Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that New York audiences will get an additional week to see the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater. This brand-new production of the landmark musical will now play 7 additional performances through Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street – just ten minutes from midtown) prior to the national tour’s engagement at Baltimore’s Hippodrome at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center beginning Wednesday, December 16, 2009.  Dreamgirls began previews at the Theater Saturday, November 7, 2009, and will officially open at the Theater Sunday, November 22, 2009.

Dreamgirls  is directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, and media design by Howard Werner for Lightswitch.  With music direction by Sam Davis, orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, and Vocal Arrangements by David Chase & Cleavant Derricks, Dreamgirls  is produced by John Breglio for Vienna Waits Productions in association with Chunsoo Shin, Jake Productions & Broadway Across America/TBS.

Dreamgirls  introduces Moya Angela as Effie White and features, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Felicia Boswell, Tallia Brinson, Patrice Covington, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

Following the Apollo Theater engagement, the national tour of Dreamgirls will play Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Costa Mesa, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Dallas, Kansas City and more.  For more information, please visit www.dreamgirlsonstage.com.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary season in 2009-2010, the legendary Apollo Theater has been a driving force in shaping America’s music and cultural landscape and has played a major role in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul and hip-hop.  Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage. A distinctly American landmark, it is the one of the only institutions in the nation equally devoted to showcasing both emerging talent and legendary performers on the same stage, thereby creating an exceptional community of musicians and artists. Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Apollo Theater Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1991, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the Apollo Theater. The Apollo’s mission is to honor the influence and advance the contributions of African-American artists and advance emerging creative voice s across cultures and artistic media through the Apollo Experience of world-class live performances and educational programs. The Apollo is located in the heart of Harlem at 253 West 125 Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (7th Ave.) and Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave.), and is easily accessible by public transportation via the A, B, C, D, 2, and 3 trains. For further information, visit www.apollotheater.org.

Tickets to the Apollo Theater engagement of Dreamgirls range from $36-$106, and are available at www.Ticketmaster.com (212-307-4100), or at the Apollo box office at 253 W. 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. and Frederick Douglass Blvd.  The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm.

Sahara Media Holdings (SHHD.OB), a SOHO based Digital Media Company, announced today the launch of HoneyMag.com 2.0 with rising recording artist and Roc-Nation signee Wale as its November cover story; controversial ordained minister and YouTube sensation Alexyss Tylor; emerging recording artist and also Roc-Nation signee, J. Cole; and more.  Enhancements to the site include improved interactive features, user-friendly functionality and a sleek, modern design. 

The redesign also includes the launch of HoneyTV a new video portal featuring breaking news and gossip, celebrity interviews and user generated videos.  In addition, The HoneyMag.com 2.0 platform expands the site’s social media components via a blog network comprised of leading bloggers, actors, journalists and professionals.

Photographed for the first time with his band in Los Angeles’s Leimart Park, Wale’s exclusive interview addresses his anxiety and the pressure surrounding the sales of his debut album, Attention Deficit, the unfortunate early online leaks, his desire to connect with a female audience, and his rumored romance with Solange Knowles, Honey’s hugely successful October cover girl.  HoneyMag.com also features a Q&A with Alexyss Tylor on the “Power Of The P.” as well as “Tales From Tour” by J. Cole, a personal journal entry during his time on Jay Z’s Blueprint 3 Tour.

“Honey’s identity has always been about branding ‘what’s next’ so we continuously strive to be at the forefront of breaking trends,” says Shanel Odum, Editor-In-Chief of HoneyMag.com.  “Unveiling Wale as our November cover story corresponding with the 2.0 launch in addition to other key components to the site such as HoneyTV, The Swarm Blog Network, etc., keeps us one step ahead of the curve.”

Enhanced new features of HoneyMag.com 2.0 include:

HoneyTV – The latest in fashion, beauty, entertainment news and music for the multicultural fashionista. HoneyTV will feature breaking news, user-created video and entertainment content from around the globe capturing the voice of HoneyMag.com on video.

Swarm Blog Network – A unique community of hand-selected columnists, from leading artists and actors to buzz worthy bloggers, editors and publicists. The Swarm provides an energetic online destination for all to promote projects, share thoughts and breaking news. 

Live Social Feeds – An innovative widget where readers can get real-time updates from Honey’s Twitter and Facebook pages; the most recent posts from the Swarm blog network, and breaking news – all in one place.

Honey Careers - In partnership with Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), the new careers section will offer job opportunities in fashion, entertainment and media. In addition, it will include profiles of top female executives and provide advice on landing your dream job, as well as provide tips on balancing work, life and family.

“The HoneyMag.com 2.0 platform capitalizes on the current trends and technologies in website design which allows us to enhance our readers’ experience,” says Chuck Baker, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager.  “In an effort to become the number one lifestyle website in our space, the new site design speaks to our user’s needs for broader content, more accessibility to fashion and entertainment and real-time information.”

In addition to HoneyMag.com 2.0, the digital lifestyle portal recently revealed the newly redesigned HoneyGram, Honey’s weekly newsletter.  By joining Honeymag.com, members are kept up to date on the latest Celebrity, Music, Fashion and Beauty feature stories that are recently posted on the site.  As an added bonus, HoneyGram is also an interactive haven where readers can share its content with their friends via Facebook, Twitter and email.

About HoneyMag.com

HoneyMag.com originated from the highly successful Honey Magazine, which first hit newsstands in 1999. To date, Honey is the largest selling magazine in the 18-34 African American female demographic, having reached a readership of 1.5 million through Honey’s loyal consumer base, brand awareness, foundation of advertisers, and proven editorial formula.  The first magazine to feature the largest array of multi-cultural cover models including Beyoncé, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil` Kim, Boris Kodjoe, LL Cool J, Lisa Left Eye Lopez and Aaliyah, HoneyMag.com is designed to fill a necessary void in the way beauty, fashion and lifestyle content is delivered online to its readers.  Serving as a how-to-guide on four key areas in young women’s lives: communication, community, career and connection, HoneyMag.com is organized by key topics such as “the buzz”, “the look”, “your life”, and “love&sex.”  With a finger planted firmly on the pulse of today’s young woman on a mission, HoneyMag.com celebrates and empowers their audience to draw inspiration from the break-through moments of Honey girls everywhere.  www.HoneyMag.com

Suburban District Launches Website

Hip Hop Band Launches Website and Readies Debut Album and Video

11/19/2009

Suburban District is the future.  After their website launch today, they hit the studio to put the final touches on their highly anticipated debut album with DJ Benzi.  The album, entitled, “Don’t Mind Us We’re Just The Future”, takes you on a journey through time a space, from club to car, bar to bedroom and iPod to college campus.  This debut album will be released for FREE through their new website, www.SuburbanDistrict.com on November 30th!!!  The album debut will be accompanied by their video debut of ‘No Louis V’.  After recently inking a pressing and distribution deal with Malaco Music Group / XRecords, Suburban District is poised to take the world into the future!!!

www.SuburbanDistrict.com

www.SmoothDirtyProductions.com

One of the most misunderstood rappers in Hip-Hop is 40 Glocc.  Forced to raise himself as a teenager, the passionate rapper made a way out of no way.  He formed a unity amongst like kind individuals and formed an unconditional love with music. On a continuous road to shed light on his west coast story; “Concrete Jungle” will allow listeners the opportunity to trace the blueprint of the Zoo Life crew including Gail Gotti, Village Boo, Lil Boo, Tip Toe, Ken Bib, Locie Loc and Yacc all lead by 40 Glocc

“Concrete Jungle” will give verbal details of the unapologetic struggles faced within the Zoo Life.  The album will spotlight the highs and lows of general population lifestyle, the smoke and mirrors witnessed daily from blogs to broadcast and the complicated order of the music industry.  Strongly supported by the G-Unit Family and music mogul himself 50 Cent, the saga continues to bridge the East Coast to West Coast gap as a unified movement amongst a chosen few. It’s been a year of top shelf controversy however, on Dec. 8, 2009, 40 Glocc will give with his own testimonial “Concrete Jungle.” 

Concrete Jungle Track Listing

1. Intro

2. Criminal Ft 40 Glocc, Lil Boo, Tek

3. Spin The Globe Ft 40 Glocc

4. Welcome To The Ghetto Ft 40 Glocc, Tri Star, Village Boo

5. Another Angel Dies Ft 40 Glocc, Raskass

6. Walk In My Shoes Ft 40 Glocc, Yacc, Tip Toe

7. Haters & Bitches Ft Zoo Babiez, Lil Boo, Locie Loc

8. Hell On Earth Ft 40 Glocc, Lil Toot

9. Grindin Ft 40 Glocc, Tip Toe, Notes

10.100 FT 40 Glocc, Tip Toe, E-Note, Michlobe

11. Bouncing In The Bed Ft 40 Glocc, Village Boo, Ken Bib, Locie Loc

12. Skit Ft 40 Glocc, Raskass, Csik

13. Narcotics Ft 40 Glocc, Gail Gotti

14. Local Boy Ft 40 Glocc, Sun

15. Skit Ft Unforgivable

16. 3 Amigos Ft 40 Glocc

17. Couple Geez Ft 40 Glocc, Lil Boo, Brook

18. Smoke Drank Ft 40 Glocc, Zoobabiez

19. Hundred Grand Ft 40 Glocc, Yacc

20. Safari Ft 40 Glocc, Village Boo

21. Concrete Jungle Ft 40 Glocc, Tip Toe, Village Boo

22. Shot The Fuck Up, Up Ft 40 Glocc, Prodigy, Locie Loc, Yacc, Ken Bib, Natural Born, Village Boo

E1 Music is excited to announce the release of The Avon Barksdale Story- Legends Of The Unwired – in March 2010. This gripping film won Best Docudrama at this year’s NY International Independent Film & Video Festival and reveals the raw truth about death, drugs, and violence in the streets of Baltimore, MD. In The Avon Barksdale Story, the real Nathan Avon “Bodie” Barksdale tells all to actor Wood Harris, who played his on screen character in HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire.

The Wire was based on the lives of real gangsters. The Avon Barksdale Story is the first to chronicle the actual lives of these real people.  Barksdale’s real name, Nathan Avon Barksdale, and his nickname, “Bodie,” were both used in the series as composite characters. Avon Barksdale was The Wire’s first season’s central character. The storyline focused on the Barksdale clan and their ruthless hold on Baltimore’s underworld and the intense efforts of law enforcement to stop them. Barksdale was a real crime figure in Baltimore.

Barksdale says he consulted David Simon, the creator of The Wire, during the early filming of the highly successful mini-series. He says, “The Wire was one long commercial for this!”

During the drug wars of the ‘80s, long before The Wire’s drug kingpin Avon Barksdale entered the mind of David Simon, a young man (named Nathan Avon “Bodie” Barksdale) was in the belly of one of the most violent neighborhoods on Baltimore’s Westside. The Lexington Terrace Projects was one of the most notorious areas in the city making it the perfect backdrop for HBO’s The Wire. But unlike David Simon, an admitted outsider, this story possesses the intimate detailing which can only come from an insider’s view. The real Barksdale brings the riveting fact-filled account of his world now known as The Avon Barksdale Story – Legends of the Unwired. A must see story for all true fans of The Wire!

This film was financed, directed, and produced by the KAJ Enterprise film group.

FORMER G-UNIT PRESIDENT, LAUNCHES DREAM BIG VENTURES WITH NEW DISTRIBUTION DEAL THROUGH THE ORCHARD

Two years after stepping down from his post as President of G-Unit Records, Sha Money XL is back with an audacious new brand. Dream Big Ventures sees the music mogul sign a multi-million music and film distribution deal with The Orchard, the worlds leading digital distributor of music to bring his roster of artists and producers to the forefront of the music industry. Dream Big is making its debut with a notable roster of artists, DJ Whoo Kid founder of RadioPlanet.TV, former Shady/Aftermath recording artist Stat Quo, and New Orleans own Kidd Kidd.

The premier project to be released through Dream Big will be the long awaited and highly anticipated debut album from Atlanta rapper Stat Quo. Stantlanta will feature production from Che Vicious, Hi-Tek, Key Kat Productions and Sha Money XL. “From the first time I heard Stat Quo, I wanted to work with him,” shares the Dream Big Ventures owner. “The anticipation for his debut album is still high and I am pleased to be releasing it through my new venture.” This project and those that follow will give music fans and the industry an introduction to the standard Dream Big are setting.

“The first three projects coming out of Dream Big are very realistic reflections of the three stages an artist can find them self in,” explains Sha Money XL. “Established and successful, in-between labels or ready to take your career to the next level.” Dream Big Ventures has been formatted to work with artists regardless of their position within the music industry to encourage and maximize potential. “We are looking to nurture talent that has the passion to ‘dream big’ and let the company take them to where they want to be.”

With a dense history in the music business, Sha Money was crowned ‘the chain on the bike’ by 50 Cent in 2002, while developing the brand G-Unit, which instantaneously became a global phenomenon. “Sha Money’s reputation and track record of success speaks for itself,” said The Orchard’s General Manager, Michael Bull. “All of us at the Orchard are thrilled to be in a position to work with Sha on building and developing his new label. We see Dream Big as America’s next great urban independent.” Looking to create his own kingdom with the assistance of The Orchard and a competent team, Sha Money XL is confident that this new chapter in his life will be just as successful as previous endeavors. “Dream Big is about me fulfilling my dreams and my visions,” explains XL, “Imagine if Dr. Dre had never moved on from NWA or Death Row? You have to have wisdom to accept that a change has to take place but not be careless with your future,” he concludes. Since leaving G Unit, Sha Money XL has gone on to develop the premier networking event of the year for producers, One Stop Shop which in its third year has featured appearances by a bevy of industry executives, professionals and the elite of the production world. He is currently working as Associate Producer on 50 Cent’s fourth studio album Before I Self-Destruct and as co-manager to classic rap group Reflection Eternal aka Hi-Tek and Talib Kewli. whose album is due early 2010. Sha Money XL hopes that his website DREAMBIGVENTURES.NET will also serve as a Craigslist for all up and coming talent. The site will be a place where they can go to advertise their work, covering areas from web design, graphics, promotion, video and production which will in turn allow industry executives the opportunity to seek out talent in all related industries across the world.