‘Nat King Cole’ and more at Black Spectrum

The play, which runs approximately 70 minutes plus intermission, is, as carr explains, “a marriage between my own true-to-life experiences of being raised on this great music with what I imagined life would have been like for the great crooner we all love, based on a life-long study of his life.”

In the show, the multi-talented carr shares stories of Cole’s life as well as his own, bringing to vivid life various individuals from both, and, of course, he sings-as both himself and as Cole. He tells the audience that he wants his own voice to be heard but admits he might be destined to be remembered mostly for his uncanny ability to imitate Cole.

The performer tells of how his own father’s love of Cole’s music rubbed off on him. He recounts Cole’s youth, during which he spent much time daydreaming about making music. And he touches on Cole’s struggles against racial prejudice.

References to many other performers make this as much a brief history of black music as a tribute to Cole and it does, at times, take on the feeling of a classroom, complete with a Smart board, a modern equivalent of a chalkboard.

Projections on that board and a few simple set pieces are the only accouterments carr needs to weave his tales.

A change of costume, a dab of make-up, and a slight change in bodily posture help him look quite a lot like Cole when he emerges for a mini-concert of his songs, which comprises most of the second act.

Musical selections include “The Autumn Leaves,” sung in both English and French; “L-O-V-E,” in which the audience is invited to join; and “Unforgettable.”

Directed by T’Keyah Crystal Keymah, the show makes for an informative look at one of the all-time great performers.

The next major attraction at the theater, for one night only on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., is the world premiere reading of a new play, “Shared Secrets,” set in a women’s spa, and featuring Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins.

According to Carl Clay, who founded the non-profit performing arts facility in 1970 and remains at its helm, the play, which will be given a full staging at the theater in March, is “an inspirational story of survival and perseverance.”

The play is particularly noteworthy, he said, because “there hasn’t been a lot of work dealing with seniors, especially African-Americans past a certain age.”

The suggested donation for the event is $5.

And, just in time for the holidays, the theater will offer “A Caribbean Christmas Carol,” which brings a new slant to the Dickens classic. Written and directed by Jacqueline Wade, the play with music will be performed on Dec. 3 and 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Clay is optimistic that a charter middle school for the performing arts, targeted primarily for youngsters in District 29, will be “incubated” at the theater. A community meeting to discuss the school’s possibilities was scheduled for Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the theater.

“It’s a natural step for the theater,” Clay said. “Theater is education and education is theater.”

Tucked among the trees just within the boundaries of Roy Wilkins Park, the theater is most easily accessed at 117th Street and Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica. For further information, call (718) 723-1800.