PEOPLE
LOS ANGELES — Cicely Tyson will join the cast as a series regular in Ava DuVernay's new romance anthology series on OWN, “Cherish the Day.”
The network said Tuesday that the 94-year-old legend will play Miss Luma Lee Langston, a star of stage and screen in decades past. She joins previously announced leads Xosha Roquemore and Alano Miller.
The series, which premieres in 2020, will chronicle the lives of one couple per season, with each episode spanning a single day. It's DuVernay's second series on OWN since the creation of “Queen Sugar.”
Roquemore plays Gently James, Luma's live-in assistant who is encouraged by Miss Luma Lee to strike up a romance with Evan Fisher, played by Miller. DuVernay is the creator and executive producer.
NEW YORK — A Broadway producer whose first big-budget show was derailed by a con man's false financial promises has been arrested on child porn charges.The producer, Ben Sprecher, was arrested Tuesday on federal charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.He was released on $100,000 bail. His lawyer declined comment.A criminal complaint prepared by a New York City police detective said Sprecher admitted he possessed child porn files.The complaint said over 100 electronic files seized from Sprecher's residence included a nearly 46-minute video of a pre-teen girl engaging in sex acts with an adult male.Sprecher was the lead producer of “Rebecca,” a Broadway musical that was canceled before it was to open in fall 2012. A stockbroker later admitted he'd flimflammed the producers.———
NEW YORK — The NFL and Jay-Z's entertainment and sports representation company are teaming up for events and social activism.The league not only will use Jay-Z's Roc Nation to consult on its entertainment presentations, including the Super Bowl halftime show, but will work with the rapper and entrepreneur's company to “strengthen community through music and the NFL's Inspire Change initiative.”Inspire Change was created by the league after an agreement with a coalition of players who demonstrated during the national anthem to protest social and racial injustice in this country. Those demonstrations were sparked by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.NFL owners agreed to contribute up to $89 million over six years toward causes players were supporting. Commissioner Roger Goodell sees the partnership with Roc Nation as a significant step in several directions.“Roc Nation is one of the most globally influential and impactful organizations in entertainment,” Goodell said. “The NFL and Roc Nation share a vision of inspiring meaningful social change across our country. We are thrilled to partner with Roc Nation and look forward to making a difference in our communities together.”
