Kevin Hart is excited about his first appearance as an animated character in “The Secret Life of Pets”

July 6, 2016 Category: Go With The-Flo Posted by: Philadelphia Sun Staff

By Florence Anthony

Though it is no surprise to Yours Truly, since I have known that Grammy winning singer/actress Jill Scott and my longtime friend Michael Dobson, have been engaged for more than a minute, the lovely couple were married in a secret ceremony on June 25. This is the second marriage for both the beautiful bride and handsome groom. According to sources, the newlyweds recently relocated to Los Angeles for at least a year, where Jill will be appearing in John Singleton’s new TV drama for FX, “Snowfall,” about the 1980s cocaine-epidemic in LA. Congrats!………..

At the June 25 premiere of “The Secret Life of Pets” at Lincoln Center in New York City, Kevin Hart told Variety: “I spent time with bunnies for seven months. I didn’t use my fingers. I hopped everywhere I went – ate nothing but grass.” The comedian, who is making his first appearance as an animated character said that he was excited to voice Snowball, a tyrannical bunny out for revenge against the human race. After the screening, celebrities enjoyed grilled cheese, hot dogs and sliders amidst video games and crafting stations on the promenade and in Lincoln Center. “The Secret Life of Pets” comes out July 8………..

The Allen Lewis Agency (TALA), a metro Detroit-based public relations, marketing and events agency, announced that it has been hired to lead all of Nissan North America Inc’s multicultural public relations efforts in the United States. The selection of TALA as Nissan’s multicultural agency of record comes after a competitive bid process and entails a three-year assignment. TALA, an African-American and women-owned agency, will focus on engaging African-American, Asian and Hispanic media and influencers. It will also be responsible for PR strategy and activation around Nissan’s outreach to the LGBT and women’s audiences. Led by former automotive PR executives and TALA Founders Jocelyn K. Allen and Chandra S. Lewis, the team will also include Zondra Hughes, the Chicago-based founder of the social media network Six Brown Chicks, who will WWDl lead social and digital strategy, and others………

The Apollo Theater and Coca-Cola will present a national talent search for the next Apollo legend, during the 2016 Essence Music Festival. The special Amateur Night Competition will give up-and-coming vocalists the chance to win the opportunity to compete on the iconic Apollo stage. Auditions will take place on July 1 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in room 217, from 9 am -6pm. Contestants selected from the auditions will advance to a semi-final round on July 2 where two performers will be chosen to perform on the Essence Festival mainstage, ay the Mercedes Superdome, that evening. In total, five contestants will be chosen to compete at the world famous Apollo Theater for a special edition of Amateur Night on Wednesday, September 21, 2016……….

Philanthropist/author Jean Shafiroff, who was awarded the Humanitarian With a Heart on June 25 by at the Hamptons Heart Ball in Bridgehampton, will be signing copies of her book, “Successful Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give,” on July 2 at the Southampton Historical Museum at 5 pm………