By Jonathan Landrum Jr., Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Whitney Houston ‘s epic concert in South Africa staged after President Nelson Mandela’s landmark election will be hitting theater screens this fall.
Houston’s performance in 1994 has been turned into a fully-remastered theatrical release called “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” according to a statement Tuesday from several collaborators, including Houston’s estate, Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing.
The limited theatrical screening will debut Oct. 23 and feature the late singer’s never-before-released show from Durban, South Africa. The project will come ahead of a new live album, “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” which will be released Nov. 8.
“She loved South Africa; she loved the people, and she loved Nelson Mandela,” said Pat Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law and Houston estate executor who is an executive producer on the concert film. “This concert is one of the most consequential concerts of her career. On this momentous 30th anniversary, we are thrilled that we can release this film not only to her fans, but to the people of South Africa and its new generation.”
In 1994, Houston took the stage for three concerts in South Africa including in Durban at Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Her performances came in a newly unified post-apartheid nation following Mandela’s historic election victory.
The concerts drew more than 200,000 attendees in a show filled with celebration of freedom, hope and unity. The proceeds from her concerts benefited numerous local South African children’s charities through her foundation.
For the film, Houston’s performance was remastered into 4K video along with enhanced audio. The concert film will be shown in nearly 900 cinemas in more than 25 countries.
“It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think that I was truly prepared for how this trip would change me forever,” said Rickey Minor, a three-time Emmy winner who was Houston’s musical director for 25 years. “The energy was electric, and the audience was incredible, as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and shined her light.”
Earlier that year, Houston won three Grammys, including album of the year for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack. She won record of the year and best female pop vocal performance for massive hit ” I Will Always Love You.”
Houston was one of the world’s bestselling artists with her effortless, powerful vocals rooted in the Black church but made palatable to the masses with her pop persona. She sold over 200 million records worldwide during her 25-year career and won six Grammys, 16 Billboard Music Awards and two Emmys before her death in 2012.
Houston’s live album will include some of her greatest hits from ” I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” ” How Will I Know,” ” I Have Nothing ” and ” Greatest Love of All ” It will also included the unreleased track “Love Is.”
“The message of hope and unity from the Durban, South Africa performance is still as relevant today as it was 30 years ago,” said Marc Allenby, the CEO of Trafalgar Releasing. “Fans are going to be blown away by how powerful this is on the big screen.”
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More