Hotdogging 5/01/14-5/06/14
Well, it’s out of the bag now: They really do seem to fly in the Mira Costa High School Drama Department’s production of “Peter Pan,” soaring on Thursday at 6:30, Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. See it in the MCHS Auditorium at 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Tickets, $18 general; $15 students, seniors. Info: miracostadramaboosters.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY SENA
Thursday 1st
THEATER
“Peter Pan”: Actors appear to fly in this production by the Mira Costa High School Drama Department, playing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, plus 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, in the MCHS Auditorium, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Tickets, $18 general; $15 students, seniors. At the box office or online at miracostadramaboosters.org.
WINE TIME
“Wine 101: The Fundamentals of Wine Tasting”: We can learn to identify key components in wine, how to score wine, the correct temperatures to serve wine, and how to determine what’s the tastiest wine for our palate. The $20 class goes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Total Wine & More, 1505 Hawthorne Blvd., South Bay Marketplace, Redondo Beach. (310) 542-1460.
Dennis Hattem comforts Mary-Margaret Lewis in “The Gin Game,” by D.L. Coburn, directed by Danielle Ozymandias. Showtime is Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through May 24, plus Sunday, May 11, at 2 p.m. See it at Little Fish Theatre, 777 S. Centre St., San Pedro. Info: (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICKEY ELLIOT
ART
“Silk Road Impressions”: Inspired by the recent “Silk Road” exhibit at LACMA, subjects include scenes from various areas along the ancient trade routes, specifically acrylic collage paintings by Eve Pericich plus photography by Gayle Goodrich and Ko-Wei Liu. Reception Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. in Le Grand Salon, in the Arcade Building at 479 Sixth St., San Pedro. Info: (310) 833-3690.
Friday 2nd
THEATER
“Arsenic & Old Lace”: The killer comedy by Joseph Kesselring plays two more three weekends at the Second Story Theatre, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Presented by Surf City Theatre, the performances are Saturday, 5/3, and 5/10 at 8 p.m.; Friday, 5/2, at 8 p.m., plus Sunday, 5/4, and 5/11 at 2 p.m. Tickets, $25. Info: (424) 241-8040.
“Cabaret:” Kander and Ebbs’s Tony Award-winning musical is onstage in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Performances at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, plus 3 p.m. on Sunday. Closes May 4. Tickets, $25 general; $18 children under 18 – but not recommended for children. (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.
Ethel Merman and Eddie Cantor (no, Eddie’s not the horse) star in “Strike Me Pink” (1936), screening Friday and Saturday at 8:15 plus Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OLD TOWN MUSIC HALL
“Drowsy Chaperone”: A funny and somewhat bittersweet tale about an old timer in his New York apartment reliving the glory days of old musicals – and they come to live before his eyes (and ours). It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through May 11 at the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Stars Larry Raben as the Man in the Chair. Tickets, $45. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to norriscenter.com.
“Aladdin”: The Miraleste Booster Club presents Disney’s musical at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, plus 2 p.m. Saturday, at Miraleste Intermediate School, 29323 Palos Verdes Dr. E., Rancho Palos Verdes. Directed by Paula Dawson, with musical direction by Blake Dylan Pilger and choreography by Mira Kalmey. For tickets, also available at the door, call (310) 344-4501 or contact aladdintkts@yahoo.com.
MUSIC
Pianist Steven Vanhauwaert and violinist Guillaume Sutre: This dynamic duo performs at 12:15 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Torrance, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. A complimentary reception follows. Free; donations appreciated. Info: (310) 316-5574.
“The Live Art Series” takes place on successive Saturdays through May 24, and there will be a live demonstration by a different artist each week from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Frame & Art Dept., 950 Aviation Blvd., Suite D, Hermosa Beach. This Saturday Pat Woolley is featured (other artists currently scheduled in the weeks ahead include Sandra Chu (5/10), Cie Gumucio (5/17), and Val Simon (5/24). The work will then be on view in the gallery. Pictured, Gloria Lee, on the left, and Pat Woolley on the right in their San Pedro studio. Curated by Gloria Plascencia. (310) 675-4200.
COURTESY OF PAT WOOLLEY
A CAPPELLA
“Hillbilly Hullabaloo & Musical Revue”: L.A. South Towns Show Chorus is presenting an all-women a cappella singing event at 7:30 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $27.50. Info: (310) 781-7171.
FILM
“Strike Me Pink”: Eddie Cantor and Ethel Merman star in the 1936 film about an amusement park employee forced to defend himself against a gang of hoodlums. It screens at 8:15 on Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. Info: (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
“For No Good Reason”: Johnny Depp pays a call on his friend and hero Ralph Steadman, the last of the original Gonzo visionaries, known for his work with “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas” writer Hunter S. Thompson. Directed by Charlie Paul. Plays for one week at the Nuart, 11272 Santa Monica Blvd., W. Los Angeles. Info: (310) 473-8530 or go to LandmarkTheatres.com.
Saturday 3rd
ART
“The Live Art Series”: On successive Saturdays, through May 24, there will be a live demonstration by a different artist each week from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Frame & Art Dept., 950 Aviation Blvd., Suite D, Hermosa Beach. This Saturday Pat Woolley will be featured (other artists currently scheduled include Sandra Chu (5/10), Cie Gumucio (5/17), and Val Simon (5/24). The work will then be on view in the gallery. Curated by Gloria Plascencia. (310) 675-4200.
“EGO’s 11” is just that, the 11th group show at EGO Fine Art, 604 N. Francisca Ave., Redondo Beach. It’s up through May 10, with gallery hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Pictured,”Der Gross Verlust” (The Great Lust), by Michael Chomick, which pays homage to all artists, whether well-known or obscure, for believing in their creative spirit. Info: (424) 206-3756.
“The Fifth Annual Members Show of the Pastel Society of Southern California”: The opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Creative Arts Center, 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., M.B. There’s a pastel demo on Sat., May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Through May 16. Info: pastelsocal.com.
The South Bay Museum and Gallery Art Crawl: Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at The Torrance Art Museum, South Bay Contemporary/Zask Gallery, the Art Gallery at El Camino College, Summer Studios Art Academy, the Palos Verdes Art Center, the Artists’ Studio Gallery, APC Fine Arts and Graphics Gallery, and the California Museum of Fine Art. Free. Maps at each venue or by contacting the Torrance Art Museum at (310) 618-2376 or by going to torranceartmuseum.com.
CHORAL MUSIC
“The Whole World is Singing”: Well, that explains why you can’t sleep, right? The Torrance Civic Chorale performs songs from Africa, China, England, Israel, Italy, America, you name it, at 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $16.50. Info: (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancecivicchorale.org.
The South Bay Museum and Gallery Art Crawl takes place on Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at several area art venues: The Torrance Art Museum, South Bay Contemporary/Zask Gallery, the Art Gallery at El Camino College, Summer Studios Art Academy, the Palos Verdes Art Center, the Artists’ Studio Gallery, APC Fine Arts and Graphics Gallery, and the California Museum of Fine Art (the latter includes work by Dan McCaw, such as “Midnight Moon,” shown here). Free. Maps at each venue or by contacting the Torrance Art Museum at (310) 618-2376 or by going to torranceartmuseum.com.
PHOTO COURTESY THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM OF FINE ART
FILM
“The Haumãna”: Keo Woolford’s film focuses on Jonny Kealoha, host of the struggling Waikiki Polynesian luau show. Jonny discovers the sanctity of the culture he had previously abandoned. It screens at 7 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $10 now or $15 at the door. Info: (310) 548-2493 or go to grandvision.org.
MUSIC
Violinist YuEun Kim: The PV Library District’s “Classical Music Series” continues at 2 p.m. at the Malaga Cove Library. Info: pvld.org.
Sunday 4th
MUSIC
Dylanfest: Presented by Andy & Renee and their band Hard Rain, this is the 24th incarnation of the all day – from 12:30 to 8 p.m. – event, taking place at the Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Over 50 musicians will perform about 65 Bob Dylan-composed songs throughout the day – with no repeats. Plenty of Dyland-related merchandise on hand as well. Tickets, $30 online and $35 at the gate. Children under 14 pay just $10, and VIP tickets are available for $100. Info: (310) 346-9383 or go to andyandrenee.com.
The Phil Norman Tentet: This accomplished and notable jazz group performs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lighthouse Cafe, 30 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Cover, $10. Info: (310) 376-9833.
Korean American Music Academy: The school’s 24th annual concert takes place at 6:30 p.m.in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Free. Info: (310) 781-7171.
OPERA
“An American Soldier’s Tale” and “A Fiddler’s Tale”: Presented by Long Beach Opera, these two intimate works, the former with music by Stravinsky (1918) and a libretto by Vonnegut (1993), and the latter with music and a libretto by Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Crouch (1998), is performed at 7 p.m. in the Center Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. A second performance is set for Sat., May 10, at 2 p.m. A pre-opera talk occurs an hour before each show. Tickets, $29 to $160. Info: (562) 432-5934 or go to longbeachopera.org/tickets.
Long Beach Opera presents “An American Soldier’s Tale” (Stravinsky and Vonnegut) and “A Fiddler’s Tale” (Marsalis and Crouch) at 7 p.m. on Sunday in the Center Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. A second performance is set for Sat., May 10, at 2 p.m. A pre-opera talk occurs an hour before each show. Tickets, $29 to $160. Info: (562) 432-5934 or go to longbeachopera.org/tickets.
ARTWORK BY CLIVE HICKS-JENKINS
FILM
“Searching for Sugar Man”: As astonishing documentary about Sixto Rodriguez, a ‘70s singer-songwriter who went from obscurity to obscurity and then, years later, unknown to him or his family, became a musical legend in South Africa. Two of his fans went in search of him, but word reached them that he was dead… or was he? Screens at 7 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $12 and $10. Info: (310) 548-2493 or go to grandvision.org.
Monday 5th
ART
“Art & Design”: The Annual Student Exhibition, 2013-2014, is on view in the University Art Gallery at Cal State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria Ave., Carson. The opening reception for the Studio Art portion of this two-part show (the first part ended last week) is from 5:30 to 7:30 on Monday (the work is up through May 15). Parking, in Lot 6, is $5. Info: (310) 243-3334.
Tuesday 6th
ART
“Aztecs Before the Spanish Arrived”: This free Artful Days lecture is presented form 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. This will be a look at art before the influence of the colonizers. Info: (310) 618-2326.
OPERA TALK
LA Opera Speakers Bureau shares insights into the company’s work at 6:30 p.m. in the Redondo Beach Main Library Second Floor Meeting Room, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach. Free; no singing required. Info: (310) 318-0675, option 5, or go to redondo.org/library.
MUSIC
Singer/songwriter Jack Tracy releases his single and video “California Beaches” today with a release party at Studio 637 in Hermosa Beach. Info: jacktracymusic.com.
DANCE
“Breaking Through”: The West High School Dance Department presents their beginning, intermediate, and advanced Choreo Club dance students in this, their annual spring dance concert, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (May 6, 7, 8). Tickets, $12.50. Info: (310) 781-7171.