South Bay arts calendar for Sept. 12 to 18
“New School Abstract,” juried by Sarah Svetlana, Preston Smith, and Mike Collins, opens Saturday with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at ShockBoxx, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach. Pictured, “Desert Bloom” by Brooke Aruffo. More at shockboxxproject.com
Swim through this
Josie Iselin discusses her book, “The Curious World of Seaweed,” at 7 p.m. in {pages}: a bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. $5 of each ticket to be donated to the Roundhouse Aquarium. (310) 318-0900 or to purchase your Brown Paper Ticket go to pagesabookstore.com.
Friday, September 13
Supremes? Four Tops? Temptations?
“Joanna Goes ‘Motown’” (and shows she’s got soul) when the Torrance Pops presents an evening of young vocalists saluting the 60th anniversary of Motown Records. What an era, what a cavalcade of hits. Takes place at 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $25 general; $15 students, children. (310) 781-7171 or go to jmnsingers.com.
The Kentwood Players present “Dial M for Murder,” a suspenseful thriller by Frederick Knott that opens Friday at the Westchester Playhouse. Performances, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., through Oct. 19. Tickets, $22, less $2 for seniors, students, and servicemen. Pictured, Justin Heller as Tony, Courtney Schaffer as Margot, and Jeremy Palmer as Max. Photo by Shari Barett. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org
The Kentwood Players present “Dial M for Murder,” a suspenseful thriller by Frederick Knott that opens at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. George Kondreck directs. The 1954 film by Alfred Hitchcock starred Ray Milland and Grace Kelly. Performances, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., through Oct. 19. Tickets, $22, less $2 for seniors, students, and servicemen. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org.
You can bank on him
A Johnny Cash tribute band performs at 9 p.m. in the Alpine Village restaurant, 833 W. Torrance Blvd, Torrance. Admission, $15. Want a VIP table? Then it’s $25. Call (310) 327-4384 or go to AlpineVillagecenter.com.
No border wall here
Nuestras Raíces presents “Noche Mexicana 2019,” a celebration of Mexican music and dance, at 8 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Four Mexican music and dance traditions to be featured: son jarocho, son huasteco, son guerrerense, and mariachi. Tickets, $30 to $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org.
Living up to their name?
The Rip Roarin’ Jazz Band plays at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. It’s a danceable evening of 1930s hot and hopping traditional jazz. Tickets, $22 general; $27 cabaret; and $32 front row cabaret. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
Graceband, the 12-piece Vegas Elvis show, along with Cash Only, with their tribute to Johnny Cash, perform Friday at 8 p.m. at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach. Cover, $10. Doors open at 6 p.m. (310) 372-0035 or go to saintrocke.com
Graceband, the 12-piece Vegas Elvis show, along with Cash Only, with their tribute to Johnny Cash, perform at 8 p.m. at Saint Rocke, 142 Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa Beach. Just ten bucks gets you in. Doors open at 6 p.m. (310) 372-0035 or go to saintrocke.com.
Saturday, September 14
Forms, color, energy
“New School Abstract,” juried by Sarah Svetlana, Preston Smith, and Mike Collins, opens with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at ShockBoxx, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach. It’ll be up through the month. More at shockboxxproject.com.
Jeff Dayton, Glen Campbell’s band leader and guitarist for nearly two decades, honors his late friend with a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Redondo Union High School Auditorium. For details and tickets, go to southbayconcerts.org
Jeff Dayton, Glen Campbell’s band leader and guitarist for nearly two decades, honors his late friend with a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Redondo Union High School Auditorium. For details and tickets, go to southbayconcerts.org.
The opening reception for “Close Encounters” takes place Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Artlife Gallery, located in Plaza El Segundo. Works on view explore the world through the eyes of international artists living in the South Bay. Live music by David Carroll, plus refreshments. Through Sept. 30. Free. Pictured, art by Regine Legler. (310) 938-2511
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is a 20-year-ols blues guitarist and vocalist from Clarksdale, Mississippi, whose Alligator Records debut album (“Kingfish”) has just been released. He’s playing (“Jazz & Blues Live at the Grand”) at 6 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $75. Call (323) 395-7965 or go to tessiefoundation.org.
Yearly jazz benefit
The Richard Sherman Trio performs at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The concert benefits the outreach programs of Seaside Community Church. Tickets, $25. Call (310) 375-4441 or go to seasidecommunitychurch.org.
Multiple perspectives
The opening reception for “Close Encounters” takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Artlife Gallery, 720C South Allied Way, in Plaza El Segundo, located in El Segundo. Much of the work on view explores the world through the eyes of international artists living in the South Bay. Live music by David Carroll, plus refreshments. Through Sept. 30. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free. (310) 938-2511.
Cowboy boots and Madame Butterfly
The Texas Tenors perform work from Bruno Mars to Puccini, bringing their repertoire of country, Broadway, rock and opera to the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. The 7:30 p.m. show features their breathtaking vocals, humor and a touch of irresistible cowboy charm. Tickets from $67.50. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Shop, drop, and listen
The summer music series at Del Amo Fashion Center has been taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Outdoor Village, and now that you’re back in school again it concludes today.
The Texas Tenors perform Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Norris Theatre in Rolling Hills. Their repertoire ranges from from Bruno Mars to Puccini, which includes country, Broadway, rock and opera. Tickets from $67.50. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com
Auditions for the Kentwood Players production of “Little Women” take place on Saturday from 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. Call backs on Monday at 7 p.m., by appointment only. This is the musical, written by Jason Howland, Mindi Dickstein, and Allan Knee. Performance dates are Nov. 15 through Dec. 21, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, in the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave, Westchester. For details, questions, concerns, contact LittleWomen@kentwoodplayers.org.
Sunday, September 15
With your own eyes and ears
“Places Without Walls” features the photomontages of Terry Braunstein paired with the poetry of Dinah Berland, and there’s a reception for their work from 2 to 6 p.m. at Michael Stearns Studio @ The Loft, 401 S. Mesa St. (at the corner of Fifth St.), in San Pedro. At 3 p.m. there will be an artist talk and poetry reading. The closing reception is stated for Oct. 26, from 2 to 6 p.m. (562) 400-0544 or go to Michaelstearnsstudio.com.
Monday, September 16
I’ll wash it down with…
Gabi James,1810 S. Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, is hosting a Beer vs. Wine showdown at 7 p.m., in which four courses are each paired with a wine and a beer, and then the guest (meaning you) decides which beverage fits best with the food selection. Cool, huh? It comes to $95, tax and gratuity included. (310) 540-4884.
Nuestras Raíces presents “Noche Mexicana 2019,” a celebration of Mexican music and dance, at 8 p.m. on Friday in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College in Torrance. Son jarocho, son huasteco, son guerrerense, and mariachi are featured. Tickets, $30 to $15. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org
Book discussion in Redondo
Senior librarian Erin Schoonover leads a lively discussion about “The House on Mango Street,” by Sandra Cisneros, 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. Read the book and talk about it or just show up and listen in. Free. (310) 318-0675, option 5, or go to redondo.org/library.
Wednesday, September 18
Godot’s coming home
“On Beckett,” conceived and performed by Bill Irwin, opens at 8 p.m. in the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City. The actor explores his own personal “actor’s relationship” to the Nobel Prize-winning Irish writer. Through Oct. 27. Tickets, $75 to $30. Call (213) 972-4400 or go to CenterTheatreGroup.org. ER