April 12, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 25, Issue 12
The enSemBLe TheaTRe
ViRTUaLLY ‘FeedS SoULS’ oF The commUniTY WiTh one PoT oF GUmBo
14-YeaR-oLd comedian, KidPReneUR: “YoU aRe noT GoinG To oUTWoRK me!” By: N.L. Preston
By: N.L. Preston
HOUSTON - Funny, talented, real, raw and humble are words many use to describe someone who’s “lived more than a few years,” but speaking to 14-year-old TJ Boyce III, you realize some wise folks have been grooming this young man, and more importantly, he’s been listening. African-American News&Issues had the pleasure of interviewing the multi-talented actor, comedian and current entrepreneur who spoke about his upbringing, his influences today and his plans for the future. From a very young age, Thomas James Boyce III, also known as TJ, could always make people laugh with his big personality and charm. He first appeared in local theatre at the age of 8 where he took to acting and entertaining natu-
“I learned that I’m not trying to work for anybody.” rally. He had discovered his passion, and soon after, officially hit the spotlight auditioning and appearing in TV shows and commercials in Los Angeles. But there were some things he learned along the way, primarily, learning to embrace who he was and acknowledging certain differences.
The Houston native went to Cypress Christian private school for nine years and was, for most of the time, either the only black student in the entire school or in his grade. That experience, he explains, heightened his awareness on multicultural issues. “I understood both my perspective and the white community’s perspective on social and political issues. I felt alone as a race. It was a struggle,” TJ said. “I was someone who was not informed about politics, and they were. One of the hardest times was when Donald Trump was elected president because they felt like I represented the Democratic party being black. I experienced bullying. It was a culture shock.” A pleasant reverse was when TJ had the opportunity to attend public school. He was enrolled at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) for only a short while before he went off to be a part of the new Wayne Brady Show. He channeled his experiences from school into material for standup comedy. “In those two months that I spent at public school, I learned a lot about myself and diversity, I didn’t know what it was like to have black classmates and a black teacher,” TJ said. “As a comedian, it has given me great content to talk about in an interesting perspective. I have learned about myself and who I was, and what it meant to be black.” BYUtv network’s new comedy competition series, “Wayne Cont’d on page 2
HOUSTON -- “We are all in this together. This pot of gumbo is to feed everybody,” said Eileen Morris, artistic director for Houston’s legendary The Ensemble Theatre. In times of darkness, historically, African Americans turn to arts and expressions to get them through. Either through song, dance or even comedy, Blacks culturally tap into their creative souls to lift their spirits. You can see it playing out on social media today while almost the entire world is self-quarantining and social distancing during the COVID-19 / Coronavirus pandemic. People have invited the public directly into their homes as they post TikTok videos of them dancing, making up their own “Coronavirus” songs -- some of which have gone viral -- and even world famous DJs and singers are hosting virtual happy hours and concerts, inviting people to sing along, dance and, in essence, fellowship together to get them through the trying times. And keeping up with the ‘new normal,’ The Ensemble Theatre is jumping into the virtual world, providing arts and expression as a method of much-needed therapy for its staff, volunteers and the community. “Both African Americans and artists are survivors, period. Sometimes it’s difficult for people to understand what art does and they take it for granted, but we are all painters, musicians, actors, writers, singers in our own ways and personal journeys,” Morris said. “None of this is going to be easy. What is happening today is going to have its own set of challenges, even for The Ensemble. Although we’ve had to cancel our last three shows of the season and our gala, we have created an online presence.” The theatre company has adapted to the nation’s new social distancing norms by launching The Ensemble Theatre BOLD Online Series: The Story Continues! on April 6. The dedicated artists from the theatre will host workshops, showcase online performances, words of encouragement chat sessions, readings for children, etc., all which can be viewed for free. There will be Message Mondays, Throwback Theatre Moments Thursdays and Family Fun Fridays, for starters. “We are creating other stories now that are going to be engaging to our audiences and connect. We want to let everyone know that we are still here - The Ensemble is 43 years old -- and because of the commitment our community has made to us by coming to see our plays and supporting us, we want to let the world know that the work still continues,” Morris said. Aside from work, Morris is keeping her personal life balanced, using the time “away from the office” to keep her beloved family safe. To stay healthy - mind, body and spirit - Morris takes a daily walk with her 87-year-old mother, Imelda Benson. “We live in Acres Home so we live on an acre. We walk that acre maybe one and half times every day. We do some stretches
Cont’d on page 2
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY • AVOID PUBLIC SPACES OR EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 10 PATRONS • SANITIZE AND STOCK UP • AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH • PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
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April 12, 2020 We MUST Understand
Tristar
By Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher
Time to enact the 25th Amendment! The 25th Amendment, proposed by Congress and ratified by the states in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, provides the procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation. Let’s explore the latter word. “Incapacitation.” Definition: to deprive of ability, qualification, or strength; make incapable or unfit; disable. Does any part of that definition describe our current president? Hell yes, he is proving that he is UNFIT with every speech, every appearance and every Twitter rant. “The guy is obviously in mental decline,” Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director, told CNN. I agree. He’s a loose cannon. He’s erratic. He’s a bully throwing childlike temper tantrums and doesn’t care who watches. THIS president famously/ infamously said “What do you have to lose?” to African Americans when he was a candidate. One simple answer - EVERY THING! The Democrats failed with the impeachment hearings. President Donald Trump bullies reporters during press briefings, has made fun of disabled people with barely an apology and the way he is handling the pandemic/ COVID-19/ Coronavirus crisis, shows us we must do something before it’s too late! We are losing lives every day while this “Make America Great Again” president is- seeminglywithholding protective gear from states where he thinks the governors are not “nice” to him.
It is indeed time to look at Section 4 of the 25th Amendment– a provision that enables the Vice President, with a majority of members of the Cabinet, to declare the President unable to discharge his duties, thus installing the Vice President as acting President pending a presidential appeal to, and vote by, the Congress. Basically, get Trump out, let Mike Pence step up or get them both out and let Nancy Pelosi assume charge. “The 25th Amendment is a concept that is alive every day in the White House,” said Michael Wolff, author of Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, on NBC’s Meet the Press. This isn’t the first time a president was feared to be unstable. Concerns arose after President Richard Nixon, who was known for his drinking, told lawmakers during Watergate, “I can go into my office and pick up the telephone and in 25 minutes, 70 million people will be dead.” That statement prompted California Senator Alan Cranston to call Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger about “the need for keeping a berserk President from plunging us into a holocaust.” We don’t need another holocaust, another war and damn sure not another insult to humanity. We need the people around this MAN every day to MAN UP – or our consequences will get deadlier by the day. The world is already on lockdown and the person leading our country is more concerned with ratings, than cures. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND – action must be taken! This president ignored warnings back in January when the virus began escalating and people are DYING. He first called it hoax, and now he says he’s not responsible. And he also said this was a tactic for keeping him from re-election, and NOW he says if the death toll remains between 100,000 and 200,00 then that’s an accomplishment. Who wants to stick their chest out for that? He does!
Boyce III, cont’d
Brady’s Comedy IQ,” which premiered April 6, brings talented young people from across the country compete in a one-of-a-kind performers’ bootcamp. Each new challenge teaches them to be multi-faceted in writing, directing, performing and creating comedic and musi cal content. This is a challenge that TJ feels he’s been training for all his life. He got his fearlessness from his parents. “My mother and father taught me bravery and to speak my truth,” he said. TJ grew up in a two-parent household and a family of performers. They all motivate each other. His little sister, London, is also in the entertainment business and has recently landed a lead on “Antebellum.” His older sister is an opera singer and his father is an R&B singer. When it comes to his moth-
Ensemble, cont’d
just to keep our mental health going and to keep us physically OK so that nothing happens,” Morris said. “It’s been good to spend that time with my mom that I don’t usually get to spend because I’m usually in a rehearsal, working or doing the things that we normally don’t get to do.” Morris’ mother, who will turn 88 in just a few months, is an active woman and Morris was initially worried the selfisolation would take its toll on her, but it has not. “She still drives, she likes to go to the game rooms, the holes in the walls, the Home Depot and Lowes buying plants to plant in the yard. I didn’t know how I was going to keep her in the house, but God worked it out, she’s been OK,” Morris explained. She hopes that we will take this pandemic as a lesson and all come out on top, adjusting
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
er, TJ definitively says, “my mom is the boss.” TJ’s parents taught the children to become entrepreneurs, allowing them to launch their own business -Boys Kids Cream Machine – an ice cream truck. “We go old school with it. We’ve got the Bomb Pops, we’ve got everything. We are real over here!” TJ said. “What people don’t know, the ice cream truck is hard work and it’s hot in there! Kids don’t play outside anymore, so we now have to go downtown, to festivals, events, market on social media etc.” And what has the rising mogul learned? “The best business lesson is the importance of family, togetherness and patience. I learned that I’m not trying to work for anybody. I’m not trying to be an employee. I want to work for myself and hire others,” he said. His inspiration? TJ said, “I love comedy and I love music. Jay Z and Dave
Chappelle are #1 right now. They are at the place where I want to be. I take Dave Chappelle’s confidence and I take Jay Z’s work ethic and I try to combine them to make my best self.” Advice for his peers? “Be true to yourself and don’t let your age determine your dreams,” TJ said. “Really listen to your parents. They think they know everything but guess what -they really know a lot!” Also, if possible, find a career mentor who is going to take the time to pour into you. “My mentor John D’Aquino told me ‘you may me smarter than me, cooler than me, dance better than me, but if you outwork me, then that’s on me!”’ TJ said. “And at 14 years old, I don’t care who you are, you are not going to outwork me!” TJ also credits his other mentors; Marcus Wiley (of Houston), Michael Colyar and Wayne Brady.
to our ‘new normal,’ whatever that may be. “It’s a resurgent of energy! That’s why you see people online reading their poetry, writing and performing from their homes, because it is the resilience of trying to keep going,” Morris said. The new season is expected to begin September 2020 and runs through August 2021. “Prior to all this happening, we had some really exciting plays set up for next year. We are looking to use the plays we already had and aligning those with the plays that we had to cancel and, due to our online presence, broadening what the Ensemble offers, bringing a new audience to the theatre.” ABOUT BOLD Online Series: The Story Continues! Support for the online series comes from The BOLD Theater Women’s Leadership Circle, a grant funded by the Pussycat Foundation
established by the late Cosmopolitan Editor-In-Chief Helen Gurley Brown. Other major supporters include: City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, The Brown Foundation, Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, Chevron, Enbridge, Houston Endowment, ExxonMobil, The Humphreys Foundation, Shell, Spindletop, TDECU, Texas Commission on the Arts, and United Airlines. The Ensemble is making sure to provide resources for its artists. Donations can be made at www.EnsembleHouston.com. Stay connected: Facebook @TETMidtownHouston Instagram and Twitter @ TET_Houston For information, contact boxoffice@ensemblehouston.com.
- AANI
- AANI
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
April 12, 2020
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Mary Benton promoted to the City of Houston Communications Director HOUSTON - Mary Benton has been appointed the new Director of Communications for Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office. Benton brings valuable years of experience in media relations, strategic communications, crisis communications and social media strategy. Benton joined the Mayor’s Office of Communications as the Press Secretary in 2018 and quickly distinguished herself as a leader and trusted adviser. In her new role, Benton will be responsible for ensuring that all citywide communications align with the administration’s goals and objectives. She will oversee all functions of the Communications Office, including public and media relations, ceremonial documents, social media strategy, and compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. “I am pleased that Mary Benton has agreed to take on a bigger role in my administration as the Director of Communications. Mary’s prior news media experience, and contributions as my Press Secretary, make her a valuable asset to
the City,” Turner said. “In trying times like these, communication is critically important. Mary will ensure that Houstonians have the necessary information they need, whether it is during a public health crisis or my administration’s work and priorities to move Houston forward.” Benton has established herself as a titan in the media industry, being a former board member of the National Association of Black Journalists and former president of its local chapter – the Houston Association of Black Journalists. While president, she increased fundraising efforts and helped establish student scholarships. A native of Harlingen, Texas, Benton earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. Benton worked for more than two decades as a television news anchor and reporter in Waco, Austin, and Houston, Texas. The veteran journalist joined Houston’s KPRC Local 2 in 1994,
establishing herself as the “go-to” political reporter, until her retirement from the newsroom in 2014. Before joining the mayor’s office, Benton held several communications and executive leadership roles in Harris County government. Shortly after leaving the newsroom, the City of Houston declared July 15 as Mary Benton Day, honoring Benton for her extensive community engagement and volunteerism with nonprofit organizations. Benton has received numerous awards, including the School Bell Award for Education Reporting, Houston’s Best Reporter, YMCA Achiever and Top 25 Women of Houston. In 2012, Benton was recognized as an outstanding journalist by the Houston Area League of Women Voters. She was also honored in 2019 by AAF-Houston as a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion and has been named an Influential Woman and Role Model in the community. - AANI
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April 12, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
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