South Bay Arts Calendar 4/30/15-5/05/15
Sidney Toler stars as Charlie Chan in “Castle in the Desert,” screening Friday and Saturday at 8:15 and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. More at OldTownMusicHall.org.
Thursday, April 30
Très chic
“Thoroughly Modern Millie,” presented by the Mira Costa High School Drama Department, continues its run with a 6:30 p.m. show, and then over the weekend with 7:30 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, in the Mira Costa High School Auditorium, 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Tickets, $15 general and $10 students, seniors, in advance; $18 general and $12 at the box office. Go to miracostadrmaboosters.org.
Quirky on the surface
“The Doll,” by Croatian writer Miro Gavran, is considered an introspective comedy that examines relationships in the age of technology, and it opens at Little Fish Theatre, 777 Centre St., San Pedro, with performances Thursday at 8 p.m. through May 21. Also Wednesday shows at 8 on 5/13 and 5/20, plus 2 p.m. Sunday matinees on 5/3 and 5/10 (post-show discussion following 5/3 performance). Call (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
Works priced under $100
The PADA Group, South Bay fine-art photographers, are featured in “Let’s Get Small, Small Works of the PV Art Center PADA Group.” The show closes Saturday at the Frame And Art Department, 950 Aviation Blvd, Hermosa Beach. (310) 374-6900.
Friday, May 1
So how do we get out?
“Into the Woods” is being presented by South Bay Conservatory at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The musical was recently a big hit at the movies. Tickets, $20. It’s free for children under two, but they’ll still need a ticket. Big Larry’s hint: Leave ‘em at home! (310) 781-7171 or go to southbayconservatory.com.
Early bird special
“Bye Bye Birdie” is an Elvis Presley-like romantic musical comedy, and it plays at 8 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, plus 3 p.m. on Sunday, in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. Tickets, $25 general; $18 children 5-12. (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.
The City of Angels Saxophone Quartet performs “Music from the Movies” at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $20. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Draw your own conclusions
The Palos Verdes Art Center’s Annual Student Art Exhibition, featuring the Art at Your Fingertips outreach program as well as students from Peninsula high schools, opens with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. in the art center located at 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. Through May 29. Call (310) 541-2479 or go to pvartcenter.org.
Arias through the ages
Mezzo-soprano Megan Gillespie and pianist Gideon Rubin perform at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church of Torrance, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance, and the free concert features arias by Rossini, Mozart, Schubert, Richard Strauss, Kurt Weill, Ben Moore, William Boscom, and Cole Porter. Reception follows. (310) 316-5574 or go to palosverdes.com/ClasicalCrossroads/BachsLunchtime.htm.
Nope, can’t run her in
“Legally Blonde: The Musical,” presented by the Miraleste Booster Club, concludes this weekend at Miraleste Intermediate School, 29323 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rancho Palos Verdes. Performances Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Paula Dawson directs. Tickets,$15 for reserved rows 1-8; $12 general admission for evening shows and $10 for matinees. Cash or check only. At the door or call (310) 344-4501 or email legallyblonde@yahoo.com.
What happened to Abigail?
Playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has created an intriguing sequel to Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” titled “Abigail/1702,” and it has its West Coast premiere at the International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. caryn desai directs. Opens tonight (tickets $54); hereafter, Saturdays and Sundays are $48, and Thursdays and Fridays are $46. Call (562) 436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org.
Chinese detective sees all!
Sidney Toler stars as Charlie Chan in “Castle in the Desert,” screening Friday and Saturday at 8:15 and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Includes the famous phrase, “One of us is a murderer.” Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. More at OldTownMusicHall.org.
Violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn plays the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720 at 2 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. The program features Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” sonata plus Vitali’s “Chaconne in G Minor for violin and continuo.” Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574
Saturday, May 2
A day at the races
To celebrate the Kentucky Derby, Shade Hotel is hosting its inaugural Kentucky Derby Party from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m. It’ll be an afternoon of Hudson Whiskey Mint Juleps, Hendricks’ Derby-inspired cocktails, with small plates and contests. Ladies are encouraged to wear stylish hats and derby attire for the gentlemen. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Richstone Family Center. Shade is located at 1221 N. Valley Dr., Manhattan Beach. To reserve a table call (310) 469-3466.
Sunday, May 3
Not fade away
The annual Bob Dylanfest turns 25! Andy and Renee, their band Hard Rain, and lots and lots of friends and musician buddies gather from 12 noon to 8 p.m. to play some 65 Dylan compositions, no repeats, at the Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance. Tickets, $35 general; $10 kids under 14. Call (310) 346-9383 or go to andyandrenee.com.
Saxophonic soundtracks
The City of Angels Saxophone Quartet performs “Music from the Movies” at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $20. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
A mighty group effort
The Concert Choir, Mixed Chorus and Chorale perform John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” at 7 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Guest singers from the California academy of Math and Science Choir and Hills Academy Children’s Choir will be featured. Pianist Kenner Bailey accompanies director Joanna Medawar Nachef. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.
Packing up, going home
Closing reception from 2 to 5 p.m. for “Vive la Différence,” featuring painters Annie Clavel, Joy Gonzalez, and jewelry artist Marilyn Harrison, at The Artists’ Studio Gallery, in the Promenade on the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive #159, Rolling Hills Estates. (310) 265-2592 or go to artists-studio-pvac.com.
Handle it with care
Violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn plays the Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius of 1720 when she performs at 2 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. Accompanied by pianist Louise Thomas, Pitcairn will play Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” sonata plus Vitali’s “Chaconne in G Minor for violin and continuo.” Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
Mezzo-soprano Megan Gillespie sings arias from the likes of Schubert, Bolcom, and Porter, at 12:15 p.m. on Friday in the First Lutheran Church of Torrance. Gideon Rubin is on piano. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574
Monday, May 4
Swing-era classics
The Jazz Two Big Band performance takes place at 8 p.m. in the Haag Recital Hall at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Directed by David Sills, students will perform selected pieces from the Great American Songbook along with classic and modern jazz tunes. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.com.
Tuesday, May 5
Hey, what’s in the Prado?
Artful Days, the monthly free art talk that takes place in the George Nakano Theatre in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, presents “Great Works Found at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain” from 12:10 to 1 p.m. It’s a massive collection, so it’s just going to be the highlights. The address is 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance. (310) 818-2326.
Sure great to be young
The West High School Dance Department presents “Danced Ever After” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (May 5-7) in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 781-7171.