz drummer. He was. 99. 

Nov. 19 – Sir Lady Java, Trans Nightlife Legend (actress, singer, dancer, and comedian) and transgender rights activist. She was 82. 

Nov. 22 – Harry Williams, the last original member of Bloodstone. 

Nov. 24 - Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy, Townstreet Theatre co-founder and artistic producing director. 

Nov. 28 – Solomon Herbert II, assistant editor at Black Meetings & Tourism magazine. He was 44. 

Nov. 29 – Hildreth (Hal) Walker, Jr., laser scientist and professor. He was 91.

 

DECEMBER

Dec. 5—Robin Ayers, host of KBLA Talk 1580 and writer/reporter for EURweb.com. She was 54.

Dec. 5 - Dominique Brown, Disney influencer. She was 34. 

Nikki Giovanni

Dec. 9 – Nikki Giovanni, poet and Virginia Tech professor. She was 81. 

Dec. 17 – Alfa Anderson, founding member of Chic. She was 77.

Dec. 21- Rickey Henderson, MLB’s all-time stolen base king. He was 65.

Dec. 22 – Ryan Levert, daughter of Eddie LeVert (The O’Jays). She was 22.

Dec. 21 – Art Evans, veteran actor (A Soldier's Story, Die Hard 2). He was 82.

Dec. 25 - Bill Speed, pioneering music veteran. He was the first Black Editor at Radio and Records. Also helped create BET's Video Soul. He was 75.

Dec. 26 – Richard Parsons, former Time Warner CEO. He was 76.

Dec. 27 – Greg Gumbel, CBS sports broadcaster. He was 78.

 

 

Celebs Reveal What Holiday Tradition They Can Do Without

                 By Darlene Donloe

It’s the holiday season! 

It’s that time of year again when a bunch of holidays are happening within weeks of each other. 

The holiday season begins annually in November and ends in January. Several holidays fall within those months, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. 

Many traditions occur during that time, including families and friends getting together for Thanksgiving to consume lots of turkey and sweet potato pie while watching football. At Christmas, gifts are exchanged, letters are written to Santa, ugly sweaters are worn, carols, parades, lots of get-togethers, families gather, bake cookies, decorate trees and over-eating.  Hanukkah sees the lighting of the menorah each evening, prayers, games, food, songs, eating treats fried in oil, giving children gifts of money, and playing a game with a four-sided top. Kwanzaa traditions include sharing a feast, celebrating Black culture, honoring ancestors, African drumming, candle lighting, and reciting original poetry. New Year’s consists of a midnight kiss, singing Auld Lang Syne, parties, watching the ball drop, making a toast, making New Year’s resolutions, counting down to the New Year, football, and parades. It is usually a colossal celebration of families and friends participating in many traditions.

With so many customs to uphold, I asked several celebrities to name one-holiday tradition they could do without.

Cedric the Entertainer

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER 

I’m a big holiday fan. It’s hard to think of kicking any holiday stuff to the curb. It’s gotten a little expensive. I’d say, in general – the friend groups need presents... uh…. I take care of my kids and my wife. Now you gotta think about whether this is really my best friend this year. I got these employees. Then there are the guys who come over every week.  It’s so much. I can’t stress over that. I want to return to when Christmas was about kids – and that was it. All you grown folks – scoot back.

Tichina Arnold 

TICHINA ARNOLD – (The Neighborhood) 

I can do without all of the holidays. They cost so much money, and America bastardizes everything. Every year, I have a Halloween party. I invite the crew—everybody on the show. It’s the one time we get to be together off the set.

  

Mickey Stevenson

MICKEY STEVENSON (Motown legendary songwriter): I can’t think of anything. Maybe the giving of gifts. Every day is special.

 

RICK BRAUN (trumpeter) For 25 years, I was on a Christmas tour. I would say goodbye to my kids on Thanksgiving. I’d get home on Christmas Eve. I did that for 25 years. It was a rigorous tour.

 

Jay Will

JAY WILL: (Rob Peace/Tulsa King) I will turn that around. I can’t do without; I need momma’s yams and cornbread for Thanksgiving. I’m good without having a Christmas. I don’t need it as much. It wouldn’t break my heart.

Dave Koz

DAVE KOZ (jazz trumpeter) – We can do away with excessive gift-giving. We need to do something meaningful. The gift-giving has gotten carried away. There are other ways to show your love. I love Thanksgiving. I’m always on the road because we start our tour the next night. Everyone on the show is together.

Dulce Sloan

DULCE SLOAN – (Comedy Central)

Santa Claus! What’s the point? Your parents work hard every year to buy you toys. Santa has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. He’s pointless.

Jay Ellis 

JAY ELLIS: (Insecure/Top Gun Maverick) People giving out fruitcakes.

 

Sheaun McKinney

SHEAUN MCKINNEY (The Neighborhood) - That’s a good question. You can get rid of the fruitcake. We’re not going caroling. I don’t like snow. I’m from Miami. I love giving gifts. I don’t know.

 

James Anthony Tyler

JAMES ANTHONY TYLER (playwright): The gift giving. The commercialization of Christmas.

Christian Sands

CHRISTIAN SANDS (jazz pianist): Every tradition is necessary.

Michael Sumuel 

MICHAEL SUMUEL: (opera singer)

I can see getting rid of the White Elephant. The abundance of gifts. The older I’ve gotten, the simpler things make me happy.

 

Marcel Spears

MARCEL SPEARS (Marty Butler on ‘The Neighborhood’): I like all of them. Now that I’m an adult and just had a baby, I used to wake up early on Christmas morning. It would be top of the morning. I would instead not do that now. As my daughter gets a little older, I see her joy and energy, and I’m like -----uh, No!  I feel so bad for my parents because I was up at 6 a.m., not knowing they were probably wrapping presents until 2. I’m going to see if I can eliminate the waking up early.  My grandma, who has passed now, would give us all scratchers and put them in our stockings with apples, candy, and stuff. We have decided to keep that tradition going. Somebody wins $5 or $10, and we share. We do stockings. My dad is a pastor, so we must attend church – no matter what.  When I was younger, I didn't appreciate it all.  Now I do.