Archives for July 2022

The Songs of ‘Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical’ to Give Audiences a Sneak Peek of the Hotly-Anticipated New Musical Honoring the Pioneering Actress

July 13, 2022

Dorothy Dandridge is arguably one of Hollywood’s most trailblazing actors. For me, she’s a personal icon. The legendary performer paved the way for countless African American women in entertainment, most notably film. Her lasting legacy lives on in The Songs of “Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical,” which showcases songs from the hotly-anticipated new musical, Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical, a joyous, spectacular song and dance celebration of a fearless pioneer who dared to dream, but tragically fell short of her own aspirations.

The Songs of “Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical,” a theatrical two-night only event will take place at Zankel Theater at Carnegie Hall.

Photo Credit: Visual Materials from the Rosa Parks Papers (Library of Congress)

The chances of making it big in Hollywood are slim. So, imagine how difficult it was for a young African American woman from Ohio during the 1950s — one of the most tumultuous times in history for African Americans — to gain fame in a white male-dominated industry. And yet, Dandridge beat those seemingly insurmountable odds and rose to remarkable stardom. That’s the kind of woman she was — incredibly ambitious, talented and blessed with undeniable beauty. Those superstar qualities catapulted her into becoming one of Tinseltown’s most beloved luminaries.

However, Dandridge was not without her demons as she struggled with fame, wealth, and love. The Songs of “Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical” will explore it all. Directed by Tony award winner Tamara Tunie, the highly anticipated production stars N’Kenge as Dandridge.

If you’re a fan of musicals and historical productions that feature African American actors and singers, this is a show you don’t want to miss. Catch the evening showcasing the songs of the new musical on either Sunday, July 17th at 7:30pm or Monday, July 18th at 7:30pm at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Brown Girl Gumbo readers have access to the following special offer:

$49 tickets (Reg. $75 – Parterre AA-M)

$29 tickets (Reg. $45 – Parterre N-Q)

Simply use code: DPB39816 at checkout at: CarnegieHall.org. For tickets via phone, call: 212-247.7800.

Are you a Dorothy Dandridge fan? If so, what’s your favorite movie starring the late actress?

Category: Arts and Entertainment | 1 Comment

6 Reasons to Attend the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans (Next Year)

July 12, 2022

It’s been one week since I returned from this year’s Essence Festival of Culture event in New Orleans and I’m still on a high. If you’ve never made the trip to the unofficial mecca of black girl magic, you’re missing out on an indescribable celebration. From the food to the concerts, Essence Festival of Culture is a can’t-miss event that happens every year during the Fourth of July weekend in the Big Easy.

This was the first in-person festival since July 2019 — before the Covid-19 pandemic forced countless cancellations across the board. That’s why this year felt extra special. It was basically the informal campaign for “we’re back outside, y’all!” Indeed, we are back outside and filled the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Caesar’s Superdome to the rafters. In fact, it’s been reported that this year was one of the highest grossing festivals in its 27-year history. Simply put, we were in the building!

If you’re looking to make unforgettable memories and have a wonderful time, don’t miss out on next year’s festivities. I’m sure it’s going to be bigger and better than the last!

Check out my top six reasons to attend the annual Essence Festival of Culture:

Delectable creole cuisine
Good food is virtually synonymous with New Orleans. If you’re in the Crescent City for Essence Fest, just know that your taste buds are in for a treat. With scrumptious dishes like seafood gumbo, spicy jambalaya, fried fish, char-grilled oysters , and of course sweet beignets offered at just about every turn, die-hard foodies will be in heaven. Essence Eats, a food and wine festival within the Ernest N. Morial Convention Centers puts a lot of popular vendors under one roof. Convenient, right? Attendees get to see cooking demos with some of their favorite chefs, media personalities and other culinary stars. Essence Fest is a one-stop shop for learning new recipes and getting your grub on.

Unmatched musical acts
What’s a party without music? The Essence Festival of Culture got its start as a jazz festival and has since morphed into a melting pot of Black music. This year’s headliners included Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson and all six members of New Edition. If that wasn’t enough, old-school hip-hop acts like Nas, The Roots, The Lox, and the iconic Lil Kim, all took center stage. Plus, newer R&B artists like Summer Walker, Lucky Daye, Jazmine Sullivan, Chloe x Halle, and more put on stellar shows every night during the festival. If a mix of new and old tunes sounds like music to your ears, the Essence Festival of Culture is where you need to be.

Black-owned shopping experience
We know our worth and the value of our hard-earned dollars. That’s why it’s so important to buy Black and put that money back into our communities. The Essence Festival of Culture makes it easy for us to support our own businesses. From beauty to fashion, the festival showcases some of the best retailers from people who make products with us in mind. Vendors like The PuffCuff and Issa Rae’s new hair care brand Sienna Naturals were on full display at this year’s event. Countless vendors from across the country descend on the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center year after year to bring Black women and our families the goods we need to keep us looking and feeling our best.

Unmistakable Disney magic
As a longtime partner and sponsor, Disney has had a presence at every Essence Fest that I’ve attended. While I can’t guarantee that they’ll be back next year or beyond, it is highly likely. Disney gives festival attendees a magical experience that only they can bring. From free ears to fun giveaways, it’s my favorite booth at the convention center and for good reason. It brings out the kid and me and satiates my ongoing desire to be at one of their awesome parks. It brings Disney to New Orleans and always with optimism and relevance to the Black community.

Empowering panels and discussions
From a crash course in finances to politics to relationship advice, Essence Fest delivers on enriching, thought-provoking panels, roundtables and interviews. This year, special guests included Lala Anthony, Stacey Abrams, Lala Milan and a host of others. If you want to learn about how to be a power playing, stack your cash and give back to your community, this event is a sure bet.

Good vibes and pure joy
Whenever we’re in large groups, there’s an unspoken feeling of kinship and community. Essence Fest is no different, and quite frankly is the epitome of Black unity. It’s a big celebration for us and thankfully, by us…again since Richelieu Dennis is now the full owner of Essence Communications. New Orleans already has a welcoming vibe that I’ve never experienced in any other U.S. city and it’s on full display throughout the long weekend. You’ll see people smiling, starting conversations with strangers in line at the convention center, and happily offering recommendations for restaurants and what booths to hit up, etc. — there’s a strong sense of camaraderie and family that can’t be duplicated. Good vibes abound and you leave feeling carefree, calmer, and just all-around more joyful!

Have you ever attended Essence Fest? If so, how would you describe it?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, DE&I, Disney | 1 Comment

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Coming to Disney World and Disneyland in 2024

July 5, 2022

This past weekend was one for the books. For starters, I headed down to New Orleans to attend the Essence Festival of Culture. If you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing the four-day event, it’s a fun-filled weekend bursting with uplifting activities, empowering panels, and of course, concerts all created with Black women in mind. Simply put, it’s a glorious celebration for us.

That’s why it was the perfect place for Disney to explore the details around Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, one of the newest amusement ride attractions coming to Magic Kingdom in Orlando and Disneyland in California in late 2024. That’s right, our favorite Black princess (from “The Princess and the Frog”) who is fictionally based in the Big Easy is getting her own ride.

I had the honor of attending the press event at Preservation Hall — one of the city’s most historic and popular music venues — where the attraction’s name was revealed and learned some fascinating facts about its creation. In case you didn’t know, authenticity is paramount for Disney. Their Imagineers (Disney’s spin on engineers), work tirelessly and comb through painstaking details to ensure that everything they develop is rooted in authenticity.

Pictured (L-R): Ted Robledo, executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering and Stella Chase, daughter of the late Chef Leah Chase who inspired Tiana’s story.

From an alligator’s slithering movement to New Orleans’ unique vibe and environment, the Imagineers relentlessly researched and studied real-life in the bayou — essentially leaving no lilypad unturned. They worked closely with local experts and individuals like Stella Chase, the daughter of the late, legendary chef Leah Chase — who was also a panelist at the event — to ensure the ride accurately depicts the setting and stays true to the city in which the movie was inspired.

Disney Park guests can look forward to seeing the next chapter of Tiana’s life as the attraction, which is a reimagining of Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain, takes riders on a musical journey inspired by the beloved film.

“Picking up where the film left off, guests will join Princess Tiana, Naveen and jazz-loving alligator Louis on an adventure through the bayou as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras celebration where everyone is welcome,” Carmen Smith, Senior Vice President, Creative Development – Product/Content & Inclusive Strategies at Disney wrote in a recent Disney Park’s blog post. “Along the way, guests will encounter familiar faces, make new friends and travel through the bayou to original music inspired by songs from the film as they are brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s story.”

After learning about the details, attendees were treated to a surprise rendition of “Dig a Little Deeper,” performed by famed actor and prolific entertainer Jenifer Lewis. For the uninitiated, Lewis provided the voice of Mama Odie in “The Princess and the Frog” movie.

Overall it was an incredible event that exquisitely showcased the beauty of New Orleans coupled with the magic of Disney. My family and I can’t wait to experience Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in late 2024!

Are you excited for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, DE&I, Disney, Travel, travel & liefstyle, Travel & Lifestyle | 4 Comments