Nate’s North Coast Notes • Six Scintillating Sisters Shine in PBS’ ‘How It Feels to Be Free’ • Peter Lawson Jones hits ‘Chicago Fire’, ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ • Tommy Davidson at Cleveland Improv • MIX returns to art museum

By Nathan E. Paige

“How It Feels To Be Free” the latest PBS “American Masters” documentary, features clockwise from top left,
Lena Horne, Cicely Tyson, Pam Grier, Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, and Diahann Carroll.  

‘How It Feels to Be Free’ – ‘American Masters’ on PBS

PBS’ “American Masters” series presents the new documentary, “How It Feels to Be Free,” highlighting six prominent black women artists — Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier — who became game changers in the entertainment industry. Celebrity interviews include Halle Berry, Lena Waithe, Meagan Good, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, as well as Horne’s daughter Gail Lumet Buckley. Alicia Keys narrates and serves as executive producer.  

 “I am proud to be a part of such a meaningful, important project,” says Keys. “Art is the most powerful medium on the planet, and I continue to be inspired by and learn from these powerful, brave and stereotype-shattering women who leveraged their success as artists to fearlessly stand up against racism, sexism, exclusion and harassment. I honor their courage by celebrating their stories and continuing the work they started.”

The documentary is based on the book “How It Feels To Be Free: Black Women Entertainers and the Civil Rights Movement” by Ruth Feldstein. The video link above is accessible on pbs.org until February 16.

Local politician-turned-actor Peter Lawson Jones appears in the January 27 episode of “Chicago Fire” on NBC.

Peter Lawson Jones on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” - January 27

Local politician-turned-actor Peter Lawson Jones can be seen in the Wednesday, January 27 episode of the NBC drama “Chicago Fire,” airing at 9PM ET. He also has a role in the upcoming “Judas and the Black Messiah,” starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, which is scheduled for a February 12 release. 

Comedian Tommy Davidson will do five shows at the Cleveland Improv January 29-31.

Comedian Tommy Davidson at Cleveland Improv – January 29-31

Comedian Tommy Davidson comes to town for 5 shows Jan. 29-31 at the Cleveland Improv, 1148 Main Avenue in the Flats. Tickets $20. In recent years, Davidson has been seen in the 2020 Netflix special “Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine,” and heard as the voice of Oscar Proud on The Disney Channel’s “The Proud Family.” He also had a small role in the fourth installment of the “Sharknado” franchise. 

The film noir classic “The Maltese Falcon” returns to theaters to mark the 80^th anniversary of its release.
[Photo courtesy of Fathom Events]

Fathom Events presents 80th anniversary screenings of ‘The Maltese Falcon’ – January 24, 27

Fathom Events will re-release “The Maltese Falcon” in select theaters January 24 and 27 in conjunction with the 80^th anniversary of the film noir classic. Based on the short story by Dashiel Hammett, the film stars Humphrey Bogart — one of the prototypes for what a cinematic private detective should be — who portrays hard-boiled gumshoe Sam Spade. Also starring Sidney Greenstreet, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre.  Don’t try to follow the story, just go along for the ride.  

A virtual version of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s MIX event takes place Friday, February 5 at 8PM.

MIX: Move at The Cleveland Museum of Art – February 5

The Cleveland Museum of Art reopened to the public on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. Come February 5 at 8PM, the MIX event returns with “MOVE” featuring movement and performance artist Marcia Custer who will take the audience on a virtual dancing tour through the galleries, accompanied by  visuals from artist Ben Oblivion. DJ Haley Himiko Morris provides the tunes. Free.  Colorful attire encouraged. 

Is there an upcoming event you’d like included in this column? Please send the details, along with a high-resolution photo/graphic, to northcoastnotes@therealdealpress.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

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