South Bay arts calendar for Sept. 27-Oct. 3
Surf City Theatre’s production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” is onstage Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Second Story Theatre, 710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Tickets, $28. Pictured, the entire cast, l-r: John Mann, Jason Cook, Jessica Gable, Aaron Fitzgerald, Lindsey Jacobs, Lior Burlin, Jeremy Krasovic, and Geraldine Fuentes. Photo . (424) 241-8040 or go to surfcitytheatre.com
True Romantics
“Bloody Poetry,” written by Howard Benton, plunges into the bohemian lives of Lord Byron, his mistress, and the Shelleys… one of the outcomes of their gathering together is Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein.” The play opens at Little Fish Theatre, 777 S. Centre St., San Pedro. Opening night tickets are $23. Otherwise, prices for the show, which runs mostly Wednesdays and Thursdays, are $27 general and $25 seniors, with $15 tickets for those 25 and under who use the code word “Hipster.” Through Oct. 18. Call (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
Labyrinthine times
“Dark Harbor,” with its myriad mazes and ghoulish entertainment, is now opening and runs through Nov. 2 at and in the Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, in Long Beach. Tickets begin at $20 online, with frills and thrills added for extra bucks. Lots of specialty cocktails this year, such as the Watery Grave and the Pickled Punk. Details at queenmary.com/dark-harbor.
Saturday, September 29
Spot-on
“Ride the Wild Wheels,” photography by Spot, and former producer of early album releases by Black Flag, the Minutemen, Descendents, Meat Puppets and Husker Du, etc., opens with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. at Pacific Coast Gallery, 205 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. If you miss it, or if you want to relive it, there’s a second artist reception on Sat., Oct 6, from 7 to 10 p.m. The show closes Nov 3, with yet another reception (and panel discussion) at 7 p.m. Call (310) 853-3564 or go to pacificcoast.gallery/.
Give your ears a challenge
“The Art of the Shamisen,” being the Japanese three-stringed lute, features Honjoh Hidetaro and Ensemble at 2 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Includes performances, demonstrations, narratives, and onstage interviews with the musicians. Japanese dancers will accompany some of the music. Tickets, $25, $30, $40. Call (310) 781-7171 or for more information visit honjoh.co.jp.
All good things must end
David Fairchild’s “Salton Sea Images,” his photographic study of the mystery and solitude of the Salton Sea, images taken between 1998 and 2010, has its closing reception from 7 to 10 p.m. at Studio 361, located at 361 W. Seventh St., San Pedro. Examples of Fairchild’s other work are also on view. Light refreshments. (617) 821-7408.
“Dangerous Obsession,” by N.J. Crisp, and directed by Kathy Dershimer, is onstage through Oct. 13 at the Kentwood Players, in the Westchester Playhouse at 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets, $22, less $2 for seniors, students, and servicemen. The show stars Dylan Bailey, T. Samantha Barrios, and Michael Willens. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org
Who murdered Wellington?
The National Theatre Live Series production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is being screened at 2 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. If only they had evening screenings… Tickets, $17.50. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.
Tuesday, October 2
Get behind the scenes
The Opera League of Los Angeles presents an opera talk on “Satyagraha,” a grand work by Philip Glass that is coming to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The opera was inspired by Gandhi’s early years in South Africa where he developed his ideas of non-violent political resistance. Free. It runs from 6:30 to 7:30 in the second floor meeting room of the Redondo Main Library, 303 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach. (310) 318-0675 op. 5, or visit redondo.org/library.
From Michelangelo to Mannerism
Artful Days, the monthly art talk held in the George Nakano Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, goes from 12:10 to 1 p.m. and the topic this month is “Italy After the Renaissance,” when Catholicism saw the emergence of Protestantism, and the High Renaissance gave us European Mannerism which later led to the Baroque and Rococo. Free. (310) 618-2378 or go to TorranceCA.Gov.
Just for the ladies
The 16th annual Girls’ Night Out (“Just for the Ladies”) is taking place Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Comedy and Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. The fundraiser celebrates the women in our lives who have been touched by cancer. But don’t be glum… There’s lots of fun and laughter. Or, in their words,”Don your festive attire and get ready to party in pink!” Festivities begin each evening at 5:30 p.m. Reservations, $100 per person. (310) 376-3550 or go to GirlsNightOutCSCRB. ER