Balancing the Sweet with the Hot

The musical theater actress walked away from Broadway, only to return to the stage as a cabaret singer. Cook was recently featured in a concert version of Follies and stars in a new musical revue.

Music critic Nelson George considers the changing nature of black music. In the past, Nelson says, African American artists, record store owners, and concert promoters were more community oriented. He thinks the focus now is on corporate-backed, commercial success.

Ken Tucker recommends the home video release of Near Dark, a vampire movie directed and cowritten by Kathryn Bigelow. Dark Eyes and Wall Street are also worth watching.