COLUMN The Pulse of Entertainment: Shyra Sanchez Enlists Emmy Nominated Travis Payne for Her ‘Sky is Falling' Music Video by Dr. Eunice Moseley   "I wanted to do something different for my first video with Travis Pain since ‘Operator' (her breakout video with Travis directing and choreographing). He worked on Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's ‘Scream', and with Whitney Houston ("I'm Every Woman")," said Billboard chart-topping Shyra Sanchez about the music video to her current single "Sky is Falling" (Super Shy Entertainment)...". "I wanted fun on the beach!" The "Sky is Falling" single is written and produced by Shyra with French music producer Benjamin Franklin co-producing. Grammy winning and Emmy nominated Travis Payne (Michael Jackson, Prince, TLC) directed the accompanying music video to the single. "I was working with my producer Ben Franklin, and I wanted something different multi-cultural with dancing," Sanchez said when I asked how the "Sky is Falling" single came to be. "He came up with the track...I came up with the... Read the full October 27, 2026 column here...>  The Pulse of Entertainment: Ben Tankard, The Godfather of Gospel Jazz, Releases New Album ‘Tall, Dark and Jazzy' by Dr. Eunice Moseley "It's what people want...insight inside of me," said legend Jazz Gospel keyboardist Ben Tankard, a Stellar Award Hall of Famer, about his newest album "Tall, Dark and Jazzy" (Ben Tankard Music).Tankard said the title comes from the many nick-names his wife has given him over the years. "We've been married for 26 years," he said sincerely. Ben is also celebrating 25 years of his ministry and launch of The Destiny Center. "We got married and started Bible study," Tankard said when I asked about the 26 years of marriage and the 25 years of the launch of his church. "I never wanted to be a pastor. My parents were pastors and we were poor! The Bible study grew to 40 people...my wife said 40 people are using my bathroom! That's when we launched the Center." However, this was after Ben Tankard became a multi-millionaire. "I wanted to be a... Read the full October 20, 2026 column here...>  LIKE US! "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference - (562)-424-3836 CLICK HERE AND LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! The Pulse of Entertainment Broadcasting Vol1

NEWS Six-time Emmy Winning Debbie Allen to Receive the Critics Choice Associations's 'Icon Award' November 16, 2026    (Los Angeles, CA) -  Six-time Emmy winning/Two-time Tony Award nominated Debbie Allen to be honored with the Icon Award at the Critics Choice Association's (CCA) 9th annual Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, taking place Monday, November 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. The event honors standout performances and work, both onscreen and offscreen, from the Black entertainment community. Emmy-nominated actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr., known for his work on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and CNN's Have I Got News for You, will host this year's event. The Celebration will premiere on the Critics Choice Association's official YouTube channel in December 2026. .  Ja Rule Celebrates 25 Years of 'Pain Is Love,' Turning 50 and the Expansion of His Business Empire (New York, NY) - Grammy Award nominated Hip-Hop icon Ja Rule is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his legendary album "Pain Is Love." The chart-topping record that became part of the definition of Hip-Hop and R&B. Ja Rule's milestone comes as he turns 50. The celebration includes the successful first year of his luxury whiskey brand, Amber & Opal, marking his continued evolution as an entrepreneur. Released in October 2001, "Pain Is Love" delivered some of the most iconic hits of the early 2000s, including "Always on Time," "Livin' It Up," and "Down Ass B*tch," cementing Ja Rule's place in music history. Twenty-five years later, those songs remain anthems, continue to resonate with new generations, and are still being performed by Ja Rule to audiences around the world.   Contemporary Japanese Jazz Pianist Keiko Matsui Performs at Catalina Jazz Club November 6-7, 2026 (Hollywood, CA) - Catalina Jazz Club announced the arrival of Japanese Jazz pianist Keiko Matsui Friday-Saturday November 6-7, 2026, as part of her globally tour. Keiko's show starts at 8:30pm. Keiko topped Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart for three weeks with her album "Deep Blue", becoming the first Japanese artist to do so. Celebrated for her captivating blend of Contemporary Jazz, Smooth Jazz and global influences, Matsui has earned a devoted worldwide following through her expressive melodies, dazzling musicianship and commanding stage presence. Scenes from the 'Uplifting Minds II' Entertainment Conferencence

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SPOTLIGHT of THE WEEK "BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF PURPOSE, DIRECTED BY PHYLICIA RASHAD, PREMIERES AT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE"     (Los Angeles, CA )  - Rehearsals for Geffen Playhouse's Los Angeles premiere of the Broadway/Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of the 2025 Tony Award winner for Best Play and 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner, Purpose, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (Appropriate, Everybody) and directed by Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun, Skeleton Crew) has begun. The production will launch its Los Angeles run featuring the full original Broadway cast. Previews for Purpose begin Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse. Opening night is Thursday, November 19, 2026. The original Broadway cast of the Broadway/Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Purpose includes Alana Arenas (Windfall, David Makes Man) as Morgan Jasper; Glenn Davis (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, King James) as Solomon "Junior" Jasper; Jon Michael Hill (The Mountaintop, Superior Donuts) as Nazareth "Naz" Jasper; LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous; A Raisin in the Sun) as Claudine Jasper; Harry Lennix (The Matrix series, Justice League) as Solomon "Sonny" Jasper; and Kara Young (Is God Is, Purlie Victorious) as Aziza Houston. Joining the original Broadway cast will be Nija Okoro (Jitney, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), who will take over the role of Aziza Houston beginning with the 6:30 p.m. performance on November 29. Due to popular demand, Purpose has been extended through Sunday, December 20, 2026, adding one additional week of performances. Meet the Jaspers: generations of a powerful Black political family under one roof where nothing stays buried for long. When their youngest son returns home, instincts kick in to protect their public image of leadership and moral authority, and fractures soon appear as private grievances, betrayals, and long-simmering questions of identity rise to the surface. Direct from Broadway, this 2025 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play makes its Los Angeles debut with the original Broadway cast, directed by the incomparable Phylicia Rashad. Both intimate and epic, Purpose is provocative, often hilarious, and ultimately a devastating exploration of legacy and the cost of believing in something bigger than yourself. Originally Produced on Broadway by David Stone, Debra Martin Chase, Marc Platt, LaChanze, Rashad V. Chambers, Aaron Glick, Universal Theatrical Group, Eastern Standard Time, Trate Productions, Nancy Nagel Gibbs, James L. Nederlander, John Gore, ATG Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Geffen Playhouse is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. Geffen Playhouse is proud to welcome members of local arts, non‑profit, and service organizations during our Community Meetup Nights. These special evenings offer patrons the chance to connect with community partners and discover more about their missions and values.  PURPOSE Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Directed by Phylicia Rashad Previews: November 11, 2026 - November 18, 2026 Opening Night: November 19, 2026 Closing Night: December 20, 2026 CAST Alana Arenas as Morgan Jasper Glenn Davis as Solomon "Junior" Jasper Jon Michael Hill as Nazareth "Naz" Jasper LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Claudine Jasper Harry Lennix as Solomon "Sonny" Jasper Nija Okoro as Aziza Houston (11/29 6:30 p.m. performance -12/20) Kara Young as Aziza Houston (11/11-11/29 1:00 p.m. performance) The role of "Aziza Houston" will be performed by Kara Young through the November 29, 1:00 p.m. performance and by Nija Okoro beginning with the November 29, 6:30 p.m. performance. PRODUCTION TEAM Scenic Designer Todd Rosenthal Costume Designer Dede Ayite Lighting Designer Amith Chandrashaker Sound Designers Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen Hair & Wig Designer Nikiya Mathis Assistant Director David Blackwell Dramaturg Jonathan L. Green Production Stage Manager Tiffany N. Robinson Assistant Stage Manager Lisa Toudic Chicago Casting JC Clementz, CSA Broadway Casting Calleri Jensen Davis Additional Casting Phyllis Schuringa, CSA UNDERSTUDIES Gregg T. Daniel as u/s Solomon "Sonny" Jasper Candace Nicholas-Lippman as u/s Aziza Houston / Morgan Jasper Christian Telesmar as u/s Nazareth "Naz" Jasper / Solomon "Junior" Jasper Marie-Françoise Theodore as u/s Claudine Jasper PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE Monday, Tuesday No performance* Wednesday, Thursday 7:30 p.m.** Friday 8:00 p.m. Saturday 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.*** * There will be Tuesday 7:30 p.m. performances on December 1, 8, and 15. ** There will be no performances on Wednesday, November 25, and Thursday, November 26. *** There will be no Sunday 6:30 p.m. performances on November 15 and December 6, 13, and 20. LOCATION Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Tickets are available by phone at 310.208.2028 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org. Fees may apply. All Geffen Playhouse productions are intended for an adult audience; children under 10 years of age will not be admitted.   # # #  (Source: Greffen Playhouse PR)

 

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