Arts & Entertainment

Film/TV page 15 | Theater page 16 | Food page 20 | Jazz page 21

Pg. 18 Your Stars

To Sidney Poitier, with Love!

By LINDA ARMSTRONG

Special to the AmNews

I was at home that Friday morning when I heard the news that Sidney Poitier had passed away Thursday, Jan. 6, in his home in the Bahamas. He was 94 years old. The Bahamian American actor was the youngest of seven children for Evelyn Poitier and Reginald James Poitier, tomato farmers on Cat Island. The sadness I felt was deep! This was a man whose work I had seen all my life and whose work I had loved and admired. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched, “Lilies of the Field,” the film that earned him his first Academy Award in 1964, making him the first Black man to receive the Best Actor honor. I also loved him in “In The Heat of the Night,” “A Raisin In The Sun,” “To Sir With Love,” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” “The Defiant Ones,” and “A Patch of Blue.” Poitier made 56 films in this lifetime. He said in a past interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” shown on Sunday, “My work has been representative of me as a man. And the values are what I carry over from my parents.” He was an actor who made us all proud and opened doors for so many people. He was also someone who chose his roles carefully, always making sure not to take on demeaning roles.

Poitier was a writer, having created the books “The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography” and “Life Beyond Measure: Letters to my Great Granddaughter.” These two books also won him Grammy Awards for Spoken Word Albums. He won three Golden Globe Awards, one for “Lilies of the Field.” He received the Screen Actor Guild Life Achievement Award; President Barack Obama awarded him the Medal of Freedom; and Sir Sidney Poitier was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1974. Poitier was a man of many talents: in addition to being a brilliant actor and writer, he was also a director and civil rights activist. Poitier participated in the March on Washington and spoke out for civil rights.

I fondly recall going to the opening night of “Motown: The Musical” on Broadway in 2013 and looking up while in the lobby and seeing the dashing 6 ft. 2 in. Poitier standing before me. I was overjoyed and quickly but respectfully approached him, introduced myself and asked if I could interview him about the musical for the Amsterdam News. He told me he needed a minute, but to wait there and that he would be right back. I waited a few moments and he returned, and in a very soft voice shared his appreciation for the musical and what it meant to have this musical about the Black artists from Motown and to hear the music on Broadway. When I requested a photo with him he smiled and agreed. That is one of my prized possessions, and hangs proudly on my living room wall!

Poitier’s roots were in theater: he got his start with the American Negro Theater as a teenager, struggling to make a career in New York City. Prior to finding out about an audition at the American Negro Theater (through the pages of the New York Amsterdam News, I might add), Poitier lied about his age in 1943 and enlisted in the Army. He served as an orderly with the 1267th Medical Detachment at a veteran’s hospital on Long Island. Realizing this wasn’t what he wanted, he faked a mental disorder and received a discharge in 1945. Once discharged he returned to New York City. It is interesting to note that Sidney Poitier was led to his first theater experience at the American Negro Theater by reading the Amsterdam News, where he saw an ad that the American Negro Theater was looking for actors. It truly is a small world.

What is always beautiful about our treasured icons like Sidney Poitier, is that when they are honored by others, they tend to not only be humble, but they sing the praises of those honoring them. This is what Poitier did in 2011 at the 40th anniversary of the New Federal Theatre as Woodie King Jr. honored him. He appeared in a video message to King and shared these words: “Woodie, you are destined to go down in history as to your creative contribution to the enhancement of the creative arts… The world has seen who you are and how you continue to enrich the world of the creative arts. Congratulations.” His daughter, Pamela Poitier, was there to accept the award for her father, which was presented by Glynn Turman.

Woodie King Jr., describing what Sidney Poitier meant to him said, “He meant that I could work and integrate into this place called the American theater. I started off in theater in Detroit, went to drama school, got a grant to the American Place Theatre in New York where I got to work with Sidney Poitier’s director for ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ Lloyd Richards. From there I got a job in the Poverty program. I was with Mobilization for Youth on the East Side, training young people in acting and how to be noted and respected. Sidney Poitier’s influence was a part of that program from day one, that’s what he meant to me. Everything that I did in that program was emulating Sidney Poitier. I had been exposed to his work and read about how he started,” King shared.

Poitier’s passing causes one to reflect on the impact he had on their lives. One such person who

reached out to me immediately was legendary actor Count Stovall. He sent this tribute: “To Sir Sidney Poitier with love: Yesterday I had a unique experience. I watched two wonderful Sidney Poitier films that I had never seen before—‘Brother John’ (1971) and ‘The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn’ (1999). I enjoyed them immensely. Firstly, it’s been years since I was able to watch what was for me a new Sidney Poitier film; lastly, I had never seen two more beautifully performed films by Sir Sidney Poitier. And today I topped off this great experience by seeing the CBS Sunday Morning’s story about the great man. It brought me to tears. The man gave me a sense of personal power. It took me over 50 years to completely appreciate this giant of a man. His artistry so enabled me to see myself as a strong, capable man. Oh yes, we raced to the cinema to see the latest Sidney Poitier film. But I never knew that I was—for the duration of my life until reachDouglas Turner Ward, Woodie King Jr. and Sidney Poitier at New Federal Theatre’s 30th anniversary in 2001 ing my 70s and after having read two autobiographies by this man—able to fully digest his impact on me as an artist, a man and a human being and yes, Mr. Poitier explained my life’s potential as a man of color. He was right. He demonstrated a code of conduct to me both as an artist, and as a man living in the duplicitous world of America. His example has given me tremendously rewarding insights. Sir Sidney Poitier lived an amazingly effective life of service. He embodied eloquence and versatility as a performer, a director and a writer. All I can say is thank you. I had the great good fortune to meet him on several occasions and to be friends and a colleague of his beautiful talented daughter Pamela Poitier.” Tony Award winning director Kenny Leon said of Poitier, “He opened the door and set the table for all of us…The father of American storytelling whom all artists

(Joyce Sylvester photo)

By LINDA ARMSTRONG

Special to the AmNews 2021 was not only a time that this country went through a reckoning due to the murder of George Floyd, it was a

time that the theater community had a reckoning as well. It was a time to acknowledge the inequality that Black people have endured in the theater community for always. With Floyd’s murder Black members of the theater community formed groups to demand equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility for Blacks in theater. One group was Black Theatre United (BTU); others included Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) and Broadway Advocacy Coalition (BAC). BTU took six months from March to August, met with theater writers, directors, producers, owners, unions, creatives, casting directors and created a New Deal For Broadway to address equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and a feeling of belonging for Blacks on Broadway. The New Deal addressed every facet of what goes on with doing a Broadway show! It is an amazing document to read and is on BTU’s website.

The 74th annual Tony Awards hosted by Audra McDonald and Leslie Odom Jr. honored Woodie King Jr., press agent Irene Gandy and Beverly Jenkins, a 30year stage manager with Excellence in Theatre Awards. Also a special Tony went to the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, which advocates for equity and inclusion for Blacks on Broadway and works on criminal justice reform, education reform and immigration. David Alan Grier won the Tony for actor in a featured role in a play for “A Soldier’s Play,” and the play by Charles Fuller won best revival of a play. Adrienne Warren won best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.” September found me at the first Broadway play staged since the pandemic shutdown, “Pass Over.” It was one of seven plays created by Black writers this season. Black playwright Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu made her Broadway debut with this scorching, visceral drama. Her two main characters were Moses and Kitch and they lived on a street corner in a ghetto neighborhood. They were terrified of racist, abusive white cops and hoped to get to the Promised Land, where they would have hope and respect. They encountered a white man who is referred to as Master and Ossifer. Both of his characters gave them a run for their money. Jon Michael Hill and Namir Smallwood were riveting as Moses and Kitch. Gabriel Ebert was incredible in his dual roles. The play had stunning direction by Danya Taymor. 2021 was a year that saw seven plays from Black writers and it was briefly beautiful. In addition to “Pass Over,” which played a limited run, there was “Chicken & Biscuits” by Douglas Lyons— making his Broadway debut (shutdown early due to COVID), “Thoughts of a Colored Man” by Keenan Scott II, making his Broadway debut (shutdown early due to COVID), “Lackawanna Blues” written, performed and directed by Rubin Santiago-Hudson, “Trouble In Mind” by the late Alice Childress (currently playing at the American Airlines Theatre through Jan. 10, 2022), “Skeleton Crew” by Dominique Morrisseau (which recently began performances as the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre), and “Clyde’s” by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage (currently playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre).

In October I went to the Golden Theatre on West 45th Street and I was profoundly moved by the likes of something I had never seen on a Broadway stage— a play that demonstrated the deep levels of a Black man in “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” written by Keenan Scott II, directed by Steve Broadnax III and featuring seven phenomenal actors. Scott used monologues, slam poetry, singing and conversations to demonstrate the importance and complexity of Black men. His seven characters—Love, Lust, Depression, Passion, Anger, Happiness and Wisdom—reminded one of a father, uncle, brother, cousin. The actors were incredible and featured Dyllon Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Forrest McClendon, Esau Pritchett and making their moving Broadway debuts—Luke James and Tristan Mack Wilds. This play also proclaimed a great love and respect for Black women. Though it was set to run through March 2022, COVID issues caused it to end in late December—that was a tragedy!

October-November also saw Broadway embracing Rubin Santiago-Hudson in “Lackawanna Blues.” His autobiographical story of being raised in a rooming house in Lackawanna, New York by Nanny. During his powerhouse performance he portrayed 24 characters brilliantly!

October also saw “Caroline, Or Change” on Broadway at Studio 54. The Tony Kushner musical tells the story of Caroline, a maid in Louisiana in 1963, who has a hard life. She works for a white, Jewish family and she struggles to take care of her three children as a single mom. This Broadway musical has a splendid cast, most of which are African Americans. Sharon D. Clarke made her Broadway debut and she is extraordinary as Caroline. Other Black talent includes Nasia Thomas, Nya, Harper Miles, Kevin S. McAllister, N’Kenge, Samantha Williams, Tamika Lawrence, Alexander Bello and Jayden Theophile.

More October fare included “Chicken & Biscuits,” which played at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Playwright Douglas Lyons made an impressive debut with this comedy. It focused on the Jenkins family funeral for the patriarch. The play featured a magnificent cast of mainly Blacks, which included Norm Lewis, Cleo King, Ebony Marshall Oliver, Aigner Mizzelle, Devera Rogers, Alana Raquel Bowers and Natasha Yvette Williams, along with Michael Urie. The comedy was directed by Black director Zhailon Levingston, also making his Broadway debut.

November marked when the late Alice Childress’ play “Trouble in Mind” finally made it to Broadway, 60 years after it was supposed to be there. This play tells the story of the racism faced by Black actors on Broadway in the 1950s. This play is still showing at the American Airlines Theatre on 42nd Street. It has a powerful cast which includes Tony Award winners LaChanze and Chuck Cooper, along with Jessica Frances Dukes, and Brandon Michael Hill. Additional cast include Danielle Campbell, Don Stephenson, Alex Mickiewicz

Adam Makké, John Cariani, and Sharon D Clarke in Roundabout Theatre Company’s “Caroline, Or Change” (Joan Marcus photo)

See REVIEW on page 17

owe a great deal of gratitude. He will forever inspire.”

Playwright and screenwriter Richard Wesley, who wrote the comedy classic “Uptown Saturday Night,” which Poitier starred in with Bill Cosby, along with “Let’s Do It Again,” “Fast Forward” and “Mandela and DeKlerk,” said, “He not only gave me my big break, but he also was free with advice about how to navigate show business and life itself. We held a conversation with each other at least once a year every year from 1973 until 2020, when illness began to overtake him, but even then I could get a message or two to him, letting him know he was not far from my thoughts. More than a ‘mentor,’ Sidney was a friend. His friendship is remembered more by me than our working relationship.”

Movie, film and stage legend Ben Vereen shared with me that he felt devastated by the passing of his friend of several decades. He directed me to his Facebook page on which he shared his heart: “In the beginning there was Sidney Poitier. In the beginning of style, grace, elegance and dignity there was Sidney Poitier for the African American community and for the world. I will miss you my king brother, thank you for opening doors and showing us the way to elegance to all the accolades I used before. We pray for your family will miss you Sidney. This wasn’t supposed to happen but life has an expiration date for all of us. We just wish yours was a little longer. You taught us so much and your style and elegance—I grew up watching ‘Blackboard Jungle’ and even there you were elegantly beautiful with such poise. Well, rest well my brother and thank you for everything you’ve done for us, not just the African American community, but for the world. Well all I can say to God is ‘Guess who’s coming to dinner?’” Sir Poitier will be missed, but is someone whom we will always feel blessed and proud to have had in our midst.

(Linda Armstrong photo)

Review

Continued from page 16

and Simon Jones. The play has splendid direction by Charles Randolph Wright.

The end of the year saw a remounting of “Black Love” at Black Spectrum Theatre in Queens and it was fantastic! The play, written by Carl Clay, looked at the issue of Black Love in our communities— relationships between men and women, fathers and sons, brothers and sisters and brothers and brothers. This play was quite interesting and engaging. The ensemble was wonderful and included Fulton Hodges, Gil Tucker, Douglas Wade, Ria Alexander, Kenya Wilson, Aaron Watkins, Ashley Versher, Jared Davidson, Brian Anthony Simmons, Tuquan Smith, Zori Job, Mel’Lahnee Blackwell, Robin Hemmings and Jade Mason. This year also marked Black Spectrum’s 50 anniversary. Carl Clay has created a treasure in Queens!

A play that was much anticipated from Pulitzer Prize winning playwright—the one and only Lynn Nottage— “Clyde’s” hit the Broadway stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre running and it is tremendous. Nottage made a profound comedy/drama on

Audra McDonald (L) and Brian Stokes Mitchell perform onstage during the 74th annual Tony Awards at Winter Garden Theatre on Sept. 26, 2021 in New York City.

(Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

the difficult, unfair treatment that ex-cons go through when trying to get back into society. The deck is so stacked against them, they have to take abuse and cruelty from a woman named Clyde, an ex-con herself who runs a truck-stop restaurant. She berates, sexually harasses and is deliberately cruel to her kitchen staff every opportunity she gets. The stupendous cast of this production includes Uzo Aduba, Kara Young, Reza Salazar, Edmund Donovan and the incomparable Ron Cephas Jones! It has splendid direction by Kate Whoriskey! After Thanksgiving, the 49th annual AUDELCO Awards decided to take a different approach. Since there wasn’t theater as we normally know it, due to the pandemic, it was decided to honor Black Theater Excellence through a retrospective approach. Twenty-seven theater companies were acknowledged for their work of the past 49 years. Companies had the titles and years of six to seven productions listed to be voted on by members of AUDELCO. Held in the Dwyer Cultural Center, there were displays of original cast photos from these vast productions—it was history! The evening was hosted by Phyllis Stickney, Jrome Andre and theater legend Vinnie Burrows with music by the Phil Young Experience and performances by Tina Fabrique. AUDELCO also honored our people by bestowing Legacy Awards on Mary B. Davis, J.e. Franklin and Lawrence Holder. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Marjorie Moon—the Billie Holiday Theatre and Carl Clay—Black Spectrum Theatre. Pioneer Awards were given to Lynda Gravatt, Ebony Jo-Ann, Ron Cephas Jones and Shirley Faison. Outstanding Achievement Awards went to Jackie Alexander and Lawrence Evans—National Black Theatre Festival. Special Achievement went to Sade Lythcott—National Black Theatre and Ty Jones— Classical Theatre of Harlem. Board of Director Awards were given to Don Hayden, Charles White and Linda Stewart. Woodie King Jr. received a bust of himself! 2021 was filled with ups and downs for theater and for everyone due to COVID and now with the Delta and Omicron variants, who knows what the future holds? COVID is shutting Broadway shows down temporarily and sometimes permanently. I hope that we can get through this trying time and enjoy the entertainment at our avail. God bless theater and help us to get back to normal. Dominique Morrisseau’s “Skeleton Crew” recently began performances—see whatever you can on and off Broadway!