Culture
Tony Award winner Melba Moore to headline fundraiser for Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank, New Jersey
Tony Award winner Melba Moore will headline a VIP Meet & Greet fundraiser on May 9 at the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, where she will greet fans, discuss her new memoir, and support the center’s ongoing cultural work.
RED BANK, N.J. — Tony Award winner Melba Moore will headline a VIP Meet & Greet fundraiser on May 9 at the T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, where she will greet fans, discuss her new memoir, and support the center’s ongoing cultural work. The event begins at 3 p.m., and organizers said tickets cost $50, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Fortune Cultural Center.
The VIP experience includes light refreshments and a copy of Moore’s recent memoir, “This Is It: Marvelous and Getting Better,” written with Kevin E. Taylor.
Conversation With Executive Director Follows VIP Event
At 4:30 p.m., Moore will join award-winning journalist Gilda Rogers, the center’s executive director, for a public conversation about her life, career, and new book. This portion of the event is free and open to the public, and a book signing will follow. Organizers said attendees must register in advance due to limited seating.
Melba Moore’s Historic Career Spans Five Decades
Moore graduated from Arts High School in Newark and later attended Montclair State University. She made history in 1968 as the first Black woman to replace a white actress Diane Keaton in a leading role in the original Broadway production of Hair. She went on to win a Tony Award for her performance as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins in Purlie.
In 2023, Moore received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to theater. Moore’s influence spans more than 50 years and continues to inspire new generations.
“Melba Moore’s music is an important part of the soundtrack of my life,” Rogers said. “You Stepped Into My Life and Lean On Me are just a couple of my classic favorites. I’m so excited for her to be here at the Fortune Cultural Center.”
Melba Moore Red Event: Registration Required Due to Limited Seating
Organizers encouraged guests to register early for both the VIP event and the public conversation. The Cultural Center is located at 94 Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank. The T. Thomas Fortune Foundation, which operates the center, is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Tickets for the VIP Meet & Greet are available through the event link.
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram
Tony Award winner Melba Moore to headline fundraiser for Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank, New Jersey
GoFundMe launched for Christina Snow, mother who lost three children in Louisiana mass shooting
Beloved Georgia Judge dies after cancer battle
Beloved Georgia eatery The Wing Suite faces financial strain, community support could keep doors open
Son of civil rights leader, Derek Steele, battles stage 4 prostate cancer, GoFundMe launched for support
New Jersey police reach $4 million settlement with children of woman killed by ex-husband, a former police officer
Asbury Park High School: Crossover event esports and history with Tina Watson
Jury awards California woman $15 million after supervisor called her n-word
GoFundMe launched for Cleveland deacon recovering after brutal attack outside church
GoFundMe launched for family of 7‑month‑old girl killed in Brooklyn shooting
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Hazel Scott’s legacy returns to Harlem in free outdoor film screening
Olympic Gymnast Frederick Richard sets world record, raises $50K for Ugandan youth
Renee Ferguson, trailblazing investigative journalist, dies at 75
“AfroPoP Digital Shorts” returns to the land with “Sweet Samara,” climate and abolitionist film
-
Community6 days agoBoston’s Black Market Nubian faces April 30 closure as community mobilizes to save cultural hub
-
New Jersey7 days agoAshlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
-
In Memoriam1 week agoAfrika Bambaataa’s legacy and controversy: Remembering the hip-hop pioneer
-
Crime & Justice4 days agoSouth Florida woman reportedly set on fire by roommate, GoFundMe launched to support medical costs
-
In Memoriam1 week agoIn Memoriam : Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm, co‑founder of The Sequence, dies at 66
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoPregnant rapper and nursing student Qualeisha “Siditty” Barnes fatally shot in Atlanta
-
Health & Wellness2 days agoHoward graduate who worked as a janitor at Yale Hospital returns as a doctor
-
Social Justice1 week agoKyren Lacy’s parents file wrongful death lawsuit against Louisiana State Police
-
Crime & Justice4 days agoPregnant mother of two killed in Atlanta highway shooting while driving home
-
Crime & Justice6 days agoMan charged in March crash that killed beloved New Jersey mother