Actress/comedienne/activist Phyllis Yvonne Stickney is returning to her Brooklyn roots on March 2 as she brings her show "Candid Conversations" to Canticles Lounge, located at 207 Lewis Avenue (at the corner of Lexington Avenue) in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Open mic is 8-9 p.m. Showtime is 9:30 p.m.
The event coincides with the month of March being Women's History Month. Ms. Stickney will bring her own brand of socially conscious comedy, spoken word and music, all in a family-friendly environment. Canticles is the first-ever sober lounge established in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area.
"Candid Conversations" will offer memories of a time when everyone was their brother's keeper. The event is being presented by Lauren P. Raysor, Esq., an attorney and author of "Living The Wealthy Life" and the upcoming "Being Broke Is Not A Lifestyle," and Reverend Dr. R.M. Waterman. Trena B Real, Ms. Stickney's spiritual daughter, will emcee the event. There will also be live music from DJ Mitch "The People Plezzer" of WBLS (107.5 FM).
This engagement at Canticles marks the first time Ms. Stickney has performed as a headlining comedienne in Brooklyn since she moved to Hollywood 20 years ago. As a movie actress, she has appeared in a number of films, including "New Jack City," "Malcolm X," "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "The Inkwell." In addition, Ms. Stickney and her brother Timothy - best known for his role as R.J. Gannon in the soap opera "One Life to Live" - recently created a professional experimental theater company.
Ms. Stickney received numerous honors during her entertainment career, including Essence Magazine's 25th Anniversary list of "one of 200 African-American women who has changed the world," Custodian of the Cultural Consciousness Award from Chicago's ETA Creative Arts Center, the Ellie Charles Artists Award from African Voices magazine, the African Jewel Award from African Focus Incorporated and induction into the Arkansas Hall of Fame. She has also performed with The National Black Theater Festival, The Shades of Black Theater Festival, The Urban World Film Festival, and The Pan-African Film Festival, among others.
"Coming back home to Bedford-Stuyvesant has brought back a lot of memories for me," Ms. Stickney said. "I remember the streets I walked down when I lived in this neighborhood. For one night, those in attendance will have the opportunity to learn what it was like back in the day That was when I came to learning the ropes of navigating the subway system and finding sanctuary in my digs before living in Bed-Stuy was fashionable - and unaffordable - for most of us who used to live there."
"We should support Ms. Stickney and others like her in our communities who do not forget where they came from and carry that knowledge and history in such a way that makes us all a little prouder to be family," Ms. Raysor said.
Tickets are $20. To buy tickets or for more information, visit www.phyllis-yvonne-stickney.com.
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* Photo is available upon request.