South Bay arts calendar for April 12 to 18
APC Fine Arts Gallery in Torrance presents new paintings by Ron Hust and Ron Libbrecht, and when they work together, Ron Squared. The opening reception takes place Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., and the show is up through May 18. Pictured, painting by Ron Hust. (310) 328-0366 or go to apcfinearts.com
Some you win, some you lose
“Almost, Maine,” written by John Cariani, is being presented by the Torrance Theatre Company, 1316 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance. The play consists of nine vignettes about love and loss, and it’s being directed by Gary Kresca. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Closes Sunday. But tonight’s 7 p.m. show is special, because it’s being followed by a Q&A with the cast. Tickets, $30. Call (424) 243-6882 or go to TorranceTheatreCompany.com.
A change of pace
Dana Louise & The Glorious Birds perform at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. The group also features Dana’s father, Ezra Idlet, on guitar, and Keith Grimwood on percussion and bass… the original 1970s duo, Trout Fishing in America. For tickets and information call (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
Contemporary jazz pianist Joe McBride brings his tribute to blues legend Ray Charles to the James Armstrong Theatre on Friday at 8 p.m. Also featuring saxophonist Kenny Blake. Tickets, $35, $30, $25. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org
Brother Ray, are you okay?
Contemporary jazz pianist Joe McBride brings his tribute to blues legend Ray Charles to the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The 8 p.m. show also features saxophonist Kenny Blake. Tickets, $35, $30, $25. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org or check out jwpjazz.com/joemcbride.html.
“Peter Pan” (the 1924 silent version) is screening Friday through Sunday in the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo. The film will be accompanied live on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org
The 1924 silent film “Peter Pan” is screening at 8:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, plus 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. What’s really nice is that the film will be accompanied live on the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Pucker up
Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me Kate,” based on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” plays Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., plus Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Multipurpose Room at Palos Verdes High School, 600 Cloyden Road, Palos Verdes Estates. Additional dates: April 20 at 3 p.m., April 21 at 7 p.m., plus April 21 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets, $20 adults and $15 students. At the door, by calling (310) 378-8471 ext. 237, or by going to pvhsdrama.com.
Saturday, April 14
Just one more bite
“Hungry” is an inventive art exhibition from ShockBoxx Gallery and it’s on view through April 25. The show looks at eating disorders and spans the subject from problem to solution. Rachel Daggett, the president of the South Bay Eating Disorder Coalition is hosting a fundraiser at the gallery, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach. (310) 989-4323 or go to shockboxxproject.com.
“Hungry” is an inventive art exhibition from ShockBoxx Gallery and it’s on view through April 25. The show looks at eating disorders and spans the subject from problem to solution. Rachel Daggett, the president of the South Bay Eating Disorder Coalition is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday at the gallery, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach. Pictured, “Home,” by Chia Schuler. (310) 989-4323 or go to shockboxxproject.com
Resin Gallery presents two news shows, “About Wonder” and “Symbiosis: The Poetic Nature of Mutualism.” The former features 20 images, pared down from 38,000, shot by students in the Hermosa Beach Artist Collective (“16 Under 16,” because the 16 students are under age 16), taught by Rafael McMaster. The latter show highlights work done in collaboration. Think co-songwriters, for example. The reception takes place from 4 to 9 p.m., and Resin is located at 618 Cypress, Hermosa Beach. (310) 297-0003 or go to rafaelmcmaster.com.
The “34th Annual Harmony Sweepstakes Los Angeles Regional A Cappella Singing Contest takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the El Segundo Performing Arts Center, 640 Main St., El Segundo. Six groups are competing. Tickets, $28 general and $10 for students. Pictured, Have Pitchpipe, Will Travel, with members Connie Weintraub, Maria Bailey, Susie Cox, Lynn Iosty, Sharon Savene, Donna Lawrence, Janet Reid, Linda Borg, Caroline McLean, Debbie Smith, Diana Barber, and Allison Tsukimura. Photo: Caroline McLean. (800) 838-3006 or go to harmony-sweepstakes.com/losangeles.html
The Scottish Fiddlers of L.A. present their “Spring Concert” (and CD release celebration) at 7:30 p.m. in the Hermosa Beach Community Theatre, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Tickets are $12 at the door and kids under 13 are admitted free. (310) 266-8080 or go to scottishfiddlers.org.
Pianist Kariné Poghosyan performs piano transcriptions of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5,” Khachaturian’s “Adagio” from the ballet “Spartacus,” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the First Lutheran Church and School, Torrance. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574
“A Book & A Movie” is being presented from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Room in the El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo. You can pick up a copy of “Murder on the Orient Express” at the reference desk, if you haven’t already. After the film is screened there’ll be a discussion. Bring a sack lunch. Free, and you don’t have to have read the book to attend! (310) 524-2728 or go to eslib.org.
Are you the next Emily Dickinson?
A poetry workshop, for seasoned poets as well as beginners, takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon in the second floor conference room of the Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach. (310) 318-0675 op. 5, or go to redondo.org/library.
Now it’s granddaughter’s turn
Glass Half Full Theatre, with an original score by Mother Falcon, brings “Petra & The Wolf,” a contemporary version of Prokofiev’s children’s symphony, to the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The two shows, featuring large-scale puppets, are at 2 and 5 p.m., and tickets range from $10 to $20. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrance.arts.org. You can also access holdenarts.org/petra-and-the-wolf.
Transcriptions for piano
Pianist Kariné Poghosyan performs Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5,” transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt, Khachaturian’s “Adagio” from the ballet “Spartacus,” transcribed by Matthew Cameron, and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” transcribed by Guido Agosti, at 3 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
South Bay Contemporary, SoLA Gallery presents “In Pursuit of Beauty” and it opens with a reception on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. at 3718 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles. Through May 12 (closing reception 3 to 7 p.m.). Pictured, “Fish in the Water,” by Ann Phong. (310) 429-0973 or go to southbaycontemporary.org
APC Fine Arts Gallery, 1621 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance, presents new paintings by Ron Hust and Ron Libbrecht, and when they work together, Ron Squared. The opening reception takes place from 3 to 6 p.m., and the show is up through May 18. Call (310) 328-0366 or go to apcfinearts.com.
Only their vocal chords
The “34th Annual Harmony Sweepstakes Los Angeles Regional A Cappella Singing Contest, sponsored by the South Bay Coastliners Barbershop Chapter, takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the El Segundo Performing Arts Center (a euphemism for the El Segundo High Auditorium), 640 Main St., El Segundo. Six groups are competing, and last year’s winners, Top Shelf Vocal, is hosting the regionals. Tickets, $28 general and $10 for students. (800) 838-3006 or go to harmony-sweepstakes.com/losangeles.html.
A would-be Celtic supergroup
The Syncopaths put a spin on Scottish, Irish, and American folk musical traditions, and they perform at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. For tickets and more details, call (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
Truth is beauty, and beauty truth
South Bay Contemporary, SoLA Gallery presents “In Pursuit of Beauty” and it opens with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. This is the second in a series of exhibitions by the same artists (the first was in Tokyo last year and the third takes place in SoLA this coming August. The 15 artists were selected by Lore Eckelberry. The gallery is at 3718 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, and the show is up through May 12. Free art workshops, Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 21, 28, and May 5. Call (310) 429-0973 or go to southbaycontemporary.org.
Glass Half Full Theatre, with an original score by Mother Falcon, presents “Petra & The Wolf” at 2 and 5 p.m. on Saturday in the James Armstrong Theatre, Torrance. Tickets, $10 to $20. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrance.arts.org
Quick, and to the point
The “Pacific Coast International Short Film Festival IV” screens at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The audience will select the “best of the fest.” Features bright young filmmakers from the world over. For tickets, call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.
Monday, April 16
And after we’ll eat Chinese take-out
The Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band performs traditional jazz, swing, blues, and “big production” numbers at 7:30 p.m. on stage in the Redondo Union High School Auditorium, on the corner of N. Pacific Coast Hwy and Diamond, in Redondo Beach. Tickets, $30 adults and $15 for students 22 and under. Details at southbayconcerts.org.
Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me Kate” plays Friday through Sunday in the Multipurpose Room at Palos Verdes High School, 600 Cloyden Road, Palos Verdes Estates. Additional dates April 20 to 22 Tickets, $20 adults and $15 students. Pictured, l-r, Michael Tichnor, Kailee Kakazu, Hayden Fuchino, and Noelle Gordillo. (310) 378-8471 ext. 237, or go to pvhsdrama.com
“Coyote America,” by Dan Flores
Have you read it? There’s a discussion of the book from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the Redondo Beach Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach. Coyotes eat pets and small, unintended children. (310) 318-0675 op. 5, or go to redondo.org/library.
Never stand still
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School Choreo presents “Momentum 2018” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 17 to 19, in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets are $13, and you can find out what all the hubbub is about if you pick up the phone and dial (310) 377-4888. ER