South Bay arts calendar – Jan. 30 to Feb. 5
Picture this, and that
Photo L.A. features a range of contemporary photography as well as important and rare historical images from over 60 local and international galleries and dealers. Thursday through Sunday in the Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave, Santa Monica Friday, January 31
A box of kleenex, please
“Songs of Heartbreak and Homeland,” a concert presented by the Beach Cities Symphony and conducted by Paul Piazza, takes place at 8 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. The concert is free, and there’s a pre-event lecture at 7:15 p.m. The program features music by Holst, Beethoven, Puccini (the “Vissi D’Arte” from “Tosca,” sung by Erin Wood), and Dvorak. (310) 374-7461 or go to beachcitiessymphony.org.
Captured in time
“Moments,” a solo photography exhibition by Linda Ann Detwiler Burner, has a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the El Camino College Library, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance. It includes a photo essay entitled “Sunny Side Up at the Tot.” Through February. Details at LindaDetwilerBurner.com.
Little Fish Theatre’s 2020 season continues with the ever-popular “Pick of the Vine,” a collection of one-act plays chosen from over 670 submissions from around the world. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., plus Sunday at 2 p.m. and then with a closing performance at 7 p.m. Tickets, $28 general; $26 seniors, and $15 for those 25-and-under who can recite the word “Hipster.” Prices do not include $1 ticket service fee. The theater is at 777 S. Centre St, San Pedro. (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
Best of the short films
The San Pedro International Film Festival is sponsoring screenings of the 2020 Oscar-nominated short films, with the live action shorts at 7 p.m. in the Terrace Starlight Cinemas (on Western Ave.). The animated shorts will screen at 7 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 4, and the documentary shorts will screen at 7 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The Warner Grand is at 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. More if you visit spiffest.org.
Saturday, February 1
An oasis among us
“Small Wonders: Discoveries on the Madrona Marsh,” an exhibition by 15 members of the Photographic and Digital Artists of the Palos Verdes Art Center, has a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Madrona Marsh Nature Center, 3201 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance. (310) 782-3989.
Greg Mullen signs his new book, “Creating a Self-Directed Environment: Standards-Based and Social-Emotional Learning” (Corwin Press) from 12 to 2 p.m. at Dave’s Olde Book Shop, 2123 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach. Not for everyone, I’m guessing, but perhaps of interest to teachers and administrators. More at ExploringTheCore.com.
A sense of play
Cirque FLIP Fabrique performs “Blizzard” at 8 p.m. in the Carpenter Center, 6200 E. Atherton St, Long Beach. For tickets, call (562) 985-7000 or go to carpenterarts.org.
Don’t look back!
A new opera on an old theme, “Eurydice,” music by Matthew Aucoin and libretto by Sarah Ruhl, opens at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, downtown Los Angeles in the Music Center. Danielle de Niese as Eurydice; Rod Gilfry as her father. Tickets, $289 to $15. Call (213) 972-8001 or go to laopera.org.
Tuesday, February 4
An underground opera
The Opera League of Los Angeles present’s an opera talk from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for “Eurydice,” which has six performances through Feb. 23 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (see listing for Saturday above). Free; light refreshments. It takes place in the second floor meeting 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. ER