Amidst the gorgeous décor that is the Whiskey Blue Bar at the W Los Angeles performed Ireland’s number one artist Paddy Casey. The second show of the W Wonderlust Live tour was hosted by none other than Grammy-Award winning music producer Bryan Michael Cox. DJ Tony Okungbowa entertained VIP guests with hit beats before Paddy […]

The Met Theater is a modest 2-stage house smack in the middle of Hollywood. Founded in 1973, it has a prestigious history including productions with Ed Harris, Carole Kane, Holly Hunter, James Gammon and Sam Shepard. Its latest offering “Talk Radio” runs through July 27 under the careful direction of Ben Kusler and a supple […]

Seven-nights-a-week for 66 continuous days, Universal CityWalk will be offering non-stop entertainment completely free of charge. They are featuring top celebrity and tribute band concert performances, salsa dance lessons, the ever-pleasing free outdoor movie night, and star-turning talent competitions. All of this free entertainment is available for all from June 26 to August 31. KIIS-FM […]

Spanning all genres, UCLA Live unveils their 2008-2009 Season featuring an eclectic, yet visionary collection of artists. Artistic director, David Sefton announced the nine-month season, which will run from October 1, 2008 to June 20, 2009. Consisting of 94 performances, the upcoming season will feature, dance, spoken word, family, organ, classical, jazz,, world, folk, roots […]

More than 550 Los Angeles socialites and supporters gathered for SHARE’s 55th Anniversary Razzle Dazzle Boomtown Gala Saturday night at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Good Day L.A.’s Steve Edwards and Dorothy Lucey presented Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of “American Idol”, this year’s “Shining Spirit Award”. Lythgoe accepted “The Shining Spirit Award” Saturday evening in front of a […]

Multi-Award winning Broadway legend and Disney sensation Lea Salonga set to perform in Los Angeles at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Best known for originating the role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, Lea Salonga is also a bona fide “Disney Princess.” Salonga is the glorious singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Fa Mulan […]

Will Ferrell. Jon Lovitz. Lisa Kudrow. Throughout its nearly thirty-five year history, The Groundlings have become one of the few genuine birth places for comedians, including the names listed above.
And now, present-day, they still got it. Laffers are out in full-force at the Groundlings “Key Party” to make audience’s pulse quicken each weekend with a […]

Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and MEASURE still FOR MEASURE. - Duke Vicentio
Shakespeare’s play “Measure for Measure” is one of those hysterical comedies that does not get enough recognition. Perhaps the reason is because it has the stigma attached of being dubbed a “problem play",
meaning many tribulations […]

Glancing back into his past repertoire as inspiration for the present, Belgian choreographer and filmmaker Wim Vandekeybus and his company, Ultima Vez, premiere new dance creation "Spiegel"(Mirror) in Los Angeles for 2008.
 
A retrospective based on excerpts from seven of his works from 1987-2000, the material explores the explosive energy, emotions and intensely physical demands of […]

LA’s the Place is offering another exciting giveaway, this time for LA Phil’s Philharmonia Orchestra. Leave a comment below or subscribe and you will be entered to win two tickets to the May 7th performance at 8:00 PM at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Direct from London, the Philharmonia Orchestra will perform in L.A. for two […]

I always put on my forever overdue to do list to read a story by Irish writer James Joyce. His style influenced many magnanimous literary giants from Samuel Beckett, William Faulkner to George Orwell and Bret Easton Ellis. Joyce, next to Shakespeare, is one of the most influential writers of our time. The Dead is […]

With mesmerizing skill and instrumental memory, the SF Jazz Collective coalesced homage-paying with legacy-building. Eight strong, this compilation of great artistry provided a riveting performance at UCLA’s Royce Hall Auditorium, honoring jazz giant Wayne Shorter. The audience received more than a show. An experience was delivered—via vibraphone, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass, drums, and piano.
The musical […]

Staying true to her word, singer, songwriter, and fashion entrepreneur Hanna Rochelle Schmieder (known by her fans as HANNA), “has always made it about the music.” The multitalented beauty captivated family and friends as she showcased collections from her successful clothing line Lyric Culture and sampled tracks from her new album “HANNA - Wound & […]

Pasadena Playhouse premieres “Mask” based on the Academy Award-winning 1985 film from the real-life story of Rocky Dennis. The debut musical at the Pasadena Playhouse stars Michelle Duffy as “Rusty”; TV and theater star Greg Evigan as “Gar”, Michael Lanning as “Dozer” and introduces Allen  E. Read as “Rocky.  Thespians replace the film’s star turns […]

If anyone has ever listened to A Prairie Home Companion, they will know that one of Garrison Keillor’s favorite topics is winter itself. His stories, set in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, frequently involve the brutal cold in which Keillor spent his formative years. Last Thursday, UCLAlive drew this heartland native to the perpetual summer of Los […]

Created by choreographer Dwight Rhoden and dancer Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet will perform two amazing programs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. LA’s the Place will giveaway two tickets to our readers for this exciting performance, which runs April 11-13th. The pair of tickets are for Opening Night performance on April 11th. Simply subscribe and your […]

Christopher Walken. The name alone conjures up the man’s unique speech pattern in the minds of anyone who has heard him speak. While nothing can truly compare to the real thing, listening to other people attempt to duplicate Mr. Walken’s vocal style is a close second. Paying tribute to the man, and those who love […]

Adapting previously performed material is always a challenge for a small theatre company, particularly when the work in question has achieved a high level of notoriety. In these cases the production must not only create an effective suspension of disbelief, but must also convince the audience to look with fresh eyes upon something that they […]

In October 2003, the doors opened to one of the world’s most celebrated venues - the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. The building has become a cultural landmark in Los Angeles as well as "a sensational place to hear music…In richness of sound, it has few rivals on the international scene, and in terms […]

Now is your chance to win tickets to see the American Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake. This romantic tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness offers breathtaking choreography, lavish costumes, visually spectacular sets and Tchaikovsky’s glorious score.
Ballet aficionados can also join Elizabeth Kaye, author of "American Ballet Theatre: A 25-Year Retrospective," for a […]

It’s 2008. But watching blonde bombshell Samantha Mollen croon in her sailor inspired dress at old school venue Hotel Cafe this past Monday night, it feels like 1972 at the underground Max’s Kansas City club where the beer was always warm, and the music was always hot. Can you dig it? A little known punk […]

UCLA Live is proud to announce its upcoming events for March – June 2008. As a producer and presenter, UCLA Live is internationally acclaimed for the quality of dance, music, theatre, spoken works and artists that it presents to Los Angeles every year.
UCLA Live at Royce Hall is located at 340 Royce Dr., Los […]

It’s the year 6000, and humans must contend with being less than desirable lovers compared to a world full of cat-walking supermodel sex-bots that can do it anytime, anywhere, and in any position. Unfortunately, they don’t want to do it with us. And there lies the rub, the temptation and the age-old question posed by […]

The Golden State is as compelling as it is relevant. It is a wonderful and refreshing rendering of the interior nature of a family strung out on stereotypes and practical reality. From the beginning of the play, one can connect with its happenings if they so choose, but The Golden State—though jovially—gets in your face, […]

Enjoy an evening of music and readings at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on December 13, 2008. LA Phil presents Baroque Variations: Christopher Columbus: Lost Paradises with featured artists including Hesperion XXI and Jordi Savall.
Savall, a master viola da gamba player, along with his ensemble artists of singers and instrumentalists […]

Hope springs eternal even if the well is…well, running dry. South African playwright Athol Fugard’s latest play “Victory” premiering at the Fountain Theatre reveals the tenuous emotions of resentment and bitterness that lie just beneath the surface of a post apartheid South Africa struggling to find its identity.
Post Apartheid Playwright With his latest play, […]

Appearing in Los Angeles for the first time since 1990, The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will be performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on January 29th & 30th at 8:00 p.m.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam is known around the world for it’s more than 1,000 recordings, featuring velvet strings, golden brass, and exceptional […]

What do you do when everything you believe in is blown to pieces? If you’re the main character in The Catholic Girl’s Guide to Losing Your Virginity, you go out and try to have sex with every man you meet. A comedy about a good Catholic girl trying to make up for lost time, the […]

The hit animated series that featured up-tempo educational songs and cartoon vignettes from 1973 to 1986 has made a comeback in this musical adaptation at the Greenway Court Theatre.
A perfect show for the entire family, kids will be thrilled to discover the magic of "Schoolhouse Rock" for the first time, and parents of early Gen […]

20 of the world’s best drummers will come together on January 19, 2008 for the legendary Groove All Stars Concert, presented by Yamaha Drums. The concert, which is always a hot ticket in town at the annual NAMM musical instrument industry convention, which takes place in Anaheim, is open to the public […]

Written and directed by Alexander Carver, Naked Yoga is a comedy about modern sexual politics. Based on some of Carver’s real life experiences, Naked Yoga focuses on a powerful woman’s effect on a weak man and how she changes him and everything around him.
Presented by the Unknown Theater Company, Naked Yoga’s cast includes Boomie Aglietti […]

BY Jill Blackford
Magic has gotten a makeover recently with the street magic of David Blaine and the mind-freak brand of Criss Angel sorcery. While Michael Gutenplan’s Extraordinary Deceptions show is tame in comparison (and more mind-reading than mind-bending), it’s great family entertainment.
Confetti greets the audience as Gutenplan runs in at the start of the hourlong […]

November 14th - Los Angeles, CA
She shakes out orange and rocks down hard She pump thrusts into the air She reaches out and beckons us  Three guitarists stand across and rock down in banged unison Transformer lights throb The music revs towards Caterpillar speakers can’t wiggle […]

Nuttier than a fruitcake, spicier than spiked eggnog, "Bob’s Holiday Office Party" is back and naughtier than ever.
Playing for a dozen years, this raunchy, uproarious absurdity set in the conservative Midwest has a cult following for those needing a break from the standard seasonal fare. Now a tradition in its own right, the play which […]

If the words "Idan Raichel Project" do not immediately set off a whirlwind of images in your mind full of culture, art, music, peace and feel good rhythms then you are missing out on the newest cultural art movement on the international pop scene.
Last Thursday night this group performed at Royce Hall at UCLA, as […]

For a person experiencing IAMX for the first time, it is an awakening into the beautiful world of dark fantasies. With front man Chris Corner, IAMX executed a short, but fierce performance last Saturday, November 3, at the El Rey Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard. They are on the North American leg of their tour for […]

The Latino Theater Company presents the play ‘Melancholia,’ at the NEW LA Theater Center as part of its International Festival of Theater and Dance. This abstract depiction of life after returning from the Iraq war zone brings reality to our doorstep. Very “Jacob’s Ladder” and “The Men,” this performance examines this topic from a Latino […]

Last night marked the end of "pinky swear," the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company’s (LACDC) first evening length dance theatre piece. Co-directed by Kate Hutter (Artistic Director) and Kevin Williamson (company member), this piece is a fusion of improvisation, dialogue and original choreography intended to mirror our daily routines, complete with the typical impromptu events […]

Forget about bringing a Thomas Guide along, "Lost Angeles" maneuvers through the back alleys of Gen Xers searching for love and ultimately finding it within themselves.  Like all well-traveled roads in L.A., there are obstacles, speed bumps, close calls, delays and detours for these lovers trying to make sense of it all.
But how can one […]

Considering the laundry list of hot female teachers preying on their male students, (Mary K. Letourneau, Debra Lafave, Pamela Diehl-Moore come to mind), "Mustang Sally" halfheartedly approaches the double standard with tepid results.
 
Male teachers and coaches are instantly labeled predators, molesters, sexual deviants and pedophiles by the media and community when they are caught with […]

Double Bass Productions and Mike Wittmers present a new artistic fusion of tap and rock proving that tap dance is no longer simply a nostalgic relic from the past or a hobby old Broadway fans.
Danced to the beats of rock classics such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, Stevie Rae Vaughn and many […]

Ten fine actors in “Roe Sham V. Wade” perform an hilarious hour of original comedy skits a la SNL, at the famous “Second City” in Los Angeles …

"This [play] does have a happy ending; they usually don’t," explains Odalys Nanin, director, playwright, and producer of her latest theatrical tour de force, Skin of Honey, a saucy story about forbidden love, set during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba.
In Castro’s Cuba, the presence of homosexuals is regarded as a "filth" that needs […]

Even if you’re not a fan of Dolly Parton, “Journey to Dollywood” is a trip worth taking.  Don’t let the title fool you.  This play is not a campy review of the buxom, blonde singer, but a delightful dramedy about courage and self-discovery.  Veteran playwright and actress Jessie McCormack’s heart warming play reveals that there […]

Sunday, October 7th,  marked yet another momentous and exceptional show by the infamous Steve Miller Band. After their LA concert Saturday night the band, along with Coming Home Media and Blue Rider Pictures, premiered their new film, Live from Chicago, at the Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It was followed by an after-party at Citizen […]

Looking for a weekend family activity that you can enjoy indoors in this muggy weather? Well, this fall, Storybook Theatre brings you its new musical version of the classic story “Cinderella". From the first minute, this musical is full of fun and laughter. For proof, you had just had to look at the animated faces […]

Combining their love for theatre and music, Ty Taylor (Rockstar: INXS), Jason Wooten (The Rocky Horror Show Live!) and Douglas Crawford (Jersey Boys) wrote a rock musical of their own.  The result of this collaboration is The Existents, the story of a fictitious rock band’s trials and tribulations, a la VH-1’s Behind the Music. On […]

Judy Rose, Director  Gary Flaxman, Writer  2 hours
Is it Jim? Some people say Jim Morrison is still alive. Well, this is definitely true at the art/works Theater right now. Jim died with some unresolved issues to put it mildly, and one final time Flaxman seeks to resolve them not only for himself, but […]

The Ahmanson Theatre is preparing to put up "The History Boys" beginning November 14th.  As a Mark Taper Forum subscription production, the Tony Award winning play will present previews on November 7th and will run through December 9th.
"The History Boys" presents opposing views of life and education as it follows eight bright, funny, history students […]

Subtitled, "A Sort of Romantic comedy," playwright Alan Zweibel pays tribute to an old friend who likes to take things "slowly."  Spanning fourteen years from their first SNL staff meeting where Gilda Radner found Zweibel quaking behind a potted tree, the play sort of steals your heart, sort of makes one laugh and in the […]

Ellen Fairey(writer) and Matthew Miller’s(director) full length play, recently transferred to Hollywood’s Hudson Theatre from Chicago’s Serendipity Theatre Collective is not to be missed. Girl, 20 brings to the entertainment scene what has been lacking for so long: an up-close-and personal look at the inner psyche of the modern college student: all honesty and finally […]

by Meagan Jackson 
On Thursday October 4th, Disney took the already spectacular "High School Musical" to the ice, as Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour opened at the Staples Center, taking the ice at 7:30PM.
Tickets for the U.S. tour went on sale Monday, April 2nd, and the LA premier brought a packed house of […]

In a time where sub-prime loans and creative financing have led to the highest rate of foreclosures in the past 20 years, it’s nice to see David Mamet’s slick and sleazy real estate agents on the boards again.  These guys are just trying to make a buck, and that’s what makes these pithy characters so […]

Magic is all about illusion.?Part of that illusion is dependent on how each magician presents himself.?Aside from performing tricks that will amaze their audience, each magician must also develop a rapport that keeps people interested and even slightly distracted.?
The weekend of September 28th, George Tovar and seven other area magicians captivated audiences by their […]

IAMX–the name itself rolls off the tongue like an entwined love affair, too breathtaking for the ordinary person.  And like the name, Chris Corner of IAMX entangles his audience in a sort of sexuality barely containable on one auditory CD.
Which is why, with more to offer, IAMX’s second album, The Alternative, is an epicurean charge […]

The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in Hollywood threw a very unique CD release party to celebrate the “Comedy Death Ray” CD (Comedy Central Records). Comedy Death-Ray is the brainchild of creators/performers BJ Porter (Mr. Show) and Scott Aukerman (The Fun Bunch) which originated in 2002. It is a unique mix of stand-up comedy, characters & […]

Reviving the comedy that set box office records at the Falcon Theatre in 2001, this night was particularly special as it included celebrations for the playwright?s recent 87th birthday. Sitting near the front of the stage for the performance, Bradbury seemed utterly delighted to be in the house to champion his actors? first night…Read more in Arts and Culture

The Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles will host a benefit performance of CHESS on September 17, 2007.  The Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus musical, produced by Brian Michael Purcell will be performed at the outdoor venue to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. (Two more dancers are still being sought as of […]

The Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood will be home to “An Evening of Independence: A Celebration of Singers, Songwriters and Music” on August 26th.  Organized by Koffeehouse Music Productions, this charity event, featuring up and coming indie artists, many of whom were found on MySpace, will benefit the Guitar Center Music Foundation.
The all-ages festival will begin […]

by Susie Salva
80’s rock is alive and thriving as Poison and Ratt perform at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City. Many music critics wrote Poison off as a flash-in-the-pan, but they have proven themselves with staying power existing for 21 years. Who knew? They had the last laugh.
?
Over the thundering amplifier AC/DC’s "Highway the Hell" blasted […]

Booming from the stage of Springboard Theater?s production of Beautiful Souls is an Aussie story of human consequences that emerge from attempting to smuggle drugs while backpacking in Thailand…read more in Arts and Culture

The Ojai Playwrights Conference, held just north of Los Angeles, commemorates its 10th year of presenting new plays by continuing to spotlight the country’s most promising literary talents with public readings and performances. For its 10th anniversary, the Ojai Playwrights Conference will host favorite returning playwrights, as well as introduce rising new artists of American […]

Lisa Temple has serious issues with her mother. In order to work through her past and finally forgive the woman who gave her life, Lisa, with the help of her husband, has put together a one-woman show detailing the pain of her formative years.  My Mother’s Yard is one woman’s attempt to gain closure on […]

By Susie Salva 

Los Angeles, Gibson Amphitheater - A video projection screen drops down center displaying a video montage of Australian native rocker Rick Springfield during his early days up until present. The video included his stint as a Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital and a cartoon version of Springfield as the crowd gave […]

In the heart of Beverly Hills lies Aqua Lounge, a place where the food, drink and music flow all night long.  From an intimate dining experience to special musical events, Aqua Lounge has it all.

The 60 seat upscale restaurant offers a "Creative World Cuisine" which is comprised of international ingredients used in new and adventurous ways. […]

William Shakespeare himself could not have picked a finer ensemble for his classic, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” featuring Michael Matthys (Valentine), Brad Wilcox (Proteus), Summer Sinclair (Julia), and Annunziata Gianzero (Silvia) from Classical Theater Lab. In conjunction with the city of West Hollywood, this will hopefully be the first production of future annual Shakespeare […]

This 1950s script is from a time when ours was a society that took itself a bit too seriously, but its humor transcends the decades.  Today’s audience is now unfazed by what was once taboo — and the homosexual references and “questionable Freudian theories” that once kept “Bad Seed” banned from Broadway just make it […]

Symbolism in dance can often get lost in the very movements created to express it. Ptero Dance Theatre’s newest performance, including “The Frame of Mind” with two other pieces, instead resonates its statements with a graceful precision.
Five dancers in matching puritanical dresses with white, schoolmarm collars open the three-part, hourlong performance with the […]

The 80’s rock band Motley Crue is legendary for their hard partying past.  If you’ve read their autobiography, The Dirt or seen their Vh-1 Behind the Music, you’re familiar with their outrageous story.  But now comes The Heroin Diaries, a raw and unflinching look into Crue bassist Nikki Sixx’s devastating drug addiction.  Previewing his book […]

Avenue Q”, the Tony Award® -winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book in 2004, hits Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre this September. This hilarious show is full of heart and hummable tunes.  It tells the story of Princeton, an optimistic college grad, who comes to New York with big dreams and little […]

Like it or not, part of every parent’s job is to screw up their kids. No matter how well intentioned a parental figure is, they will undoubtedly affect how their children function in the world.  It’s this unfortunate fact of life that authors Fiona Hogan and Courtney Kramer have put to music in Mental, playing […]

In the early morning hours of Monday, July 9th members of the media along with a select group of radio contest winners were treated to an intimate performance by Adam Levine and Moroon 5 at the House of Blues on Sunset.  They sang hits from their album “Songs About Jane”, such as “This Love” and […]

It isn’t just that ballet, sleeping for 100 years, and finding the man of your dreams, the things not synonymous with California, can have West Coast balletomanes rustling in their imaginary tutus, pointing their feet and pirouetting into the Orange County Performing Arts Center to snap up seats to an all-new production of a well-known […]

Paul Mazursky’s witty production of Michael Elias’ play, “The Catskill Sonata” allows its audience to take a journey back to the year 1957 and to the Mountainview Hotel in the Catskill Mountains. In the play, the Rosen’s Mountainview Hotel serves as a place for performing artists to share their art.

The audience is immediately introduced […]

“So You Think You Can Dance” is one of the summer’s hit TV shows. Well into its third season the show is doing better than ever; last week over 5 million people caste their vote for their favorite contestants. The show which pairs up dancers to perform a new style each week has been a […]

For one weekend only, magician George Tovar will perform at the Theatre West near Universal City.  Participating in the eighth and final annual presentation of the Millennium Magic show, Tovar will be joined on stage by a revolving cast of the area’s finest magicians.  Nominated as Magician of the Year in 2005 by the Academy […]

The Hotel Café on Cahuenga has earned a reputation over the past few years as a cozy little venue where one can check out top-notch musical talent in an intimate setting any night of the week. Many well-known artists have stopped through here on their way to stardom (John Mayer, Imogen Heap, and Rufus Wainwright, […]

You’ve seen them on T.V., now catch them on stage, as several of your favorite small screen personalities join forces for charity.  Assisting the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) in hosting the Concert for a Cause, James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Greg Grunberg (Heroes), Bob Guiney (The Bachelor), Hugh Laurie (House) and Bonnie Somerville (Kitchen Confidential) are […]

Everyone loves a high school reunion, especially when it’s not your own! Now you can enjoy all the mischief and drama of a high school reunion from the comfort-zone of your own theater seat as Aqua Lounge presents Classless Reunion Live. The alum of fictional Macky High School takes class reunion to a whole […]

Very often in the world of theatre low budget can be mistaken for true art, something about the closeness of the magic to the audience without all the glitz and glamour of a cast of thousands. However, there is never an instance where true art is confused with something that is just low budget. “Burn […]

Los Angeles is truly becoming a cultural and performing arts epicenter and at UCLA Live you can see that change taking place. The UCLA Live 2007-2008 Season offers a wide variety of cultural programs that include theatre, dance, classical music, world music, jazz, roots and pop music, spoken word, and family oriented material. Each of […]

Showcasing many of today’s most innovative and boundary-breaking companies, UCLA Live’s 2007/2008 Dance Series includes a mix of exemplary contemporary troupes and a selection of vital performers in world music and dance. From October 2007 into May 2008, these diverse presentations will showcase dancers and choreographers spanning the globe from Germany, Vietnam, Belgium, Bali, New […]

UCLA Live presents as part of its 2007/08 season a fresh slate of bold and prestigious classical concerts that bring a supreme cross section of the world’s finest musicians to the acoustically excellent Royce Hall. Director, David Sefton believes that UCLA Live’s 2007-2008 Classical Music Series is the finest recital series in Los Angeles, without […]

UCLA Live’s Program Series includes special family-friendly events for all ages. The 2007/08 Series will present award-winning family entertainment.  UCLA Live’s Design for Sharing Family Series is named for its acclaimed outreach program, Design for Sharing, one of the largest, most accomplished university-based outreach organizations in the country. Intended for children and their families to […]

World Music and Dance are combined at UCLA Live.  In an unparalleled 07/08 World Music Series, UCLA Live features a West Coast premiere and a concert exclusive, plus a special World Music and Dance Series, presenting two highly anticipated U.S. premieres. Showcasing global superstars and cultural ambassadors of music and dance from the streets to […]

Looking to hear an incomparable mix of folk, rock and blues?  Be sure to attend the UCLA Live 2007/08 Roots Series as legends of the genre perform in an outstanding combination of rare appearances and reunion concerts. Showcasing five decades of socially-conscious singer-songwriters and pioneering music icons, the series features one of the world’s most […]

UCLA Live continues to present daring and provocative work through its 2007/08 season including the Sixth International Theatre Festival. UCLA Live will once again show groundbreaking productions from around the globe, the upcoming festival features a U.S. premiere, two U.S. company debuts, multiple West Coast premieres and exclusive engagements from theaters based in Scotland, The […]

UCLA Live is proud to present the words and wisdom of today’s most influential literary figures and cultural pundits through its 07/08 Spoken Word Series.  This stunning season offers a wide-ranging roster of exclusive pairings and rare engagements including three Pulitzer Prize winners, top political journalists, the nation’s number one selling poet and the best-known […]

Hundreds of bands work the Sunset Strip each week, but only once in a blue moon do you find an undiscovered gem that refreshingly turns out to be just as exciting as the headlining act. On June 6, the Key Club in Hollywood welcomed a new find, an artist named Antonio Pontarelli, who was on the […]

Jamie Lee Curtis hosted the fifth annual What A Pair! Event at the Orpheum Theatre on June 3, 2007.  Benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John’s Health Center, a various selection of women spanning all fields of the entertainment business paired off to perform songs from top Broadway musicals. […]

When the Catalina Bar & Grill Jazz Club clubs slogan reads “Nothing but the best in Jazz", that is Jane Monheit. Playing to a packed club on Saturday June 9, Monheit sang both arrangements from the beginning of her young career as well recordings from her newest album “Surrender.” The atmosphere was a like […]

Jazz fans have a brand new season of exciting performances to look forward to, as UCLA Live has released their 2007-2008 line up. Jazz aficionados will be treated to a mix of small ensembles, larger collectives and orchestras while enjoying the smooth sounds at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.
At the top of the list […]

One of the main numbers of the first act in the new Derek Taylor Kent musical “King Kalimari” is called a “A New Kind of Show,” and for the small musical, that could certainly be considered it’s theme as well. "King Kalimari." which uses a mixes media presentation of slides and normal props, is the […]

In his first full length play in ten years, playwright David Henry Hwang combines autobiographical truth with fiction in the Center Theatre Group’s production of “Yellow Face” at the Mark Taper Forum. The piece serves as one of Hwang’s most vulnerable works as it grapples with his professional and personal struggles as well as the social […]

Feet move like paintbrushes gliding, stroking the floor like a canvas. An electric violin screeches and a tribal drumbeat accompanies it. The music rings out over the dancers dressed in full blue unitards lit under blue lights. It is the first meeting between all these elements, intertwining live, creating something new from independent entities.
This is […]

The green carpet was rolled out on the evening of May 21st when the Los Angeles Cast of “Wicked” held a star-studded benefit gala at Club Façade-Hollywood supporting The American Cancer Society.  The club’s atmosphere was touched by hints of green; after all it was a “Wicked” affair.   Cast members including Eden Espinosa, who plays […]

In the midst of overhauling their theatre, the Mark Taper Forum announces their 41st season.  Beginning in November, audiences can expect to enjoy both American classics and British hits while appreciating their new surroundings in the renovated theatre. 
The 2007-2008 season of The Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center was […]

Dance, Cabaret, Jazz or Broadway, whatever your preference, the Orange County Performing Arts Center has it all. Unveiling their 2007-2008 season lineup, The Center offers a diverse series that utilizes the Center in Segerstrom Hall, the new Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the Samueli Theatre. With such eclectic and entertaining performances this is […]

“We’ve got a lot to do tonight,” Will Shortz said as he strolled onto the stage of UCLA’s Royce Hall Wednesday night. He spoke with an unassuming presence he would maintain throughout the evening, as if it didn’t make much difference whether there were hundreds of people in the audience (which there were) or a […]

An elite group of Southern California high school students were honored at the Music Center Spotlight Awards on April 14. Held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Music Center of Los Angeles County awarded 12 performing artists and 14 visual artists with cash scholarships with top awards of $6,000 going to the winner and $3,000 […]

With three world premieres, and six new plays in all, the Center Theater Group has exciting plans to titillate audiences in their 2007-2008 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.? From September 2007 through July 2008, CTG will showcase a wide-range of work, from the best of off-Broadway and international fare to hip […]

A twist on the old classic, the world premiere of the musical, "Sleeping Beauty Wakes" has extended it’s run at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.  Presented by the Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre, this entertaining musical incorporating both deaf and hearing actors will now run through May 20th. Through signing as […]

There are works of literature in the American canon that over the years have achieved a certain iconic status. These works are as different as sibling children; though distinct in myriad ways, they each carry a common element that binds them - the power to pierce the public consciousness like a syringe through epidermis and […]

The Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre is the next stop for Reginald Rose’s national tour of the classic play "Twelve Angry Men."  Running from March 28 through May 6, this version boasts Richard Thomas and George Wendt in starring roles.

Directed by Scott Ellis, this acclaimed Roundabout Theatre production received Tony nominations for Best Revival and Best […]

It’s Saturday night.  You’re sick of the bar scene, you’ve seen everything that’s out at the theatres and you’ve only got ten bucks in your pocket. What to do? Well, one idea is to check out some improv at The Complex in Hollywood.
If you’ve ever watched the show, “Whose Line is it Anyway?” you’ll […]

Starting September 29th, Disney takes the already spectacular “High School Musical” on ice, as Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour will premiere, according to Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical Productions, and Kenneth Field, chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment.
Tickets for the U.S. tour went on sale Monday, April 2nd.
The ice tour will […]

The VetStage Foundation, along with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, present the world premiere of Los Angeles playwright/actor Sean Huze’s “The Wolf”. Directed by Rick Pagano, the six week limited engagement of this timely drama begins Saturday, March 24 at the ART/WORKS Performance Space in Hollywood.
“The Wolf” deals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder […]

Whether driving on a road trip or flying overseas, travel is something just about everyone can relate to. Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know is a musical that is sure to strike a cord with even the most inexperienced of jetsetters.
Based on Fodor’s best-selling book, this off-Broadway musical lambasts everything from rental cars to cruise […]

The human head is believed to remain in a state of consciousness for one and a half minutes after decapitation.  Using this as a jumping off point, Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Olen Butler wrote Severance: Stories, in which he imagines the thoughts running through 62 minds (both real and fictional) immediately after losing their […]

The Tony Award-Winning Best Musical, “Jersey Boys” is gearing up for an 11 week run at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center.  With tickets going on sale to the general public Sunday, March 11 at 10am, performances will begin May 25, 2007 and play through August 5, 2007.  
“Jersey Boys” is the […]

The 2007-2008 season at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, which was announced today by CTG’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, will be a yearlong celebration of the best in musical theatre. Center Theatre Group continues to present some of the finest theatre in America in its 41st season at the […]

Expertly crafted, though just as expertly inconspicuous, a nugget of wisdom hovers high above the auditorium seats proclaiming "Education is learning to use the tools which the race has found indispensable." Applying this to a musical context, a 70’s song-writer by the name of Nick Drake has emerged within the last twenty years to be […]

“El amor es ciego – pero la matrimonia devuelve la vista.”
This Spanish proverb, translated loosely as “Love is blind – but marriage restores one’s vision” has perhaps never been more aptly illustrated than in the dysfunctional union of George and Martha, the main characters in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The latest revival […]

If Los Angeles truly is the intersection where fantasy meets reality, then Feeding the Monkey in Hollywood, a new play from writer/actor Theresa Burkhart, is an out-of-control 1984 white Cabriolet convertible that comes careening through the red light, sideswipes two cars, nearly rolls over as it skids on two wheels, and then just barely misses […]

Last night I found myself at Hollywood’s Roxy music venue listening to the sweet whispery sounds of singer songwriter Shane Alexander, who many in the music industry believe is on the brink of stardom. His Jeff Buckley-esque quality and relaxed stage presence drew the eagerly awaiting crowd into his soulful and seemingly effortless set. […]

Who knew that when poet Naomi Wallace put pen to paper to write the 1994 play “In the Heart of America” it would be so appropriate in the political landscape today, thirteen years later?
“In the Heart of America”, playing at the Knightsbridge Theatre, is a relevant and thought provoking piece of art directed by Jamil […]

Celebrate the end of Mark Taper Forum’s 40th season with the world premiere of “Yellow Face”, a biting and funny new play about race and identity in America by Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang.  The wild satire places Hwang in the midst of the familial politics and international intrigue that erupt after a white actor […]

Set amidst the backdrop of New York City’s gentrification in the 90’s, In Arabia We’d All Be Kings offers a bleak look into the lives of those being displaced.  Originally written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by David Fofi for the Elephant Theatre Company, Kings centers around one bar in Hell’s Kitchen where a […]

Let’s get one thing straight– the Pretty Boys are girls. Girls with rad hairdos, ghetto couture wardrobes and powerful vocal cords. 
Glamour Magazine and Nissan North America partnered up to promote woman in male-dominated entertainment fields with their short film series Glamour Reel Moments.  Their latest new spin-off from that endeavor, Glamour Reel Music, creates […]

Join hosts Mickey and Minnie Mouse in this original adventure that reveals what happens when everyone’s favorite Super Family, the Incredibles, takes a fun-filled family vacation to Disneyland. In an original story that picks up right where the Disney/Pixar movie, The Incredibles, leaves off, Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland Adventure invites audiences to relive […]

Burlesque culture began in Vaudeville, Paris, in the 1800’s and spread throughout Europe. A British showgirl, by the name of Lydia Thompson, was one of the first to bring??her troupe of blonde beauties to New York and started a trend that reached it?s ?Golden Age? from the 1930?s through the ?60?s.??As laws eased up in […]

Beginning February 9, 2007, the smash Broadway musical Wicked, will be laying roots at the Pantages Theatre.  In celebration, Universal City Walk celebrated with a day of Wicked fun on Oct. 30, 2006.
Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, author Winnie Holzman and producers Marc Platt and David Stone were on hand for a Wicked costume contest, face painting, […]

Thursday night, a near-packed crowd bought tickets, paid for parking, and fought claustrophobia-inducing LA traffic to watch six people tell stories. And it was worth it. Meet The Moth: a non-profit New York City storytelling collective that meets every other week to compete for the honor of ‘best story’. A select group of mostly high-profile […]

Eleven years ago, four graduates of a Theater Arts program embarked on a journey to introduce Los Angeles to ?quality original theater.? Michael Vaez, Jimmie D. Hudson, Matthew Jones and David Fofi reconstructed the former Pabst Blue Ribbon brewery, located in Downtown just off Main Street, turning it into a 45 seat theater which doubled […]

At the press conference, Jeremy McGrath spoke on the upcoming “Jeremy McGrath Invitational”. “We’re excited about this event, it’s been a long time in the making” said Jeremy. It’s been an idea of mine since I was a little kid, some type of a big track, a litte bit unique”.
I’d say unique. Taking place October […]

Many of the worlds foremost theater troupes claim to be the most original, the most talented, the most organized. Many claim to have the top actors, the best shows and the biggest theaters. One would think that with so much money to be made in the theater industry, the biggest of these braggers would automatically […]