Loop On Location: The Gloves Come Off For "The Royale" Opening

Boxing and race both enter the ring during the opening of "The Royale" in Los Angeles. Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging and Craig Schwartz

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Los Angeles' Kirk Douglas Theatre transforms into a boxing ring in this world premiere play.

What would you risk to be the greatest? 

The team behind the electric stage play, “The Royale,” ponders this idea and more, as the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles debuts the world premiere of this tale of sports, race relations, society and the African American experience. 

Set in the early 20th century, Jay Jackson (played by fighter-turned-actor David St. Louis) is at the top of his game in the black boxing circuit, but his biggest challenge has yet to come. Jay, a character inspired by real life boxing great Jack Johnson, has his eyes set on challenging the best boxer in the world, but there’s just one problem: That boxer is white. With the help of his trainer, a former nemesis-turned-partner, a boxing promoter and his sister, Jay prepares for a fight that could damage his career, and his entire race. 

[More: Loop on Location: Black Hollywood Steps Out for “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” Opening]

A rhythmic performance that utilizes synchronized clapping and stomping as part of the dialogue, “The Royale” is as much about equality and the African American family as it is about boxing.

Loop 21 was on hand during the opening of “The Royale,” which runs now through June 2nd. Take a peek at the premiere above, and for more information about “The Royale,” visit the Center Theatre Group here. 

What's the last play you've seen? Tell us about it in the comments below? 

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In The Loop With: Broadway Star Adesola Osakalumi

The multi-talented actor takes on the role of a lifetime in the groundbreaking musical “FELA!”

If there was ever a part Bronx native Adesola Osakalumi was born to play, the role of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti would be it. The son of musicians and accomplished performers, Osakalumi’s tightknit household not only introduced him to Fela’s music at a young age, but they also helped to introduce Fela’s music to the masses during the 1970s.

A riveting performer, Osakalumi’s skill as an actor, dancer, singer and choreographer have made him a force in the title role, and Loop 21 recently caught up with the stage star to get his insight on breaking into theater, the challenges of touring, and what it’s like to share the stage every night with Destiny Child's Michelle Williams.

[More: In The Loop With: Phylicia Rashad]

Loop 21: When did you know that performing was what you wanted to do?
Adesola Osakalumi: For as long as I can remember. My mother and father were both artists. They were both in an African American dance company my father and uncle ran and started called the Africa 1 Dance Theater. As long as I could remember there was music and art and dance around me.    

Loop 21: How did growing up in the Bronx prepare you for this industry?
AO: I was raised in a really artistic household, and my friends were athletic or into arts, whether their art was rapping and dancing or breaking and popping or sports. We were always active in movement. I think it played a huge part. In any urban city in America, by extension of New York, you have a great potential for art and creativity because there are many people trying to find ways to put meaning, add joy, create new ideas designed for their lives.

Loop 21: Were you familiar with Fela before being cast in the play?
AO: I was very familiar with his work. My dad and uncle had a record label called Makossa Records, and Makossa Records was the first label that distributed Fela’s music in America in the 1970s. My dad and uncles knew Fela and had a very big hand in his music being introduced to America. I grew up listening to a lot of his work, and to be in the show portraying him on stage is definitely a full circle moment.  

Loop 21: Describe the moment when you found out you were cast as the lead?
AO: When I found out I was cast, I was cast as an understudy initially in the Broadway show. That moment was great. I set my sights on being in the production, and I was cast as the understudy and then ensemble. I was ecstatic. When you set your sight on something and it manifests, you’re like “wow.” When I knew I was going to be playing Fela was at the beginning of the tour last year. I had taken a few steps toward completing a goal, but it wasn’t that same explosion of emotion when I was cast to just be a part if the production.  

Let’s Talk: Budgeting Your Way Out of Debt

Join @TheLoop21 on Twitter 5/21 at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST to discuss how to budget your way out of debt using #L21Success.

Credit cards, loans and mortgages all have one thing in common: they cause debt.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, American consumers owe $11.23 trillion in debt. This includes $986 billion in student loan debt, $7.93 trillion in mortgage debt, and $660 billion in credit cards. 

Among minorities, student debt is the highest. Students of color, especially African Americans, are graduating college with more student debt. 

According to a report by the Center for American Progress, 27 percent of African Americans who received a bachelor’s degree had more than $30,500 in debt, compared to 16 percent of whites.

In the last decade, Latino students taking out loans increased by 12 percent, while African Americans taking out loans increased by 16 percent, the report states. 

So whether you are a recent college graduate or a homeowner struggling to pay off your mortgage, chances are, debt has kept you up at night.

However, there are ways for you to get out of debt. Small things you can do everyday to still pay off your bills and live comfortably without having to sacrifice every paycheck. 

In the next TweetUp, Loop21 will show you how you can budget your money so you can wiggle your way out of debt.

This effectively kicks off a partnership with the Los Angeles Urban League of Young Professionals and their "Build a Better You" initiative.

Join the conversation on May 21 at 1p.m.ET/10 a.m.PT. The hashtag is #L21Success.

Start your journey out of debt with this TweetUp!

Breast Cancer Screening: What You Need to Know

The disease is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. women.

Black women are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than other women, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of those contributing factors include less access to resources and high-quality treatment and lack of prompt follow-up care when their mammograms show something abnormal. 

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Photo Credit: CDC

Is Diddy Joining Downton?

The hip-hop mogul shocks Twitter fans with Funny or Die parody.

Music mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs created a buzz on social media after he tweeted about his involvement with the PBS drama, “Downton Abbey.” Sadly, the rumor is partly false. 

Travel: Priority Boarding for Travelers Who Carry On Less

American Airlines launches new boarding process.

In an effort to reduce boarding times and improve on-time performance, travelers not needing to stow a bag in their overhead storage bins will be able to benefit from American Airlines’ updated boarding process.

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Photo Credit: American Airlines 

Jamie Foxx Lands TBS Show

Are you excited to see him back on the small screen?

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Photo Credit: Vanity Fair 

Apple App Store Reaches 50 Billion Downloads

Milestone comes after Ohio man acquires word game.

Five years after Apple launched its App Store, it has reached a milestone. 

On Wednesday, the online store achieved 50 billion downloads.  

Brandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio downloaded “Say the Same Thing” making the word game the 50th billion app downloaded from the popular store. 

Ashmore was awarded a $10,000 App Store Gift Card. 

“The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created  a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of internet Software and Services in a press release.   

Over 800 apps are downloaded per second from the Apple App Store totaling to two billion per month. 

The App Store launched in July 2008 with 500 apps. It now offers more than 850,00 apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.  

How many apps do you have on your Apple device?

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Drake, K. Dot, 2 Chainz Lead BET Awards Nominations

African American musicians and artists will be celebrated this summer in Los Angeles

The best in hip hop and R&B music will be honored in a three-day event at this year’s BET Awards. 

The announcement along with the award nominations were presented early Wednesday morning by Kendrick Lamar and Tamar Braxton.

“We just wanted to make official something that has been organic,” said Stephen Hill, BET Director of Music Programming and Specials. “For many years I’ve been hearing people talking about coming out to L.A. for the BET weekend, even if they weren’t going to the awards show. So we brought it all together.” 

Drake received the most nominations with 12 including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year. 

Dot and 2 Chainz followed with eight nominations, respectively.

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake each received four nominations   

Chris Brown and R.Kelly were confirmed to perform.  

Legendary singer Charlie Wilson will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

“The theme for the show is ‘anything can happen’,” said Chris Tucker, this year’s host. “We’re gonna have a great time on June 30.”

Check out the full list of nominees here. 

Did your favorite artist get nominated?

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Shop Smart: 7 Do's & Don'ts of Buying Souvenirs

DO: Buy gifts that are native to the country you're visiting. Think coffee from Colombia, chocolate from Switzerland, wine from Italy, or kimonos from Japan. Google

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Step away from the mass-produced and manufactured goods.

If you've gone on an amazing trip and all you've brought back as a souvenir for friends was a lousy t-shirt, expect it to be turned into a cleaning rag. Unless your family collects shot glasses or coins for a living, steer clear of those, too. And don't even think about picking up some last-minute, mindless chotchkes at the airport on your way back home.

The point is, when picking out souvenirs, don't just opt for things that'll be placed on a dresser; they should be useful and unique, rational but rare. Check out the seven tips to buying souvenirs above.

What is the best souvenir you ever received? 

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