3/18/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN ON HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Trip to Bountiful- Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, Vanessa Williams, Keke Palmer

Unable to drive, Carrie (Cicely Tyson) begs her son (Blair Underwood) to take her on a visit to her hometown of Bountiful. When he refuses, Carrie makes an escape to the bus station, where she meets Thelma (Keke Palmer) in The Trip to Bountiful. Vanessa Williams also stars in this film. Continue reading

3/10/24 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: An Evening with the Iconic Chris Mitchell

Christopher Alexander Mitchell better known by his stage name Chris Mitchelll, is a saxophonist whose sophomore album, Turquoise, brought him ‘breakthrough recognition’ 2011; sold in over 75 countries and 20 sites around the globe; Including his first live performance film An Evening with Chris Mitchell. Continue reading

3/12/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN ON INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Fannie Lou Hamer Fought For The Rights Of Black Americans

  In 1962, Fannie Lou Hamer was ready to cast her first ballot – but Mississippi wasn’t ready to let her vote. Denied registration, she fought for rights for Black Americans. Continue reading

3/11/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN ON HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Mahalia Jackson Documentary

This timeless documentary about Mahalia Jackson, the legendary Queen of Gospel,  features Jackson herself  telling her story of her life and times! Continue reading

3/8/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lil Buck at Foundation Louis Vuitton

To mark the current exhibition at Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Icons Of Modern Art: The Shchukin Collection, London-based director Andrew Margetson follows Memphis-born jookin’ dancer Lil Buck as he twists and turns past masterpieces by the likes of Picasso and Matisse. Continue reading

2/12/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY- BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Sounder (1972)| Cicely Tyson | Paul Winfield | Kevin Hooks

Four Oscar nominations went to Sounder a moving drama about a family of Louisiana sharecroppers facing hardships during the Depression. The story concerns Nathan Lee Morgan (Paul Winfield), a black man sent to a prison camp for committing a petty crime. When his wife Rebecca (Cicely Tyson) sends their young son (Kevin Hooks) to visit him, the boy’s journey becomes a life changing rite of passage. Critic Roger Ebert praised Sounder, calling it “a film for the family to see.” Continue reading

2/1/24 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY : Cab Calloway- Minnie the Moocher

Minnie the Moocher is a jazz-scat song first recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, selling over a million copies.”Minnie the Moocher” is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed (“scat”) lyrics (for example, “Hi De Hi De Hi De Ho”). Continue reading

1/26/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Chris Rudd’s Touché featuring Calvin Royal III and João Menegussi

Touché, a work for two dancers, explores the themes of male love. The pas de deux was created by Chris Rudd and featured dancers danced by Calvin Royal III (Adam) and João Menegussi (Steve). Continue reading

1/22/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Claudine (1974) Starring Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones

Claudine is a 1974 American romantic comedy-drama film, directed by John Berry. Claudine was written by Lester Pine and Tina Pine, starring James Earl Jones, Diahann Carroll and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs.  The film was released on April 22, 1974, grossing about $6 million, a modest hit for the times. It was praised for showing a new dimension in black cinema during the height of blaxploitation. Continue reading

11/29/23 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Whoopi Goldberg- Direct From Broadway, 1984 – 1985, (originally – Spook Show)

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