South Bay Arts Calendar June 18 to 22
“The News,” by “avant-pop” composer Jacob ter Veldhuis (JacobTV) is being given its West Coast premiere by Long Beach Opera on The Broad Stage in Santa Monica with performances Sunday, plus June 25 and 26. L-r, Maeve Höglund and Loire Cotler. Tickets, $29 to $137. Call (562) 432-5934 or go to longbeachopera.org/tickets.
Saturday, June 18
Leaving their mark
“Grafforists” is a painting exhibition “that seeks to address the issues of presence, meaning and mortality through mark making.” It opens Saturday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Torrance Art Museum, 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. An artist and curator discussion takes place earlier, at 4 p.m. In the museum’s Gallery Two there’s Carl Berg’s “With a Little Help from My Friends,” abstracted lyrics and/or music from 100+ albums printed as archival inkjet prints. And, in the Dark Room, two short films by Declan Clarke. Free. Through August 13. Call (310) 618-6388 or go to TorranceArtMuseum.com.
Not to be boxed in
Quarto Nuevo merges western classical, eastern European folk, Latin and jazz, and they perform at 3 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church & School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. Free; donations accepted. Call (310) 316-5574.
Resurrected music
The 41st Annual Ragtime Festival takes place on Saturday at 2:30 and 8:15 p.m., and also Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Ragtime had its heyday between 1895 and about 1920, but was given a second life during the 1970s with Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” made popular by the film “The Sting.” Tickets, $20. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Man on the move
Colin Hay, of Men at Work, performs at Terranea Resort’s third annual “Music on the Meadows,” noon to 7 p.m. at the Peninsula getaway. Tickets from $39. Details at Terranea.com.
Lifting a leg, or two
Dance West Dance Studio presents “Dancefest 2016” at 5 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $17; $15. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to dancewest.org.
Nothing gloomy
“Keeping it Light” is a three-person show (Deborah Giese, Linda Thompson, and Pat Hinz) and it’s on view through June 26 at the Artists’ Studio Gallery, 550 Deep Valley Road #159, Rolling Hills Estates. Pat Hinz gives a ceramic demonstration from 1 to 3 p.m. Call (310) 265-2592 or go to artists-studio-pvac.com.
The Kentwood Players’ production of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play, “Clybourne Park,” closes Saturday at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets, $20, less $2 seniors, students. Photo by Shari Barrett. L-R, Matt Landig, Paulina Bugembe, Jen Kerner, Andrea Stradling. (310) 645-5156 or kentwoodplayers.org.
Sunday, June 19
Life is a circus
The Studio Art of Dance presents “Welcome to the Circus” at 2 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, plus 7 p.m. on Monday, in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. It’s a family fun dance concert. Tickets, $23, $19, $16. Call (310) 781-7171, or the studio at (310) 606-5600, or go to thestudioartofdance.com.
All on her own
The Beauty of Nature Film Series, presented by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, presents a screening of “Tracks” at 5 p.m. in the Peninsula High School Theater, 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. It’s about adventurer Robyn Davidson who crossed the Australian desert on foot, alone, in 1977. Q&A after the screening. Admission, $10; free for those 18 and under. More at pvplc.org.
Singing, stinging political parody
Long Beach Opera closes its current season with “The News,” by Dutch “avant-pop” composer Jacob ter Veldhuis (JacobTV). Conducted by Andreas Mitisek, it’s being performed Sunday at 7 p.m., plus Saturday, June 25, at 4 p.m. and Sunday, June 26, at 2:30 p.m., at The Broad Stage, 1310 Eleventh St., Santa Monica. In English; no supertitles. Tickets, $29 to $137. Call (562) 432-5934 or go to longbeachopera.org/tickets.
Wednesday, June 22
The dance of life
Soprano and El Camino College faculty member Erin Wood performs a recital with pianist Kenner Bailey at 8 p.m. in the school’s Campus Theatre, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. The concert celebrates the arc of a woman’s life, from youth, love, motherhood and old age, and among the works performed is Robert Schumann’s song cycle “Frauenliebe und Leben.” Tickets, $15. Call (310) 329-5345 or go to centerforthearts.org.