It’s become something of a tradition at the annual Whitefire Theatres Solofest to end the by now epic run of 80 shows in 90 days, with a Whitefire classic, ”Billie, Backstage with Lady Day.”
Directed by Bryan Rasmussen, the artistic director of Solofest and everything Whitefire and starring the incomparable, Synthia L. Hardy as the lady herself.
It’s a gorgeous piece of theatre and always a joyous finale to what’s become the biggest solo festival on the west coast and the second biggest in the entire country. The live band is authentic and exceptional and Ms Hardy’s rendition of one of the greatest artists of our time is quite remarkable.
We wondered how this blissful show came to be. So we asked!!
What drew you to Billie Holidays story and led to the creation of this show?
I’ve always loved jazz and blues, even as a child. So, it was the music that I was attracted to first. Later, as I was reading about her I discovered little know stories about her. That’s when I decided to write the play. A couple of years after starting the writing I worked with Bryan Rasmussen, director of my show and long time friend. The end result is what you see on stage today.
How did you put the band together?
We didn’t have the band in the beginning. On Billie Holiday’s 100th birthday we decided to add the band. They’ve been there ever since. I can’t see the show being done without them at this point. I had worked with these guys at some point or another over the years and we were friends. Lanny Hartley, the piano player, I know from a church where he played and I sang in the choir. Mark Allen Felton, sax player, I’ve known since the early 90’s. He, also, played for our church. I met Bobby Wilkerson, the drummer when we were doing tribute to Motown and Oldies shows. Michael Saucier, bassist, I met on a temp job at a law firm. so, I’ve know them all for many years. I asked them to play for the show. They did and here we are. They add so much to the show.
Billie Holiday is timeless, how does her story stay so relevant?
First of all, it’s the music. Secondly, her life story is amazing, sad, triumphant. She was a great singer and jazz musicians and singers all over the world are familiar with her. Some of the subject matter is still relevant today: racism; drugs; family relations; etc.
This show is such a perfect balance of music and story. How did you decide on the structure of the show?
Bryan Rasmussen’s direction helped to structure and shape it so that it flowed well.
How did the collaboration with Bryan Rasmussen and the Whitefire Theatre come about?
As I stated above, Bryan and I have been friends for years. I joined a class he was giving at the Whitefire Theatre. We started working on the show and produced it there in 2009.
The Whitefire is a landmark space for the unusual, the experimental, the classic and the most eclectic collection of some of the most brilliant theatre in Los Angeles. Solofest is a masterpiece and brilliantly executed by Bryan, Jessica Lynn Johnson and the team at the Whitefire. It’s an incredible feat of organization, fueled by their sheer faith in humanity, to create, perform and to just show up! We salute you!!!!
Improving stamina and endurance is one of the biggest reasons people go to the gym.
The rise of different training methods has made it even easier to achieve improved endurance and stamina. Below, we will take a look at some of the things people are doing to improve their stamina at the gym.
Less Time Between Sets
Most people have a 30 to 90 second recovery time between sets. While this is great, if you want to improve your endurance, you have to reduce the amount of time between your sets. Your muscles should be burning at the end of exercising, and you should also be sweating and breathing heavily. You should only stop when you have to or if you feel an injury coming.
Choose Exercises That Target More Than One Joint or Muscle
Compound exercising requires that you do exercises that target more than one joint, muscle or group of muscles. This will not only improve your endurance but it will also help these different joints and muscles become accustomed to working together. Exercises that isolate one joint, muscle or group of muscles will not help improve your endurance.
Integrate Fast-paced, High-intensity Lifts
Lifting weights at a fast pace has two advantages; it helps improve your strength and stamina at the same time. Fast-paced, high-intensity lifting also helps spur your metabolism into action and is a very good way to lose weight if you have to. Also, note that doing endurance-only exercises slows your metabolism down since it eats away at muscle tissue.
Have Balance
Even if pushing yourself and changing the way you work out will help improve your endurance, do not forget that your body needs rest. Slowing down and doing something else you love is a good way of getting this balance but sleep is even better. Get adequate, high-quality sleep so your body has what it takes to go the following day. The best way to ensure this happens is to check out reviews of the best mattresses with memory foam and make the investment. This type of mattress will give you a good balance between support and comfort for better sleep.
Alter Your Routine
Doing the same routines every day can make your body fall into a lull. Try switching up your training routines so that your body becomes accustomed to going or working whenever you need it. If you are used to running, you could try cycling instead.
Integrate Explosive Exercises
Explosive exercises, such as jumping over three stairs or from the floor and onto a stool, take a lot of energy. They also help with endurance and stamina. Once you get used to doing it a few times, you will find that it becomes easier. Burpees, jumping knee tucks, pushups and burpees are all good examples of explosive exercises you could try.
Combine Strength and Cardio Training
This goes with the whole idea of compound training. If you combine these exercises, you will be challenging your cardiovascular and skeletomuscular systems at the same time. Instead of doing only cardio exercises, which have been shown to lower endurance, add strength training to your routine. If you cycle a bit, do some lifts and you should see your endurance improve. Another good example is jumping rope, then doing an overhead press, then squats and sit-ups. Once you are done, repeat.
Increase the Duration of Your Exercises
Building endurance can be a long process. Start gradually increasing the amount of time you spend exercising. Start by doing it once a week and then add more days as you become more comfortable and used to long training sessions. If you feel that you are exerting yourself too much, try to reduce the intensity of your exercising while still having long workouts.
Add Ultra-intense Workouts
This should be done once a week. To build your endurance, pick a day of the week and go as hard as you can. Ensure that the intensity of the training is manageable to ensure that you do not injure yourself.
Improving your endurance can seem challenging but it is doable. The only thing to keep in mind is being careful not to exert yourself too much to the point of hurting yourself. The tips outlined above should be a good place to start if you want to improve your endurance.
DURING COVID19 please use delivery/takeout to get your yummy dishes from the Front Yard | 4222 Vineland Ave.
Did you know? It’s been 100 years since the end of Prohibition? So how does one local North Hollywood establishment celebrate? With cocktails, of course!
As a toast to the 100th anniversary of Prohibition, The Front Yard at The Garland is bringing cocktails of that era back to life with a modern take on some speakeasy favorites. Reminisce on the roaring twenties by indulging in any of the five specialty cocktails, available Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to close and, Friday and Saturday from 11 p.m. to close.
The full prohibition cocktail menu ($9/each) includes:
Welcome to The Garland, an urban oasis where you can enjoy the casual comforts of home and immerse yourself in the action of LA, all in our backyard. Your experience is made complete with a welcoming vibe and modern amenities to keep you plugged in, yet completely relaxed. We’re perfectly situated minutes away from LA’s best attractions, large entertainment and production studios.
And with our restaurant, The Front Yard, you can find yourself sharing a meal on the stunning outdoor patio or sipping perfect cocktails by the fireplace. The approachable menu celebrates the Los Angeles food scene.
It’s all happening here — check in and check us out.
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
Planning a wedding is no easy task. There are so many things to remember and moving parts to juggle. It is so easy for little things to get forgotten.
Gifts are one of the most common things to end up neglecting when planning your wedding. Don’t put it off until the last minute to buy your nuptial gifts or it may be too late.
Some people only focus on gifts for the wedding party, while others like to give a little something to all of the guests so they have something to remember. The real trick is to give something that is useful and not at all boring. Something they would like to have displayed in their home in other words.
The groomsmen
It may seem like it’s easy to buy for guys. And it is actually. But, when you ask somebody to be a groomsman, you are telling that person that they are somebody special.
With this in mind, the gift should also be something special. It should be something that is going to get some use and not sit in an attic. Even better if that gift is something meaningful.
Here are a couple examples of personalized gifts you can buy online from stores like Groomsshop.
Pocket watches are very hip and trendy right now and giving somebody a personalized one will be very much appreciated. Get it in black so it doesn’t look out of place with any kind of style your groomsman might like to wear.
A Dopp bag is a gift that can actually be used even before the wedding. If you have a bachelor party somewhere with an overnight stay, then these travel toiletry bags will come in really handy.
The bridal party
A day at the spa is something that will be much needed to calm the nerves of the bride and her bridesmaids. It may not be personalized and something that can be displayed, but it will definitely be an appreciated gift.
If you would rather give an actual physical gift then an instant camera is something that can be used for years afterwards. It will be fun to see some of the pictures they take during the wedding.
Cosmetic bags personalized with their name can also be useful for a bachelorette party that is on the road. And it will surely get used for other trips in the future.
Wedding favors
When a wedding favor is something that makes somebody smile when they think about you and your wedding, then you know you’ve done it right.
Mini bottles of wine will be a hit especially if it is the same wine served at the wedding. Make sure it is a good wine though!
Other food type gifts are also good like infused olive oils or vinegars. They can always keep the jar later on to refill or just use as decoration after the oil is consumed.
If you are a traditional type, then giving candied almonds wrapped in lace pockets will go over nicely with the folks that remember when that was a tradition.
Written by Willard Manus. Directed by Daniel Keough.
Running through March 29, Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
The Brickhouse Theatre, 10950 Peach Grove St, North Hollywood, CA 91601
The folks at the Write Act Repertory have a knack for dramatizing fascinating and important political stories that otherwise might not be exactly common knowledge.
This particular play brings us the story of Greek freedom fighter Alexander Panagoulis and his love, Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci.
Set in Greece just after the collapse of the military dictatorship, it outlines the relationship between Fallaci and Panogoulis. One a famous and celebrated writer, the other a hero, recently released from prison, put there for his opposition to the government and tortured in prison for those beliefs.
As they fall in love and struggle to maintain a passionate relationship while living in different countries, we witness the continued battle to remain free, to protect the values of democracy and the risks some will take to ensure justice.
It’s a dramatic story, a true story, one seemed destined for the big screen. It is so full of drama and passion and the best and worst of humanity. It’s also brilliantly told in this intimate and inspiring production. The roles are epic and any actor would be thrilled to sink their teeth into them. These two fine actors are compelling, gorgeously natural and absolutely excellent. We believe them and they become these roles totally.
I love how Write Act rises to everything they produce. They are boldly driven toward stories of freedom, excellence and sacrifice, and their productions never miss their mark. This production is as successfully executed and deftly directed as everything they do and I can highly recommend it. Lisa Robins as Fallaci is strong, sexy and fabulous to watch and Ilia Volok as Panogoulis is inspiring and heartbreaking. Rico Simonini as Panogoulis’s friend and business partner is also really wonderful and the writing, by the prolific Willard Manus, is vivid and convincing. Bravo!!!
I look forward to Write Act’s next thrilling production.
When L A Music Scene first spotted actor/comedian/writer Brian Posehn it was at a Ronnie James Dio Cancer Fundraiser last May 2019. It was quite a surprise as fitness guy Jack Witt and L A Music Scene looked at each other and said isn’t that the guy that was the geologist on “Big Bang Theory” and the mailroom guy on “Just Shoot Me?”
“Who knew?” we said as Posehn headed to the backstage area to mingle with all of the Metal acts that were attending the fundraiser in order to play and pay tribute to Dio. Posehn sure doesn’t resemble the stereotyped personification of a Metal rocker, and yet there he was digging the Metal scene and having fun. Witt and L A Music Scene just sat on a bench near the backstage entrance very envious of Posehn and not believing our eyes.
Enter a press release that announces that Posehn has teamed up with Anthrax’s Scott Ian to release a Metal album titled “Grandpa Metal” and it’s said to be the “perfect unorthodox-Valentine’s Day album.” As we read it we were going “ah-ha” it all makes sense now; while this could easily have slammed others into a brick wall while going “what the” that did not know what Witt and L A Music Scene already knew…Posehn is a Metal Head.
When L A Music Scene queried Michele Coombe, Executive Assistant to Parsons at Siren Artist Management, about Posehn’s being at the Dio fundraiser in May of 2019 she said that “I can tell you that he has been a regular on that scene forever; I’m pretty sure since the 80’s. That dude is always out watching Metal bands.”
Parsons and Coombe are the ones that stage the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Fundraiser every year along with Dio’s widow, Wendy. This last one was the fifth one and was their most successful one thus far. Even Dave Grohl came that day to jam with singer Ricky Warwick, Black Star Riders/Thin Lizzy/Almighty; bass player Robert Crane, Black Star Rider/Vince Neil Band and guitar player Keith Nelson, the original Buckcherry lineup. The next one is slated for May 17th, 2020 and who knows maybe Posehn and Ian will put in an appearance and treat all the attendees to their new album…”Grandpa Metal.”
As for Coombe’s response to Posehn’s being a Metal act, she was as surprised as Witt and L A Music Scene were and said “Well, didn’t know that he (Posehn) was a musician so there you go.”
When it comes to the record “Grandpa Metal,” it’s a very tight and listener friendly piece of ear candy which is sure to please the more discerning tastes of Metal music fans. Witt, a devout Metal music aficionado, said that the tracks are “Cool enough to like. A little tongue n’ cheek which I find fun in a throwback kind of way.”
Witt added that “Scott Ian is a legend on the Metal scene and really brings some true credibility to the project. I became an Anthrax fan when John Bush from Armored Saint became their singer for awhile.”
At the time of the interview with Witt, his best friend Steve Throop had just passed away from cancer and Witt was feeling a bit a sad, but had many fond memories of the two of them attending Metal concerts while going to high school in Cleveland, Ohio during the 80s. “We saw all of the Metal bands passing through. The energy was just raucous and raw. All those bands were young and were up and coming back then and we (Witt and Throop) were young and wild.”
As for “Grandpa Metal” and its substance, it is produced by Jay Ruston and is on MegaForce Records. Guest appearances by a Metal all star line up that includes members of Slipknot, Slayer and Testament plus Weird Al Yankovic. This cannot help but entertain your funny bone as well as perk up your Metal “Bone.” “Grandpa Metal’ is slated for a Valentine’s Day release.
This truly is an aggregate of the blending of Comedy and Metal…dig it!
Also recently released and/or soon to be released are a monster list of acts that L A Music Scene hasn’t covered as well as “old” friends.
In January rapper Eminem released “Music To Be Murdered By” which has Rap that is faster than a speeding bullet and is not an older and toned down Eminen/Slim Shady. Quite the opposite.
The rapper appeared on the recent Oscar Awards Show performing “Lose Yourself” which was a pleasant detour from most of the show and gave us our “Slim Shady” singing about “Mom’s Spaghetti” from his “8 Mile” movie that won an Oscar 18 years ago, but did not appear to accept the award or perform it due to scheduling conflicts. His appearance did leave most of the Oscar viewing public and attendees a bit bewildered until it was remembered that his appearance might have been 18 years late, but at least Eminem made it…right. Thank you Eminem for a riveting performance.
Also slated for Valentine’s Day release are up and coming Lovely World’s “Edge Of Time” which features edgy chops and not much like The Scorpions’ song with the same title or “Dr.Who’s” song with the same name. More like Arctic Monkeys on steroids…it sizzles. And then there is Bryan Conner Music’s “Wild Heart” which is a smooth Country-ish song. Perfect tune for Valentine’s Day. Conner is from a Country band that we were once big on called Highway Down which had a great set list of songs that were written by Connor that were very appealing and also a few covers…no “Sweet Home Alabama,” thank heavens.
Veteran Rocker Johnny Jetson just released a single titled “Love Me For My Car” which harkens back to Marc Bolan/ T-Rex and is a cool tune that is not too complicated or too long. It is no wonder that it is getting air-play on Rodney Bingenheimer’s show on Sirius XM.
Damian Sage is set to release “Union Town” March 16 which is a score for a TV show about what else…Unions. This song really resonates and reminds one of Cat Stevens when he was politically correct in the late 60s.
All the above releases are available on Spotify, itunes and all the usual streaming channels.
Classic Country band Midland is set to release their “cheatin’ songs” from their live show at The Palomino Club on February 28. Their show at The Palomino appeared in the November 2019 L A Music Scene and is worth a reread or a first time read in you’ve never heard of these bad boys of Country Music.
When you’re running a small non-profit organization there’s always a lot to keep up with, and it can be difficult to devote as much time as you’d like towards managing your money.
While you can get away with doing just the basics most of the time, doing more will put you in a better position if things go wrong and will give you a much better chance of growing your non-profit over time, and keeping it in robust financial health. These tips will help.
Take the time to budget
Keep close track of money before it’s spent by drawing up regular budgets and integrating project budgets with your main one. Always allow 10% to 20% for overspend, depending on the level of risk in each area. Be realistic, do your research before projecting costs and make sure there’s clear accountability for what gets spent in each area.
Keep communicating about cost
Just as you’ll need advice from others within your organization to make initial cost projections, you’ll need to make sure that you get feedback from them about what’s happening with costs in reality. This means that people need to feel able to tell you if costs have got out of control or if they need you to find extra money so that work can be completed.
Focus on cashflow
More important than how much you have in your savings or what’s being spent on individual projects is how well you can balance money going in and out of your organization. This should be your first point of focus. It’s better to be a small but agile organization than a big one with spiraling debts, and a healthy cashflow will make everything else less stressful.
Keep something in reserve
Every organization needs to be able to reach deeper into its pockets sometimes due to unforeseen events, so make sure that you always keep some money in reserve. You should aim to be able to cover basic running costs and pay costs associated with your premises for a minimum of two months even if you have no income.
Find diverse sources of funding
In order to reduce the risk of finding your organization low on income, it’s best to ensure that you have funding coming in from multiple sources. Don’t rely on just one or two donors or grants, no matter how generous they are. Always keep an eye out for additional sources of income even if you’re disinclined to pursue them immediately.
Know when to say no
Most non-profits find that the funding they’re offered frequently comes with strings attached and that they need to bring projects in under budget in order to have anything left for basic running costs. Offers of funding like this can put other parts of your organization under strain if they require a lot of work to be done. Be realistic about what can work for you.
Promote financial awareness
Even if you’re the main person responsible for managing money in your organization, you won’t be the only one interacting with it, so it’s important that you keep everybody else informed about the financial situation and to make sure they understand it. Your job will be much easier if they have a sensible attitude to spending and know what is and isn’t possible.
Take advice on opportunities
If you have somebody advising your organization on financial matters, along the lines of what Alex Friedman of Jackson Hole Economics does, don’t just ask about day to day things – take advantage of the opportunity to get advice on how you can expand your non-profit in practical, sustainable ways so that it can do more of what it’s good at.
Address financial problems straight away
Facing up to financial difficulties in a small non-profit can be daunting. Many people simply try to ignore them and hope they’ll go away, but of course, they usually don’t, and neglected problems often get worse. It’s important to have the courage to grasp the nettle and take whatever action is needed to deal with problems as they arise.
Understand your responsibilities
Even as a non-profit, you have a responsibility to maintain accurate accounts and keep the government informed about the financial activities of your organization. This means that you have to stay abreast of what needs to be submitted and when, and you also need to make sure that you’re informed about any changes in those requirements.
Although this might seem like a lot to keep track of, you’ll soon get the hang of it and your non-profit will be stronger as a result. You’ll find it easier to make cost-saving measures without jeopardizing core activities, you’ll develop a better credit profile in case of future borrowing needs, and you’ll be able to direct money more efficiently towards the activities that matter most.
Written and Performed by Maeria Paez. Developed and Directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.
Performed as part of the annual Solofest @ Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Maeria Paez is an absolutely wonderful actor and her extremely personal solo show “Ma’s Kitchen” brings us characters from her life, her memories and her vivid and beautiful imagination to spin her story of loss and love.
The show is set around a kitchen, her mother’s kitchen. The central figure is in fact her mother, Ma. Ma narrates for us, moving us back and forward through timelines in Maeria’s life, all the while stirring some kind of magical Italian sauce…oh how I could almost smell it!
It’s a deeply personal piece, full of nuance and pathos and heartache. It’s also absolutely hilarious and beautifully paced. There are spaces in this play, pauses for us to catch our breath, hold each other’s hands and breath through the sadness and the hope.
Maeria expertly flits from character to character, all the while guiding us, teasing us, and inspiring us with her words and her complete and utter openness. She is fearless. She is bold and she is breathtakingly, achingly right…about everything.
I don’t want to spoil this play by telling you too much about what this particular part of Maeria’s story “Ma’s Kitchen” is. Suffice it to say, it will seem all too familiar to many of us who have lost someone before they entered the world. I admit that I cried, quite a lot actually, but I also laughed and longed for my own sweet departed mother, who I need every day and who Ma so perfectly reminded me of.
If you have the chance to see this show, take it. Maeria is a master of voice and an accomplished voiceover artist. This fabulous skill only makes her story more profound as she mimics friends and family so sweetly and creates her world for us to spend just a little time in.
I loved “Ma’s Kitchen.” It’s a triumph of a solo show, a homage to the strength and the tenderness that exist in all of us.
I think it might be at Fringe this year…but best to check out Maeria’s website for future dates.
All the way down in the very southern-most part of South America lays Patagonia, a region shared by Chile and Argentina where the Andes Mountains are the dividing line.
On the Chilean side, the premiere national park is Torres del Paine, which is breathtakingly stunning and evokes a feeling of immensity – there are vast sheets of fractured blue ice, turquoise and emerald lakes, primeval-looking forest, vertical granite spires and seemingly limitless cloud-streaked skies. If you love hiking, the classic “W” circuit trek inside the park is a very rewarding experience. It takes about five days to complete on average (there also is an “O” circuit that takes about 10 days to hike). Our group did the “W” in January, which is summertime in South America and allows for plenty of daylight and ideal outdoor activity weather. (Albeit the weather conditions are notoriously difficult to predict there, sometimes all four seasons seem to come and go in the same day, along with the notorious wind gusts that can get up to 50 mph.) Keep reading and I’ll tell you about our most incredible Patagonia Trekking Adventure!
Day 1: From Puerto Natales, the base town for exploring Torres del Paine National Park, we drove for about 90 minutes to get inside the park. We drove alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. After some time in line paying the entrance fees at the ranger station area (the park has seen a significant increase in visitors the past few years), we began our first day of trekking up to the Mirador Las Torres – a viewpoint over the spectacular “three towers” granite peaks. It took about 8-9 hours round-trip hiking this day, we did about 11 miles, and managed a 4,000 ft. elevation gain. It was so serene, peaceful and quiet once we were at the top, almost like another world that existed up there, but only for those who brave the final mile or so accent, which is a pretty much straight up climb over rocks and boulders. (We did this with our backpacks on, but you can opt to leave your backpack at the ranger station or one of the forest lodges (they call them refugios) that you’re staying at. We stayed overnight at Refugio Norte with full board, it was a small annex to the main Refugio Torre Central, and we really enjoyed the quaintness of it.
Day 2: This was about a six-hour, 10-mile hiking day where the trail runs along the beautiful sea foam green Lake Nordenskjold. That lake really is a feast for the eyes. We saw majestic Andean condors gliding over it whimsically. The lake seemed to have a calming effect on us overall as we stopped to have lunch on an overlook perch and take our obligatory “from the back” photo that seems to have become a thing on my Active World Journey adventures. Towards the end of the day, we suddenly got a taste of the Patagonia winds while we were hiking, which in our estimate were about 40-50 MPH. It was exhilarating to forge ahead during this, however, we had to be extra careful to not fall. This evening we slept in comfortable tents and sleeping bags which were provided by Camp Frances, with our full board.
Day 3: We started our day hiking through an undulating path until reaching the French River for our first glimpses of the awe-inspiring hanging glacier and then pressed on further to the French Valley viewpoint. It was here that we heard and saw an avalanche happen in real time from afar. Witnessing the powerful forces of nature can be very humbling. We finished our day by arriving to the Lake Pehoe area for our overnight stay at refugio Paine Grande, with full board. This was about an eight-hour hiking day and we covered around 11 miles and 4,000 ft. elevation gain.
Day 4: The hike on this day led us to Grey Glacier and the South Patagonia Ice Field. Seeing the beautiful powder blue glacier is simply spellbinding. Since this day was a shorter hiking day (four hours, seven miles) for us we had time to go take a kayaking excursion to right in front of the glacier. This was a fun activity, and a good upper body workout. It required teamwork with two people per kayak, and I was a little rocky at first – getting the jist of steering with feet pedals and paddling with the oars at the same time. But eventually I got the hang of it with the help of our well qualified instructors that were always close by in their kayaks monitoring us and keeping us safe.
Day 5: After a short hiking day back to Paine Grande we celebrated the end of our Patagonia Trekking Adventure with some calafate sour drinks. The calafate is a berry indigenous to the Patagonia region. The berry is deep blue, almost purple and dangles from small bushes huddled under trees and other shrubs. We then took an enjoying catamaran boat ride back across Lake Pehoe to catch our ground transportation back to Puerto Natales.
As we sailed away from Torres del Paine National Park on the marine blue waters of Lake Pehoe and watched as the granite, jagged, snow-capped mountains of the park become small and fade from sight against the murmur of the boat’s engine, I remember thinking that we had such a big and bold experience inside there. I was so proud of our group, we hiked the “W” circuit, which is considered a moderately strenuous trail. Overall, we were blessed with relatively good weather and good people along the way on our journey.
Since there was no internet connection inside Torres del Paine National Park and very limited Wi-Fi inside the refugios/campsites that we stayed in, we were essentially off-the-grid for five days. But I gotta say it really hit the spot. We enjoyed everything so much more without having that anxious feeling to post pics and videos on our social media constantly. It was much more relaxing and decompressing being disconnected from technology and more connected with nature and ourselves.
Trekking in Patagonia changes you. It’s perhaps the most beautiful region on our planet, but you must work through the harshness of the weather to experience it to the fullest. One of my favorite things about trekking there is the interaction and fellowship with other travelers at the campsites and refugios. There was such a worldwide cross section of people, all there for the love and appreciation of the great outdoors. It’s an outstanding experience.
If your small group or organization is interested in trekking the “W” route in Torres del Paine National Park, just let me know. I’m ready to do it again!
Cheers,
Jack Witt, MS, CPT
Fitness and Health Coach “Get Fit with Witt”
Individuals / Groups / Corporate
310.562.5629 Cell / 818.760.3891 Main
My latest book – “Fitness and Anti-Aging Secrets” Click here
NoHo News: Romeo + Juliet. A Lesson in Blackness. NoHo BID. We ❤️ NoHo. Solofest. Theatre District
Here’s your NoHo arts community update! We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.
Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>
This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
This autobiographical solo show is his first foray into writing and performing, but the show certainly doesn’t seem amateurish or undeveloped at all. Bob’s authentic and gentle storytelling style belay his adventurous and even slightly dangerous nature.
As a young boy growing up in Oakland, CA, Bob spent a lot of his time taking crazy risks and pushing himself physically. In this show, he explores his need to walk that line and what propelled him to do it time and times again. Together we walk through his life and in his shoes as he flits back and forth through time and finds his way through his own fascinating journey.
As a child, he was drawn to bullfighting, not something every child in Oakland spends his time studying, but Bob is a little different, to say the least! What I loved about his story and this self-directed show is how he manages to make his extraordinary life seem so accessible. As he describes how he feels in the ring with a bull, or how he threw himself of his school gym roof just to see if he could make it to the pool many feet below, or how he would challenge himself to run through traffic just for the thrill, a vivid and compelling picture of a young man lost in his own uniqueness, hiding in a world of sameness and boring, is cunningly revealed.
We are all a mix of our families expectations, our peers’ reflections and a mishmash of influences we can never even know. Bob is one of those magical people who occur within a time and place that don’t quite fit him. He is a kind of unicorn. This play is the story of how he managed to finally know and appreciate himself. It’s a very clever, strange and fascinating portrait of a man who has come to know himself better than most ever do and whose ability to adapt to the world around him while still staying true to himself and his own individuality and to do all that with a smile on his face, is a very big lesson to us all. Bravo!
I’m very interested to see where Bob Rodriguez might take us all next!
The Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 91423
Written and Presented by Adam and Marisol Colette.
Appearing for one night only at the Whitefire Theater, Sherman Oaks.
So this was a definite first for me. Attending a live podcast event and also doing a little couples therapy…on my own. “Reading Aloud”is a very popular podcast, burgeoning on the famous. It is on the cusp of greatness if you will. Its listeners are expanding exponentially and after sitting in on one of their truly hilarious couples conversation. I can totally understand why.
Adam and Marisol might not at first glance seem to be the kind of people who you would expect to be an actual couple, adorable as they are. And yet, after spending a little more than an hour with them in their world, it’s pretty apparent that they are perfect for each other. If you can look passed the gentle bickering, conscious and subconscious competitiveness and their uber reflective and continuous psychoanalysis of each other. It’s that deep sense of truly knowing each other, warts and all, and still loving what draws us to them. “Reading Aloud” is a really funny observationally commentary show, but set within an actually marriage of two people who are actively working on the ‘health’ of their commitment.
I must admit to being a bit lazy on the podcast front. I do listen, I have accounts, etc, but not nearly enough, if I’m honest. I really have to up my game in that arena. This podcast feels more like some time spent with a couple you’ve known personally forever. Their secrets are your secrets and their paranoia your conversations, their bad habits your entertainment. They squabble and support each other on every conceivable subject while jaunting off on rather enjoyable tangents and then circling back expertly to the subject at hand. They are beautifully adept at talking to each other, understanding each and every lead and trick and nuance…it makes for a spectacular fly-on-the-wall kind of pleasure.
Taking this stunningly simple and wilding entertaining show on the road is a pretty genius idea.
These two are not just “good for radio” types. Cute, flirty, idiosyncratic and a bit sexy, they spar so sweetly, just on the edge of too much that we are transfixed but the actual possibility of hurt feelings and stunned by their openness and total apparent lack of ego.
Its make s for great theatre…the icing on the cake is when they invite an audience member to the stage to add to the conversation…almost like prey to the slaughter. This heightens the drama, increasing the chance of eruption, delaying the payoff, the conclusion, the climax…its all very sexual really…in a very buttoned-up mid-western/southern kind of way. Really brilliant.
For all the improvisation around the subject of the day, they seem to have a pretty good handle on the structure of the show. Maybe its because they have been doing this so long, maybe its because they just know where they are are going, even if we don’t, like a comic double act so used to performing together they need no safety net…or maybe it’s because they are just so perfect for each other…either way…it works and I loved it!!
You can see Adam and Marisol Colette on tour and listen to their podcast, “Reading Aloud” in all the usual places.
What’s the NoHo motto? “NoHo in only as great as its people.”
It’s a treat for us to highlight North Hollywood folks doing something creative, helpful and, well, fun. Let’s give a big NoHo welcome to Rebecca and Tim from the NoHo Artist Den.
Rebecca Hanson, Tim Ryder and Trond of the NoHo Artist Den.
How did you come up with the idea of the NoHo Artists Den?
My wife (Rebecca Hanson) and I (Tim Ryder) moved to North Hollywood from Chicago a little over two years ago and were very fortunate to find a property with this weird tiny theater in the backyard! It was described in the listing as an “Artist Den” and when we saw it, we knew we had to do something with it. There were theater seats in there all ready to go! We just put a little bit of work into getting equipment and making it functional for a variety of purposes, then started spreading the word among our friends. We were both very active in the improv and sketch comedy scene in Chicago and a lot of our friends had made the move out to LA before us, so we knew there was a community of people who often need a space to do creative things. We thought The NoHo Artist Den could hopefully fill that void and be a good resource for people. It’s such a cool space – we just like to see people make use of it. Otherwise, it’s just us back there doing our laundry and that’s not very fun.
What can one do at the space?
A bunch of stuff! At its heart, it’s a cozy backyard theater, so it’s great for things like improv rehearsals, scene study, table reads, etc. With a little effort, we can also configure it in a variety of different ways. We have some lights that swing down and we hang a backdrop to film self-tape auditions. We can hang some sound blankets and set up our microphones to record podcasts. We also put acoustic tiles in the water closet to make our own voiceover recording booth! People have even rented the space to shoot sketches and short films. Pretty much anything you might need a creative space for, we can help with.
Almost exactly one year ago is when we officially branded it the NoHo Artist Den and started getting the word out to our friends.
Are you active in the L.A. improv community?
Here and there. We’ve done a few pickup shows with friends at Second City Hollywood and The Clubhouse. But we each did enough improv in Chicago for three lifetimes, so it hasn’t been a big focus for us since moving here.
What’s Mystery Science Theater 3000?
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or MST3K, to fans) is a comedy show that originally aired on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Channel back in the 90’s. It started on a public access channel in Minnesota and was created by Joel Hodgson. The premise is simple and remains unchanged throughout its many incarnations: a guy and his robot friends are forced by mad scientists to watch cheesy old movies, so they make jokes in order to stay sane. It was brought back, thanks to a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, in 2015 and Rebecca and I wrote and performed on the two new seasons (currently streaming on Netflix) as well as a couple of the live tours. It was one of our favorite shows ever and a huge influence on us comedically, so to get the chance to work on it was honestly a dream come true for both of us.
What’s your favorite part about living in NoHo?
Honestly, as two lifelong Midwesterners, we appreciate how flat it is. There were a few apartments we looked at that we had to rule out because of the steep slope we would’ve had to park on. We’ve also found the Valley pretty easy to get around, not to mention the great local businesses and access to freeways and the Red Line! But mostly the flatness.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRuBo_p7-9/
Thanks for helping to #KeepNoHoArtsy
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict. NoHo News, NoHo features, cool people in NoHo, north Hollywood news, the NoHo Artists Den, www.nohoartsdistrict.com
The NoHo Arts District is an arts district because of the 20+ theatres, dance studios, recording studios and the many folks who create art. It stays an arts district because of these performing and visual artists. But there is one group that has helped to #KeepNoHoArtsy (and clean) for more than 10 years – the NoHo Business Improvement District.
“Having the NoHo BID in place is a tremendous resource for the NoHo Arts District community, says Aaron Aulenta, managing director of the NoHo BID. “By providing Safety, Clean, and Marketing services above and beyond what the City of LA provides, the NoHo BID helps to enhance the user experience in NoHo. This can be seen from the all new businesses and investment continuing to come into the Arts District. Not all commercial districts have a BID, giving the NoHo Arts District and its stakeholders an advantage over the many destinations in Los Angeles.”
What is a Business Improvement District?
A Business Improvement District or BID is a geographically defined area within the City of Los Angeles, in which services, activities and programs are paid for through a special assessment to property owners. BIDs provide enhanced programs and services, above and beyond what the City of Los Angeles provides. The NoHo BID, established in 2007, primarily provides Clean and Safe services in the form of a Safety Ambassador team and Sidewalk maintenance services in the form of a Clean Team. A smaller amount of the budget is allocated to Marketing and Communication services. The NoHo BID recently renewed for another 5-year term beginning in 2020.
Safety Ambassador stats for past 11 months
Business check ins- 5,172 Calls for BID Services- 1,497 Contacts with Homeless Individuals- 1,234
NoHo Clean Team stats for past 11 months
Average volume of garbage picked up every month from sidewalks/gutters and BID trash receptacles-23,125 lbs. Trash bags picked up and disposed of- 11,059 Graffiti tags removed- 1,212 Bulky items removed- 1,481
What grants has the NoHo BID applied for and received in the past?
6 Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) Grants- pressure washing and light pole banner replacement
3 Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Arts Activation Grants- funded 3 summer seasons of programming at NoHo Plaza
What problems do people report to your office and what is the process?
The NoHo BID has a Clean and Safe service hotline number (818.761.8230) that can be utilized to report issues and BID services. Examples of calls range from reporting graffiti and stickers to issues with aggressive panhandlers in front of a business. So far in 2019, the BID has averaged 136 calls a month for BID services.
What marketing programs have you collaborated on?
The NoHo Card program began 16 years ago, and the NoHo BID partnered with nohoartsdistrict.com 8 years ago to benefit businesses within the District. It is now a major marketing tool benefiting 55+ businesses in the NoHo Arts District. Thousands of Angelenos, NoHo locals and tourists frequent NoHo businesses for the first time and become repeat customers due to the NoHo Card and App. The NoHo Card has a multiplier effect, i.e. a person gets a hair cut at NoHo Hair Salon then goes to The Federal for dinner, and then a show at The Road Theatre all while utilizing the NoHo Card program. The NoHo Card app can be downloaded on both Apple and Android app stores for free.
Contact the NoHo BID
5026 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
CLEAN & SAFE SERVICE HOTLINE 818.761.8230
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
Written and Performed by Toni Perrotta. Directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.
Aa part of the Whitefire Theatre Solofest 2020
If there had to be a sound to describe how this reviewer enjoyed this one-woman show at Solofest it would be, “Ba-da-Bing, Ba-da-Bing,” fantastic or should I say, “Fantastico!”
Toni Perrotta takes what could have been a look at a trite stereotype of the Italian mother and effortlessly melds emotion, great anecdotes, humor and fully realized characters without any of the usual melodramatic pathos, describing some terrible times in her life as an aspiring actor, single mom and transplant New Yorker. Kudos to Jessica Lynn Johnson for directing Toni and also to Brandon Loeser for making the graphics, videos, etc., blend in and move her stories along.
Toni makes you feel right at home beginning her show with a monologue in which she immediately draws the audience unconsciously into an immersive experience better than any virtual reality because you are actually living in Toni’s virtual reality. Her perfectly timed lesson vignettes like “I’m Too Pretty for Bullsh*t!” and characters like Judy-Do-Nothing, Nana and Drunk Lady at the Bar weave her decades of waitressing and showbiz, including touring with Tony & Tina’s Wedding. Toni takes us from the 1970s to the 1990s where she punctuates her master comedic touch in the 1990s rap video, “White Trash.”
Toni takes you for a ride you will enjoy, as you laugh, cry and relate it all to your own family. But the most important moment is at the end of her show, when Toni is writing an email to her son on his birthday, her vulnerability is natural, visceral and beautiful. It is only halfway through her speech that you realize that her son has died but he’s very much alive in her memory of his favorite foods she makes for a birthday he will not ever have. This moment is what makes Toni much more than a talented actor and comedian with decades of experience. She blossoms into that rare species in showbiz a bonafide artist!
Do not miss this show, if you get the chance to see it!
The Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Guy Ritchie’s new gangster comedy “The Gentlemen” is clever, exuberant and sometimes criminally funny—in fact, it’s the most consistently enjoyable new film of 2020.
I know it’s early yet, but I do think you’ll have a fine time at this flicker. The premise has London-based marijuana mogul Matthew McConaghey (who began as an American lad at Oxford supplying demon weed to his fellow students and embraced the means to expand his enterprise into an empire) seeking to retire and sell his business at a fair price to the highest bidder. Of course what appears like it will be a smooth transition sets off a chain of escalating events involving rival racketeers, amateur boxers, slimy publishers, and a likably sleazy private investigator (Hugh Grant, in top form and coming close to stealing the film) who would like to profit from what he knows.
If you’re a fan of Ritchie’s earlier films such as “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels,” then this one will not disappoint—if you’re new to Ritchie’s work (I’m not including “Aladdin” – different genre and sensibility), then you’re in for a treat. There is no shortage of colorful characters, offbeat dialogue (free of any political correctness, and all the more amusing for it), bursts of violence, cheeky references, and alternate perspectives (a Ritchie trademark, since here is always something new to be uncovered). McConaghey is in top form as the self-made “mogul” and king of the jungle who will go to any lengths to preserve his kingdom while Charlie Hunham almost matches him as his second-in-command with a few secrets of his own. Michelle Dockery also makes a strong impression as McConaghey’s wife, a resourceful woman in her own right, and one who has a way with paperweights (you’ll see what I mean). If it’s escapist entertainment you desire—and one that will leave you smiling—it’s difficult to go wrong with “The Gentlemen.”
NoHo News: Rock n Roll Hamlet. Romeo + Juliet. The Renegade. Solofest. Call to Visual Artists. L.A. Theatre District
Here’s your NoHo arts community update! We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.
Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>
This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
Ballet BC’s Elegant New Take on The Timeless “Romeo + Juliet” Comes to The Soraya!
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts presents Ballet BC’s stunningly reimagined take on the timeless tale of on Saturday, February 29 at 8PM and Sunday, March 1 at 3PM.
Ballet BC’s “Romeo + Juliet” is a classic yet fresh retelling of Shakespeare’s tale of forbidden love with all the familiar characters in a production that had dance lovers and families enraptured at its Vancouver premiere in 2018. The timeless tale of two star-crossed lovers features new choreography by Medhi Walerski, French choreographer and former NDT and Paris Opera ballet dancer, who is one of the most innovative dance makers today. He was recently named Ballet BC’s new Artistic Director.
“Breathtaking,” said The Globe and Mail, choreographer “Walerski has created a powerful and laconic “Romeo and Juliet” that has that elusive quality of feeling new.” “Romeo + Juliet” is set to the well-known 1938 score by composer Sergei Prokofiev. Following The Soraya performances, “Romeo + Juliet” will travel to the Sydney Opera House where Ballet BC will have its Australian debut.
Patrick Kilbane, Scott Fowler and the Artists of Ballet BC in “Romeo + Juliet” at The Soraya. Photo by Michael Slobodian.
About BC Ballet’s “Rome + Juliet”
“The vision of love that Shakespeare gave us in this master work is very precious. It is like holding a jewel in your hand that needs to be protected.” —Medhi Walerski
Martha Schabas in the Globe and Mail said “Romeo + Juliet” is “Dramatically vibrant. Unforgettable. Visionary. Walerski sinks deep into his dancers’ bodies and reimagines this centuries-old story at a real physical level … choreography that would be compelling on a soloist and is doubly captivating to see on a group, sometimes synchronized and other times in staggered counterpoint. Mr. Walerski has given Romeo some particularly lush choreography as a young man falling in love for the first time… hard to believe [but] Act 2 was even stronger.”
Globaldancer said this production “might have just set a benchmark for “Romeo and Juliet” productions in contemporary ballet [with] articulate choreography that found new depth and vibrancy in the characters.”
For centuries, the tale of tragic “star-crossed lovers” has inspired many an artist. Compelling in its timeless relevance, this deeply human story captures audiences with enduring themes of love, fate and family. In “Romeo + Juliet,” Walerski offers a fresh and bold retelling of this classic story of forbidden love that continues to resonate today.
After sold out performances for the world premiere, Ballet BC returns to this iconic story set to Sergei Prokofiev’s stunning score. Artfully crafted by Medhi Walerski, an original voice in international dance, his innovative retelling of the full-length classic brings together dazzling scenes woven with unpredictable and complex imagery. Along with evocative set and lighting design by Dutch designer Theun Mosk, Walerski conjures a thought-provoking and contemporary approach to “Romeo + Juliet.”
Justin Rapaport and the Artists of Ballet BC’s “Romeo + Juliet” at The Soraya. Photo by Michael Slobodian.
WHEN:
Saturday, February 29 at 8PM Sunday, March 1 at 3PM
WHERE:
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8448
About BC Ballet
Founded in 1986, Ballet BC has been under the leadership of Artistic Director Emily Molnar since 2009. Ballet BC is an internationally acclaimed collaborative and creation-based contemporary ballet company that is a leader and resource in the creation, production and education of contemporary dance in Canada. Bold and innovative, the Company’s distinctive style and approach have made a unique and valuable national contribution to the development of dance. In 2019, the Company was nominated for an Olivier Award for “Best New Dance Production” for their tour to Sadler’s Wells in London, which featured Solo Echo by Crystal Pite, 16 + a room by Emily Molnar, and Bill by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar.
Ballet BC’s dancers are a group of open-minded and curious artists, each unique for their dynamic movement while sharing an intuitive passion for dance. Ballet BC is committed to its role as a leader in the community through dancer training opportunities, community and audience outreach, and professional development activities.
The Company presents a diverse repertoire of Canadian and international work from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, and is a hotbed for the creation and performance of new works. Since 2009, the Company has developed a repertoire of more than 45 new works by acclaimed Canadian and international choreographers including William Forsythe, Cayetano Soto, Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, Medhi Walerski, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Johan Inger, Adi Salant, Emanuel Gat, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Jacopo Godani, Company 605, Jorma Elo, Wen Wei Wang, Itzik Galili, Serge Bennathan, Walter Matteini, José Navas, Emily Molnar, Lesley Telford, Nicolo Fonte, Fernando Hernando Magadan, Kevin O’Day, Shawn Hounsell, Gioconda Barbuto, Simone Orlando, Robert Glumbek and Aszure Barton among others.
Under the artistic direction of Emily Molnar, a former member of The National Ballet of Canada, Ballet BC and the Ballett Frankfurt, the Company actively fosters collaborations that support artists, choreographers and audiences alike, furthering the boundaries of contemporary dance. The company embraces excellence in the practice of contemporary ballet, with its wide diversity of technique and style, honouring its roots and components.
About Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
The 2019-20 Season marks the ninth year for the award-winning Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts which has quickly become one of the cultural jewels of the greater Los Angeles region. Under the leadership of Executive Director Thor Steingraber, The Soraya continues to expand its programming and outstanding multidisciplinary performances. The Soraya presents a wide variety of performances that not only include new and original work from the Los Angeles region but also work from around the world appealing to all of LA’s rich and diverse communities.
Located on the campus of California State University, Northridge, The Soraya’s season offers a vibrant performance program of nearly 50 classical and popular music, dance, theater, family, and international events that have served to establish The Soraya as the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley, and further establish itself as one of the top arts companies in Southern California. The award-winning, 1,700-seat theatre was designed by HGA Architects and Engineers and was recently cited by the Los Angeles Times as “a growing hub for live music, dance, drama and other cultural events.
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
Written by Mattew Leavitt. Directed by Joel Zwick.
Running February 7 through March 8, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm
The wonderful people at the 6th Act have outdone themselves yet again.
If you have ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes of a low-rent, high-concept theatre company in L.A., then wonder no more! This hilarious and beautifully written play introduces us with brutal and loving honesty to the world of a struggling black box theatre company.
The characters are as wild as they are real…. I have seen a lot of plays and know far too many actors. Believe me when I say again, they are real. For me this only adds to the spice of this wonderful and thoughtfully catty play. The story told is that this theatre company, The $5 Dollar Shakespeare Co, which exists to give its actors the opportunity to play the roles only the gods of acting would get to play on a big equity stage, is really struggling. It is the last bastion of culture in the vivid and surreal world of L.A. black box theatre and nerves are fraying all over the place.
But this night, this one magical crazy night, someone from the L.A. Parks department is in the audience….looking for a replacement for the ‘Shakespeare in the Park company as its fearless leader is returning to old Blighty. They are hoping to give this company a shot at the big time. Of course no one is supposed to know, which explains why everybody does in lightning speed. And chaos and sublime drama ensues.
It’s brilliant. Funny, poignant, life-like, bitingly ironic, sarcastically heartbreaking, full of satire so perfect it must be true. The writer Matthew Leavitt takes us on a journey through emotional breakdowns, hopeless narcissism, and the kind of relationships that truly only exist in theatre. Just so good.
I loved the characters in fact, all so juicy and exact. There’s flamboyance sure, but also nuance and depth and sweetness. It’s a lovely balance of roles, an epic ensemble of players and as the tension builds and the fur flies we grow quite fond of them all. Excellent writing!
It is boldly directed by Joel Zwick with a kind of ‘no holds barred’ poetic style, which pays off in bucket loads. The cast is, as usual, superb. All fittingly fake, desperately desperate and just gorgeously outrageously perfect. I strongly urge you to see this show. I insist in fact. It really is compulsory theatre…you will absolutely love it!
It’s only running till March 8, so get a move on!!!
Starring Kenajuan Bentley, Emerson Collins, Carolina Espiro, Natalie Lander, Luke McClure, Cindy Nguyen, Andy Robinson, Liza Seneca, Adam J. Smith and Jamie Zwick.
So many people return home after enjoying one of our painting holidays and feel so refreshed and recharged that it made me start to wonder about the psychological and emotional benefits that painting provides.
Visiting Italy for an entire week, while enjoying delicious food in a beautiful country with like-minded, fun people and doing something you truly love will obviously give you a boost.
However, maybe there is more to it? Could it be possible that painting itself is good for our emotional and mental well-being?
There was an interesting study conducted by neuroscientist and psychologist Kelly Malbert, that indicated that painting might actually reduce anxiety and depression by stimulating those parts of the brain that depression affects.
There are other psychologists who compare this experience to complete absorption and concentration that you experiencing while painting to a mindfulness practice like yoga or meditation. This is true for everything from life drawing to paint by numbers style offerings.
Apart from neurology, the following are 7 additional ways that painting can positively impact your health:
Helps to Develop Creativity
That might sound obvious, but what may not be as well-known is that both the left and ride sides of the brain are stimulated by painting.
With painting, the left side of the brain is used to deal with logical and rational challenges – for example, how to structure a painting – while more creative challenges are handled by the left side of the brain, to help the painter visualize their work prior to even getting their easel set up.
Painting exercises the entire brain, it strengthens your mind and triggers dopamine activity within the brain. Basically, it is an aerobic exercise for your brain!
Emotional growth is nurtured
As the saying goes a picture can tell a thousand words. Painting has the potential to be a highly cathartic experience, which allows you to access those feelings that are buried deep inside your subconscious.
Painting also can help you deal with your feeling by providing physical shape to them, and eliminating the anguish that is involved when those feelings remain hidden.
In fact, art therapy is often prescribed by psychologists for their patients who have sustained psychological trauma. Creating art can help to release emotions in a non-threatening and safe environment.
Develops problem-solving skills
It is rare for a painting to come out exactly as you expect it to. Lack of technique and experience, limitations of your palette, and changes in light can mean that what you are attempting to achieve when you first start out will hardly ever happen.
There are two benefits to this: to begin with you learn very quickly to deal with being disappointed, and that over time -often by way of repeated mistakes – to realize that whenever a door closes, another door opens. You also learn to quickly adapt and develop creative solutions to issues with your painting.
For a painter, thinking outside the box starts to become second nature.
Improves concentration and memory
Painting sharpens the mind and boosts memory function. Just like the heart is exercised by the runner, painters exercise parts of the brain that are responsible for concentration and memory.
Painting to practice creative activities on a regular basis like painting has been shown to have a lower chance of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Relieves stress
Painters are able to enter their own world, this allows them to – at least on an unconscious level – to separate from the strains and stress of life. No office politics, no mortgage – just shade and color, and how can I really do justice to those amazing poppies and that impressive terracotta roof?
Painting allows you to escape your daily problems and struggles. It lifts you up. When you focus on your painting, you can achieve what philosopher and art critic Arthur Danto refers to as “transfiguration of the commonplace,” where your painting becomes comprised of meanings that go far beyond what their literal worth is.
Your painting might turn out exactly like you thought it was going it, but just by studying it, and contemplating it, its beauty gives you a lift.
It can help with your healing process
You might struggle with capturing all of the beauty of a cypress-studded skyline or hilltop town, but just making the attempt can have a very significant positive impact.
Painting is very meditative: it helps take you away from yourself and frees you from physical limitations. Gauguin and Renoir are two famous examples of painters, who through the transcendental bliss of painting, were able to move their atrophied hands to experience incredible temporary healing.
Welcome to the ninth year of the acclaimed SoloFest at the Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks.
Halfway through this season of captivating solo performances we see another interesting and creative story entitled, “Wake Up Little Susy.”
This is a story that is told from the inside out. Susy was once lost, but ultimately finds her way back with self love and enormous strength. This is a story of survival and awakenings through very awkward moments in life. It’s captivating to watch someone’s life evolve from childhood to present day with pizzazz, and Susy Porter has pizzazz!
Little Susy was born in Ohio to a family with two older siblings. As the only girl and the youngest child, she was daddy’s girl. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems. The audience ist allowed to witness through Susy’s eyes the pain and confusion a child feels when an unwelcome incident occurs. It is even more of a betrayal from a loved and admired parent. Not surprisingly, it would change her forever. Portraying this little girl on stage in a realistic and sensitive fashion lets us into her very visible pain. Never really adjusting to this horrific moment, Susy meanders through life and relationships trying to be that ‘good girl’ that she hopes to be.
Moving onto her teenage years appear far more humorous. She has a natural comedic wit to her storytelling. The audience can identify with teenage angst and lack of confidence. It seems Susy listens to all kinds of voices. Oh not the ‘should be hospitalized’ type, but the ones outside herself. Everyone else is directing her, and she is a willing candidate. Whether it’s finding love through a strong Christian identity, or linking into well-known spiritual gurus, she devours the messages. It’s a belief system that may not entirely benefit her during her formative years, however, she soldiers on. Good girl, Susy.
In addition to Ms. Porter’s vivid storytelling, we are entertained by her talent as a musician, singer and actor. We bear witness to this throughout the performance, she is a natural on the stage. When she left the Midwest to pursue performing in Los Angeles, it was no surprise. The whirlwind that ensued in her youthful twenties is very entertaining, yet so empty. It was always a quest to find something, to be alright, to heal that inner child. The boyfriends were often unkind and yet, through it all she manages to stand upright. We watch a large screen at the back of the compact stage and see images of a younger Susy. She is very attractive, smiling, and seems happy. Alas, are the smiles real? Can she get through the muck to find her true self? We shall see.
In the almost final part of her journey, Susy shares the stage with a very interesting character. She reminiscences about her sexual exploits from that innocent young age to the current day with her puppet, Vadge. Speaking in an appropriate voice from that most intimate of areas on a woman’s body; Vadge tells us all the dirty secrets of lust and love. Relishing in the details, the audience roars with laughter. This is quite an unusual partnership to witness.
Wrapping up the story with a particularly disastrous year, Susy remains strong. Holding her close or perhaps holding her up is her drama instructor husband and two children. Susy Porter is doing what she loves best. Finding the way back to one’s true self is often the hardest journey.
This solo performance has grit. It also compels honest laughter. Between the animated voices, visuals, and non-stop energy of Susy, the audience is captured. It might be her adorable charm or her endless exploits, whichever it is; this show is fun to watch.
This solo performance was written and performed by the effervescent Susy Porter.
The Whitefire Theater has the largest solo festival around and is located at 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA. The person responsible for the success at this theater is Bryan Rasmussen, the artistic director. He is an award winning, actor, teacher and coach. After 37 years of being associated with the Whitefire, he definitely knows talent. Come and see some of the most fabulous solo performances for this 2020 season. It boasts 80 shows in 90 days and it is only half way over.
If you have followed my blogs over the years you’ll notice that in the beginning of the year I like to discuss the business of being an actor.
Each year I like to give different views and exercises that you can look at to help with goal planning and accountability.
I’ve been asked by a number of people to repeat this particular information, so here it is again. It’s been a few years since I posted this, so if you’re looking at this for the first time, see where you fit in. If you remember this, see how you improved, have you moved forward in your career?
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ACTORS IN LOS ANGELES
Since there is no curriculum, or set pattern to make a career in this business, many actors feel helpless, frustrated, lost, and waste time and money trying to make the right decisions. Here is a guide. Monitor yourself, see where you are and how you’re doing. It’s only a guide. Review yourself; check your strategies and goals; and use it as a barometer. Add and subtract according to your own situation, needs, and desires. At the end add your ideas or what you may have or are doing.
Beginning Actor (one year):
Takes an acting class on acting craft and the process (at least once a week – the more the better, if you have the time and can afford it; it’s a good investment and will pay off in the long run).
Reads one play a week.
Sees 1 to 2 plays a month.
Sees 3 to 4 movies a month.
Reads the trades – Backstage, Variety, blogs, etc.
Volunteers or works in a theater (box office, lights, stage manager, etc). The purpose is to be around actors, see them work, observe, and learn as much as possible about theater. (Remember this – stage is an actors medium, film is a directors medium, and TV a writers medium. Take advantage of the creative freedom that theater offers.)
Reads books on creativity and Self, such as “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron, “The Road Less Traveled,” by Scott Peck, “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp, and others. Learn to know and improve yourself.
Reads acting books by well known teachers and techniques, such as “Respect for Acting,” “The Meisner Technique,” “The Method,” Harold Clurman, and biographies on their favorite actors, etc..
Does something outside of acting to supplement working on their instrument: yoga, voice class, dance, Martial Arts, singing, stand-up comedy, etc.Keeps a journal to reflect on them self. Has some form of spiritual practice, prayer, meditation, religion, etc.Works on sets as an extra or small part to gain experience and feel what being on a set it like, personally and professionally.Web series can be good opportunities to get experience, tape, and make contacts. Get on one.
Intermediate Actor: (2-3 years)
Takes a class at least once a week.
Has two monologues prepared.
Has 6 -12 scenes that have been completed.
Involved in a theater situation where there are audition possibilities, play readings, and productions.
Has a good headshot.
Is building a resume of experience. Plays, student films, videos, non-union projects, web series, or works with friends on camera.
Reads the trades, signs up and has a working knowledge of casting services. Makes a practice of submitting for anything and everything.
Auditions as much as possible for parts they are right for, understudies, gets on stage as much as possible.
Has or is seeking an agent or manager.
Has taken a commercial workshop and has (or is seeking) a commercial agent, and auditions for commercials.
Reads at least 2 plays per month.
Sees at least 1 play per month.
Sees 3-4 movies per month.
Works on ways to get tape on themselves, either by a project already worked on or self-produced.
Networks in showcases, theater, scene nights, play readings, and projects that can “put them out there” to be seen and gain experience.
Web series can be good opportunities to get experience, tape, and make contacts. Has done at least one with a substantial role..
Works on getting featured and co-starring roles in television and film.
Is working on or has gotten in the unions, SAG, and maybe EQUITY.
Has a good resume for gaining work and representation.
Advanced Actor (5 years +)
Has a great headshot and solid resume.
Takes a class and/or is working on a job.
Performs in 2 – 3 plays a year
Has several current and good TV credits.
Has been in several films (union or non-union).
Has an excellent tape and footage on themself.
Has a good relationship with their agent and/or manager, and communicates on a weekly basis.
Participates in a theater where they can audition, perform, do play readings, showcases, scene nights and “work out.”
Has a database of casting directors that they know, auditioned for, or worked for, and stays in touch on a regular basis (post cards, notes, stop-ins, Facebook, etc.).
Knows every prime time show and who casts them. Knows every show they are “right for” and gets seen by those shows’ casting directors.
Has several projects they are working on on the side (screenplay, play, putting together projects for themselves, pitching ideas, etc.).
At the flip of an email can connect to anyone in the world with their picture resume, and representation of their work.
When they meet someone, that person could already have an idea of who this person is, either by having seen them in something or can go to their site and research them.
Has their own website where there is video, photos, and media on them. A place where directors, agents, and casting directors and find more about them.
Understands their “Brand,” what they have to sell.
Other Paths
Some people are carving their own way and aren’t interested in conventional routes.
Writer, producer, actor. Works on their own project, not interested or passionate about an agent, and the general route of auditioning for parts in TV, film and theater. Wants to do “their own thing.”
Starts a production company and does their own projects.
Buys a camera and makes their own film or documentary.
Runs or is active in a theater company and expresses their art there.
Belongs to a cooperative and creates with these people – theater, film, etc.
Crosses over from another aspect of the business – makes contacts and “gets in” that way. (ex., stand up comedians, dancers, musicians, stunt men, writer/actor, improv troupe, director/actor, producer/actor, works at casting office, works at a production company, friend or family member is in the business and hires them.)
Writes a one-person show or a script to showcase themselves – film, theater, series idea, etc.
These people may never pursue an agent or have to audition.
Where do you fit in here? Use this a guide. There are many more items in each category, like having a coach, a team, etc. For now, this is an overview. The length of time it takes you is not as important as making sure you’ve hit all the levels. This gives you another opportunity to do a self evaluation, and maybe a chance to fill in the gaps.
All the best to you on your creative journey. Happy 2020!
Bif Naked is an icon in her home country of Canada. She is a powerhouse of talents. Writer, poet, rock star and a woman at the forefront of cancer survivors, giving support and advice and a public face to a struggle many of us face, after battling breast cancer herself.
This song is a scream of pain into the universe. A declaration of independence and release. It’s an angry realization of a personal truth. And we can all relate to its message of a final, tragic, undeniable knowing.
“Jim” is gorgeously produced, Bif’s voice, husky, powerful and richly emotional. The music pounding, a wall of truly exquisite sound. The message is relentless and victorious and, although it’s heartbreaking, there’s a force behind the words. There is no weakness, no politeness, no bending, only a warrior’s cry and sense of relief at facing head on the certainty of betrayal. It’s a brilliant and anthemic song. A woman taking control and taking no prisoners. Love, love loved it!!!! More please!!!
Music Credits: Bif Naked – “JIM”
Produced & Engineered by Doug Fury Inc
Written by Bif Naked, Doug Fury, Steve Snake Allen
Executive Producer: Peter Karroll
HerRoyalMajestys.com
Management Peter Karroll for Her Royal Majesty’s Records
Written and Performed by Timothy Mooney. One night only as part of the Solofest. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks The Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre Present “Man Cave” at Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest
“Man Cave”
We are about half way through the annual Solofest festival and you might be right in assuming I could be getting a little stir crazy. I have seen a lot of solo shows lately.
But that is the weird thing about solo shows and especially festivals as brilliantly curated as the Whitefire’s Solofest, you never know what special and profound and absolutely hilarious show you might see next!
“Man Cave,” written and performed by veteran solo artist Timothy Mooney, is one such spectacular discovery. Set 10 years in our future, post irreversible and deadly global heat-up, Timothy introduces us to quite possibly the last man on earth. Burrowed away in a purposefully constructed underground retreat he and his girlfriend spent years creating, he broadcasts into the ether. A daily diatribe on how we all got to this sad point and his own story and how his girlfriend didn’t make it in time. His hope is of course that he isn’t the last man standing, or rather crouched over a microphone eking out a pale existence on tinned food and recycled water.
Apart from the occasional pounding on his reinforced door, which, it seems, has not occurred for quite some time, he is alone. Free to ponder, rant, pine and plead. Timothy takes this beautifully constructed opportunity to remind us off our idiocy. Our lack of understanding, sometimes quite deliberate, our utterly pathetic acceptance of the status quo, driven by greed and political decrepitude.
He eloquently and with truly exceptional skill, monologues his way through this hour-long homage to humanity…propelled by anger, heartbreak and finally a little hope. The effect is brilliant. I love a good rant myself, but this play is absolute perfection.
If you don’t know much about global warming, impending doom and what can be done to prevent it, then you will learn a lot certainly. But this is not a documentary or a news piece. No, this feel genuinely authentic. This man is trapped in a cave, alone. He is bereft, having lost not just his girlfriend, but quite possibly the rest of the world. He has chosen not to answer the desperate poundings on his distant door, choosing instead to remain alive long enough to be rescued….possibly by aliens and this, quite believably, haunts him.
“Man Cave” is not your usual solofest fodder. We leave the show knowing only a little of the actual Timothy Mooney, but that was not the show’s purpose. “Man Cave” exists as some kind of Twilight Zonesque prophetic cautionary tale. An ode to man’s shocking narcism, even in the face of undeniable fact. It’s a mantra. A warning. A wildly entertaining foreboding of our possible future selves, hiding away in caves once more, only this millennia it’s with canned food, wifi and the abject horror of waiting for the AC to run silent, the cans to run out and the pounding to cease.
I absolutely loved this show, even if my blood was running a little cold by the end of it but I think that was the point.
I urge you to see “Man Cave” if you have the chance and you may, as Timothy Mooney seems to tour continuously with one or the other of his many, many soloshows. Thank heaven for that!
Tim Mooney, of the Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre, tours the country with eight different one-man shows, including “Moliere than Thou,” “Lot o’ Shakespeare,” “Breakneck Hamlet” and “Breakneck Julius Caesar.” He’s the author of 17 popular new adaptations of the plays of Moliere, as well as the acting textbook, “Acting at the Speed of Life; Conquering Theatrical Style.” More on Tim is available at http://timmooneyrep.com
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict. The Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre Present “Man Cave” at Whitefire Theatre Solofest 2020 via www.nohoartsdistrict.com The Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre, “Man Cave”, Whitefire Theatre, Solofest 2020 NoHo Arts District, official NoHo Arts District Guide, wwwnohoartsdistrict.com, play readings, Burbank theatres, noho theatre companies, NoHo, noho theatre companies, la theatre companies, la theatre tickets, noho theatre tickets, north Hollywood theatre tickets, noho arts district theatre guide, noho theatre guide, la theatre guide
This is a phrase I heard a lot as a kid. Usually it implied that a person can’t learn something new because they are too set in their ways. Of course we know that isn’t always the case. It really depends on the person’s mentality, how hard they are willing to work at it, with some limitations sometimes of course. Mainly, the person has to MAKE the decision to change and then change is a possibility. But what does that mean for dogs?
The saying comes from the idea that dogs don’t generalize very well or rationalize, so they really get attached to routine and it becomes difficult to change anything with them. Add on years of the same routine and behavior, changes in habit seem impossible and often feel impossible for the owners. Sometimes dog owners will read about a training tool or new approach to try with food to work on a bad behavior and it feels as though it just isn’t going to work. That’s because it’s not enough.
The good news is old dogs CAN change and even change dramatically. The bad news is in order for the old dog to change, the human has to change. That’s why it’s so hard for an old dog to learn new tricks, because in order to do that, the owner has to change as well. Now I’m not talking about roll over, beg or bark on command, although with the right food or toy conditioning, that can be done if there are no physical issues. I’m referring to old habits with old dogs.
Dogs adapt dramatically to their environment.
If you don’t want a dog that alert barks or becomes territorial, then you can’t leave them in the yard all day while you are gone. If you don’t want a dog on the couch, then you can’t sometimes give in and let your dog on the couch with you. If you want them to wait for permission, you can’t sometimes let that slide…but we all let things slide don’t we? It’s human nature, I definitely do it too. It’s only a problem if you are having behavioral problems that you want to change with your dog (which is most of us, haha). You must first figure out how you want to change what you are doing. Any change is hard for any dog of any age and the history you have with your dog, the habits the dog has, does make it harder, but doable. We change elderly dog habits all the time. Just by having them in a different environment and we act differently towards them with different rules, some genetic exceptions aside, they end up making huge changes. When they go back home to their family, if the family doesn’t make the same changes we made, the dog won’t have a chance at sticking to their new and improved behaviors. Yes, with rescue dogs we work with, it’s easier for the dogs to change. They come in with all this baggage to a new place, get trained up, then go to another new family making a fresh start with the same routine we did for the dog…still not always easy, but yes, it’s easier then going back into the original home where the problems formulated or increased, because the HARDEST thing about it is…the humans have to change.
Here is an example.
A mom has a strict bedtime for her little boy. She never waivers and has no time for nonsense late at night when there are things she still needs to get done. The little boy rarely argues with his mom and when he does, it’s usually short lived. Now let’s say mom gets a new job and works nights a few times a week. Dad is easily coerced into adding 5, 10, even 15 minutes extra! After all, what’s the big deal? This causes the boy to push the mom harder sometimes, test her more, but she never waivers, so the boy stops trying again…BUT if dad is still occasionally letting him, he down right starts throwing tantrums demanding extra time around dad. Then when they are out in public and the little boy wants something, it becomes hard for the boy to listen to anyone and he will revert to those tantrums. This is a lack of consistency and in young children can cause confusion and anxiety. In dogs it ALWAYS causes confusion and that leads to serious pushiness, and/or anxiety. Let’s say there is a dog who isn’t allowed to get on the couch without permission. You let it go a few nights when you are tired and then it becomes a habit half the time. Fast forward 6 months later and your dog starts guarding his space when he is on the couch. Now you have to change. You will get MORE pushback because your dog isn’t used to this from you. That means you CAN’T waiver anymore. The one time you do, your dog will KNOW you didn’t mean it and it will cause more pushiness, confusion, etc. If you want your dog to change, you have to change how you are interacting, handling and setting up your dog in the home. That is how they learn new things that STICK. I’m not saying you could never be flexible on some rules, but trying to get an old dog to learn new behaviors, you really can’t too much, because they would MUCH rather revert to how they were for YEARS before the changes and consistency were implemented! So in this case that would mean no couch at all for awhile, then no couch without permission first ever again and no access to the couch when you aren’t home. That consistent change will make the lasting change in the dog. It’s the person changing first. Of course it’s not always that simple, but it is a good example. There are always certain genetic limitations. For instance, if you have a protection breed that is having serious territorial issues, taking away their access to territory doesn’t just make that instinct go away, but it is the first and most crucial step, etc. Without that step, much of your attempts at training will feel exhausting and likely won’t work.
A perfect example here is this sweet old dog Chubs pictured.
Chubs came to us from a woman who was homeless for just a short while and needed a little help. Chubs slept where he wanted, told you when he needed to go out and would get amped up at small dogs in close proximity. After years of that lifestyle, I was a little worried how much work it would take to change his old habits to fit in with us. Teaching him some basic obedience, how to be crated, be in a playpen and not to get amped up by our small dog took a few weeks, but he settled into the new norm well and we stayed strict with the routine to help him feel it was familiar and to not create inconsistency where he’d push us more and more to get what he was used to. After a few months he went to his new home with his own family and settled right back in like nothing happened and like he never learned anything new! haha! But that was okay because the way he was fit into their lifestyle just fine, it just didn’t suit ours. My point is he was able to act very differently with me vs with his family he had been with over a decade and as soon as he went back to them, it was like nothing had changed. It was about the people and how they set up expectations for him that changed him.
It’s the people and the environment.
Change is HARD! Harder than you think…just ask someone who has a history of alcoholism currently in AA. Well, we are often now addicted to our dogs attention and addicted to our own routine/habits. When it comes to environment, you can only do so much with, but you…YOU can be the change your dog needs and if you are struggling with something with your dog, just remember, they can learn how to behave differently, but can you put in the work and change required to get them to be their best self with you?
Here are some random thoughts on this year’s Oscars:
This year’s show needed a host. Once again, the Oscars teased us by trotting out two eminently qualified individuals (in this case Steve Martin and Chris Rock), allowing them to spend a little time making some spot-on and funny (as well as gratuitous and not-so-funny) observations, and then saunter off into the night, leaving us with, among other missteps, celebrities introducing other celebrities, which served to slow the pace and deaden our resolve (in this case, to stay with the show). It would have been delightful to have a host who might amusingly comment on the evening…and introduce the presenters (and though I’m in the minority, I think David Letterman did a fine job in that regard when he held the hosting job).
The show has taken steps to “hurry” itself along and perhaps end at an earlier hour (minute?) but still it remains very, v-e-r-y long—even considering that the producers have banished the honorary Oscar winners to an offscreen, off-site ceremony—of which this year, there were no highlights shown, only a cursory mention. And what did we get in its place? A montage of songs that were re-defined by (or helped define) movies introduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda (fine), followed by a lengthy Eminem appearance (not-so-fine), and later, a recap of what has been seen so far in the broadcast (emphatically not-so-fine).
It was great to see Brad Pitt and deliver a mild jab at world (or should I say United States) events, and some of the other Oscar winners and presenters were both amusing (Olivia Colman) and moving (Laura Dern). It was also great to see Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph “audition” their acting and singing skills while in presenter mode.
It was not great to see some of the failed attempts at humor (as in James Corden and Rebel Wilson calling attention to their misbegotten Cats), And as I watched the opening number, it seemed to be an energetic but lengthy attempt to rectify and call attention to all the groups that were either marginalized or left out completely.
Which brings me to the nominations themselves. And yes while I speculated a few weeks ago what the nominations might have been, in no year has the process been perfect. It seems pointless to condemn the Academy members for this year while commending them on their spirit of inclusion in recent years. The Academy has taken steps to become more diversified, adding many new and younger members in the past few years. What should really be examined is how many “green lights” are given to women and minority writers and directors, with stories reflecting diverse social and historical fabric, and opportunities for actors across all color lines. I don’t believe that a film (or performance) should be included among the nominees simply owing to the need for diversity. Any film should be recognized on its own merits—the producers out there simply need to expand opportunities so that these films can be made. Having said that, while Parasite would not have been my choice for Best Picture (I loved Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood), I am happy it won, especially since director Bong Joon Ho was a gracious and amusing winner—and his film was funny, observant and disturbing.
In theory, reaching a fitness goal (any fitness goal) is a straightforward process.
And in reality, it often is straightforward. However, this does not mean it is by any means easy.
Reaching a certain level of fitness will take time, dedication, and some very specific knowledge. It’s more than just working out – other building blocks also need to fall into the right place to ensure you stay on the right track.
Let’s explore what these building blocks are and how they can help you achieve your fitness goals.
For example, if you are looking to lose weight, you can’t keep eating calorie-dense foods and doing low-impact exercises. Weight loss is about burning more than you eat, so you need to calculate what you need to spend in order to get where you want to be.
On the other hand, building muscle means eating more, as you can’t expect your body to boost muscle growth if you are not providing enough calories for the job.
Check that your nutrition aligns with your fitness goal, and be very specific about it. To make sure your body gets (and spends) what it needs, first determine how much energy you need and from what kinds of sources.
You are not sleeping enough
Sleep is a vital component of a healthy life, and not getting enough of it can easily hinder your progress.
A lack of sleep can even cause you to put on weight, just as it can prevent your body from recovering properly after a workout. If this is the case, your body will simply not be doing what you expect it to do, and you won’t progress as quickly (or at all) as you had hoped.
Make sure you find yourself a good quality mattress that will help you sleep well and that will be comfortable enough to enable your body to recover. You don’t want to wake up with an aching back just because you can’t get comfortable at night.
Practice good sleep hygiene, and do all you can to help your body relax and recover from the activities you demand from it during the day.
You are not having fun
You may be trapped in the belief that working out needs to be hard, painful, and overall not an enjoyable activity if you want to get to where you want to be. And while it will certainly be all of those things, working out should never be something you hate, dread, or don’t like doing.
You don’t have to run every day if you detest running. You can do any other kind of cardio activity that you enjoy more. You don’t have to go to group classes if they make you feel uncomfortable. You don’t have to lift weights if you find it boring.
There is an activity out there you will certainly enjoy, and that will be in line with what you are trying to achieve. Find it, and you will suddenly be much more efficient and better equipped to reach your fitness goals.
You are only looking at the big picture
Focusing on that one big goal is a great motivator. But it can also sap all of your drive very quickly.
Having long-term goals is great, and you should absolutely have them. The issue is that they will take a long time to achieve, and at some point, you will get the feeling of not getting anywhere nearer to them. This will kill your motivation, leading you to start skipping workouts, and your performance will suffer.
Set some short-term goals as well to circumvent the problem. That way, you will still be working towards that mammoth goal, but you will also be better able to measure how far you have come and how long the road in front of you remains.
Short-term goals are an excellent way to keep up your motivation and help you overcome the hurdles that you will undoubtedly face along the way.
Final thoughts
Contrary to popular belief, fitness should be about bettering your life: both now and in the future. You don’t need to look at working out as a chore, as a punishment, or as something difficult you need to overcome.
Yes, it will be difficult, and you will certainly want to quit – especially if you feel you are working hard but the results are simply not there. Make sure you are eating right, sleeping enough, and that your goals are attainable in the short term if you want to get where you want to be.
Remember that setbacks are common and normal. And the way to overcome them is to get back on it when you fall down.
To those of a certain generation, the idea of a psychic might evoke images of flickering neon signs or 1-800 numbers flashing across the TV screen. The internet is changing all that.
Psychic culture is not only thriving online, but reaching a whole new audience. With the growing popularity of Skype-based psychics, mindfulness-based intuitive readings, and secular, “literary tarot” salons, psychics are clearly charting new paths and being embraced by many that would’ve previously scoffed at the idea of dialing up a psychic for advice.
Moving from the outer realm to the inner self
One of the reasons for the growing popularity in psychic culture is the change in psychic readings themselves.
In the past, psychics were mostly viewed—whether admirably or with skepticism—as purported channels to some far-off mystic realm. But many of today’s psychics are taking a more grounded approach, offering guidance that focuses on the here and now.
Chalk this up to the general trends toward spiritual wellness. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are now household words (and practices), and psychics are also capitalizing on the public’s thirst for alternative modes of inner harmony.
Last March, a New York Times feature titled “Psychic Mediums Are the New Wellness Coaches” profiled psychic readers who see themselves not as fortune-tellers, but spiritual advisors helping people work through their day-to-day issues.
Evidence of this rise in intuitive wellness can be found all over the internet, from professional, boutique-y sites where you can chat with spiritual advisors 24/7, to astrology apps that incorporate meditations and other self-improvement tools into daily readings.
Of course not all psychics are abandoning the traditional fortune-telling approach. But it’s becoming clear that the future of psychic readings has less and less to do with, well, the future.
Tarot as art and storytelling
Even agnostics have found something of merit in psychic culture. From runway artists to the founders of secular psychic salons, people who typically shied away from intuitive readings are finding elements of psychic culture that call out to them.
Such is the case with Litwitchure, a literary tarot salon whose secular tarot readings have earned them tons of visitors and accolades from media such as Glamour Magazine. The women behind Litwitchure downplay the occultist nature of tarot and use it instead as a storytelling device that can help people recognize archetypes and narratives patterns in their own lives.
Litwitchure tapped into something powerful, namely the ability to reconcile millennial skepticism and spiritual curiosity by offering an artsy, buffet-style approach to tarot.
Rachel Howe is another example of tarot’s ability to break into new ground. The indie artist, who conducts tarot readings over Skype, is seeing tarot’s ability to empower those without a voice as one of the reasons for its budding popularity.
“Most of my clients are women, people of colour, queer people,” she told Huck Magazine. “The people who come to see me, a lot of whom have been disempowered, they realise they can care for themselves and guide themselves.”
Tarot has even edged its way into high fashion. Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri used tarot iconography in Dior’s 2018 cruise collection, which saw numerous pieces boldly adorned with tarot-card motifs. The company’s founder was a well-known aficionado, but using the cards’ designs in a full clothing line was evidence that the once-esoteric art is not only accepted, but fashionable.
Credit the internet for breaking down one of the biggest barriers to psychics—finding them.
Whereas you once had to venture to a palm-reader’s studio to get a taste of what psychics can offer, now you can simply scroll through Instagram or peruse an online psychic site or chatroom.
The diversity and transparency of online psychic culture has helped people more easily embrace it. You can do a video reading with a medium, watch your tarot cards being read in real-time, or simply chat with a clairvoyant at any hour of the day about your concerns.
Psychic culture is clearly riding the wellness wave, but it’s succeeding on its own as well. A new generation of people are looking for entryways into self-discovery. They’re finding that life advice can come from many different sources, and that one of those sources, though it’s been around forever, has become more accessible than ever.
NoHo News: Valentine’s Day. Rock n Roll Hamlet. Step Afrika!. The Renegade. Solofest. Call to Visual Artists. L.A. Theatre District
Here’s your NoHo arts community update! We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.
Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>
This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>
**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo. On Instagram @NoHoArtsDistrict and Facebook @NoHoArtsDistrict.
A live guitarist riffed as the room hummed with excitement. The gallery was packed at 4pm on Oscars Sunday. One would hardly know this was a Memorial.
Gallery 800’s Reflection Tribute to DH Hanson was plotted to be the one-year anniversary of his passing.
As a scenic artist, DH Hanson designed and painted backdrops, murals, and other elements on film sets. Because of this, DH Hanson had made it his life’s work to study light, flora, and the human form. Clearly a master of his craft, DH Hanson’s work surrounds subjects painted with a classical, romantic realism. With local landscape subjects as DH Hanson’s focus, he evokes the subject matter of Claude Monet and Lili Elbe. DH Hanson’s depiction of the Tujunga landscape and rolling hills not only is familiar to the heart for locals, but elicits a sort of longing and nostalgia.
Owned by the Art Director’s Guild (ADG), Gallery 800 has its roots in film and industry.
The ADG is comprised of graphic artists, illustrators, production designers, model makers, scenic artist, set designers, and title artists. While ADG hosts workshops, screenings, and an array of events, Gallery 800 is a dedicated space to promote the talent of film and TV industry professionals. Nested in the heart of the NoHo Arts District, not only does Gallery 800 showcase the only art gallery, but dually Gallery 800 displays the not-so-hidden talents of industry professionals in an intimate setting.
The ADG has curated an intimate space and community-focused exhibitions with Gallery 800.
Not only is Gallery 800 a space to see local (but professional) talent, but the very essence of this exhibition shows the marriage of community and industry. Not only was DH Hanson’s wife able to propose the opening reception date to be a one-year tribute, but the community came out in droves to not only pay homage to DH Hanson, but to continue to enjoy his talent that succeeds him.
.jpg)
