Dan Gross: North Philadelphia native sings in 'Colored Girls'

NORTH PHILLY-native opera singer Karen Slack can be seen in "For Colored Girls," Tyler Perry's film that opens Friday.

Slack plays an opera singer in a scene in which Janet Jackson's character and her husband attend a concert.

Slack, a 1993 graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and a 2002 graduate of the Curtis Institute, now lives in Sacramento, Calif., with her husband, Rob Blackwell.

He's also from North Philly and was her high school sweetheart at CAPA, where he majored in visual arts.

Slack, who is asked this all the time, told us that Rob is not part of the political Blackwell family.

The singer recently returned from Latvia, where she sang with the Latvian National Symphony.

Slack told us she tried not to talk too much to preserve her voice, especially while preparing for concerts, preferring to communicate through text or e-mail.

'Johnny Drama' at Parx

"Entourage" star Kevin Dillon hosts a Friday-night launch party for the new poker room at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road) in Bensalem. The event runs from 9 to 11.

Comics & Iggles

Vince Vaughn and Kevin James will attend Sunday's Eagles/Colts match-up at The Linc.

The guys, who will be promoting their comedy "The Dilemma," which opens Jan. 14, are in town with their Comedy Roadshow tour, which plays the Merriam Theatre Sunday night.

Perri's debut drops

Bensalem-native musician Christina Perri's debut EP, "The Ocean Way Sessions," is out Tuesday on Atlantic Records.

Perri, an Archbishop Ryan grad, was signed after her single "Jar of Hearts" blew up on iTunes after she performed the mournful ballad on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance."

The album can be bought, with additional video downloads at christinaperri.com.

UArts student competes

University of the Arts student Jitlada Michelle Tatiya, who goes by Michelle, is up for a $5,000 prize from Screen Gems films in a best-dancer contest in conjunction with the movie "Burlesque," the Cher and Christina Aguilera film opening Thanksgiving.

Tatiya won a recent qualifier at Top Dog in Cherry Hill.

You can vote for her at MTV.com.

Two films on Tuesday

"Punch Me," a short film written/directed by and starring local actors Robert X. Golphin ("The Great Debaters) and Brian Anthony Wilson ("The Wire") and newcomer Elwood Idris Simon, screens at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the International House (3701 Chestnut) before the premiere of a comedy "Brainiacs in La La Land," directed by Sarah Poindexter.

To see a trailer for "Punch Me," a family drama dealing with homophobia, visit facebook.com/punchmefilm.

Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 general admission and will be available at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the door.

Phoenixville punk doll

Black Flag/Circle Jerks frontman

Keith Morris has become the eighth punk icon to be immortalized with his own Throbblehead doll by Phoenixville's Clint Weiler's company Aggronautix.

The company started its line with a limited edition G.G. Allin doll, one of which is in the possession of filmmaker Todd Phillips. Phillips directed "The Hangover," "Old School," and the upcoming "Due Date." His first film was "Hated," a documentary on Allin, the late punk figure.

Check out the dolls at Aggronautix. com.

Bar fetes bridge

To celebrate the reopening of South Street Bridge, scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Callahan's (26th & South), the closest bar to the bridge, is offering $1 hot dogs and $2.50 domestic drafts from 3 to 7 p.m.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.