In 1983 Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson) created The Spook Show, a one-woman show composed of different character monologues. Director Mike Nichols offered to take the show to Broadway. Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway premiered on October 24, 1984 and ran until March 10, 1985, for a total of 156 performances. Continue reading
Category Archives: Video
11/27/23 HOLLYWOOD MONDAY- REVIEW: RUSTIN
By Alex Smith Jr.
I went to an advance screening of the film RUSTIN last night (Oct. 12, 2023). It was opening the 35th Anniversary of the LGBTQ+ Annual Film Festival here in NYC. This film is a triumph plain and simple. I am trying to hold back from using to many superlatives to lavish on this film. Continue reading
11/24/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dear Quincy- Carmen De Lavallade and Wesley Fata
Carmen de Lavallade dancing to Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” with Wesley Fata on November 16, 1968. Ms. de Lavallade’s late husband, the great Geoffrey Holder, choreographed this piece This is jut an excerpt of a much longer dance. Continue reading
11/23/23 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY ON THANKGIVING : Miracle On 34th Street
After a divorced New York mother (Maureen O’Hara) hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn) at Macy’s, she is startled by his claim to be the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer (John Payne) defends him in court by arguing that he’s not mistaken.
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11/22/23 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Leslie Jones Stops Your Annoying Relatives from Ruining Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, don’t worry about how to handle your annoying relatives. For $29.99, Leslie Jones will teach you how to shut down awkward conversations. Continue reading
11/20/23 O&A NYC THEATRE- REVIEW: Hadestown- Sometimes True Love Can Be Hell.
By Walter Rutledge
Recently I had the extreme pleasure to see the Broadway smash hit Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theater. The 2019 eight-time Tony Award winning musical is still wowing audiences with Anais Mitchell’s incredible lyric music score and touching book featuring dual love stories. Before we talk about Hadestown lets first have a Greek mythology tutorial. Continue reading
11/16/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Big Mama Thornton – Hound Dog and Down Home Shakedown (1965)
Willie Mae Thornton better known as Big Mama Thornton because of her height (nearly 6 feet), and weight (200 pounds), was an American singer and songwriter of the Blues and R&B. Continue reading
11/11/23 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: Rachid Alexander Male Belly Dancer
Rachid Alexander was born on Curaçao and is a trained oriental dancer. Now residing in The Netherlands, he is one of Europe’s most sought after male belly dancers.
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10/22/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Jester Hairston- Amen- Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir (1994)
This is an excerpt from Jester Hairston’s appearance in 1994 with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, now called the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Here is gets part way through Amen when he realizes it is too high. He is 93 years old in this appearance. Continue reading
10/20/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: House of Flowers From Carmen & Geoffrey (2005)
This House of Flowers excerpt featuring Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade is from the 2005 documentary Carmen & Geoffrey. Holder and his brother Boscoe talk about their early roots in Trinidad, forming a dance company and Holder meeting his wife (De Lavallade) in the 1955 production of House of Flowers. Continue reading