South Bay arts calendar for May 17 to 23

Thursday, May 17
Imaginations go wild
“Recess” continues through Saturday at ShockBoxx Gallery, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach, and it features high school creatives working in a variety of mediums. (310) 989-4323 or go to shockboxxproject.com.
Talk it over with someone
The adult book discussion of the month focuses on “Destiny of the Republic,” by Candace Millar, and it goes 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. The moderator is senior librarian Erin Schoonover. (310) 318-0675 or go to redondo.org/library.

Friday, May 18
A bee in your bonnet?
Puttin’ On Productions is presenting “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Friday through Sunday in the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. A few community members will be making guest appearances in this entertaining, somewhat interactive musical comedy but with serious undertones, such as literacy. At any rate, six spellers enter, and only one walks off with the prize. Tickets if you call (310) 546-5544 or go to goldstar.com.
Quirky, and a lotta fun
“The House of Blue Leaves,” the tragi-comedy about celebrity obsession and the desire for fame written by John Guare, is being performed Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Jerry Prell directs. Tickets, $10 and $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.
Comedy duo back again
The ever-popular “Laurel and Hardy Festival” screens on Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m., plus Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets are $10 general and $8 for seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.com.
It’s now or never
“Student Art Show 2018” opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. in the El Camino College Art Gallery, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, featuring work in various media. Through May 31, but closed May 28. Call (310) 660-3010 or go to elcamino.edu and scroll down to Art Gallery.
Music and the military
The United States 330th Army Band performs at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Free, but tickets required, and they’re available not at the box office (limit four). Call (310) 781-7171. Also, while you’re here, don’t forget the 59th Annual Armed Forces Day Celebration and Parade… the latter takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, running westbound along Torrance Boulevard from Crenshaw Blvd. and ending at City Hall.

Saturday, May 19
Pepped up
“Vitality,” an energetic art show with a dozen local artists, opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at Artlife Gallery, 720C S. Allied Way, Plaza El Segundo, in El Segundo. (310) 938-2511.
Gently blowing through
The Peninsula Symphonic Winds perform a “Musical Travelogue,” featuring selections from various European countries and then featuring American classics, at 3 p.m. in the Salvation Army Chapel, 4223 Emerald St., Torrance (near the Little Company of Mary). Tickets, $10 adults; children under 12 admitted free. At the door or online at pswinds.org.
The right note
The Aves Quartet, with clarinetist Benjamin Mitchell, violinist Benjamin Hoffman, cellist Juliette Herlin, and pianist Irene Kim, perform at 3 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. Work by Bartok and Moravec is featured. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
Grassroots art
The Malaga Cove Lawn Art Show takes place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates. Art ranges from painting to photography and ceramics. Call Bernard Fallon at (310) 920-2184.
A small circle of friends
The Joel Lish Trio performs at 2 p.m. in the El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., at Main St., in El Segundo. The program is entitled “Bach and his Contemporaries,” and it’s a selection of 18th century music masters. Free. (310) 524-2728.
Your land is my land
The El Camino College Concert Band presents “Americana” at 8 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium on campus at Redondo Beach and Crenshaw boulevards, Torrance. Dane Teter directs Richard Saucedo’s “American Barndance,” Chris Sharp’s “The All-American March,” and other works. Tickets, $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.
Think Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde
“The Love Potion” (Le Vin Herbé), by Frank Martin, which had its premiere in 1942, is based on “The Romance of Tristan & Iseult” and it plays at 7:30 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theater, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $49 to $150. Student rush tickets $15 if available. (562) 470-7464 or go to longbeachopera.org.
Names you should know
Dave Widow (with the Line Up) and Bernie Pearl, long time staples of South Bay music, perform at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.

Sunday, May 20
Talent will emerge
The Japan Musicians Association of California presents their “Piano Festival 2018” at 9 a.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Students of all ages are competing. Free. To learn more,contact miekun-la-la-la@hotmail.com.
Inter-generational improv
The Joslyn Jokers, mostly senior citizens, and the Mira Costa High School Improv Students, mostly teenagers, power their smarts together from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Joslyn Community Center, 1601 Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach. Directed by Sandy Marchese and Doris Usui, plus guest director Rick Ramirez. More at foolsinfo@aol.com or call Sandy, (310) 729-8688.
Like spiders, sort of
The Southern California Handweavers’ Guild (say that 10 times!) presents its “Weaving and Fiber Festival” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Admission, $6 and $3. More at schg.org/festival.

Monday, May 21
Swing! Jazz! Big Band!
David Sills directs the El Camino College Studio Jazz Band at 8 p.m. in the Haag Recital Hall, located on campus at Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Tickets, $10, and onsite parking is $3. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.

Tuesday, May 22
Filmic faces
“In Focus: Expressions” opens at the J. Paul Getty Museum in the Getty Center and features 45 works drawn from the museum’s collection, all of them touching on our fascination with the human face and the range of countenances that photographers have captured since the birth of the medium. Through Oct. 7. More at getty.edu.

Wednesday, May 23
Headed for bigger things
Jazz bassist Katie Thiroux performs at 7 p.m. in the Torrance Public Library, Madrona and Torrance Blvd., Torrance. Find out more about her at katiethiroux.com.
Let’s look to the south
The El Camino College Concert Jazz Band explores music from various parts of Latin American at 8 p.m. in the Campus Theatre, located at Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Alan Chan directs,and guests include percussionist and vocalist Rayner Fernandez, tenor saxophonist and composer Anibal Seminario, and vocal jazz ensemble En Harmony. Chan’s pre-concert talk starts at 7:15 p.m. Tickets, $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org. ER

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