Tika Sumpter & Tory Kittles Celebrate Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour + John Legend Hosts Screening of Southern Rites [Photos]

The West Coast portion of Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour kicked off Tuesday (May 12th), with an invite-only brunch held at Millwick in downtown Los Angeles. Bessie’s 81 Theatre Tour is a multi-city event series that honors the life and legacy of late blues singer Bessie Smith, in advance of HBO’s film ‘Bessie.’ The film premieres on May 16 and will feature Queen Latifah as ‘Bessie’.

Shelby Stone, Tory Kittles, Tika Sumpter, Len Amato

In attendance at today’s brunch were actress Tika Sumpter and actor Tory Kittles, who both have roles in the film; HBO Films President Len Amato and Bessie executive producer Shelby Stone. Guests mingled and enjoyed the venue’s outdoor space before sitting down to brunch, which kicked off with a viewing of the film’s trailer.

[SEE PIX OF JOHN LEGEND HOSTING THE ‘SOUTHERN RITES’ SCREENING ON THE NEXT PAGE.]