South Bay arts calendar: April 25 to May 1
“Vibrancy” runs through Tuesday at Artlife Gallery, 720C S. Allied Way, Plaza El Segundo, in El Segundo. The reception is this Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. and it’s your chance to meet the featured artists. Pictured, art by Alison Corteen. (310) 938-2511
Drowsy, but he knows his music
“The Drowsy Chaperone,” presented by the Mira Costa Drama/Tech Department, opens at 7:30 p.m. 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. Unless these kids screw it up, it’ll be loads of fun. Also playing Saturday at 7:30; Thursday, May 2, at 6:30, Friday, May 3, at 7:30; and Saturday, May 4, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. 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.
“Hairspray,” the early 1960s musical based on John Waters’ film of the same name, opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Norris Theatre,17570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Songs, laughter, improbable romance. Other performances Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., through May 12. Tickets, $80 to $30. Pictured, Roland Rusinek as Edna Turnblad and Luzma as Tracy. Photo by Melissa Mollo. (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com
“Hairspray,” the early 1960s musical based on John Waters’ film of the same name, opens at 7:30 p.m. in the Norris Theatre,17570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Songs, laughter, improbable romance. Other performances Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., through May 12. Tickets, $80 to $30. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Orchestral debut
The inaugural concert of the Torrance Pops Orchestra, conducted by Joanna Medawar Nachef, takes place at 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The repertoire consists of light classical and popular music, with guest artists soprano Hila Plitmann, pianist Beth Nam, and composer/pianist Georges Tomb. Tickets, $25 and $15. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to TorrancePops.com.
Graceband, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, performs at 6 p.m. on Friday at Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. The group’s first show was at the Gable House Bowl in 1987, which actually means they’ve been playing with one another far longer. The 12-piece outfits celebrates the music of King Elvis. The show opens with a Johnny Cash Tribute. Tickets, $10, cash only. (310) 372-0035 or go to saintrocke.com
“Magic up Close” features amazing magicians who perform their parlor tricks up close, taking place at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $35. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.
Kafka’s operatic treatment
“In the Penal Colony,” an opera based on Franz Kafka’s short story, composed by Philip Glass, is receiving six performances, beginning tonight (plus Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the same four-day schedule next weekend). They take place in the Studio Theatre on the Cal State University Long Beach Campus. For tickets, call (562) 470-7464 or go to longbeachopera.org.
“Close at Hand: Recent Photographs by Ray Carofano” is up through Saturday at the LA Harbor College Fine Arts Gallery, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. Call (310) 233-4411 or go to (310) 600-4873
Getting exuberant
The “Vibrancy” art exhibit runs through the month at Artlife Gallery, 720C S. Allied Way, Plaza El Segundo, in El Segundo. The reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. and this is your chance to meet the featured artists. Closes Tuesday. (310) 938-2511.
Have music will travel
Classical guitarist Lynn McGrath presents “A Visit to Spain” at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. McGrath is performing selected movements from “Platero and I,” based on a popular Children’s book by Nobel Prize-winning author Juan Ramón Jiménez. Tickets, $21 to $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.
Getting a jump on it
“We Sing Tomorrow’s Song” is being presented by the Torrance Civic Chorale at 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The ensemble performs a selection of new music by young composers, plus enduring standards. They’ve got an orchestra this time as well. Tickets, $25. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to TorranceCivicChorale.org.
Thunderbolt and lightning
“Weather or Not,” art inspired by the weather, is in the second floor meeting room of the Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, but only from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the same time, or at least from 2 to 4 p.m., there will be poetry readings in the same space, the featured reader being Jack Grapes. Other readers include participants from Linda Neal’s poetry workshops. Free. (310) 318-0675 or go to redondo.org/library.
Musically inspired
Tashi Norbu will be painting live to live music from 1 to 5 p.m. at Earth’s Elements, 1124 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. (424) 383-1808.
Texas based country rockers Copper Chief perform Sunday at 7 p.m. in Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. Country music with bluesy-southern rock. Tickets, $15. Photo by Christina Feddersen. (310) 372-0035 or go to saintrocke.com
From lands near and far
The Peninsula Symphony, under the baton of Gary Berkson, presents “Ethnic Roots,” featuring the music of Copland, Vaughan Williams, Grieg, Hindemith, and Arturo Márquez. Violist Brett Deubner is the featured artist on Hindemith’s “Der Schwanendreher.” The concert is at 7 p.m., with a 6:15 pre-concert lecture for members. It’s taking place in the Redondo Union High School Auditorium, 222 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, at Diamond, in Redondo Beach. Free. (310) 544-0320 or go to pensym.org.
Energetic or what?
The “Superkids Dance Recital,” presented by Superkids Gym and Dance, is set for 4 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $12. Call (310) 781-7171.
FOLA (the Foundation of Local Artists) held its tenth anniversary on April 14. Participating artists (and others) included, l-r, Grayson Daley, his mom, James Gill, Meredith Du Bois, Kimie Silver, Elizabeth Poley, Margaret Yuko Tan, Marjorie Rand, Drica Lobo, FOLA Executive Angie Silverman, Patrick Donahue, Michael Petroni, Edwina Klein, and Joe Fisher
Friend or foe?
Jason Colby, author of “Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean’s Greatest Predator,” reads from and signs his book from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the John M. Olguin Auditorium, in the Cabrillo Marine Museum, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro. Free. To learn more, call the American Cetacean Society at (424) 266-0516. ER