Carib festival at Qns. theater
The borough of Queens is the place for Caribbean theater, music and culture as the Black Spectrum Theatre hosts its month-long “Caribbean Music, Comedy and Theater Festival.” The inaugural festival continues this week with a concert starring “I’ll Do Anything for You” Jamaican music star Denroy Morgan (photo below) and a number of Caribbean comedians on Saturday .
Other festival happenings include a free reading of Marcha Tracey’s new play “Paradise Plume” on April 13, and the Trinidad and Tobago play “My Countrymen” by Harlan Penn, April 21-23.
To purchase tickets for any festival events, visit http://bit.ly/Caribbeanfestival2017.
In addition to the Caribbean Festival, which started yesterday with Guyanaborn playwright/actress Ingrid Griffith’s one-woman play “Demerara Gold,” the Black Spectrum Theatre will be presenting several other events including the Valerie Donaldson play “Brother Joombo’s Magic History Soup” Tuesday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
The encouraging stage work is created for students — from fifth grade to high school — and classes are encouraged to see the play.
To make a reservation or get information, call the Black Spectrum Theatre at (718) 723-1800 and visit www.blackspectrum.com.
‘Jah Jerry’ benefit
Named for a pioneering Jamaican music star and dedicated to his passion for education, the Jah Jerry Foundation will be celebrating its Anniversary Scholarship Fund-raiser Dinner Dance on April 21 in Pelham, Westchester County.
The fund-raising affair will be held at the Country Kitchen Restaurant, 810 Pelham Parkway, from 8 p.m. to midnight, to benefit the educational mission of the group named for late Jerome (Jah Jerry) Haynes, according to James Haynes, son of the late musician and founder of the nonprofit group.
Jerome Haynes, who died in 2007, was guitarist and founding member of legendary Skatalites ska band. Ska music was a precursor to Jamaica’s patented and popular rocksteady and reggae rhythms.Businessman Vincent HoSang, president and CEO of Caribbean Food Delights, is scheduled to attend the affair and sign copies of his timely book “Change of Fortune: How One Determined Immigrant Built His American Dream.”
For information on the organization and the benefit affair, call (212) 470-5655 and visit www.jahjerry.org.
Farewell to netball group founder
The members, players and supporters of the New York-based Caribbean-American Netball Association will be remembering one of the organization’s founders, Albert Telemacque aka DJ Gold, in the today in a service at the Carib Funeral Home, 1922 Utica Ave. Telemacque, 85, died on March 18. Viewing begins at 2 p.m. and services will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A homegoing celebration will be held at Tropical Reflections Ballroom, 4501 Glenwood Road, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. For information, call Carib Funeral Home at (718) 444-1818 or Tropical Reflections at (718) 287-4900.