South Bay arts calendar – Sept. 26 to Oct. 2
“The Janitor” is a comic opera written and composed by faculty member William E. Doyle, and it’s being staged at 8 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Expect a wild ride with this one. Tickets, $21, $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or visit centerforthearts.org
Don’t cry, come see it
“Evita: In Concert” features music from “Evita,” with its Tony-winning score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It’s being performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Features the music and the cast, but is not a stage production. Tickets, $70 to $35. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
Moving gracefully
La Imperial Dance Studio, located in Redondo Beach, presents its “Hollywood Dance Showcase,” choreographed by Vard Margaryan, at 7 p.m. in the Hermosa Beach Community Theater, 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach. Dance inspired by Hollywood films. Tickets, $29. Call (310) 372-7600.
Someone may get hurt
“The Deadly Game” continues its theatrical run at the Second Story Theatre, 710 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach. The Surf City Theatre production, directed by Nicole Parsons (story in last week’s Easy Reader) plays Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. It concludes next weekend: Oct. 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets, $28. Call (424) 241-8040 or go to surfcitytheatre.com.
A man with convictions
Dr. Cornel West, author, professor, and intellectual provocateur, speaks on the theme “Rise of Racism in America: Revisiting ‘Race Matters,’” from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Torodome Gymnasium at California State University, Dominguez Hills, located at 1000 E. Victoria St, Carson. Free. More at csudh.edu.
“New School Abstract,” juried by Sarah Svetlana, Preston Smith, and Mike Collins, is on view through the month at ShockBoxx, 636 Cypress Ave., Hermosa Beach. Pictured, “Suitcase” by Broni Likomanov. More at shockboxxproject.com
“La Bohème” simulcast in Torrance
LA Opera’s “La Bohème,” its season opener, is being broadcast for free at 7:30 p.m. at Columbia Regional Park, 4045 190th Street, Torrance (located on 190th St. between Hawthorne Blvd and Prairie Ave. Parking lots accessible from 186th St, 190th St, and Prairie. Bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets. The pre-show begins at 5:30. The Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers will perform songs from their recent Motown concert as well as this past summer’s concert tour to Russia. Selections include “Dancing in the Street,” a medley of Stevie Wonder songs, “True Light” and “City Called Heaven.” The event ends at 10:30 p.m. For more about the free live opera broadcast, call (213) 972-3157 or go to laopera.org/operainthepark.
Who’ll clean up this mess?
“The Janitor” is a comic opera written and composed by faculty member William E. Doyle, and it’s being staged at 8 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Campus Theatre at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. The work “embarks on a comical ride through time and space, upending longstanding views of creation, the universe, scholars, beloved fairy tales, and even airline safety demonstrations.” Tickets, $21, $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or visit centerforthearts.org.
A milestone for Destination: Art
Kicking off its fifth anniversary with a founders’ show, Destination: Art honors those artists that have been with the group since the start, including Suzanne Kuuskmae, Al Hagan, Vickie Sekits, Linda Thompson, Jean Comings, Margaret Lindsey, and current president Dave Wolfram. Returning founders include Lois Olsen, Lorene Baker, Ann Rode, Joy Gonzalez, Rosemary Bandes, and Richard Stephens. From 3 to 6 p.m. at 1815 W. 213th St., Suite 135, Torrance. Scholb Brewery will be kicking in some premium artisan beers, in case you’re sitting on the fence. Through Nov. 3. Call (310) 742-3192 or go to destination-art.net.
Let’s be dazzled
“South Bay’s Got Talent” is back once more, open to all ages and genres of performing, and it takes place at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Tickets, $30, $25, $10. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to TorranceArts.org.
Four-stringed wonder
The Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Various performers, including Batkithi Kumalo who worked with Paul Simon on his “Graceland” album. Tickets, $45 general; $20 students with ID at the door; free for those 12 and under. (800) 595-4849 or go to losangelesukulelefestival.com.
Conjuring up a legend
“Windy Sings Whitney” features Windy Barnes Farrell singing the music of Whitney Houston at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Farrell has sung and toured with Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Bolton. Tickets, $27 general; $32 cabaret; and $37 front row cabaret. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
Blues artist Diana Rein performs at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro. Her new album, “Queen of My Castle,” is on Gulf Coast Records. Tickets, $20. Call (310) 833-7538 or go to alvasshowroom.com
Free Japanese animated film
“Mirai,” a film by Mamoru Hosoda, was an Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Film, and it’s being screened at 2 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Doors open one hour before showtime; it’s free, so come early to get the seat of your choice. (310) 781-7171.
The queen’s reign
Blues artist Diana Rein brings her “Queen of My Castle” album tour (Gulf Coast Records) to Alva’s Showroom for a 4 p.m. concert. Alva’s is at 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro. Tickets are $20. Call (310) 833-7538 or go to alvasshowroom.com/event/diana-rein/.
Tuesday, October 1
Awareness and celebration
The 17th annual “Girls Night Out,” sponsored by Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach, takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. each evening at The Comedy & Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach. This sell-out event that’s just for the ladies celebrates the women in our lives, who have been touched by any type of cancer, with an evening of fun and humor. Proceeds help to fun the free cancer support program at CSCRB. Reservations, $100. Call (310) 376-3550 or go to GirlsNightOutCSCRB.org.
Anti-sexist activist
Byron Hurt discusses how race, class, and gender oppression intersect, how homophobia and transphobia make LGBT communities vulnerable to male violence, and so forth and so on, in “Locker Room Talk or Toxic Masculinity?” at 7 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Tickets, $24 to $10. Call (800) 832-ARTS or go to centerforthearts.org. ER