South Bay events: arts and entertainment calendar 9/11 – 9/17
thursday 11th
MUSIC
Beach funk: Alligator Beach is Nawlin’s funk, or what they call “New Orleans meets Los Angeles.” They’ll take the Meters, the Neville Brothers and mix it up with Maceo Parker and a nice dose of Aretha. They bring a crowd wherever they go and cater well to us beach folk. Sax player Jimmy Z, who has played with Etta James, Rod Stewart and the Eurythmics, joins the band Thursday. Get ready to shake it. Alligator Beach plays Saint Rocke at 8p.m. Doors open at 5p.m. and tickets are $10. For more information, visit saintrocke.com.
friday 12th
FILM
Modern Times: The premise is this: Chaplin’s iconic “Tramp” character struggles to survive in the modern, industrialized world with the help of a young homeless woman, played by Paulette Goddard. Chaplin wrote and directed the 1933 film, refusing to make a talkie during a time when silent films were seen as an obsolete commodity rather than a valuable art form. “Modern Times” is considered an archetypical piece in Chaplin’s body of work and an early example of his ability to politicize silent film. “Modern Times” screens at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo at 8p.m. on Friday with additional shows on Saturday and Sunday Before the film, there is an old-fashioned audience sing-along and a short silent comedy accompanied by the pipe organ. For more information, visit OldTownMusicHall.org.
ART
Eat your art: The Graff-EAT-i series is based on the El Segundo Museum of Art’s experience SCRATCH, which explores relationships between 16th century manuscripts from the Getty Research Institute’s collection of rare books and art from some L.A.’s most influential contemporary graffiti and tattoo artists. Maite Gomez-Rejon created the Graff-EAT-i series with her group ArtBites, dubbed “cooking art history.” On Friday, Gomez-Rejon will give an informal tour of the SCRATCH show while weaving in the history of street food and how it connects to the exhibit. Participants will then split up into smaller groups to prepare a feast. Friday’s menu will include corn tortillas from scratch, beef fajitas, grilled corn, vegetable kebabs, kimchi (a quick and easy version), green tea ice cream sandwiches and an agua fresca. The evening ends with dinner in the exhibition space with plenty of beer and prosecco, too. Gomez-Rejon wants you to taste art. And it looks delicious. Graff-EAT-i at ESMoA is at 6:30. Admission is $95 for the tour, dinner and beverages, payable to ArtBites. Tickets are going fast. For more information, visit artbites.net or esmoa.org.
saturday 13th
THEATER
Opening weekend: “Run For Your Wife,” billed as a “zany, slapstick comedy, full of character mischief, physical mishaps and mistaken identities,” opens Friday at the Torrance Theater Company. The intimate 48-seat venue hosts the show with producer Gia Inferrera, director Gary Robbins and writer Ray Cooney at the helm. “Run For Your Wife,” presented in partnership with Samuel French, Inc., runs September 13 through October 12 with 8 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday nights and 2 p.m. shows on Sunday. Tickets are $25. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit torrancetheatrecompany.com
IMPROV
Who’s line?- Two improvisational comedy troupes, Jump Start, and The Academy, improvise funny scenes using audience suggestions, much like the TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Tickets are $10, under age 12 $5. Show starts at 8 p.m. 2nd Story Theatre, 710 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach (2nd floor of the Community Center, corner of Pier and Pacific Coast Highway). For more info visit JumpStartImprov.com
ART
Transforming Feminisms: A group show that explores various perspectives on feminism (violence, reproductive rights, economic fairness), opens Saturday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at South Bay Contemporary. South Bay Contemporary, 550 Deep Valley Dr., #261, Rolling Hills Estates. The show runs through October 25 with an artists’ talk on Saturday, October 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information call (310) 429-0973 or visitsouthbaycontemporary.com.
sunday 14th
MUSIC
Classical in the park: At the Norris Center on Sunday, Los Angeles-based pianist Timothy Durkovic collaborates with some of world’s finest instrumentalists and vocalists including famed violinist Martin Chalifour. The show is part of the “Second Sundays at Two” series presented by the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church. The sanctuary’s acoustics are among the finest in Southern California and its setting next to the South Coast Botanic Garden makes the concert experience unique. Second Sundays at Two begins promptly at 2 p.m. at the Norris Center, 27570 Norris Center Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. The concert is free but generous at-the-door contributions, which are given fully to the artists, are encouraged to help the series continue. For more information, visit rhumc.org.
Jazz Sunday: The South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of live Dixieland and traditional jazz, meets on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Knights of Columbus. The feature band will be trumpeter Barry Anthony’s “New Orleans Wailers,” and visiting musicians are invited to play in additional sets throughout the afternoon. Dancers are also encouraged to attend. Admission for members is $7, and for non-members is $9. Visitors and new members are cordially invited; Visiting musicians who come to play are admitted free. South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club at the Knights of Columbus, 214 Avenue I, Redondo Beach. For more information, call (310) 376-2591.
monday 15th
COMEDY
Carter’s comedy at Pancho’s: Have you been to Pancho’s in Manhattan Beach on a Monday night? It’s almost confusing. It’s a Monday night in the sleepy beach cities, and the bar is filled to capacity. And the crowd isn’t just local service industry folks enjoying their version of a weekend – though they are a happy and welcome contingency. There’s a slew of comedy up-and comers and veterans, alike, who come out to perform, support and laugh their asses off. Danno Carter, 30-year old Manhattan Beach resident and east coast native, started the show in March 2013. It was bi-weekly at first but, because of its popularity and growing cache, the show has become a weekly event. Carter is a comedic up-and-comer, himself – he just got back from three gigs in New York including one at the Friar’s Club – and he hosts, curates and kills it every Monday night. The format changes but typically includes eight comics. “I try to do one newbie, two real veterans and everyone else is up-and-comers,” Carter said in a recent interview. “We’ll have at least three to four who have been on Comedy Central or a late-night show.” It’s not unusual to watch a set by a comic on Monday at Pancho’s and then hear the same bit on Conan that Thursday. For comics, Carter says, “it’s our band practice…we need an audience.” Comedy Night starts at 9 p.m. on Mondays at Pancho’s Restaurant, 3615 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach. Admission is free.
