South Bay Arts Calendar 05/28/15-06/02/15
Willem & Dakota perform Sunday at 8:30 at Suzy’s in Hermosa Beach. They have a new album coming, the music jammin’ but with a rural vibe, almost country. See them before they return to New Orleans. No cover. Call (310) 379-6171
Thursday, May 28
Rah, rah, go team, go
The Torrance Torrettes “Spring Spectacular” takes place at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Dance and drill team girls from kindergarten through 8th grade do their magic. Tickets, $12 adults; $9 kids 12 and under. Call (310) 781-7171.
Friday, May 29
Young musical masters
The Beach Cities Symphony, conducted by Barry Brisk, performs at 8:15 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium on the campus of El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. A pre-concert lecture begins at 7:30. Cello soloist is featured in Saint-Saëens’ “Concerto No.1,” piano soloist Julia Jorgensen is featured in Lutoslawski’s “Variations on a Theme by Paganini,” cellist Andrew Park is highlighted in Haydn’s “Cello Concerto No. 1,” and Jessica Lee is also featured in Saint-Saëns’ “Concerto No. 1.” Free; onsite parking is $3. Call (310) 379-9725 or go to BeachCitiesSymphony.org.
When grandparents were young
Cartoon characters like Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, Oswald the Rabbit, and Koko the Clown are among the pleasures of the “Vintage Cartoon Festival,” musical cartoons of the ‘30s and ‘40s, screening at 8:15 on Friday and Saturday, plus 2:30 on Saturday and Sunday, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. Go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Nibble and sip
The King Harbor Brewing Company is hosting a “Cheese & Beer Tasting” event from 5 to 9 p.m. at 2907 182nd St., Redondo Beach. Pairings include Sweet Cheddar with Storm’s a Brewin’; Gouda with California Saison; Dubliner with Stout paired with IPA; and Aged Cheddar with Whiskey paired with Swirly. Call (310) 542-8657.
Zhena Folk Chorus performs, with the klezmer band The Shpil, at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Alva’s Showroom in San Pedro. Pictured, Eve Pericich with her triptych of the group portraying the women of Chernobyl for a short independent film in which she and the others sang and acted. Photo . Tickets, $20. Call (310) 833-3690
Saturday, May 30
A cut above the others
Internationally acclaimed pianist Sandra Wright Shen performs “Inspiration from Above II,” featuring music from the spiritual lives of Haydn, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Handel, at 2 p.m. (presentation in English) and 7 p.m. (presentation in Mandarin with English translation available) in the Bread of Life Church, 2780 Lomita Blvd., Torrance. Free.
Early bird creativity
“Changing Tides,” a multimedia presentation of student work in art, science, and technology, features the efforts of 2nd and 4th grade students at Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School (in the classes of Mike Bell and Susan Hadeishi), and it’s all on display from 5 to 7 p.m. at South Bay Contemporary, 401 S. Mesa Ave., third floor, San Pedro. (310) 429-0973 or go to southbaycontemporary.com.
Temple gala fundraiser
The largest annual fundraiser for Temple Menorah takes place at 7 p.m. in the temple’s social hall, 1101 Camino Real, Redondo Beach. Honorees are temple members Marcia Spanier, Rick Muller, and Shelly Rocker. South Bay dad band One Digit Down performs rock hits from the 1970s and’80s. Tickets, $95 (or $950 for a table of ten). For questions, including auction item donations, contact Gala chairs Nadine Weiss and Jen Harkavy at (323) 493-5929 or gala@templemenorah.org.
Chorus and klezmer
Zhena Folk Chorus, dedicated to preserving folk songs from Central and Eastern Europe, are joined by the klezmer band The Shpil, at 8 p.m. in Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $20. For reservations, call (800) 403-3447 or for tickets Eve Pericich at (310) 833-3690.
Art specialist Chloe Noh with second grade students at Cabrillo Avenue Elementary School. Their work is among that featured from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at South Bay Contemporary in San Pedro. (310) 429-0973 or southbaycontemporary.com
American counterculture
Long Beach Opera presents “Hydrogen Jukebox,” by Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg, at 8 p.m. at Crafted, 112 E. 22nd St., #10, at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. Additional performances on Saturday, June 6, at 2:30 and 8 p.m., plus Sunday, June 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets, $29 to $160 (student tickets, $15). Call (562) 432-5934 or go to lbopera.org.
Sunday, May 31
Louisiana bound
Willem McCormack and Dakota Emerson (a.k.a. Willem & Dakota) are playing Suzy’s Bar and Grill, 1141 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach. It’s one of their last local shows before moving back to New Orleans. No cover; 8:30 p.m. Their new single, “Somewhere Along The Way” is available from itunes for 99 cents (and there’s a video to check out as well). Call (424) 241-4055 or (310) 379-6171.
High in the sky
Angelvision Productions presents the first reading of “The War in Heaven,” by Angelo Michael Masino, at 3 p.m. in the Second Story Theatre, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. The mature-audiences work features Phylicia Wissa, J. Arthur Orr, Austen Michael Rey, Angelo Masino, Yasemin Isil, Loree Sobrito, Joe Pridemore, William Goldman, and Koushik Chattopadhyay. For reservations and information, call (310) 374-9767.
The Old Town Music Hall screens vintage musical cartoons from the 1930s and ‘40s this weekend. More at OldTownMusicHall.org
Tuesday, June 2
Where’d they go?
Artful Days presents “The Ancient People of Crete: A Unique Art Style” from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The free talk explores the mystery of the Minoans, where Zeus was born and Theseus killed the Minotaur. Call (310) 818-2326.
Creative statements
“Scraps: An Anthology of Costa’s 2015 AP Studio Art Pieces” goes on view at Mira Costa High School, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. The student work is in many genres. The opening reception is Friday, June 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.