POP/ROCK - June 18, 1991

Canceled in a Heartbeat: Filmmaker and comedian Robert Townsend canceled his performance with the vocal group the Dells on Sunday because officials of Anaheim’s Celebrity Theatre allegedly did not pay him in the manner specified in his contract, Townsend’s publicist said Monday. “My understanding is that on the night of the show, the theater was supposed to have a cashier’s check, or cash,” publicist Tony Wafford said. Townsend made an announcement from the stage Sunday explaining the cancellation to the audience. A box-office employee said that ticket buyers could receive refunds, and that there were no plans to reschedule the show, which had played the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday. Celebrity Theatre officials could not be reached for comment.