Category Archives: film

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Shall We Dance Friday: John Bubbles- Cabin In The Sky

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 Shall We Dance

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Cabin in the Sky is a 1940 American musical with music by Vernon Duke, Lyrics by John La Touche, and a musical book by Lynn Root. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 25, 1940. It closed on March 8, 1941 after a total of 156 performances. It was directed by Albert Lewis and staged by George Balanchine. The Broadway production starred Ethel Waters as Petunia Jackson, Dooley Wilson as Little Joe Jackson, Katherine Dunham as Georgia Brown, Rex Ingram as Lucifer Junior, and Todd Duncan as The Lawd’s General. Continue reading

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Throwback Thursday: Bette Midler- Wind Beneath My Wings

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In 1988 Bette Midler, co-starred with Barbara Hershey in the film Beaches. The accompanying soundtrack remains Midler’s all-time biggest selling disc, reaching No. 2 on Billboard‘s album chart and with U.S. sales of four million copies. It featured her biggest hit, Wind Beneath My Winds, which went to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 and achieved Platinum status. Midler won her third Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Continue reading

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O&A Hollywood Monday: The Rocky Horror Picture Show- Sweet Transvestite

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By Walter Rutledge

Hollywood Mondays

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 musical comedy horror film directed by Jim Sharman. The production is a humorous tribute to the science fiction and Horror B movies of the late 1930s through early 1970s. It stars Tim Curry, Susan Saradon, and Barry Bostwick along with cast members from the original Royal Court Theatre, Roxy Theatre and Belasco Theatre productions. Continue reading

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Shall We Dance Friday: Le Jeune Homme et la Mort – Mikhail Baryshnikov

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Shall We Dance

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White Nights is a 1985 American film directed by Taylor Hackford and choreographed by Twyla Tharp and stars Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Jerzy Skolimowski, Helen Mirren and Isabella Rossellini. The movie opens with an abridged version of Roland Petite’s Le Jeune Homme et la Mort. The ballet was given the full Hollywood treatment. Continue reading

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Hollywood Monday: The Great Dictator- A Memorial Day Tribute

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Hollywood Mondays

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We chose this film clip to honor the brave men and women in our Armed Services. It is also a reminder that restraint and the wisdom to avoid a rush to judgement/violence makes us truly strong. War should always be the last and most regrettable option. Maybe if the Three Stooges, George, Dick and Donald (that’s George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld) had remembered this movie 4,486 American soldiers would still be alive and 32,226 others would not have been maimed or wounded in an unnecessary war. They paid the ultimate sacrifice because of WMD – Words of Mass Deception. Continue reading

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Shall We Dance Friday: The Nicholas Brothers in “Jumpin Jive” from Stormy Weather

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The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African- American team of dancing brothers, Fayard (1914–2006) and Harold (1921–2000). With their highly acrobatic technique (flash dance), high level of artistry and daring innovations, they were considered by many the greatest tap dancers of their day. Continue reading

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Hollywood Monday: Lady Sings The Blues (Big Ben) Plus Encore performance

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Hollywood Mondays

Lady Sings the Blues is the story of jazz singer Billie Holiday and is loosely based on her 1956 autobiography. Holiday took its title from one of her most popular songs. Continue reading

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4/4/14 O&A NYC DANCE: Rudolf Nureyev as Valentino (1977) Tango Scene ft. Rudolf Nureyev & Anthony Dowell

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Rudolph Nureyev as Valentino. A biographical drama film very loosely based on the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell in 1977. In this scene former dance hall performer Rudolpho Valentino dances a tango with dance legend Ballet Russe star Vaslav Nijinsky. Continue reading

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11/29/17 O&A NYC DANCE: Rudolf Nureyev and Zizi Jeanmaire: Le Jeune Homme et La Mort by Roland Petit (1966)

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Le Jeune Homme et La Mort was choreographed by Roland Petit  choreographed in 1946 to Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582, with a one-act libretto by Jean Cocteau. It tells the story of a Young Man driven to suicide by his faithless lover. Sets were by George Wakhevitch and costumes variously reported as being by Karinska or Cocteau. Continue reading