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*The New York premiere of Spike Lee's documentary of the Broadway rock musical Passing Strange will be presented as part of the Tribeca Film Festival in May. The 7 p.m. screening will be held at the Directors Guild Theatre on May 2, with a discussion to follow featuring Lee and Passing Strange's Tony-winning co-creators Stew and Heidi Rodewald. As previously reported, Lee will also debut his documentary "Kobe Doin' Work" at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Single tickets for the festival go on sale April 20. For tickets and further information, visit www.TribecaFilmFest.
*The Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC), co-founded by actress Wendy Raquel Robinson, presents its production of Sarafina! at the New Los Angeles Theatre Center (514 S. Spring St.) with an all-star cast of 95 youth ages 8-18. With the late Tracy Coley, Robinson launched the theatrical training institute in South Central Los Angeles with the mission of building self-esteem through self-expression. The play opens Saturday May 9, with a tribute to Assemblyman Isadore Hall of the 52nd District.
*Vice President Biden has accepted an invitation to speak at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention today. The meeting will also feature addresses from Education Secretary Arne Duncan and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “The ability to draw three cabinet heavyweights - especially the vice president - stamps Sharpton as a civil rights leader with high-level access to President Obama's inner circle,” his organization’s Web site boasts. Biden is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. at the Sheraton in midtown Manhattan.
*B.B. King is among the headliners scheduled for the 12th Annual Doheny Blues Festival, to be held May 16 and 17 in Dana Point, Calif. The nationally-recognized music event celebrates the best of blues, R&B and roots music on Doheny State Beach (25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr. in South Orange County). General admission tickets are $48 per day, $78 for a 2-day pass, kids (6-12) $13. Tickets are now on sale at OmegaEvents.com or the Omega Box Office at (949) 360-7800. On April 8, tickets will also be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, all So. Cal. Wahoo's Fish Taco locations, Renaissance Dana Point, and the Doheny State Beach Lifeguard Tower.
*Legendary entertainer Della Reese will produce the second in a concert series featuring Jon B, SWV and introducing Noel, at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills (8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills) on Saturday, June 20. Tommy Davidson will serve as guest host and EURweb's own Lee Bailey will be one of the hosts of the red carpet. Tickets are $50, $75 and $100, and available at all Ticketmaster outlets.
*The Ebony Repertory Theatre presents the Los Angeles premiere of "Crowns," which explores the lives of six women in the South whose stories of love, loss, identity and sisterhood are woven into the hats that crown their heads and the songs that speak their truth. The most produced musical in America in 2006, Crowns will run for six weeks at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 West Washington Blvd.) with previews beginning on May 5. Single and group tickets are available through the theatre box office at 323.964.9766 or at www.ebonyrep.org. A Pasadena Playhouse engagement will run from July 10 through August 23, with the opening date on July 12. Subscription tickets are available by calling 626-356-PLAY, or by visiting the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office (39 South El Molino).
*Garvin Chef G. Garvin will be recognized by Jenesse as one of its 2009 Silver Rose Honorees during the Silver Rose Awards Gala and Auction, Sunday, April 19 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows. Jenesse Center offers relief to families traumatized by domestic violence. Garvin was selected for his generous efforts to raise awareness of the issue. He has developed and crafted one of the world's most unique mentoring programs, titled Chef G. Garvin's Culinary Boot Camp. The initiative focuses on transforming inner city youth into successful corporate and community leaders in the hospitality industry and will launch this summer.