Nicole Ari Parker plays Blanche Dubois in the revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" in her Broadway debut
By Florence Anthony
On April 22, Nicole Ari Parker, best known as Teri Joseph on "Soul Food," joined the ranks of some of the theatre world's greatest actresses, in her Broadway debut as Blanche Dubois in the revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City. She was magnificent. Blair Underwood also put in a stellar performance as the terrible Stanley, her sister Stella's husband. "The Wire's Wood Harris and Daphne Rubin-Vega are also wonderful leads in the cast. Illuminaries who attended the play and the after-party at the Copa Cabana included the play's producers Stephen Byrd and Aliah Jones, Nicole's husband, Boris Kodjoe, BET Founder Robert Johnson, BET CEO Debra Lee, Nicole's "Soul Food" sisters Vanessa Williams and Malinda Williams, Harry Belafonte, Cicely Tyson, Steve Harris, Wendell Pierce, Russell Hornsby and Deion Sanders and Tracey Edmonds.
Speaking of Deion Sanders and Tracey Edmonds, Deion's estranged wife must not have been too happy about his attending "A Streetcar Named Desire" with the gorgeous film and television producer. The following afternoon Pilar Sanders was arrested for domestic violence after allegedly attacking Deion in their suburban Dallas home. Pilar was booked for "assault family violence." Deion claims Pilar and her friend jumped him in his bedroom. He says two of his sons witnessed the alleged attack. Although Pilar and Deion are going through a bitter, bitter divorce, for some reason, they still live together. It looks like it's time for one of them to look for new digs.
British tabloids are reporting that Rihanna is currently looking for a home in the United Kingdom where she will live during her three-month shoot for her new fashion reality series. A source told The Sun newspaper: "Rihanna is coming back to Britain to shoot her "Sky Living" reality show and has decided to settle down a bit while she's over." Meanwhile, the Barbadian beauty was seen wearing a silver metallic maxi dress with a white denim jacket and a Celine bag as she went to dinner at Da Silvano in New York City on April 23.
TSOP Live!/The Sound of Philadelphia will perform on Thursday, April 26, at the world famous BB King's in New York City's Times Square. The evening will feature The Urban Guerilla Orchestra performing all of those Philly Soul sounds and more that made couples say those words.,."I Do!" Showtime is 8 PM. Call 212-997-4144 for reservations and tables.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian continued their Kimye dance in New York City this past week. The coosome twosome's activities included dropping by Audemars Piguet's private dinner honoring Carmelo Anthony at Catch restaurant. Carmelo's wife, La La, who is Kim's BFF, was by her husband's side. Swizz Beatz was also on the scene.
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Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto exchanged vows on April 27 at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, in front of 500 guests. The well-wishers at the Bear's Club included Tiger Woods, Patrick Ewing, Spike Lee, Ahmad Rashad, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc and Scottie Pippen...
Lauryn Hill just bought herself a couple of weeks of freedom. The songstress was to be sentenced for prison time on April 22 after pleading guilty to not filing tax returns for 2005-2007. However, the sentencing was moved to May 6 to give Lauryn time to repay a portion of her $968,000 tax debt.
"Real Husbands of Hollywood" star Kevin Hart was pulled over on the 101 Freeway driving a black Mercedes Benz and after being able to pass sobriety tests, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol at around 4:30 in the morning on April 14.
After more than two years in a Pennsylvania federal prison, Wesley Snipes was released on April 2 and transferred to a community corrections program in New York. He will be completely free on July 19. Sylvester Stallone has already reportedly offered Wesley a role in his new "Expendables" sequel.
Mekhi Phifer married his girlfriend Reshelet Barnes on March 30 at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. The couple exchanged vows on an outdoor terrace in front of 100 friends and family. Mekhi's son walked down the aisle with a Chihuahua, while the groom dressed in a white suit...