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The Perfect Relationship In Bushwick

Adrian Crawford's new play The Perfect Relationship In Bushwick is having its World Premiere as part of the 2026 Broadway Bound Theatre Festival now through Sunday August 2nd at AMT Theater in NYC. Set in the heart of Bushwick the production is directed by Juan Ramirez, Jr. Crawford stated, “I am a proud lifelong Brooklynite, having been born, raised & continuously resided here for 47 years. Currently, I make my home in the vibrant community of East Flatbush. My family's roots in Brooklyn run deep; my father immigrated from Guyana, South America, in 1968, followed by my mother in 1971. This rich, multicultural heritage has significantly shaped my perspective & experiences. Setting The Perfect Relationship In Bushwick, in Bushwick allowed me to explore themes of identity, belonging & the complexities of human connection against a backdrop that is both rapidly gentrifying & deeply rooted as an area mostly consisted Latino residents back in 80’s & 90’s. I wanted to capture the pulse of a neighborhood that embodies so much of what Brooklyn represents – a place of dreams & challenges.” The play features Carli Mejia-Vasquez, Brian Uceta, Natalia Peguero, Rafa Pérez, & Juan Pablo Toro & is about Carmelo & Elisendo who swear they’re just roommates despite living like a bickering married couple in a shabby sublet but when a trick they both slept with & their nosy landlord stir the pot the men’s denials fall apart revealing a tension neither has dared name & a bond more certain than the rent they can barely afford. 
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HollyShorts Film Festival 22nd Edition

HollyShorts Film Festival returns for its 22nd edition August 13th to 23rd continuing its legacy as one of the world’s premier showcases for short-form cinema. HollyShorts has become a launchpad for emerging & established filmmakers connecting visionary storytellers with leading studios, streamers, brands & industry executives. The Academy & BAFTA-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival is headquartered at TCL Chinese Theatres & venues throughout Ovation Hollywood in California. The annual Awards Gala will be held on August 23rd. The festival will screen 430 short films selected from thousands of global submissions. Headline projects feature high-profile talent including Renée Zellweger’s directorial debut They, Martin Freeman in Little Bug & Michael Keaton directing & starring in Sweetwater. It also includes projects executive produced by Zoe Saldaña, Margot Robbie, Jordan Peele & Serena Williams. The 2026 jury features prominent industry names such as Alan Tudyk, Rita Ora, Kelly Marie Tran, Andrew Rannells, Alfre Woodard & Judy Greer. Alan Tudyk stated, “I am honored to participate in this year’s HollyShorts Film Fest. I have always been a fan of the short film format & the poetry it inspires.” Kelly Marie Tran concluded, “As a fan of independent film in every medium, I am honored to serve on the HollyShorts Jury this year. Shorts play an important role in every filmmaker’s journey & I’m excited to recognize this art form.” New initiatives this year include HollyShorts partnering with Filmio Studios to launch a fan-driven short film discovery initiative incorporating audience-demand signals directly into the festival evaluation process. Beyond the annual festival HollyShorts champions short films year-round through monthly screenings, industry panels, educational programming & networking events that foster creative discovery & collaboration across the global film community. 
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Valley Film Festival 818 Day Event

After 25 years The Valley Film Festival is evolving to quarterly one-day screenings. The first of 2 free screenings of its signature “Made in the (818)” program of films will take place on Tuesday August 18th at the Laemmle NoHo7 in North Hollywood, CA. The program will feature 10 short films produced in the (818) area code with the lineup showcasing work created across the San Fernando Valley including Agoura Hills, Burbank, Chatsworth, North Hollywood, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Sylmar, Tarzana, Van Nuys & Woodland Hills. The screenings will be offered free to the public through the support of a grant from the NoHo Neighborhood Council. Tracey Adlai, Valley Film Festival founder stated, “For 26 years, The Valley Film Festival has believed that the (818) offers a landscape that not only supports important storytelling & talent, but that our Valley communities can be adapted to double as worldwide locations. At a time when our industry is working to keep productions, jobs & creative talent in Los Angeles, we are proud to continue to celebrate filmmakers who are already contributing to supporting local businesses.” David Krouse, the Festival’s Co-Producer concluded, “The ‘Made in the (818)’ short film program is what drew me to The Valley Film Festival in 2015 & why I return each year. This signature program launched my film exhibition career & I’m excited for VFF to continue its mission supporting independent filmmakers.” Founded in 2000 The Valley Film Festival is the first & continuously running film festival in the San Fernando Valley. The all-volunteer nonprofit arts project of Community Partners supports local & international voices that advance storytelling while furthering the education, production & exhibition of film. 
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Cris Williamson Virtual Endurance Event

The legendary singer/songwriter Cris Williamson is presenting her monthly free livestream show Sunday July 26th at 3P PST. Each month has a theme & this month’s theme is Endurance. Cris based the theme of her weekly horoscope tips for a 5-Star week that read “You are stronger than you think. If a lifetime buildup of fear & doubt is holding you back, let it all go so you can go for what you truly desire.” Williamson concluded, “I’m guessing this could apply to all of us in some way, or perhaps to the soul of our nation. Times are tough, our leaders impotent, decisions are left to others, unfairness & absurdity reign … or so it may seem. Join me as we embrace & celebrate our strength, our endurance. This Sunday. It is free to all & public, as it is on my public Facebook Page. You don’t need a Facebook account to watch. We began with the onset of COVID & are in our 7th year. We are supported by the generosity of those who are able to contribute. It has become a community, primarily of lesbians … though not exclusively. We continue to have hundreds of live viewers from all over the globe … though primarily the U.S. We have many regulars & it has become a virtual community. We generally leave it up for 2 days for those who are unable to make the livestream & by the time it is taken down, we have logged 10’s of thousands. Each month has a theme … this month’s theme is Endurance.” (Photo Credit: Jill Cruse) 
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Janis Joplin Piece of My Heart Exhibit

Morrison Hotel Gallery celebrates 60 years of Janis Joplin's enduring legacy with "Piece of My Heart" a bi-coastal exhibition opening August 6th in West Hollywood & August 20th in NYC. The exhibition features an extraordinary collection of rare & iconic photography chronicling Joplin's iconic career including previously unreleased photographs from the Janis Joplin Estate Archive available exclusively through Morrison Hotel Gallery. Hosted by legendary photographer Henry Diltz whose images helped define the visual language of an era “Piece of My Heart” brings together the work of David Gahr, Elliott Landy, Daniel Kramer, Amalie R. Rothschild, Ethan Russell, Ken Regan, Guy Webster, John Byrne Cooke, Leigh Wiener, Thomas Monaster, Ray Andersen, Sam Faba, Margorie Alette & Diltz himself who will host both opening events. Diltz stated, "Janis wasn't simply one of the greatest singers of all time—she changed what it meant to be an artist. Sixty years later, her influence is as powerful as ever. This exhibition celebrates not only her extraordinary legacy, but also the photographers who preserved those unforgettable moments for history." Together these photographs tell the story of an artist whose fearless voice, uncompromising authenticity & emotional vulnerability continue to inspire generations of musicians, creatives & cultural trailblazers. The Morrison Hotel Gallery bi-costal exhibits come 60 years after Janis Joplin first electrified audiences with Big Brother & The Holding Company at San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom on June 10th 1966 presenting a landmark retrospective celebrating one of the most influential artists in music history. Morrison Hotel Gallery’s mission is to celebrate the artistry & legacy of photographers who have captured the spirit of generations through the lens. 
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Chicago WNBA All-Star Weekend Events

The 22nd WNBA All-Star weekend takes place in Chicago July 24th to 25th with events across the city highlighted by the Skills Night at Wintrust Arena on Friday July 24th, WNBA Live at McCormick Place & the 22nd All-Star Game at the United Center on Saturday, July 25th. Haley Rosen, founder & CEO of Just Women’s Sports stated, “WNBA All-Star weekend has become one of the biggest cultural moments in sports & we want to bring fans into the action. From intimate conversations with some of the game’s most influential figures to live shows, player appearances & a packed pregame celebration, we’re creating spaces that reflect the energy, community & momentum surrounding women’s basketball.” On Friday July 24th Just Women’s Sports’ signature athlete conversation series will return for a special live taping with Lisa Leslie at the Chase Freedom Cashback Courts as part of Complex Market taking place at CineCity Studios in Chicago. Then on Saturday July 25th they’ll take over Bottom Lounge located minutes from the United Center for an afternoon celebrating the players, culture & community driving women’s basketball forward. The State Farm WNBA 3-Point Contest & the Kia WNBA Shooting Stars event will be broadcast from Wintrust Arena in Chicago home of the Chicago Sky on Friday July 24th at 8P on ESPN & Disney+. The WNBA also announced that 2-time GRAMMY® Award winning global pop star Tyla will headline the halftime show on July 25th airing live on ABC & Disney+ at 8:30P. Tyla stated, “I’m honored to be a part of the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game this year. These athletes bring so much power & heart to what they do & I’m excited to share the stage and bring A*POP to my supporters.” 
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Equal Rights Health Initiative In Nigeria

Health Initiative for Equal Rights (HIER) in Nigeria marked a significant milestone in advancing inclusion, health & human rights for LGBTQ communities in a highly challenging environment by successfully organizing its first-ever Pride event in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The program featured integrated HIV prevention & testing services where participants received confidential counselling & voluntary HIV testing. A panel discussion brought together community advocates & stakeholders to address key issues affecting LGBTQ persons including safety & security, human rights violations, access to healthcare & strategies for building resilience in hostile environments. These discussions encouraged knowledge sharing & strengthened participants' understanding of their rights & available support systems. The celebration also included cultural & social activities highlighted by a runway beauty pageant that crowned the Face of HIER Nigeria 2026 promoting confidence, self-expression & community visibility. Overall the event successfully fostered community cohesion, increased access to essential health services & strengthened advocacy for dignity, equality & inclusion in Nasarawa State of Nigeria. Richard Brethour-Bell, InterPride’s Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility stated, “Each day at InterPride, we stand up for LGBTQI+ people & their right to live & safely gather in spaces free from violence & discrimination. Now, we can support our members in their fight to gather, change hearts & minds & build a world where LGBTQI+ people are free & equal through the hard-fought-for ability to uplift voices at the United Nations. I am excited for what we can do together.” Since 2023 InterPride was granted Consultative Status at the United Nations. 
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The Perfect Relationship In Bushwick

Adrian Crawford's new play The Perfect Relationship In Bushwick is having its World Premiere as part of the 2026 Broadway Bound Theatre ...

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