3B
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTn-h« Charlotte Post
Thursday, August 22 1996
USA COLLINS
Behind
The
Scenes
I
Behind the Scenes -
Jumping The Broom:
In a beautiful star-studded
SMITH
ceremony,
on the back
lawn of
their
sprawling
S a n
Fernando
V a 1 1 e y I
home
“Martin” I
co-star
T i s h a I
Campbell
tied the
knot with
longtime
boyfriend actor Duane Martin
(of “Out All Night” fame) over
the weekend. Fellow “Martin”
castmate Tichina Arnold
served as the matron of honor,
while bridesmaids included
“Boston Commons” co-star
Tasha Smith, r&b teen sensa
tion Brandy Norwood, and
Jada Pinkett (who was on
crutches from a fall she says
she sustained while romping
with her four rottweilers).
Among the groomsmen were
Pinkett’s beau Will Smith and
Kadeem Hardison, whose
longtime girlfriend Chante
Moore sang. The very preg
nant Moore (who is due in
September) was accompanied
by Patrice Rushen, who served
as musical director. Among the
more than 200 guests standing
at attention as Campbell
walked down the aisle in a gor
geous, draping white satin
dress (and then later jumping
the broom) were Boyz II Men’s
Shawn Stockman, fellow
“Martin” casters, Carl Payne,
Tommy Ford and Martin
Lawrence, with wife Pat;
Sheryl Lee Ralph, A.J.
Johnson, BeBe Winans, rapper
M.C. Lyte, singer Adina
Howard, Chicago Bulls star
John Salley, and nearly all of
the Wayans clan - Keenen,
Damon and Shawn included.
Guests dined on soul food and
danced into the night. Will
Smith’s 3-year-old son
charmed the crowd as he broke
into a break dance and the
snake in the middle of a “Soul
Train line” formed by guests.
Seeing Double: You’re
going to be seeing a lot more of
former “Roc” star Charles
Dutton as NBC-TV has
snagged him to develop a one-
hour drama series for the
1997-98 season. A six-episode
commitment has been granted
for the project which he’ll star
in and exec produce for his
own production company.
Meanwhile, Dutton also has a
deal with Warner Bros 'TV to
develop, produce and star in
movies for 'TV. And if that was
n’t enough, the robust actor
has starring roles in “Mimic,”
an upcoming thriller from
Miramax Films opposite Mira
Sorvino; and Spike Lee’s “Get
On The Bus.” The NBC deal
comes at a time when the
major networks have taken
heat for cutting back on pro
gramming designed to reach
urban audiences. (NBC has
none scheduled on the forth
coming fall lineup.)
Out this week: Is Singer
Rick James, who is scheduled
for release from Folsom State
Prison after serving three
years for sexually assaulting a
West Hollywood woman. He
was acquitted on a torture
count that could have sent him
to prison for life back in 1993
and later got his sentence cut
in half when the judge learned
that an investigator on the
case had smuggled heroin into
jail for the chief prosecution
witness. Upon his release, the
47 year-old singer is expected
to sign a contract with Raging
Bulls Records an independent
label laimched this year. Word
is that James has written
more that 400 songs while
doing time. On the personal
side, he’ll marry Tanya Hijazi,
his co-defendant in the case
and the mother of his 4 year-
old son.
So much to talk about:
Six- foot 7-inch drag queen,
recording artist and personali
ty extroradinaire RuPaul is
getting his/her own late-night
celebrity talk show this year
on VH-1. The 30-minute show,
which recently began produc
tion at the VH-1 studios in
Veteran actor Joe Seneca dies at home
By Catherine Crocker
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NE^ YORK- Joe Seneca, who turned his work
as a song-and-dance performer into an illustrious
acting career in serious, acclaimed movies about
slavery, black leaders and human dignity, has
died.
He died Thursday morning from an asthma
attack at his home on Roosevelt Island, said
Dulcina Eisen, his agent. She said he had never
revealed his age but she estimated he was in his
late 70s.
Seneca most recently was seen as Rev. Street in
the movie “A Time to Kill,” the courtroom thriller
from the John Grisham novel. 'Two weeks ago, he
finished filming a movie about slavery for British
television called ‘"The Longest Memory.”
His first big film was “'The Verdict,” in which he
played the key witness opposite Paul Newman.
Eisen said Seneca was the only client she had in
24 years who would never do a television series.
He did not want to be the same character every
week he didn’t want to be cute and he wanted to
do important things.
HOWTO
RECOGNIZE A
u
HcHERO
IN YOUR
C0HHUNI1Y.
The Reverend Martin Luther King. Harriett Tubman, Malcolm X and other great leaders of the
past have helped make a difference in the African-American community. As we continue to
accomplish this goal, the local McDonald’s owner/operators will recognize local citizens making
an impact on the African-American community.You can help McDonald's honor
these citizens by nominating a local "McHero". In September; 10 people will
be chosen for their outstanding achievements. McDonald's invites you to help
us show our heroes that we appreciate their achievements.
HAVEYOU HAD YOUR BREAK TODAY?
To enter. Fill out this form and describe in 200 words or less on a separate sheet of paper why your nominee deserves to be a “McHero.'
Cliarlone Nomination Form
Name
Address.
City, State, Zip .
Telephone Number
Person Nominating Corhmunity Hero
Name.
Telephone Number.
•Mail completed nomination form and summary to: Karen Tyson. McDonald's, 3200 Beechleaf Court Suite 300, Raleigh. NC 27604, IH
New York, will be broadcast
weekly beginning October 12.
Confirmed guests include
Eartha Kitt, Dennis Rodman,
Whoopi Goldberg, Cher and
Dionne Warwick. “The RuPaul
Show” will air in the 11 p.m.
slot. By the way: Pat Lawrence
(the wife of Martin Lawrence)
is currently being pitched to
host a daytime talk show cur
rently being developed by King
World...Sidney Poitier, in post
production of Showtime’s
“Mandela,” will play the direc
tor of the FBI for his next film,
“Day Of The Jackal” with
Richard Gere and Bruce
Willis...And enuny nominated
“Homicide” co-star Andre
Braugher joins Dustin
Hoffman in “Sphere,” based on
Michael Crichton’s 1987 novel
about the discovery of a space
ship 1,000 feet underwater in
the South Pacific. The film
goes into production in
January, when Braugher gets
some time off from the series.
THE
EXCELSIOR
921 Beatties Ford Rd. • 334-5709
WEEKLY FEATURES:
• Tue. "FISH NIGHT" All you can eat $5, DISCO following
• Wed. R&R
• Fri. & Sat. DISCO with C.C.
• Sunday - LIVE MUSIC or DISCO
FORD’S USED TIRES
M W iTKislM \\ uri;s|m:w riRi s
Brake Job - Labor $25.(X)
Oil Change ■ Labor $17.95
3401 Tuckaseegee Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704)393-1109
• N.C. State
Inspection
fXPeoT
1222 Central Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704)377-0870
Calendar
** ®oe*-Cola
Events
9*
jOt^r cy\'rs
Kids Challenge: The Mecklenburg County Park And Recreation Department hosted an Olympic "field day-style"
event for approximately 1500 area youth who parhcipated in the summer day camp program. The Coca-Cola
Community Team was on hand to provide ice cold products for the participants.
“Carolina Black Family Reunion”
The 4th Annual Carolina Black Family Reunion is happening, Sunday, September 1st at Independence Park
across from Memorial Stadium. There wiil be live bands vendors, food and games. Call 567-8989 for more
details.
“Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”
The Afro-American Cultural Center is honored to present an exhibition that examines the beginning of
African-American churches. The exhibit titled, "Climbing Jacob’s Ladder The Rise of Black Churches in
Eastern American Cities” will open on Friday, September 6, 1996 with a reception at 6:00 p.m. For more
information call 374-1565.
“Val-U-CIcaners Grand Opening”
Vai-U-Cleaners has opened it’s doors at 3201-B Beatties Ford Rd to the West Charlotte Community and
would like to invite you to its grand opening celebration, Friday, August 30tb, starting at 4:00 p.m. Stop by
an see or call Phvlisi JefferiM at 393-9353 and ask about the weekly aneclala
“It Takes A Whole Village to Raise A Child”
You are invited to join Dr. Benjamin Hinton and the Tabernacle Baptist Church Family on Saturday,
August 24th, at 3:00 p.m., as they march from the doors of the Family Life Center to the Gaston County
Courthouse. The theme of the march is to spread the message that it takes a whole village to raise a child.
Call the Women’s Conference Committee at 864-4051 for more information.
“Here’s How You Can Be Connected”
Submit, in writing, on your organization’s letterhead, the title of yonr evoit, data location, contact person and telephone number for your
activity to:
Community Connection
5001 Chesapeake Dr. Charlotte, NC 28216 Attn.: Jeff Lowery. Phone 393-4365. Fax 393-4265
If you are Interested in the Coca-Cola Community Music Van appearing at your non profit event call: 393-4365. Fax 393-4265.
sprite Hornets Road Show. The Sprite Hornets Road Show was a big attraction at the Park and Recreation Kid Challengs, fif
teen area recreation centers competed in the basketball competition and other activities. Look out for the Road Show at the
Bi-lo's on Eastway E>nve on Thursday, August 22nd,
and Bi-lo's on Freedom Drive on Friday, August 23rd from 4:00 p.m - 7:00 p m
Hi
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