Ayindé Howell Talks About His 'Sixteen Summers'

 Ayindé Howell

 By Darlene Donloe

It’s a show day, and Ayindé Howell’s ritualistic preparation to take the stage later that evening is underway. 

He will practice yoga, do planks, then relax and “try to forget the show.” 

“I try to surprise myself,” said Howell, who has an engaging spirit. “I try to find the freshness of it.” 

The show he is preparing for is ‘More Miracles: Three Original One Act Plays’ (for adults only), currently playing at The Actors’ Gang in Culver City. 

The plays include 'In Recovery,' 'Nun Fight,' and Howell’s play, 'Sixteen Summers'. 

All of the plays are written, directed, and performed by members of The Actors' Gang for a month-long engagement now through February 21, 2026.

'In Recovery' is by Mary Eileen O'Donnell and directed by VJ Foster; 'Nun Fight' is written and directed by Willa Fossum, and 'Sixteen Summers' is written by Howell and directed by Gloria Briseño.   

The plays are for adults only!  Audiences are advised that the production includes vaping, strobe lighting, foul language, sexual topics, and comedy. 

Howell’s ‘Sixteen Summers’ is the GenX'er's one-man show about coming of age that takes the audience on a journey through identity, family, the last act of love, and his relationship with his father, who died in 2021.   

Howell, originally from Tacoma, Washington, but now living in Los Angeles, has been described as having a superpower… It’s love … and his play, described as a journey through his life story, is a work in progress, driven by the senses. It’s an exploration of his life, his era, and his last act of love. 

Howell, a 20-year entertainment veteran, is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer who developed his show from a five-minute set.

If the response from the opening night audience is any indication, Howell’s play is a theatrical triumph! 

 Ayindé Howell

I recently caught up with Howell (AH) to talk about ‘Sixteen Summers.’ 

DD: Why did you become an actor? 

AH: I started doing spoken word in Seattle. It was in the wake of Love Jones. I got bit by the bug. I wrote a poem. People liked it. I do things full throttle. A director came out, saw me, and wanted me to do his movie. I thought you had to be special to be in movies. By the time I moved to New York, I had done another film there, and I liked it. Acting was always cool and new. I got into writing, but I kept acting. There aren’t many good stories out there for Black men. I wanted to create my own stories. My father said I should do standup. I tried it. I sucked at it. I was trying to do it the way I'd seen other people do it.

DD: What does acting do for you? 

AH: Out of all the training I’ve done, it’s a journey to yourself – that’s what I learned about acting. 

DD: This is three shows in one. Three original one-act plays with three different writers and directors. Describe your show – ‘Sixteen Summers.’ 

AH: This show I’m doing isn’t like anything I’ve seen done there (The Actors’ Gang) before. I didn't shy away from the embarrassing stuff.  I wanted to find out what a man is. 

DD: So, what is a man?

AH: I haven’t figured it out yet. That part of the show is interactive. We try to figure out what a man is every night. What I’ve learned so far, my father would say, is that if you believe in something, you’ll often find yourself standing alone. You have to come up with your own power. You have to be able to be vulnerable and sensitive. You have to generate your own force. 

I learned I was Black when I was 13 years old.  The police stopped me. They put me on the ground. It was raining. They were looking for a rape suspect. I told my mom. She said, ‘I’m sorry, this is something you’re going to have to get used to.’ 

DD: Describe 'Sixteen Summers'. 

AH: It’s a story about fathers and sons. I tell the story through monologue scenes, poetry, music, and stand-up. I wanted it to feel cinematic. My father was always telling me about three principles that impacted my life: vision, faith, and patience. They crystallized after I lost him.

DD: Your show has been described as a journey through your life story, an exploration of your life, your era, and your last act of love. It’s about your relationship with your father, who passed away in 2021. What was your relationship? 

AH: We weren’t ever super close. He was my father. I was his son. We had different periods of our lives together. When I was little, maybe seven, he had corner stores. He was always working. At 13, my mom started a business. I worked with her for a while. My dad and I didn't spend much time together. I loved my father, and he loved me. He was the most defiant person in his family. I was like him, but not in the way he expected. In my 30s, we saw more eye to eye. I’m the only actor in my family. Everybody else cooks. That’s what we do, we cook.  Our relationship was the best it could be. I left home at 20. Our relationship was over the phone or holiday visits.

DD: Can you describe the creative process of turning intimate, personal experiences—like your father’s passing—into a theatrical performance for the public? 

AH: I don't know how I did it. This play just came out. As an artist, a whole thing can come out of you. It wasn’t a lot of work. The way the play came about – there are no creative edits. 

DD: Why did you want to bring your story to the stage?

AH: I had to. It was therapy for me. I did actual therapy. As theater actors, we do a lot of physical work. I wanted to move this through me. 

DD: What is your writing regimen? Do you work in the morning, afternoon, does it have to be quiet? Is there music? Are you alone? 

AH: I talk into a recorder. I freestyle. I have an idea, and I’ll just go. I can’t write fast enough. I say what I want to say. It’s nice when it’s quiet. I fluctuate between frequency music, jazz, or something without words.

DD: Why did you choose Gloria Briseño to direct?

AH: When I first met her, I didn’t know if I was going to like her. She had that mean love. I’m GenX. I grew up with that. As a director, she is like a molder. The story you see is Gloria; the words are mine.  

DD: You are also a celebrity vegan chef. How long have you been a chef? Tell me about that. 

AH: All my life. I grew up making potato salad, cutting vegetables, and washing dishes for my mom in her cafe. In Seattle, I started off in the family business of cooking. I got work as a chef. I cook all the time. Mom still has a café in Tacoma.

DD: What’s your specialty? 

AH: Plant-based, with heavy southern and Caribbean influence. All the good stuff. 

DD: What is your goal for ‘Sixteen Summers’?

AH: My goal for ‘Sixteen Summers’ is Broadway. I want to do shows like something in the spirit of John Leguizamo and Whoopi. I grew up watching people like that. That’s the kind of energy I want to bring to my show. 

All performances of ‘More Miracles: Three Original One Act Plays’ take place at The Actor’s Gang Theater, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. (no performance February 1), $35 + $3 fees.  Seniors and students are $25 + $3 fees, and Thursdays are pay-what-you-can.

Tickets are available at www.theactorsgang.com and by phone at 310 838-4264.

 

 

 

Love In The Time of Dementia: Sharon Catherine Brown Stars As 'Allie' In 'The Notebook'

Sharon Catherine Brown stars in 'The Notebook'

By Darlene Donloe 

Sharon Catherine Brown is bringing the iconic character of Allie to life in the LA premiere of the Broadway musical "The Notebook" at the Pantages Theater, opening January 6, 2026.

Brown plays Allie as a grown woman struggling with dementia, showcasing her impressive acting range. 

The musical, an adaptation of the iconic 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, James Garner and Gena Rowlands, tells the story of Allie and Noah's timeless love, spanning decades and continents. The movie, set in 1940s South Carolina, is a love story read from an elderly man's (Garner) notebook by a woman with Alzheimer’s (Rowlands).

The play, directed by Michael Greif, who helmed both the original Broadway hit ‘Rent’ and the West Coast production, which also starred Brown, is a profoundly moving portrait of the enduring power of love, with music and lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson. 

Allie and Noah are two people from different worlds who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. 

The movie featured white actors in the roles. The current theatrical production has colorless casting.  Brown, who is Black, is playing opposite a white actor in the role of Noah, which, she says, ‘doesn’t make a difference.’ 

“It’s such a layered question with a layered answer,” said Brown, the mother of one son. “I didn’t know what Black Allie and white Noah were going to be. What I’m feeling is that love is, in fact, prevalent, and it is stronger and more common than what we are currently seeing on the news.”

Chloë Cheers, Alysha Deslorieux, and Sharon Catherine Brown
star as Allie in 'The Notebook' at The Pantages theatre.

Allie and Noah are each played in the production by three actors: Kyle Mangold as younger Noah, Ken Wulf Clark as middle Noah, Beau Gravitte as older Noah, and Chloë Cheers as younger Allie, Alysha Deslorieux as middle Allie, and Brown as the older Allie. 

Brown's portrayal of Allie is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and memory. 

Playing Allie, a grown woman battling dementia, is a role Brown is tackling with emotional intensity.  She declined to reveal how she developed the character.

“Process is something I only have with actors I’m working with and directors,” Brown said. “I don’t want the audience to know anything but what they see. This is the most challenging role I’ve ever had. It also carries the most responsibility.” 

Brown's vibrant personality and impressive range as an actress draw audiences in, and what's interesting is that she hadn't seen the movie version of "The Notebook" before taking on the role of the older Allie.

“I saw the movie after I saw the show,” she said. “I cried so hard when we all went together to see The Notebook. It was very emotional. What I loved about the movie is Gena Rowlands as Gloria. I focused on that. I saw the movie for the first time last year. I liked it. In my opinion, this is controversial, but I’m going to say it. James Marsden should have been Noah, and Ryan Gosling should have been Lon. No shade to either one of them. Marsden’s version of Lon made it hard for me not to see the roles flipped.”

"The Notebook is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love," the show's description says, and Sharon's performance is sure to bring this poignant story to life. 

Brown's experience playing complex characters is evident in her nuanced performance. She's not just playing a character with dementia; she's bringing depth and humanity to the role.

“Playing the role of Allie isn’t easy,” said Brown. “But that’s what makes it interesting. When it comes to deciding what roles I’m going to take, it has to be bigger than me and tougher than me. It has to scare me a little bit. You want to reach for it. You have to work. It’s about the peeling of the layers. I have to find it. Stop using color and age as an obstacle. Just let me get in and prove myself. My parents taught me – ‘You go to the theater full and leave empty – so the audience is full.’ When I leave the theater at night, I’m spent.” 

Brown is a classically trained actress with a passion for her craft, having been surrounded by theater her entire life. She's a Broadway Baby, following in the footsteps of her parents, Johnny (‘Good Times’) and June Brown, both former Broadway performers. Sadly, Johnny Brown passed away on March 2, 2022. 

“My parents are the greatest love story I’ve ever known,” Brown said. “They were together for over 65 years. I owe everything I am to them.” 

With a career spanning over three decades, Brown has amassed an impressive list of credits, including "Days of Wine and Roses," "Caroline, or Change," and "Dreamgirls."

But it's not just stage productions that Brown has dominated. Her television and movie credits include "Generations," "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," and "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit." Clearly, Brown, who has been in show business for 55 years, is no stranger to the spotlight.  She’s been acting since she was three, doing baby modeling. 

“I did not have a say in this,” Brown said. “I came out of the womb acting. My mother said when I came out, I spread my hands like jazz hands. I have a cherished pedigree. I’m a double Broadway legacy baby. I feel at home on stage. I love being on stage because it feels like a huge blessing. Acting fills my soul and heart with joy.”   

This is Brown’s fourth time performing at The Pantages! She was in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Narrator), Dreamgirls (Effie), Jekyll & Hyde (Lucy), and now The Notebook (older Allie).

Planted deeply in show business roots, Brown said she doesn’t have a concept of what she would do if she weren’t in the arts. 

“I would love to be a panda wrangler,” she said. “I don’t have to think about what I would have been. I am so blessed. I’m an actress. These are the best roles. My roles get juicier and juicier. I am so grateful. Always blessed and always booked.” 

“The Notebook is ultimately a celebration of life, love, and the power of memory,” said producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch. “Audiences first fell in love with this timeless story as a novel, then as an iconic film, and now they can experience it anew as a moving musical event. With multi-platinum artist Ingrid Michaelson’s unforgettable score and Tony Award-nominated Bekah Brunstetter’s beautifully crafted book, The Notebook comes to life on stage in a way that will resonate deeply with audiences across North America.” 

The Notebook is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida). It features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s “This Is Us”), and choreography by Katie Spelman. 

The production will play at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles from January 6-25, 2026, and at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from January 27-February 8, 2026.

 

Celebrity Deaths: In Memoriam 2025

By Darlene Donloe

 Several noteworthy people closed their eyes for the last time in 2025. They were writers, actors, directors, musicians, publicists, entertainment executives, activists, community leaders, and politicians.  All were influential in their own way. And, before leaving the planet, they all made their mark and touched the lives of so many. This column remembers their legacies and pays tribute to those who passed this way. Respect!

JANUARY

Jan. 3 – Brenton Wood, soul singer (Gimme Little Sign/Oogum Boogum Song. He was 83.

Sam Moore

Jan. 11 – Sam Moore of the legendary duo SAM & DAVE. He was 89. 

Jan. 11 – James McEachin, star of Tenafly and Perry Mason Telefilms. He was 94. 

Jan. 27 – Alonzo Davis, founder of one of America’s first Black-owned art galleries. He was 82.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 5 – Irving ‘Irv Gotti’ Lorenzo, founder of Murder Inc. Records, and music industry producer. He was 54. 

Feb. 5 – Dennis Richmond, legendary KTVU anchor. He was 81. 

Feb. 18 – Christian Holder, Trinidad-born choreographer, actor, painter, teacher, writer, and singer. He was 75. 

Feb. 21 – Jerry, ‘The Iceman’ Butler, legendary R&B singer. He was 85. 

Feb. 21 – Voletta Wallace, mother of rapper The Notorious B.I.G.  She was 78.

Feb. 21 – Gwen McCrae, ‘Rockin Chair’ soul and disco star. She was 81.

Roberta Flack

Feb. 24 – Roberta Flack, legendary “Killing Me Softly” singer. She was 88. 

Feb. 24 – Chris Jasper, legendary member of The Isley Brothers. He was 73. 

Feb. 24 – Alvin Poussaint, advocate for Black mental health and social justice. He was 90.

MARCH

March 4 – Sheri Osborne, wife of Jeffrey Osborne.  She was 65. 

March 4 – Harry Elston, Friends of Distinction founder.  He was 88.

Roy Ayers

 

March 5 – Roy Ayers, jazz and R&B great!  He was 84. 

March 6 – Jesse L. Kearney Jr., actor, playwright, and content acquisition and development manager at Audible, Inc. He was 49. 

March 7 – D’Wayne Wiggins, founder of the legendary trio, Tony! Toni! Tone! He was 64. 

March 11 – Randy Brown, soul singer. He was 72. 

March 13 - Stedman Pearson, member of the group Five Star. He was 60. 

March 21 – George Foreman, championship boxer and grill pitchman. He was 76. 

March 23 – Former U.S. Rep Mia Love, the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican. She was 49.

March 25 - Fred Jenkins, The Gap Band member. 

March 29 - Young Scooter, Atlanta rapper. He was 39.

APRIL

April 2 - Hal Frederick, trailblazing Venice restaurateur and owner of Hal’s Bar and Grill. He was 91.

April 7 – Octavio Dotel, former MLB pitcher, former New York Yankee. He was 51. 

April 9 – Lenny Welch, “Since I Fell For You” hitmaker. He was 86.

April 21 - Clarence O. Smith, Essence magazine co-founder. He was 92.

Alexis M. Herman

 

April 25 – Alexis M. Herman, former United States Secretary of Labor. She was 77.

April 27 – Bianca Castro-Arabejo, known as “Jiggly Caliente.”  RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. She was 44. 

MAY

May 7 – Former Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden. He was 95.

May 11 - John Edwards, the former lead singer of The Spinners and the last living connection to the group’s hit-making days. He was 80.

May 17 - Latonya Pottain, My 600-lb. Life star. She was 40. 

May 17 - Director and Geffen Playhouse alum Dennis Whitehead Darling, 'Skeleton Crew', 'Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole', and 'The Mountaintop'. He was 59. 

May 23 – Sacha Jenkins, hip hop journalist, producer, and director. He was 53. 

May 25 - Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, member of Kool & The Gang. He was 71.

Charles Rangel

 

May 26 – Charles Rangel, war hero, trailblazing politician, and former history-making Congressman from Harlem. He was 94.

JUNE

June 5 – Wayne Lewis, member of the R&B band Atlantic Starr. He was 68.

June 5 – Dr. Norman Hutchins, gospel musician. He was 62. 

Sly Stone

June 9 – Sly Stone, groundbreaking funkmaster and founder of Sly and The Family Stone. He was 82. 

June 11 - Ananda Lewis, ‘Teen Summit’ host and MTV veejay. She was 52. 

June 19 – Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the R&B act Yarbrough & Peoples. He was 72. 

June 19 – Lynn Hamilton, TV, stage, and film actress best known as ‘Donna’ on ‘Sanford & Son,’ ‘The Waltons,’ ‘Generations, and more. She was 95.

June 25 - Willie Brown, founder and publisher of Inglewood Today. He was 81. 

June 28 – Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball player. He was 74.

JULY

July 11 - Luis Sharpe, former Cardinals tackle. He was 65. 

July 17 - Robbie Pardlo, former lead singer of the R&B group City High. He was 46. 

July 17 - James Silcott, the first Black project architect for Los Angeles County and UCLA. He was 95.

Malcolm Jamal Warner

July 20 – Malcolm Jamal Warner, multi-talented actor, played Theodore Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show.’ Also appeared in The Resident and Malcolm & Eddie, Jeremiah, Suits, 911, and more. He was 54. 

July 29 – Dana Meyers, songwriter/percussionist. He was 73.  

July 31 – Darryl Johnson, singer with The Chairmen of the Board. 

July – Jarrette Fellows Jr., CEO, Founder, Metropolis Newspapers, publisher and executive editor of the Compton Herald.

AUGUST

Danielle Spencer

August 11 – Danielle Spencer, actress on ‘What’s Happening.’ She was 60. 

August 20 – Reggie Carroll, comedian. He was 52.

Ron Harris

August 25 – Ron Harris, a veteran journalist, war correspondent, and professor at Howard University. He was 73. 

August 27 – Natasha Allen, TikTok star. She was 28. 

SEPTEMBER

September 2 – George Raveling, legendary coach in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was 88. 

September 4 – Rolling Ray, social media influencer. They were 28.

September 5 – Joseph McNeil, civil rights icon. He was one of four students who staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960. He was 83.

September 17 – Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, Grammy-winning producer. He was 49. 

September 23 – Rudy Johnson, former NFL player with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was 45.

September 24 – Belvagene “Belva” Davis, legendary, trailblazing journalist, who was the first African American woman to become a television reporter on the West Coast. She was 92.

September 25 – Assata Shakur (JoAnne Deborah Byron), political activist, member of Black Liberation Army. She was 78. 

Lt. Col. George E. Hardy

September 26 – Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, Tuskegee Airman, fought in three wars. He was 100.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1 – Joshua Allen, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ winner. He was 36.

Oct. 3 - Kimberly Hébert Gregory, actress, ‘Vice Principals’. She was 52. 

Oct. 5 – Ike Turner Jr., son of Ike and Tina Turner. He was 67. 

Oct. 12 – Saundra ‘S.’ Pearl Sharp, actress, writer, poet, producer, teacher, mentor. She was 82. 

Oct. 8 – Ron Ellison, music industry executive.

D'Angelo

 

Oct. 14 – D’Angelo, sultry R&B legend.  He was 51. 

Oct. 15 – Yolanda E. Lawrence, writer and producer for ‘Riverdale,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Bel-Air,’ and ‘Empire.’ She was 56. 

Oct. 26 - Jack DeJohnette, jazz pianist and drummer. He was 82. 

Oct. 29 – Leslie Wilson, lead singer of The New Birth. He was 79. 

Oct 29-30 – Floyd Roger Myers, Jr., former child actor on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jacksons: An American Dream. He was 42.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 5 – Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas Cowboys football player. He was 24. 

Nov. 23 – Phil Upchurch, legendary guitarist, composer, photographer, and U.S. Army veteran. He was 84. 

Jimmy Cliff

Nov. 24 – Jimmy Cliff, Reggae icon. He was 81. 

Nov. 26 – Judy Cheeks, R&B singer and dancer. She was 71. 

Nov. 27 - Reggie Dozier, iconic “Mix Doctor” of Motown. He was 83. 

Nov. 29 – Antone ‘Chubby’ Tavares, Tavares lead singer. He was 80.

DECEMBER

Dec. 2 – Poorstacy, rapper. He was 26. 

Dec. 2 - Billy Nichols, influential soul music giant (songwriter, guitarist). He was 85. 

Dec. 4 – Elden Campbell, former Los Angeles Laker. He was 57.

Dec. 8 – Jubilant Sykes, opera singer. He was 65. 

Dec. 11  - Dr. Joseph Beasley, civil rights leader. He was 88. 

Dec. 14 – Carl Carlton, R&B singer, “Everlasting Love,” “She’s A Bad Mama Jama.”  He was 72. 

Dec. 17 - Kevin Arkadie, co-creator of ‘New York Undercover.’ He was 68.

Betty Reid Soskin

Dec. 21 - Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest National Park Service ranger. She was 104. 

Dec. 25 – Mickey Lee, former Big Brother contestant. She was 35.

Dec. 29 – Carmen de Lavallade, an actress, choreographer, and dancer. She was 94.

Dec. 30 - Richard Smallwood, Grammy-nominated gospel legend. He was 77.

Dec. 30 - Jerrell Allen, Atlanta soul music icon. He was 55. 

Dec. 30 - Isaiah Whitlock, actor (The Wire). He was 71.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

'The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants': A Review

(Image courtesy Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon)

By Darlene Donloe

'The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants' is one of the funniest movies of 2025. 

While it’s marketed to children, adults will find the mature nature of some of the jokes – right up their alley. There are plenty of jokes for all ages. A fantastic family-friendly movie.

So this time around, SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends set sail in their biggest, all-new, can’t miss cinematic event ever. 

Desperate to be a big guy, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following The Flying Dutchman – a mysterious swashbuckling ghost pirate – on a seafaring comedy-adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the deep sea, where no Sponge has gone before.

What ensues, of course, is high-larity!

The movie is a delightfully absurd, laugh-out-loud adventure that's perfect for kids and nostalgic adults! 

As in other adventures, SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick Star (Bill Fagerbakke) embark on an absurd quest. This time, it's to make SpongeBob a certifiable big guy. 

The animation is bright, goofy, and full of clever GIF-worthy moments. The cast is on point, with extra kudos to Mr. Krabs (Clancy Brown) as the grumpiest Kruppies ever.  Plot-wise, it's silly-season SpongeBob: ridiculous obstacles, Sandy Cheeks' science shenanigans, and enough silly gags to make you grin.   If you grew up with Bikini Bottom's chaos, you'll love this silly, silly movie. If you're new to SpongeBob... welcome to the party!  

The cast includes Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, George Lopez, Isis “Ice Spice” Gaston, Arturo Castro, Sherry Cola, Regina Hall, and Mark Hamill.

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies present in association with Domain Entertainment and MRC, ‘The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for SquarePants.’

Executive producers include Marc Ceccarelli, Vincent Waller, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, and Andrew Lary, and the series is produced by Lisa Stewart, p.g.a., Pam Brady, and Aaron Dem. 

The movie, directed by Derek Drymon,  is based on the series, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” created by Stephen Hillenburg.

The story is by Ceccarelli & Kaz, and the screenplay is by Brady and Matt Liberman.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘The SpongeBob Movie: A Search for Squarepants’ gets an E (excellent). Paramount Pictures.

Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet': A Poignant Exploration of Love and Loss

(l-r) Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal

By Darlene Donloe

Chloé Zhao’s film ‘Hamnet’ is beautifully shot and emotionally raw, featuring standout performances. Jessie Buckley's portrayal of the lead is particularly noteworthy, showcasing her skill in conveying intense emotions while maintaining control. Her performance is a highlight of the film, and it's clear why she's getting attention for her role.

Before we get there, we have a pastoral meet-cute between Paul Mescal’s William Shakespeare. A struggling Latin tutor, and the instinctive earth spirit this project imagines Agnes Hathaway (elsewhere, often Anne Hathaway) to have been. We first see her coiled beneath a tree, as a fox might rest after a successful hunt.

Zhao, who co-wrote the script with O'Farrell, presents a narrative that connects Agnes to nature through a primal feminine impulse. The cinematography, led by Lukasz Zal, captures the Welsh landscapes in a way that immerses the viewer in the story's world, blending elements of folklore with the natural environment.

Will, who will spend much of the film in smelly London, is more a figure of early modernity: practical, contained, undemonstrative. One can hardly imagine better casting than Mescal. The two are East Midlands yin and yang. Buckley’s face has a muscular dexterity that can practically turn itself upside down. Mescal’s steadiness, at its best, asks more questions than it answers.

The couple’s families are not happy with the union, but the two marry, nonetheless, and Agnes gives birth first to Susanna and then to twins, Judith and Hamnet. As Will tastes success in the English capital, the bubonic plague – O’Farrell’s admired novel was, appropriately, published in the pandemic year – oozes its way towards Stratford and eventually gathers poor Hamnet to the fathers.

The closing third is where the film really ratchets its emotional grip, but it is also where a few conspicuous flaws emerge. 

A scene in which a despairing Will speaks Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy to the Thames is hopelessly on the nose, akin to the hero of a rock biopic hearing someone speak the title of an as-yet-unwritten signature hit.

Indeed, the efforts to tie the personal tragedy in with the content of that play – “Hamnet” and “Hamlet” were, a title card explains, essentially the same name – ultimately prove too much of a strain.

“Hamnet,” currently in theaters, stars Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, Olivia Lynes, Justine Mitchell, David Wilmot, Louisa Harland, Freya Hannan-Mills.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘Hamnet’ gets an E (excellent).

Running Time: 2 hrs 5 mins

Celebs Give Holiday Message To Friends & Fans

 

By Darlene Donloe

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a whirlwind of traditions, gatherings, and treats. 

It’s the time of year when a bunch of holidays are happening within weeks of each other. 

The holiday season begins annually in November and ends in January. 

Several holidays fall within those months, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. 

Many traditions occur during that time, including families and friends getting together for Thanksgiving to consume lots of turkey and sweet potato pie while watching football. 

At Christmas, gifts are exchanged, letters are written to Santa, ugly sweaters are worn, carols are sung, parades are held, lots of get-togethers, families gather, bake cookies, decorate trees, and overeat.  

Hanukkah includes lighting the menorah each evening, prayers, games, food, songs, eating fried treats, giving children gifts of money, and playing a game with a four-sided top. 

Kwanzaa traditions include sharing a feast, celebrating Black culture, honoring ancestors, African drumming, candle lighting, and reciting original poetry. 

New Year’s consists of a midnight kiss, singing Auld Lang Syne, parties, watching the ball drop, making a toast, making New Year’s resolutions, counting down to the New Year, football, and parades. 

It is usually a colossal celebration of families and friends, with many traditions.

With so many customs to uphold, I asked several celebrities what message they would give to friends, fans, and loved ones during the holiday season.

Michael Colyar

MICHAEL COLYAR (actor/comedian) – Remember the reason for the season. Also, remember to be joyful and kind. Keep God first.

Dr. Betty Price

DR. BETTY PRICE (Crenshaw Christian Center) “Be thankful that God has provided through Jesus Christ. Share as much of that time with family and friends.

Bootsy Collins

BOOTSY COLLINS (Parliament-Funkadelic) - Really pay attention to one another because that is what funk is. Funk is making something out of nothing. When you keep that in mind, that’s what we do. We make something out of nothing. Do not be so distracted by all this mess. We know how to make it through the desert. That’s what funk is – make it through the desert without whining, drama, and distractions. No matter the day, we’ve been through it and are still going through it. The cycle doesn’t stop – we do.

Bill Duke

BILL DUKE (actor, director, humanitarian) There is a saying I love.  I can’t remember the gentleman who said it, but it says, ‘Aspire to inspire before you expire.’

Patrice Rushen

PATRICE RUSHEN (musician "Forget Me Nots"): Tell people you love them. The people you love – tell them and demonstrate it through your everyday actions. It’s the little things.

Dave Koz

DAVE KOZ (saxophonist) This year has been challenging. The world is changing at lightning speed. The foundation seems to be moving, and we don’t know where it’s going. The holidays are about connecting with loved ones, your family, or your chosen family. If you have people who love you, you’re ahead of the game.

Reginald Hudlin

REGINALD HUDLIN (director/producer/screenwriter) – Spend time with your family and friends, and try to block out all of the noise. 

Sharon Catherine Brown

SHARON CATHERINE BROWN (Broadway actress, The Notebook) Hang in there, and hold family members that you have – close before, during, and after the holidays because tomorrow is not promised.

Edwin Lee Gibson Joins Cast of 'Air Bud Returns'

 

Edwin Lee Gibson

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Bear’s Edwin Lee Gibson continues to expand his creative landscape. In September, he joined the cast of Air Bud Returns, the newest chapter in the beloved family film franchise. This month, he unveiled the teaser for his directorial debut, a pink and red dress, made of satin... covered in flowers, mostly roses. (APARD) Both projects explore legacy in their own language. In Air Bud Returns, Gibson plays Jack, the guiding force for Jacob, a kid navigating grief and self-discovery. Directed by franchise creator Robert Vince, the film features a cast including Aydin Artis, Tracy Ifeachor, and Tyler Labine. Air Bud Returns wrapped production in Vancouver, British Columbia, last week.   APARD, filmed on location in Tucson, Arizona, explores memory, mysticism, love, and loss. Set in a sleepy border town, the 15-minute short includes stage and screen veterans Erica Tazel, A. Russell Andrews, and Victoria Rowell, along with newcomer Juliette Ortega and Hip Hop Artist, Buddy.   These projects, along with his two-episode turn in Amazon Prime’s Fallout, Season 2, further reveal Gibson’s dynamic range and his artistic philosophy that truth is uncovered when you allow the story to tell itself. The teaser is a pink and red dress, made of satin... covered in flowers, mostly roses. is now live at thespisbrownlaboratory.org/apard.   Air Bud Returns is set for a Summer 2026 theatrical release. Season 2 of Fallout debuts December 17, 2025, on Amazon Prime.   ABOUT EDWIN LEE GIBSON A self-described “theatre rat,” Gibson began performing professionally at 16 and has since appeared in over 100 productions. He earned a 2006 OBIE Award for Outstanding Performance for his radical portrayal of Oedipus in The Seven at New York Theatre Workshop—a role critics could not forget: •           “Most spectacularly, there’s Edwin Lee Gibson’s Oedipus, an outrageous, comically toxic blend of Superfly, B.B. King, and Al Jolson.” — Village Voice •           “Mr. Gibson’s Oedipus is the show’s presiding spirit: smooth of tongue, limber of leg and always in your face.” — The New York Times   International acclaim followed when he was invited by the late Peter Brook to join his legendary company in residence at London’s National Theatre Studio and Paris’s Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.   His layered, genre-defying work has been profiled by The New York Times, Village Voice, The Wall Street Journal, The LA Times, and The Washington Post. Of his current role, The Wall Street Journal wrote:   “Then someone like the meat chef Ebraheim (a terrific Edwin Lee Gibson) says something dryly hilarious and the pressure is released from the cooker.”   Off-stage, Gibson has written and performed in nationally commissioned solo works, contributed to The Moth, and written multiple pilots and screenplays. He is an alum of the Sony Pictures Television Writing Program and a member of SAG-AFTRA, Actors’ Equity, and New York Theatre Workshop’s Usual Suspects.