'Black 2: Broadway' Returns With Performances by Crosby, Bailey, and More 11/3

Black 2: Broadway, the acclaimed production celebrating the contributions of performers of color in the arts, returns with its final production of 2008. Celebrating the life and work of Broadway Veterans BJ Crosby & Adrian Bailey, this exciting evening will feature performances by Broadway's Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Ebony Jo-Ann, Tina Fabrique, Alyson Williams, The Broadway Boys, Chester Gregory, Multi Award Winning Recording Artist Tonex (currently spelled: "TON3X") and many more on Monday, November 3rd at The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture located in Harlem.
 
All net profit from this special event will go towards assisting BJ Crosby who suffered a stroke a few months ago and Adrian Bailey who was seriously injured at a Broadway Theatre prior to curtain/show time. Serving its mission "to create a support structure for the ongoing development and proliferation of talent and new works generated by and produced by people of color," as well as to support the theatre community of color as a whole, this Black 2: Broadway will focus on lending a helping hand by raising critical financial assistance to support these two amazing Broadway Veterans.
 
BJ Crosby was nominated for a 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical of the 1996 season for Smokey Joe's Cafe and for Broadway's 1995 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) for "Smokey Joe's Cafe," a performance recreated in the television version titled Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller (2000) (TV).
 
Adrian Bailey's Broadway credits include La Cage aux Folles (Jacob), The Lion King, The Wild Party, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Who's Tommy, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jelly's Last Jam, Black & Blue, Legs Diamond, My One and Only, Sophisticated Ladies and more. TV credits include HBO's "The Josephine Baker Story."
 
On March 10, 2002 Black 2: Broadway launched as New York City's premier event showcasing the talents of performers of color, both known and unknown. The Black 2: Broadway stage has presented performances by a host of Broadway actors and national recording artists including TV and stage singer-actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph, Phylicia Rashad, and Melba Moore; New York Undercover star, Malik Yoba; R&B/Gospel singers Shirley Murdock, Alyson Williams and Meli'sa Morgan; Broadway and stage veterans Savion Glover, Lillias White, Marva Hicks, Ebony Jo-Ann, Tina Fabrique, Victor Cook, Darius de Haas, Lillias White, Billy Porter, Shelton Becton, Jenny Burton, Gordon Chambers, Karl Dixon, Jon Stanley, Ron Grant; recording artists LaChanze, Napiera Groves, Ty Stephens, Phoebe Snow, Andre Smith; and The Broadway Inspirational Voices.
 
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem. On Monday, November 3rd doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the cocktail hour beginning at 7:00 p.m. and Showtime at 8:00 p.m. sharp. Ticket are $35.00, General Admission and are available at www.theatermania.com.

Black 2: Work, a 501c3 non-profit will once again partner with Black 2: Broadway for this special performance. Black 2: Work awards financial grants to performers of color with a proven track record in the arts.

For more information on Black 2: Broadway, log on at www.b2productions.xbuild.com or www.myspace.com/b2bookings.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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