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James Earl Jones Theatre dedication ceremony honors legendary actor

On Monday, Sept. 12, The Shubert Organization, Inc. (Shubert) officially dedicated and revealed the newly renamed James Earl Jones Theatre (138 West 48th St.), formerly the Cort Theatre, in honor of the iconic multi-award-winning American actor. The dedication ceremony follows a $47 million restoration and expansion of the building.

The ceremony welcomed VIP guests including NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Courtney B. Vance, Debbie Allen, Lee Daniels, Phylicia Rashad, Kenny Leon, Shubert Organization President Robert Wankel, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tamara Tunie, Woodie King Jr. and more, and featured special performances by Stokes Mitchell and Lewis, along with remarks from Wankel and Adams as well as a first look reveal of the new marquee.

Barbara Montgomery The James Earl Jones Theatre (Bill Moore photos)

Courtney B. Vance Irene Gandy Kenny Leon Tamara Tunie

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

The newly named James Earl Jones Theatre following its $47 million renovation (T. Whitney Cox photo)

On Monday, Sept. 12, James Earl Jones received an honor that very few Black actors ever have: the Cort Theatre, located at 138 W. 48th Street, which has undergone a $47 million renovation and expansion, is now renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre. Jones is a household name for his distinctive voice and performances in both theater and film. His career began in 1957, and over 60 years later he has been in 21 Broadway shows.

This honor is being bestowed on Jones by the Shubert Organization. “To witness a theater named in my honor is at once momentous and humbling,” said Jones. “It serves as a joyful reminder of the many long days and nights spent treading the boards with amazing peers who were at my side as we worked to show the humanity of all, often at great odds. It is my wish that it also serves as a beacon of hope to the countless contemporary talent now forging new paths in theater and beyond that all is possible.”

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Robert E. Wankel, chairperson and CEO of The Shubert Organization.

When asked, why James Earl Jones? Wankel replied, “Why not James Earl Jones? He’s one of the greatest American actors and he’s actually done 14 shows in Shubert Theatres. He’s been one of our great stars. It’s very fitting to have a theater named after a gentleman of his stature.”

The Shubert Organization was inspired to do this after the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. Considering how the renaming is a step in the Broadway community’s showing that it is about inclusion, Wankel explained, “I think the renaming in itself should make that statement. We don’t traditionally change names of our Broadway theaters, even though we’re asked to do it a great many times, but we made that decision after Blacks Lives Matter started and we decided we should name the theater after a BIPOC person. We made that decision in 2020 and we’re following through now with the completion of the construction, formerly the Cort Theatre and now the James Earl Jones Theatre, and I have to tell you it’s spectacular! The theater will reopen in October. Theater is life changing and we want every young person to come to the theater. We tell stories better than anybody. Millions of people experience the theater.”

When it comes to a spectacular career, not many people can compare to James Earl Jones, who has always represented his community with dignity and honor and has received many accolades, including the National Medal of the Arts, Kennedy Center Honors and a 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an EGOT—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner.

Recalling Jones’ reaction to hearing that the theater would be named in his honor Wankel said, “I think, as James said, having played the Cort Theatre and then having the theater named after him 60 years later, shows that if you work hard you can get places. And I think that James has certainly proven that. He’s had such an extraordinary career, very extraordinary. Hopefully the identity makes a statement that all people are important. And certainly, James Earl Jones, his contribution to the entertainment world is significant. Very few people have reached the status of EGOT.”

Naming the theater after Jones is essentially giving him immortality. Sharing what he wants the productions that play there to experience, Wankel explained, “I hope they will enjoy the new environment the theater will have, but most importantly they will be proud to play in the theater named after James Earl Jones, one of the great American actors.” The first show that will open the theatre is “Ohio State Murders” starring Audra McDonald with direction by Kenny Leon.

Recalling Jones’ reaction to this honor Wankel shared, “Mr. Jones was absolutely delighted. It’s a very significant honor, there are very few Broadway people who have theaters named after them. Many were named after lots of different things. I think it’s a very significant honor and one that he is very appreciative of.”

The theater underwent a $47 million restoration and expansion, it was originally designed in the style of an 18th century French palace by theater architect Thomas Lamb to house productions by theater impresario John Cort. Now it has been renovated by Kostow Greenwood Architects and has a refurbished interior and exterior, a modern annex, lounges, new restrooms, rehearsal spaces and offices for staff, a dressing room tower in the annex, expanding stage and upgrading the rigging system to accommodate more technically demanding productions. While that is a mouthful, Wankel said it was necessary. “The theater is 110 years old. The world has changed, the people have changed. The theater needed upgraded restrooms, we have an elevator so that all of the levels will be serviced for people with disabilities, the rigging system modernized because today’s technology is very different. But the theater just needs room, they were built tight back in the day and the world has changed. In order for the theater to be open another 100 years we had to make big renovations. We restored the original Cort Theatre to its original beauty and people will appreciate that. There’s a 5-story annex, with the public space with restrooms and dressing rooms. This will keep the theater going for [another] 100 years. We had the opportunity to acquire a piece of property next to the theater that gave us the ability to have this annex. We’re honored to be naming the theater after Mr. Jones and we’re glad we had the opportunity to restore the theater. When you see it you will see it really is quite magnificent!”

James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams in a scene from “On Golden Pond” (Joan Marcus photo)

Trenton Doyle Hancock’s “Mound #1, The Color Crop Experience (2018)” (Karen Juanita Carrillo photos)

By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO

Special to the AmNews

This year’s Armory Show brought out art galleries from around the world to showcase their artists at the Javits Center from Sept. 9-11.

A few noted pieces on view were:

Trenton Doyle Hancock’s “Mound #1, The Color Crop Experience (2018)” exhibited by the James Cohan gallery is a massive display of a mythological-type figure made of metal, fiberglass, and rug which kids and even adults were drawn to. Viewers could enter the figure through a tent-flap and experience an animated video inside.

María Magdalena CamposPons had “Secrets of the Magnolia Trees Deb Luminosity, 2022” exhibited by Gallery Wendi Norris. The piece is mixed media and features a middleaged Black woman wrapped in a quilt-like jacket that is filled with archival photographic prints. Campos-Pons centers the presence of Black womanhood in this large-scale watercolor and gouache piece where the central figure is shown with a weary smile, yet enveloped by the photographs of Black ancestors.

And Houston Texas’ Inman Gallery had Jamal Cyrus’ wonderful “Freedom’s Dream Book, 2022” on display, a piece made of denim, cotton thread, and cotton batting that reflects on the old tradition of playing the numbers––or making bets based on the numbers you’ve

dreamed about––as a way to control your future.

“Secrets of the Magnolia Trees Deb Luminosity, 2022” by María Magdalena Campos-Pons

“Freedom’s Dream Book, 2022” by Jamal Cyrus

In Harlem, women are doing it for themselves

By MARGRIRA

Special to the AmNews

Something amazing is happening in Harlem and I can only hope that this wave of positive change continues.

COVID-19 was an unexpected pause in the lives of millions and for some, it was a devastating experience. For others, it was that needed suspension of time and responsibility that only something this huge could accomplish, which was a reset.

In my Harlem neighborhood, when I finally poked my head out, I discovered many businesses had closed. But to my surprise, in their place, were new establishments being run by women of color.

On Amsterdam Avenue, starting at 145th Street, there are three new establishments and one on Frederick Douglass Blvd.

The oma, shop

1707 Amsterdam Ave - www. theomahome.com/ 646-360-4918

This brand new coffee and gift shop features coffee from Counter Culture along with assorted pastries from Colson Patisserie, and gourmet bagels from Blour Bagel by Catherine Yoo. It’s a very small space but the vibe is pure despite the crack addicts loitering in front of the store. Owned and operated by an African American couple, who’ve been together since they were in their early teens, their space also offers unique gifts from local artists of color.

Dolled

1705 Amsterdam Ave 646-418-7893 - Appointment Only

Dolled provides lash extension services and also offers certified lash classes and is owned by Vevica (@lashbarbieee) who has been a licensed cosmetologist for 4 years, specializing in individual lash extensions and training.

Avrililly

1610 Amsterdam Ave - https:// www.avrililillys.com/ 917-265-8449

Avril Lekic was born and raised in Harlem’s historic Hamilton Heights district, so it’s only natural that she and her husband (Esad Lekic) open their first gelato

Arvililly All City Legends (Margrira photos)

shop in her own backyard. This family-friendly spot also offers an authentic specialty bakery and their small batch artisanal gelateria is made fresh, daily, using the finest ingredients available. Just six months old (Jan. 29, 2022) this spot is quickly gaining the support of the community; besides being delicious the vibe is uplifting and Harlem friendly, get me? “This is a family space,” says Avril Lekic, “and we want everyone to feel welcome when they walk into our doors.”

All City Legends

2854 Frederick Douglass Blvd. - https://allcitylegends.com/about-2 646-669-7148

This graffiti spot is owned by Jakee (Jakee & Crown) who has loved graffiti since she was 12 years old. There are not many women holding it down in the game but she’s known and “after years of thinking and procrastinating, on Nov. 28, 2020, All City Legends was born.” For a graffiti writer, walking into this space is sensory overload, like when you were a kid and you strolled inside a toy store. It’s packed with a fullcolor assortment of spray paint, caps, markers, inks, canvases, books, graffiti/art supplies, pins, and collectibles. Plus, they offer the largest assortment of art by some of the biggest names in graffiti, and they specialize in custom stickers, decal printing and they make pins. To keep the culture alive, if a store owner is looking for a talented artist to make their vision come alive. They make custom items.