South Bay art calendar for May 2 to 8
Best concert this weekend: The “29th Annual DylanFest,” featuring Andy & Renee and their band Hard Rain, with dozens of other musicians, perform on Sunday from 12 noon to 8 p.m. on Torino Plaza at the Cultural Arts Center in Torrance. Tickets, $35 adults and $10 non-adults. Some 65 Dylan songs will be sung by different artists, with no repetitions. Chef Michael Shafer provides casual food and beverages for sale during the event. Pictured, Andy and Renee (photo courtesy of Andy and Renee). Tickets and information at andyandrenee.com
Drowsy, but knows his music
“The Drowsy Chaperone,” presented by the Mira Costa Drama/Tech Department, has performances this evening (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a Saturday 2 p.m. matinee, in the Mira Costa High School Auditorium, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. This is the musical comedy that’s a send-up of the Jazz Age musical, and it won a handful of Tony Awards a few years back. Advance tickets, $15 adults and $10 students/seniors (plus an extra buck for online orders). At the door? Adults will need to shell out $18 and students/seniors $12. Type in miracostadramaboosters.org to learn the hot details.
The “Spring Advanced Dance Concert,” featuring El Camino College dance students, takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday, as well as 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, in Marsee Auditorium, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Guest choreographer Genevieve Carson will be spotlighted. Tickets, $10, $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org
The annual “Spring Advanced Dance Concert,” featuring dance students attending El Camino College, takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday, as well as 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, in the school’s Marsee Auditorium, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. The work of guest choreographer Genevieve Carson will be spotlighted. Tickets, $10, $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.
A little less graceful perhaps
“Meraki,” a dance show that includes a potpourri of dance styles (hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, etc.), is presented by North Torrance High School at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $12, $10. Call Coral Taylor, (310) 938-7033.
The hammer comes down
“In The Penal Colony,” a pocket opera by Philip Glass, based on the Franz Kafka story of the same name, is being presented by Long Beach Opera on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in the Studio Theater of California State University, Long Beach, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach. It’s a compact, intense production that also incorporates interviews with CSULB Rising Scholars (those who have been incarcerated or who have family members who have served time). It’s about the dawn of a more humane way of treating prisoners, among other things. For tickets, (562) 470-7464 or go to longbeachopera.org.
“Morphologizing” opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday in the Manhattan Beach Art Center. The ceramics-based show features artists Jonathan Keep, Dino Capaldi, Alec Lindsey, Karen Koblitz, and others. Shown here: a pitcher by Peter Karner. More at citymb.info
From formless to form
“Morphologizing” opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Manhattan Beach Art Center, 1560 Manhattan Beach Blvd., M.B. The ceramics-based show features artists Jonathan Keep, Dino Capaldi, Alec Lindsey, Karen Koblitz, and others. Hours, Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More at citymb.info.
The fat lady sings
“Hairspray,” the early 1960s musical based on John Waters’ film of the same name, is being performed on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Norris Theatre,17570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Songs, laughter, improbable romance. Through May 12. Tickets, $80 to $30. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Violinist Audrey Park, winner of Peninsula Symphony’s 2019 Knox Competition, performs (with pianist Jiayi Shi) at 12:15 p.m. on Friday in the First Lutheran Church and School in Torrance. Featuring works by J.S. Bach, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Lutoslawski, and Paganini. Free; donations appreciated. Reception follows. (310) 316-5574
Violinist Audrey Park, winner of Peninsula Symphony’s 2019 Knox Competition, performs (with pianist Jiayi Shi) at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. The program features works by J.S. Bach, Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Lutoslawski, and Paganini. Free; donations appreciated. Reception follows. (310) 316-5574.
Sublime selections
The Loyola Marymount University Choruses perform music Duruflé’s “Requiem” and Vaughan Williams’ “Toward the Unknown Region,” plus shorter works, at 8 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Chapel, located at Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Westchester. Tickets, $20 and $15. This is director Mary C. Breden’s final concert at LMU before retiring… after 27 years as the choral director. (310) 338-5466 or go to cfa.lmu.edu/tickets.
Saturday, May 4
MCHS: The best student art
Resin, located at 618 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach, is hosting “9×12,” an art exhibit and fundraiser for art students at Mira Costa High School. The reception is from 6 to 10 p.m.
Confessional?
Local author Kevin Del Principe discusses his novel “I Animal” from 12 to 1 p.m. in the secondo floor meeting room of the Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach. (310) 318-0675 or go to redondo.org/library.
The Asia America Youth Symphony, led by David Benoit, presents “East Meets West”at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, Torrance. Selections range from Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” to Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia,” with Benoit’s own “Soul to Seoul” and a new piece by him (for flute and piano) as well. Tickets, $40, $25, $15. Pictured, Maestro Benoit. (310) 781-7171 or go to aasymphony.org
Celebrating Bob Dylan
If you’re in town for the BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach you should also consider this other grand legend in pop music, and a Nobel Prize-winner to boot. The “29th Annual DylanFest,” featuring Andy & Renee and their band Hard Rain, with dozens of other musicians, perform from 12 noon to 8 p.m. on Torino Plaza at the Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $35 adults and $10 non-adults. Some 65 Dylan songs will be sung by different artists, with no repetitions. Chef Michael Shafer provides casual food and beverages for sale during the event. Tickets and information at andyandrenee.com.
Go east, young man
The Asia America Youth Symphony, led by composer and jazz artist David Benoit, presents “East Meets West”at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Selections range from Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” to Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia,” with Benoit’s own “Soul to Seoul” and a new piece by him (for flute and piano) titled “The Great Wall,” inspired by his travels to Beijing. Live artworks (courtesy of Ryman Arts) will be created on stage to the music. Tickets, $40, $25, $15. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to aasymphony.org.
Resin, located at 618 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach, is hosting “9×12,” an art exhibit and fundraiser for art students at Mira Costa High School. The reception is Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m.
The third annual Art by the Sea, “Art, Prose & Sound,” takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wayfarers Chapel in Portugese Bend. Over 25 local fine artists expected, with poetry readings, music, and more. Call Andi Haase, (310) 427-4771 or email the visitorscenter@wayfarerschapel.org.
Classic crooner
Well regarded singer (operas, musicals) Dennis McNeil performs (with Ed Martel) at 7:30 p.m. in the Comedy & Magic Club, 1014 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. Eat, drink, and listen. (310) 372-1193 or go to comedyandmagicclub.com.
Tuesday, May 7
Now on stage downtown
There’s a discussion about LA Opera’s “”El Gato Montes” (The Wildcat) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach. (310) 318-0675 or go to redondo.org/library ER