31st Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival Sizzles

By Darlene Donloe

If it’s August, it must be time for the Long Beach Jazz Festival!

A fan favorite, the festival has become a summer tradition for the thousands who attend the three-day event.

For 31 years, the Long Beach Jazz Festival (LBJF), located at Rainbow Lagoon Park on the back side of the Long Beach Convention Center on Shoreline Drive, has been the place to be, see and hear some of the greatest musicians in the biz and to experience a true jazz infusion. This year the tradition continued with some of the most popular jazz and smooth jazz artists taking the stage August 10-12.

Under the direction of Kimberly Benoit, president of Rainbow Promotions, the festival had an impressive lineup that included Jonathan Butler, Maysa, Kim Waters, Marion Meadows, Marcus Miller, Poncho Sanchez, Everette Harp, Chante Moore, Doc Powell, Nick Colionne, Eric Roberson, Nick Smith, Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Kirk Whalum, Keiko Matsui, David Benoit, Marc Antoine, Brian Simpson and Jazmin Ghent.

Nick Smith

When asked what sets LBJF apart from other jazz festivals, Nick Smith, a pianist who at one time played the smaller second stage before being asked to play the main stage, said it was the variety of music that the fans get to hear.

“You get to see and hear a variety of music that includes jazz, R&B, and even some classics,” said Smith. “I’m thankful and grateful to play on the same stage as some of these great musicians.”

Everette Harp

“It’s always cool to play the Long Beach Jazz Festival,” said saxophonist Everette Harp. “The people, the venue, the music it’s all here. You get to play music with some of your friends. I always have a great time because it's a great festival.”

Eric Roberson

“This is wonderful,” said singer Eric Roberson.  “This is a cool festival. I’m having fun.”

Nick Colionne

"When I play festivals, I like to make sure the fans are having a good time," said jazz guitarist Nick Colionne. "That's why I like to go down into the audience and connect with them. The fans are very important."

The LBJF offers more than music. There is a vendor pavilion that offers a variety of freshly prepared foods and beverages plus unique clothing, art, and accessories. There is also a second stage in the pavilion that features experts sharing knowledge about health and wellness.

Janet Jackson Set To Appear On The Tonight Show

Global music superstar Janet Jackson is set to debut her new single, “Made for Now,” in collaboration with Daddy Yankee, on the Friday, Aug. 17 telecast of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

The appearance marks Jackson’s first performance on late-night television in 14 years. She last served as musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” in 2004. This will also be Jackson’s first appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Fallon as host.

From Universal Television and Broadway Video, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” is executive produced by Lorne Michaels and produced by Gerard Bradford, Mike DiCenzo, and Katie Hockmeyer. Jamie Granet-Bedermanproduces. “The Tonight Show” tapes before a live studio audience from Studio 6B in 30 Rockefeller Center.

ABOUT JANET JACKSON

Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her music has earned her six Grammy Awards, two Emmy Award nominations, a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination, as well as dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. She has also received many accolades as an actress, including an NAACP Best Supporting Actor Award. Jackson is a published author, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of the biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry have opened doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions.

ABOUT DADDY YANKEE

Daddy Yankee remains one of the most recognized and influential names in urban music and Latin dance. He was named one of the most influential Hispanics in the world by both CNN and Time magazine. He has sold more than 17 million albums and has over 60 million fans combined on his social networks. Daddy Yankee is considered the King of Reggaeton and continues to reign with the recent global success of “Despacito,” which was named the most-streamed song and most-watched video of all time, and most recently “Dura,” the second most-watched video in 2018. He was also named Billboard magazine’s Top Latin Artist of 2017. Other global hits by Daddy Yankee are “Gasolina,” “Rompe” and “Limbo,” among others.

Rehearsals Begin For 'Sweat' At Mark Taper Forum

L-R: (back row) Will Hochman, Portia, Peter Mendoza, Amy Pietz, John Earl Jelks, director Lisa Peterson and (front row) Grantham Coleman, Michael O’Keefe, Mary Mara and Kevin T. Carroll at the first rehearsal for “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage. “Sweat” runs August 29 through October 7, 2018, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 

            Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group’s production of “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage. The 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum August 29 through October 7, 2018. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the opening of “Sweat” is set for September 5.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Kevin T. Carroll, Grantham Coleman, Will Hochman, John Earl Jelks, Mary Mara, Peter Mendoza, Michael O’Keefe, Amy Pietz and Portia.

The creative team includes set design by Christopher Barreca, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Anne Militello, sound design by Paul James Prendergast and projection design by Yee Eun Nam. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, “Sweat” tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs, promotions and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat.

Young People Rule In 'The Darkest Minds'

(l-r) Skylan Brooks, Miya Cech, Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson

By Darlene Donloe

When we first see Ruby she’s an adorable little girl in bed surrounded by her parents who have just given her a special keychain for her birthday.

You can tell they are a loving family. Fast-forward to the next morning and little Ruby is entering the kitchen to say good morning to her mom. Unfortunately for Ruby, her mother doesn’t know her.   The mother even asks, “How did you get in here?”

Next frame and the mother is putting Ruby out in the garage where she is picked up by the government.

So starts The Darkest Minds, the latest YA survival thriller directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, based upon the novel by Alexandra Bracken with a screenplay by Chad Hodge.  The movie is in theaters nationwide today, Friday, Aug. 3.

Watch the video HERE: https://youtu.be/L4YtUUk6lcg 

In The Darkest Minds, a plague breaks out that wipes out 90% of the world’s children. Those who survive end up with varying degrees of superpowers. The degrees are distinguished by colors. “Orange” kids are considered the most dangerous, as are red. They are considered so dangerous that the government has them killed off.  Ruby, who has orange powers, pretends she doesn’t.

Eventually, the government rounds up the survivors and divides them based on the relative danger of their powers.

Ruby escapes from the concentration camps with the help of a sympathetic doctor, played by Mandy Moore.

Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson

While on the run, Ruby stumbles upon three other kids in a Nissan minivan who are also escapees.

Harris Dickinson, who plays Liam, is the leader of the group. He is joined by the highly intelligent Chubs, played by Skylan Brooks and Miya Cech, who plays Zu, a mute.

Chubs has some great one-liners in the film, while Liam and Ruby have some tender moments. Ruby is afraid to get too close to Liam because she feels her powers could erase his memory.

Liam, Ruby, Chubs, and Zu hear there is a hidden compound where rumor has it, they can live free without interference from Tracers, (bounty hunters).

Eventually, the small group makes it the camp where they meet kids who have formed a resistance group. They have started their own community within the safeguards of a compound headed by an unlikely sort. The main objective is to reclaim control of their future from the adult world that fears everyone under 18.

Mandy Moore doesn’t have much to do. Neither does Bradley Whitford. Moore and Whitford are fine actors, but you gotta have something to work with.

The film is hit and miss. While watching you get the feeling that you must have blinked and missed something because the movie is not coming together smoothly.   There are too many questions and even more holes. However, there are some rather cool special effects.

Not quite sure what the director, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, was really going for. The movie is uneven and clods along in sections.

It’s not all bad. Get yourself a bag of popcorn, get comfortable in your seat and proceed to suspend disbelief for a little less than two hours.  

The Darkest Minds stars Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Skylan Brooks, Gwendoline Christie, Bradley Whitford, Harris Dickinson, Wallace Langham, Golden Brooks, Patrick Gibson, and Miya Cech.

The Darkest Minds is Rated PG-13; 1h 45 min.

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

The Spy Who Dumped Me: A Review

By Darlene Donloe

Kate McKinnon is hilarious.

A standout on Saturday Night Live, Emmy® Award-winner McKinnon spreads her comedic wings in the comedy, The Spy Who Dumped Me, out in theaters nationwide Friday, Aug. 3.

Thank goodness McKinnon is in the film because she is the funny that holds this raucous romp together. Her delivery of one-liners and short phrases, mixed with antics and her classic facial expressions are brilliant.

She joins forces with Mila Kunis in this female-driven escapade through Europe.

Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis

Here’s what happens.

The movie opens with Justin Theroux (Drew) running, jumping and fighting off spies as he makes his way through Lithuania.

Cut to Kate McKinnon (Morgan) and Mila Kunis (Audrey) bemoaning Audrey’s breakup with Drew, who apparently “Dumped” her via text.

Next frame, we see Drew coming through Audrey’s window to retrieve some of his belongings, one of which is a trophy that is at the center of major spy caper.

Of course, you can see the ending coming a continent away. There are so many holes in this film. So many moments that don’t make sense – or simply aren’t plausible, but it really doesn’t matter.

Just go along for the ride – because there are a lot of laughs – complements of McKinnon.  She and Kunis have a natural chemistry on film.

Justin Theroux and Mila Kunis

It’s great to see two women at the center of an action-packed spy caper that makes its way through Los Angeles, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, and Tokyo.

McKinnon steals every scene she’s in (there are very few in which she doesn’t appear).

Audrey and Morgan, two best friends, embark on an action-packed international adventure after they discover that Drew (Justin Theroux), who recently dumped Audrey via text, is actually a spy.

Hasan Minhaj and Sam Heughan

When something happens to Drew, both Audrey and Morgan do what any normal BFFs would do, they go to Europe to deliver a package to an operative Drew that was supposed to meet.  Of course, chaos ensues.

They are met by other bad guys and gals who are trying to kill them in order to get the package.

What follows are gun battles, car chases, and daring escapes.

It’s interesting how this comedy has several incredibly violent scenes. I mean, really violent scenes. The film ends up somewhere between Secrets, Jason Bourne, James Bond and probably a segment of I Love Lucy.  It’s part road trip, part BFF film, and spy movie.

This movie is all about the women. That being said, the men deserve a level of applause. Theroux, Sam Heughan (Outlander) who plays a spy and Hasan Minhaj (The Daily Show), who also plays a spy – all turn in respectable performances.

Gillian Anderson

Shout out to Gillian Anderson, whose resting bitch face as Wendy, a calculating spy boss, is dazzling and comical. Also shout out to Lolly Adefope, who is hysterical as a sickening friend/enemy who throws much shade Audrey’s way.

The Spy Who Dumped Me stars Kunis, McKinnon, Theroux,  Heughan, Anderson,  Minhaj, Ivanna Sakhno, Jane Curtin, Adefope and Paul Reiser.

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