4/16/26 O&A NYC REVIEW BY WALTER RUTLEDGE:  Cats: The Jellicle Ball

By Walter Rutledge

Cats: The Jellicle Ball made it’s Broadway debut on April 7that the Broadhurst Theater. The new production has replaced the London alley/junkyard with a New York City gay ball. Called a “radical reimagining” this reincarnation of Daniel Lloyd Webber iconic musical is a fun, raucous, high energy theatrical juggernaut. We give this clever remake “tens across the board”. Continue reading

4/12/26 O&A NYC THE WORD: John Legend -Gethsemane From Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert

Immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring performance as the legendary John Legend takes on the iconic role of Jesus Christ in the unforgettable live concert production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Witness a breathtaking rendition of Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say) as John Legend delivers an emotionally charged portrayal that will captivate your heart and soul. Continue reading

3/23/26 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Lena Horne – The Lady Is A Tramp

Lena Horne performed by The Lady Is a Tramp from the musical Babes in Arms (1937). The musical features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Continue reading

2/25/26 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Corbin Bleu Mein Herr (Broadway Backwards 2023)

Corbin Bleu performed an electrifying rendition of Mein Herr from the musical Cabaret at the 2023 Broadway Backwards benefit. Bleu opened the show, which took place on March 13, 2023, at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City.  Continue reading

9/20/25 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: The Harlem Sandman

That’s Reelblack Entertainment brings us another classic scene of Black entertainment excellence from the 1943 The Harlem Sandman. The venerable cast included Nick Stewart, Count Basie, Jack Williams, Dorothy Dandridge, Ernest Morrison and Pops & Louie as featured in Hit Parade of 1943. Continue reading

4/22/25 O&A NYC REVIEW: Macbeth in Stride

By Walter Rutledge

For those of us that believe “Hell has no fury like a women scorned”. And for those of us who know firsthand you do not mess with a Black woman who “ain’t feeling it”. Leave your Elizabethan mindset at home and head to the Harvey Theater to experience MacBeth in Stride – Shakespeare from a sistah’s point of view. Written and performed by Obie- Award winner Whitney White the production takes Shakespeare and female empowerment to a new level. This soulful contemporary rendition of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth runs for only five remaining performances through April 27 at the Harvey Theater located at 651 Futon Street in downtown Brooklyn. Continue reading

3/2/25 O&A NYC SUNDAY MORNING FUNNIES: Jenifer Lewis – Black Don’t Crack fea. Marc Shaiman (Live at the Rosie O’Donnell Show 1996)

What better way to begin Women’s History Month with the one and only Jennifer Lewis! Our Sunday Morning Funnies comes from a 1996 live performance on Rosie O’Donnell where Lewis accompanied by pianist Marc Shaiman performed Black Don’t Crack

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12/25/24 O&A NYC MERRY CHRISTMAS: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released on March 10, 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet (the 1948 European reissue title), March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers (in the United States). Continue reading

2/2/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: It Don’t Mean a Thing! Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle and Gregg Burge.

On March 1 1981, Sophisticated Ladies debuted on Broadway. The show run for 767 performances  and garnered two Tony Awards for Willi Kim for Best Costume and Hinton Battle for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. It Don’t Mean a Thing! featuring the sultry Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle and Gregg Burge.  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