#NNPA BlackPress

Roman Banks Set to Star in ‘MJ: The Musical’ at the Nederlander Theatre

Roman Banks once aspired to be “a serious actor,” in the vein of Will Smith’s Robert Neville in the 2007 film “I Am Legend.” But those aspirations changed when he got his hands on a bootleg copy of Hamilton and saw Black actor and singer Leslie Odom, Jr. play Aaron Burr. “When I saw myself […]
The post Roman Banks Set to Star in ‘MJ: The Musical’ at the Nederlander Theatre first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

July 28, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

Roman Banks once aspired to be “a serious actor,” in the vein of Will Smith’s Robert Neville in the 2007 film “I Am Legend.”

But those aspirations changed when he got his hands on a bootleg copy of Hamilton and saw Black actor and singer Leslie Odom, Jr. play Aaron Burr.

“When I saw myself represented on stage when that musical struck a chord in me that I didn’t know I had, I said, ‘I’ve got to give that back to somebody else,’” the actor and musician told The Chicago Defender.

Banks is poised to do just that when he stars in his most significant role yet — Michael Jackson in “MJ: The Musical” at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre, August 1 – September 2.

“MJ: The Musical” gives audiences a glimpse into Jackson’s life and the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, where he performed 69 shows over 15 months.

Banks will play Jackson in the first national tour of the Tony award-winning show.

“I’m not here for myself. I’m here for those who will follow.”

Each night, Banks will execute Jackson’s most beloved songs, style and moves for audiences who know the King of Pop’s routines like the back of their hand.

That’s every moonwalk and adlib, every note and clothing accessory.

But it’s an opportunity that Banks seems to relish.

Becoming MJ

To prepare for this role, he watched Jackson’s music videos, recorded concerts and award show speeches. He also spoke with people who knew the megastar personally, like the Talauega brothers, who danced for Jackson.

He even chatted with an uncle, one of the dancers in the music video for Jackson’s “Bad.”

But for Banks, the opportunity to portray pop music’s greatest entertainer is more than just performing his songs or dance moves with precision. It’s the recognition of his responsibility as the show’s principal actor.

“How can I be a leader on and off the stage? That’s just as important to me as portraying Michael,” Banks said, “Because it’s not all about the glitz, glam and fashion. I want anyone who will work with me throughout my entire career to look at me and know that I was a man who was reachable, who was honorable, and who was respectable to anyone, regardless of their position.”

“If there’s anything this trip is teaching me inside, it is that it takes a village, from my hair to my makeup, to my wardrobe, to my transportation. I wouldn’t be here without this wonderful group of humans,” he said. They help keep me strong, so I just want to do my best to lead with grace and diligence.”

Making the Musical His Playground

But back to this whole Broadway thing and seeing “Hamilton” for the first time.

When asked to elaborate on that feeling of identifying with that particular musical, Banks said it was like getting the opportunity to play on a playground that was previously off-limits.

“It’s like growing up and seeing a playground that looks so fun, but nobody like you plays on that playground,” he said, “Maybe you still play on the playground, but maybe it’s not as nice, maybe it’s not as updated, maybe it’s not as cared for. And it’s like being the first one to swing on that swing set.”

“I can go across the monkey bars, too, and let’s not only play on the playground, let’s build our own,” he said.

“That’s what Hamilton was for me. There was more possibility to my career than I had thought of previously.”

Not to belabor the metaphor, but Banks also said he wants to make that playground — Broadway theater and musicals — available to others.

Banks added, “Let’s make the playground ten acres long. Because everyone deserves to see themselves in this light. As a black man, that’s our history in this country — let’s leave behind a better tomorrow.”

“I’m not here for myself. I’m here for those who will follow.”

‘MJ: The Musical,’ What Audiences Should Expect

As for what audiences can expect when they see “MJ: The Musical,” Banks advised that they bring just one thing: an open heart.

“Come expecting to enjoy yourself and see where the show takes you,” he said.

He describes it as going to see a show with no preconceived notions. It’s going into a play with the thought, “I hope this art moves me today.”

“And that’s when I have the most fun in the theaters when I don’t know anything,” said Banks, “I’m amazed.”

“I hope people can come with that same kind of openness of, ‘I don’t know what journey I’m about to go on, but I’m open to it. And I’m excited for it,’” he said.

“And let us thrill you.”

For More Information

What: Broadway in Chicago presents “MJ: The Musical,” by Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Playwright Lynn Nottage

When: August 1 – September 2, 2023. For showtimes and tickets, visit this link.

Where: James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601)

What Else: The show is 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission

The post Roman Banks Set to Star in ‘MJ: The Musical’ at the Nederlander Theatre appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post Roman Banks Set to Star in ‘MJ: The Musical’ at the Nederlander Theatre first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Chicago Defender Staff

Posts by Chicago Defender Staff

Up Next

Carlee Russell Arrested, Charged In Kidnapping Hoax

Don't Miss

This Saturday, Burst Into Books Presents the 2nd Annual W.O.W. Lit Fest

Chicago Defender Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Poll Shows Support for Policies That Help Families Afford Child Care

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Oakland Post

By First Five Years Fund

New national polling shows persistent voter concern about the affordability and availability of child care for working parents, alongside broad support across key demographic groups for federal child care policies that help families afford care.

The national survey was conducted by UpOne Insight on behalf of the First Five Years Fund from January 13–18, 2026.

Key findings include:

• Parents need help: 80% of voters say the ability of working parents to find and afford child care is either in a state of crisis or a major problem.

• This is an affordability issue: 82% believe federal child care funding will help lower costs for working families — including 69% of Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 94% of Democrats.

• And there continues to be strong support (62%) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a federal program that makes it possible for hundreds of thousands of families to afford safe, quality care for their children while parents work or go to school, including a majority of Republicans, 63% of Independents and 72% of Democrats.

• Support for funding child care programs remains strong: 75% believe child care funding should be increased or kept at current levels — including 75% of Republicans, 85% of Independents, and 97% of Democrats.

• 74% say funding for child care is an important and good use of tax dollars, including a majority of Republicans, three-quarters of Independents, and nine in ten Democrats.

FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling said, “Voters across the country are sending a clear message: federal child care and early learning programs work. These investments help parents stay in the workforce, strengthen families, and support healthy child development. They have also long had strong bipartisan support in Congress. At a time when affordability is top of mind for families, continued federal funding is essential to ensure child care remains accessible and within reach.”

First Five Years Fund works to protect, prioritize, and build bipartisan support for quality child care and early learning programs at the federal level. Reliable, affordable, and high-quality early learning and child care can be transformative, not only enhancing a child’s prospects for a brighter future but also bolstering working parents and fostering economic stability nationwide.

We work with Congress and the Administration to identify federal solutions that work for families with young children, as well as states and communities. We work with policymakers to identify ways to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning programs for children. And we collaborate with advocacy groups to help align best practices with the best possible policies. http://www.ffyf.org

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Trump’s MAGA Allies are Creating Executive Order Plan to Steal the 2026 Midterms

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

Published

5 days ago

February 27, 2026

Oakland Post

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

A group of MAGA pro-Trump activists, who say they are working in coordination with the White House, are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that would claim without evidence that China interfered with the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential to President Joe Biden by over 7 million votes. Since Trump lost to Biden in 2020, he has repeatedly claimed that the election was “stolen” without evidence. The report of a group of “Trump allies” preparing an executive order to give Trump power over elections was first reported by The Washington Post.

The lies around the right-wing campaign that pushed falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen was trafficked through right-wing media, particularly Fox News. Fox News was then sued for defamation for the claims by Dominion Voting Systems. Fox lost the case and had to settle for the largest defamation amount on record of $787.5 million in April 2023.

The document that could lead to an executive order proposes using the claim that China interfered with the 2020 elections as grounds to “declare a national emergency.” The move would be an unprecedented step that would grant Trump new authority over the voting systems in the U.S.

The story in The Washington Post arrives as Trump increasingly signals that he may take actions that would alter the result of the 2026 midterms. The Republicans are widely expected to lose as their approval ratings plummet as a result of a failing economy under Trump. Over 50 members of Congress have announced they will retire this year and not return in 2027.

The Trump Department of Justice, which now has a large image of Trump on the side of it, “sued five new states Thursday [Feb. 26, 2026] demanding access to their unredacted voter rolls — escalating a campaign that has been rejected by multiple federal courts and faces resistance from Republican-led states as well,” according to Democracy Docket, a group that works to protect voting rights.

Trump claimed back in late 2020, the last year of his first term, that he had the authority to issue an executive order related to mail-in voting for the 2020 elections — which he would then lose. But the Constitution states that control of elections lies with the states. As the GOP works to place hurdles in front of voting, Democrats worked to make voting easier.

In March 2021, President Biden signed an executive order calling on federal agencies to expand voting access as part of the Biden Administration’s effort “to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections.”

Trump’s focus is clearly on altering the November 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s polling numbers and the elections and special elections that have taken place around the U.S. over the last year clearly indicate that Republicans are about to be hit by a blue wave of Democratic victories.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent investigative journalist and the founder of Black Virginia News. She is a political analyst who appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and hosts the show LAUREN LIVE on YouTube @LaurenVictoriaBurke. She can be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

PRESS ROOM: NBA Hall of Fame Nominee Terry Cummings Joins 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to Launch Victory & Values Initiative

NNPA NEWSWIRE — NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th.

Published

5 days ago

February 27, 2026

admin

Cummings becomes an honorary member, joining other role model sports stars

NBA Hall of Fame nominee and Basketball Legend Terry Cummings has officially become an honorary member of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, marking a powerful new chapter for the 100 Black Men and youth development across the region.

Cummings was administered the official member’s oath and ceremonially pinned during a special induction ceremony held on Friday, February 20th. The moment signified more than membership — it marked the launch of the organization’s transformative new platform, the Victory & Values Initiative.

The Victory & Values Initiative is a groundbreaking youth development program designed to empower elementary and middle school students through a dynamic blend of sports, mentorship, and STEM exposure. The initiative focuses on building health, discipline, character, leadership, and access to opportunity — creating pathways for long-term academic and personal success.

“This is about more than sports,” said Cummings during the ceremony. “It’s about using the platform of athletics to teach life lessons, create access, and build the next generation of leaders.”

The induction ceremony also featured notable guests including NASCAR’s newest Star Driver, Lavar Scott and NASCAR Director of Athletic Performance, Phil Horton, who joined Cummings for a powerful Victory & Values Town Hall discussion. The Town Hall was moderated by renowned Sports Emcee John Hollins and focused on leadership, resilience, discipline, and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives.

A “Day at NASCAR” for 75+ Youth

Cummings wasted no time getting to work. On his first full day as an honorary member, he joined his new brothers of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County to host a “Day at NASCAR,” escorting more than 75 youth to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at EchoPark Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).

The youth participants received behind-the-scenes access including: an exclusive tour of Pit Row, access to the Garage Area and exploration of the interactive Fan Zone.

The experience culminated with a surprise meet-and-greet and Q&A session with NASCAR Superstar Bubba Wallace, who shared insights on perseverance, preparation, and breaking barriers in professional sports.

The day served as a living example of the ‘Victory & Values’ Initiative in action — exposing youth to new industries, expanding their vision for the future, and connecting them directly with high- level mentors and role models.

Building Leaders Through Access and Mentorship

The 100 Black Men of DeKalb County – a chapter of the largest, national mentoring organization in the county – continues to expand its footprint with programs focused on academic excellence, economic empowerment, leadership development, and health & wellness.

The launch of ‘Victory & Values’ represents a strategic expansion of the organization’s impact

intentionally integrating athletics and STEM to engage youth at an early age while reinforcing core principles such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance.

“Our mission has always been to mentor the next generation,” said Vaughn Irons, President-Elect of the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County. “With Terry Cummings joining the brotherhood, along with partners in NASCAR and professional sports, we are creating unprecedented access and exposure for our youth. Victory & Values is about turning inspiration into structured opportunity.”

By connecting elementary and middle school students to professional athletes, executives, STEM professionals, and community leaders, the initiative aims to:

Increase youth exposure to careers in sports business, engineering, and performance science
Strengthen mentorship pipelines
Promote physical wellness and mental resilience
Build character-driven leadership at an early age

Open Invitation to Youth and Families

All youth are invited to participate in the Victory & Values Initiative, along with the other countless, impactful programs offered by the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County.

Parents and guardians seeking mentorship, leadership development, academic enrichment, and transformative exposure opportunities for their children are encouraged to connect with the organization.

As NBA Legend Terry Cummings’ induction demonstrates, Victory & Values is more than a program — it is a movement designed to build champions in life, not just in sports.

For more information about the Victory & Values Initiative or to enroll a student, contact: 100 Black Men of DeKalb County at Phone at 404.241.1338, info@100bmod.org or Tee Foxx at 404.791.6525,