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This week, I want to shed light on some indie gems that everyone should be on the lookout for, be it in the smaller art house-type theatres or on VOD. Each bodes strong female voices and performances, the latter two - MAN FROM RENO and APARTMENT TROUBLES - find directors pushing the envelope and developing their own skill sets and storytelling techniques, while, EFFIE GRAY, takes us back in time to 19th century London and the story of a scandalous female historical figure. EFFIE GRAY Leave it...
Casting has been set for the 24th STreet Theatre award-winning production of "Walking the Tightrope," which will be remounted for the Kirk Douglas Theatre presentation of four public performances only, May 2 and 3 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Student performances will take place April 28 through May 1.) Written by Mike Kenny and directed by Debbie Devine, "Walking the Tightrope" features a cast of Mark Bramhall, Tony Duran and Micaela Martinez as well as live music by Michael Redfield. This play is...
I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or Al Pacino us just getting better, but between his recent tour de force in "The Humbling" and now DANNY COLLINS, I have fallen in love with him as an actor. The nuance that he brings is electrifying and emotionally enticing and fulfilling and never moreso than as DANNY COLLINS. Written and directed by Dan Fogelman, DANNY COLLINS is, as the screen credits playfully note, "Kind of based on a true story a little bit." That true story is a real...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Music Director Jeffrey Kahane served as musical “tour guide” for LACO’s annual “Discover” program, which this season featured a special one-night-only exploration of Mozart’s incomparable and deeply moving Requiem in D minor at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. For this performance, Kahane enlisted the services of four very capable soloists: Alison King, soprano; Emily Fons, alto; Nicholas Phan, tenor; Aubrey Allicock, b...
Center Theatre Group is hosting an open casting call for the four student members of the Dead Leaders Club and supporting roles in Alexis Scheer's "Our Dear Dead Dr Holds Open Casting Call Lord" at Center Theatre Group / Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City playing August 20 through September 17, 2023, which is produced in association with IAMA Theatre Company. The casting call will be held by Center Theatre Group, IAMA Theatre Company, and production casting director Jordan Bass at Atwater...
Let's just start by saying, Colin is King! We have always known that Colin Firth is the perfect romantic leading man, the perfect "Single Man", a man among men who can tug at the heartstrings and make women swoon as easily as lead a country into battle, but who knew he was an action hero! One look at Firth in KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE and it's pretty clear who the next James Bond should be. Firth is fabulous as he blends the gentility, style, propriety, manners and elegance of the perfect Bri...
Culver City High School Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (AVPA) presents...A Chorus Line, the ultimate celebration of the American Musical. Share in the story of 17 dancers competing for a few coveted spots in the chorus of a Broadway musical. Through the audition they bare their souls while sharing stories of their childhood, ambitions, fears, and experiences in show business. This groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is for anyone who has ever put it all on the line, whether it is...
Time for rebirth and rejuvenation with another trip to Jaipur, India to visit with "The Dames"(Judi and Maggie, collectively, as they are referred to by screenwriter Ol Parker) and company, all of whom we find are still happily residing as their respective characters at the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. When we last saw our favorite group of British retirees, each had left their native England to head to what was advertised as a luxurious retirement hotel in Jaipur - the Best Exotic Marigold...
Ringing my bell with laughter is THE WEDDING RINGER. Directed by Jeremy Garelick and co-written by Garelick and Jay Lavender, THE WEDDING RINGER goes into what is, in many respects, virginal best man territory, putting Kevin Hart and Josh Gad together for one of the best bromances ever and some of the biggest laughs you'll see on screen. Calling on the likes of Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Ken Howard, Mimi Rogers, Olivia Thirlby, Jenifer Lewis and Cloris Leachman, comedy veterans rush the end zone and...
Kentwood Players presents the Tony Award winning musical MAME with book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, from Friday, March 13 to Saturday, April 18, 2015 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm. Due to popular demand there is an additional 2 pm matinee on Saturday, April 18. All performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles. The production is directed by Ben Lupejkis with...
Hot off Oscar-weekend, this week brings a fresh crop of films to tickle your film fancy. David Cronenberg and screenwriter Bruce Wagner collaborate to bring us the delicious (albeit polarizing) "Maps to the Stars" with newly minted Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Mia Wasikowska, Robert Pattinson, Olivia Williams and Evan Bird in this tale of a dysfunctional, incestuous Hollywood family. As is expected in a Cronenberg film, and a Wagner script or novel, the envelope is pushed, metaphor...
I have never known the world without Paddington Bear. Born into the literary world around the same time as myself in 1958, Michael Bond's "A Bear Called Paddington" has been a mainstay of not only my life, but for generations of kids who came after me (including my nephews). Paddington Bear was just like me; he was a child. And despite all of Paddington's worldly education and manners taught him in "Darkest Peru" by his Aunt and Uncle, he had all the wide-eyed wonder, rose-colored glasses,...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter Buffalo Springfield and Poco legendary singer-songwriter Richie Furay made an appearance with his band on Wednesday at The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live for a Q & A and performance, and to kick-off his concert tour promoting his new solo album, “Hand In Hand.” The cover of “Hand In Hand” features the wedding photo of Furay, 70, and his wife of 48 years, Nancy. The two met at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood, where Nancy caught his eye and became the ins...
The Culver City Symphony Orchestra continues its 2014-15 season with the concert: For Young Musicians. The concert is Saturday, February 28, 8 pm at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave. at Culver Blvd. There is free parking, entering from Culver Blvd. For this concert CCSO presents the full symphony orchestra in intimate Veterans Memorial Auditorium for a big sound in a smallish space. Plus, we present the Junior Division Winner from our Parness Concerto Competition. This concert is...
The Board of Directors for Center Theatre Group, which includes the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, elected Kiki Ramos Gindler as President of the Board at the organization’s board meeting on February 12. With this appointment, Gindler becomes the organization’s first Latina president as well as the Music Center’s first Latina board leader. Gindler will succeed William H. Ahmanson, who assumes the position of chairman of the board. “Kiki shares my passion for live theatre and the power that it has to change lives and build communities. Her...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter Since his debut release of "Crazy Life" in 1975, Gino Vanneli has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music and is passionate and true to his art. His standing as a powerful and innovative live performer and his well-crafted musical skills as composer, poet, producer and arranger are sharper than ever, as many of his enthusiastic fans can attest. Vanelli has sold over 10 million records worldwide, with hits including "I Just Wanna...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter His name comes from the 19th century Austrian composer who wrote "Hansel & Gretel." His voice comes from heaven and he has been a legend in the international music industry for the last forty plus years, with over 150 million records sold. That singer is Engelbert Humperdinck and he will take the stage at Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on February 20. Some of his classic hits include: (Please) Release Me, After The Lovin', Spanish Eyes, The Last Waltz, Am I...
Powerhouse Latino theatre group Culture Clash's "Chavez Ravine: An L.A. Revival," opened Wednesday (February 4) at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Performances will run through March 1. This revisited and reimagined "Chavez Ravine" is directed by Lisa Peterson (who was at the helm of the world premiere in 2003 at the Mark Taper Forum) and features Culture Clash's Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza along with Sabina Zuniga Varela and musicians Vaneza M...
STRANGE MUSIC is music to my heart! Think an animated "Moulin Rouge!" that embraces the George Lucas ideals of dark & light, finding beauty and love in the darkest places, experiencing incredible new worlds, and all set in another kind of galaxy far, far away, this one comprised of The Fairy Kingdom and The Dark Forest. Yes. George Lucas. The man behind the mythical worlds of The Fairy Kingdom and The Dark Forest (also the man behind The Empire and The Force) has a soft side, an animated side,...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter “Raindrops ‘were’ fallin’ on my head” at the Grammy Museum when B.J. Thomas took the stage to speak about his singing career in a special Q & A and performance For six decades, Thomas, a five-time Grammy-winning artist, has been entertaining his fans with one of the most distinctive voices in American popular music. Along the way, he has made over 30 albums, He caught the singing bug at a very early age. His dad would play a Hank Williams album and Hank...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter Neil Sedaka - singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, and author – will be performing at Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills as part of the KABC Legends Series on February 7. And living legend he is. There are just a few of the titles that can be used to describe Sedaka. His impressive 50-year career ranges from being one of the first teen pop sensations of the ‘50’s, a relevant songwriter who wrote songs for himself and other artists in the ‘60’s, to being a s...
It’s a wild weekend on the big and small screens this weekend with the Super Bowl on tv and some powerhouse films opening in the theatres. On the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act come two films focused on racial divide. The one, BLACK OR WHITE, written and directed by Mike Binder and starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer with an Oscar-worthy turn by Anthony Mackie, approaches the issue from the perspective of child custody and two loving grandparents - one White and o...
Anyone who knows me or who has read any of my reviews or interviews over the past few decades knows of my admiration and affection for action films, stunt work, Jason Statham and director Simon West. Put all of those ingredients together, and toss in a screenplay by William Goldman, and I'm in. Needless to say, you can imagine my excitement for WILD CARD as it not only blends all of these elements in this slick, as-to-be-expected reflective and brooding crime drama, but minimizes the action...
STRANGE MUSIC is music to my heart! Think an animated "Moulin Rouge!" that embraces the George Lucas ideals of dark & light, finding beauty and love in the darkest places, experiencing incredible new worlds, and all set in another kind of galaxy far, far away, this one comprised of The Fairy Kingdom and The Dark Forest. Yes. George Lucas. The man behind the mythical worlds of The Fairy Kingdom and The Dark Forest (also the man behind The Empire and The Force) has a soft side, an animated side,...
Based on a true story, with a script by Eric J. Adams, director Deon Taylor explores the dividing lines of race, family and the hate that fuels those lines with an intensity that at times is almost overwhelming with explosive emotion with SUPREMACY. Garrett Tully, a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, had just been released from the maximum security Pelican Bay State Prison not 15 hours earlier when he kills a state trooper. Now a fugitive and on the run, with the help of Doreen, a friend to the...
