The Art Directors Guild’s Gallery 800 Presents a Special 12th Anniversary Exhibit of “Art Unites”
A Tribute to the ADG Artists (IATSE Local 800) and contributing artists from Local 729, Local 871, Local 706, Local 44 and SAG-AFTRA opens January 12, 2019 with a hosted reception from 5– 8PM.
The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) Gallery 800 presents a special 12th anniversary exhibition of Art Unites 12, a dynamic mix of diverse artists’ work from contributing IATSE Locals, opening on Saturday, January 12 from 5:00– 8:00 pm, with a hosted reception and live music featuring the “Do Drop In” jazz trio. Located in the heart of the famed NoHo Arts District, Gallery 800 showcases guild members’ personal art in a series of shows throughout the year. Art Unites 12 will commence the 2019 Gallery 800 exhibition series, which is open to the public. This exhibit will run through March 3, 2019.
“Gallery 800 is honored to present our 12th annual Art Unites show –Art Unites 12. This exhibit celebrates and promotes connection and unity between the diverse IATSE Locals. With over 65 artists and 150 pieces of artwork, this is one of our biggest shows to-date,” said Abra Brayman, ADG Gallery 800 Curator.
In keeping with the spirit of “Art Unites,” Gallery 800 will feature artists who are members of the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) in addition to invited members of the Motion Picture Set Painters & Sign Writers (IATSE Local 729); Script Supervisors/Continuity, Coordinators, Accountants, and Allied Production Specialists Guild (IATSE Local 871); Make-Up Artists & Hair-Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706); Affiliated Property Craftspersons (IATSE Local 44) and SAG-AFTRA. These talented artists are leading art department professionals, who, through a combination of observation, passion and imagination, bring the writer’s words and the director’s vision to life in television and film. When not working as integral creative members of the entertainment community, they contribute to the fine art scene with their personal artwork.
Artists participating in ADG Gallery 800 Arts Unites 12 Exhibition include Stephen Babcock, Anastasia Bankova, Will Batts, Pierre Bernard, Spencer Brennan, Katalin Bujnova, Susan Bolles, Dan Caplan, Matthew Carey, Joe Celli, Cari Chadwick, Matthew Chauby, Scott Clark, Marsha Craft, Risley Cline, Francisco Del Mar, Dan Dempster, Alanna Dempewolff-Barrett, Michael Denering, Stella W. Deng, Bridget Duffy-Thorn, Barbara Dunphy, Karen Torell Falkner, Bernard Fallon, James Faulkner, Brooke Feamster, Frank Forte, Carole Goldman, Pete Graziano, Susan Hannon, Cynthia Hill, Jay Johnson, Stan Johnson / Joy Roy, Marie Joxe, Casey Kasemeier, Elena Kokorina, Paul Kocalis, Catherine Koon, Anastasia Kulikova, Janet Kusnick, Kenneth Larson, Kimberly Lyons, William T. Lakoff, Melanie Mahoney, Daniel Maltese, Geoffrey Mandel, Larry Manning, Stephen Miller, John Moffitt, Mike Montiforte, Erik Olson, Dorin Parisi, Stasys Pinkus, Rhea Rebbe, Roberto Rios, Roland Rosenkranz, Crystal Schrader, Patrick Shields, Colin Sieburgh, Jeff Skrimstad, Gordon Stotz, , Rob Tokarz, Kim Tolman, Philip Toolin, Lee Wanderer, Nic Weethee and Mamie Young.
Gallery 800, located in the heart of the Noho Arts District, showcases Guild members’ personal artwork in a series of shows throughout the year. These talented artists are leading art department professionals, who, through a combination of observation, passion and imagination, bring the writer’s words and the director’s vision to life in television and film. When not working as integral creative members of the entertainment community, they contribute to the fine art scene with their personal artwork. Since Gallery 800 opened its doors in March 2009, more than 700 ADG members have shown their artwork in the ongoing exhibitions.
Gallery 800 Future Exhibits Include (subject to change):
Let Shape Color Form: A Tribute to Stan Johnson (March 30 – June 1, 2019) Fantastic Voyage: A Sci-Fi / Fantasy Themed Group Show (June 29 – Sept. 7, 2019) Art Unites 13 (Oct. 5 – Dec. 14, 2019)
The exhibit organizers are Abra Brayman, Curator; Michael Denering, Fine Arts Committee Chair, and Jackie Thompson, Gallery 800 Staff Coordinator. Gallery 800, located at 5108 Lankershim Blvd. at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in the heart of North Hollywood, is open Thursday – Friday: 12 – 8pm; Saturday 2 – 8 pm; Sunday 2 – 6pm. For questions about the gallery or artwork, contact Abra at (818)763-8052 or gallery800@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE ART DIRECTORS GUILD: Established in 1937, the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,700 members who work throughout the world in film, television and theater as Art Directors; Set Designers and Model Makers; Illustrators and Matte Artists; and Scenic Title and Graphic Artists. The ADG’s ongoing activities include a Film Society screening series, annual “Excellence in Production Design Awards” gala, bimonthly craft magazine (PERSPECTIVE), figure drawing and other creative workshops, extensive technology and craft training programs and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. For the Guild’s online directory and website resources, go to www.adg.org.
**** 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 film “Instant Family” is based on the real and heart-rending experiences of the director, Sean Anders.
Sean and his wife adopted three siblings who also happened to be Hispanic. It is from their glorious and inspiring story he and his writing partner, John Morris, created this film.
There aren’t many really good family movies produced these days. There’s a lot of animation movies, a lot of superhero movies, but not much at all for an entire family to see without someone being really bored, or having to leave halfway through with a scared toddler, or maybe because they have vertigo from all the handheld, first-person camera work. This all makes family outings to the movies either totally impossible or a mess of expensive disappointments.
“Instant Family” is one of those very, very rare exceptions…a movie that everyone, and I do mean everyone, from the awkward teenager to the grandad, from the preschooler to the exhausted and awsome mother, can not only enjoy but absolutely adore.
It has everything, pathos, comedy, slapstick humor, love, heartbreak and the kind of life-changing associations that you just can’t shake.
It’s kind of an American “Love Actually”…full of crazy families and situational, slightly adult humor, realistic, lifelike drama and out and out comedy… but with a lot of heart. Of course, it helps that the cast is also phenomenal. The movie features Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Margo Martindale, Julie Hagerty, Michael O’Keefe, Tom Segura, Rosemary Dominquez and Javier Ronceros – and a brilliant surprise cameo by the legendary Joan Cusack. The supporting cast are equally fantastic and the filmmakers even included a few of the adoptive parents and families that inspired them to adopt themselves, kids and all, which was a lovely touch!
So what more can you ask for? A wonderful script with insightful, clever and insanely hilarious reallife stuff… fully developed, powerful and diverse characters…and absolutely everyone touches the ball – getting a chance to be as funny and believable as the leads. A cast to die for and a story that will make you laugh your butt off one minute and weep uncontrollably the next. I have a feeling that “Instant Family” will be on our holiday movie list for decades to come. I absolutely loved it and everyone one I know who has seen it agrees -It’s still in the theatres after 8 weeks!!! Definately the surprise hit of the year I think!!
As a side note…”Instant Family” the series?? Sean Anders, Mark Wahlberg and John Morris, are you listening? This must happen…call me…
#javierronceros
Director: Sean Anders
Writers: Sean Anders, John Morris
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner, Gustavo Quiroz, Julianna Gamiz
Conventional wisdom says that what goes up, must come down.
But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when it’s your money at stake.
Though there’s no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market, the following common sense tips can help.
Don’t put your eggs all in one basket
Diversifying your investment portfolio is one of the key ways you can handle market volatility. Because asset classes often perform differently under different market conditions, spreading your assets across a variety of different investments such as stocks, bonds, and cash alternatives (e.g., money market funds and other short-term instruments), has the potential to help manage your overall risk. Ideally, a decline in one type of asset will be balanced out by a gain in another, though diversification can’t guarantee a profit or eliminate the possibility of market loss.
One way to diversify your portfolio is through asset allocation. Asset allocation involves identifying the asset classes that are appropriate for you and allocating a certain percentage of your investment dollars to each class (e.g., 70 percent to stocks, 20 percent to bonds, 10 percent to cash alternatives). A worksheet or an interactive tool can suggest a model or sample allocation based on your investment objectives, risk tolerance level, and investment time horizon, but your strategy should be tailored to your unique circumstances.
Focus on the forest, not on the trees
As the markets go up and down, it’s easy to become too focused on day-to-day returns. Instead, keep your eyes on your long-term investing goals and your overall portfolio. Although only you can decide how much investment risk you can handle, if you still have years to invest, don’t overestimate the effect of short-term price fluctuations on your portfolio.
Look before you leap
When the market goes down and investment losses pile up, you may be tempted to pull out of the stock market altogether and look for less volatile investments. The small returns that typically accompany low-risk investments may seem downright attractive when more risky investments are posting negative returns.
But before you leap into a different investment strategy, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. How you choose to invest your money should be consistent with your goals and time horizon.
For instance, putting a larger percentage of your investment dollars into vehicles that offer safety of principal and liquidity (the opportunity to easily access your funds) may be the right strategy for you if your investment goals are short-term or if a long-term goal such as retirement has now become an immediate goal. But if you still have years to invest, keep in mind that although past performance is no guarantee of future results, stocks have historically outperformed stable value investments over time. If you move most or all of your investment dollars into conservative investments, you’ve not only locked in any losses you might have, but you’ve also sacrificed the potential for higher returns.
Look for the silver lining
A down market, like every cloud, has a silver lining. The silver lining of a down market is the opportunity you have to buy shares of stock at lower prices.
One of the ways you can do this is by using dollar cost averaging. With dollar cost averaging, you don’t try to “time the market” by buying shares at the moment when the price is lowest. In fact, you don’t worry about price at all. Instead, you invest the same amount of money at regular intervals over time. When the price is higher, your investment dollars buy fewer shares of stock, but when the price is lower, the same dollar amount will buy you more shares. Although dollar cost averaging can’t guarantee you a profit or protect against a loss, over time a regular fixed dollar investment may result in an average price per share that’s lower than the average market price, assuming you invest through all types of markets. A workplace savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan in which the same amount is deducted from each paycheck and invested through the plan, is one of the most well-known examples of dollar cost averaging in action. Please remember that since dollar cost averaging involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating price levels of such securities, you should consider your financial ability to make ongoing purchases.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
As the market recovers from a down cycle, elation quickly sets in. If the upswing lasts long enough, it’s easy to believe that investing in the stock market is a sure thing. But, of course, it never is. As many investors have learned the hard way, becoming overly optimistic about
investing during the good times can be as detrimental as worrying too much during the bad times. The right approach during all kinds of markets is to be realistic. Have a plan, stick with it, and strike a comfortable balance between risk and return.
Don’t stick your head in the sand
While focusing too much on short-term gains or losses is unwise, so is ignoring your investments. You should check up on your portfolio at least once a year, more frequently if the market is particularly volatile or when there have been significant changes in your life. You may need to rebalance your portfolio to bring it back in line with your investment goals and risk tolerance, or redesign it so that it better suits your current needs. Don’t hesitate to get expert help if you need it when deciding which investment options are right for you.
For home decor enthusiasts on a budget, the going can be pretty tough.
You have to carefully plan each aspect of a design if you want it to be superb. You have to coordinate your color scheme, decide what textures will complement your theme, design your layout, and then find pieces that will match your vision. It takes a lot of time and it can take a lot of money.
With the economy being what it is, everyone has to save money where they can. This can pose a challenge for both renters and homeowners looking to craft the perfect look for their living space. That being said, there’s still plenty of options you can use that won’t break the bank. As you prepare your design, consider using these eight tips to get the most out of your budget while still crafting a living space you’ll be proud to call your own.
1. Take Advantage of Whites
By and large, the most common color of paint you’ll find in any unfurnished home is white. Most people find it completely boring and want to repaint as quickly as possible. But for saving money, you shouldn’t ignore the whites that you already have in your home.
White, on its own, is a very serene color. It helps foster relaxation because it doesn’t require any commitment. You can still introduce elements of color with your furniture or by only painting select walls, instead of the entire room.
This will save you both money and time from painting.
2. Use Your Own Creations
The arts and crafts you make yourself aren’t just fun projects; they are also a great way to save money in design. You can use your needlefelt animals to make gorgeous decorations for a children’s room or mantlepiece. Your own paintings or drawings can serve as engaging wall art and give your room a luxurious, gallery-like appearance.
The best part? It’s far less expensive to craft your own decor than it is to opt for store-bought pieces.
3. Use as Much Natural Lighting as Possible
No matter how good the bulb is, no lamp will ever come close to imitating the beauty of natural lighting. For the budget conscious designer, natural lighting is also a great way to save on your electric bill every month. Only purchase the additional lighting you need to be comfortable at night, and leave your curtains undrawn throughout the day.
Pro tip: position your room’s centerpiece of your room where the light directly shines the brightest. It will naturally guide your visitor’s gaze towards your centerpiece.
4. Use Your Exterior as Part of Your Interior
Nature lovers have an advantage in interior design. People who love the outdoors can take advantage of the view outside their windows as part of their design. Arrange your other pieces in such a way that people will be naturally drawn towards the outdoors view. You can also bring in items from the landscape, like flowers and other plants, to put beside your windows. This will make it seem like the outdoor setting is an extension of your design.
Whether you’re buying or renting, pay attention to the view of the surrounding landscape as you search for a place to live. Having one with a beautiful outdoors view can help you realize your beautiful vision for a perfect design.
5. Create Your Own Wall Art
Most people’s first instinct when they want to introduce rich patterns to their wall is to grab a roll of wallpaper. But depending on the size of your home, wallpaper can get very expensive. It’s also a pain to hang.
Instead of that, you can create your own wall designs without wrecking your wallet. All you’ll need is a stencil with a design you like, a pencil to sketch out your template, and some wall paint. The paint is the most expensive item, but since you’re not covering the entire wall, you’ll save much more than you’d spend on standard wallpaper.
6. Use Plants as an Accent
Not only do they look and smell wonderful, but potted plants can also be a cheap alternative to more expensive decor items. You can also use plants as a great way to draw attention to other aspects of your room you want to highlight.
For example, if you place two plants on either side of a framed photo, people will be naturally drawn to the space between the plants, almost like they were looking through a gateway.
7. Repurpose Old Decor
When most people are ready to redecorate, they either sell off their old items or throw them away. If you’re working on a budget, you could be getting rid of some valuable resources.
For example – an old area rug that you may have in your living room can now be repurposed as a unique piece of hanging wall art.
8. Use Non-Decor as Decor
We’ve all seen mason jars used as lightbulb fixtures, and you can apply this same concept to many items in your home. You might use old glass bottles as decor pieces for your living room table, or hang some of your silverware on wall plaque for your kitchen or dining room.
Public Safety Town Hall with LAPD Chief Michel Moore via NoHo Councilmember Paul Krekorian’s office.
Dear Friend:
This January, I’m hosting a Council District 2 town hall to welcome our newly appointed Chief of Police Michel Moore. Chief Moore will discuss the state of public safety in our communities and what the LAPD is doing to meet the challenges we face in our neighborhoods.
I invite you to join me as we talk with Chief Moore about issues that are important to you and your family.
The event will also feature East Valley LAPD leaders who will address your concerns about local policing and the needs of our communities. It will be a great opportunity to hear from the LAPD directly about what’s being done to tackle crime, and a chance to learn about how you can get involved and be part of the solution.
In order to make the discussion as informative and comprehensive as possible, only questions submitted prior to the town hall will be addressed by Chief Moore. When you RSVP using the link below, you can also submit questions.
WHEN:
Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 6:30 PM
WHERE:
LA Valley College Monarch Hall 5800 Fulton Ave. Valley Glen
Very truly yours, Paul Krekorian LA City Councilmember, Second District
**** 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. Public Safety Town Hall with LAPD Chief Moore via the official NoHo Arts District Guide; www.nohoartsdistrict.com Public Safety Town Hall, LAPD Chief Moore, Councilman Paul Krekorian, L.A. safety, L.A. police chief meeting, meet LAPD Chief Moore, NoHo Calendar, NoHo News, NoHo Arts District
Latest Movie Reviews 2019 – Mary Poppins Returns; Vice; On the Basis of Sex; The Wife
The movie musical continues its renaissance with Mary Poppins Returns, director Rob Marshall’s sequel to the 1964 classic Mary Poppins which starred Julie Andrews as the magically efficient nanny, Dick Van Dyke as Bert the chimney-sweep (with the Cockney accent to end all Cockney accents—not in a good way), and David Tomlinson as the dignified Mr. Banks. In Mary Poppins Returns, set some twenty years after the original, the Banks children are grown, with Michael now a widower with children of his own—and in desperate need of guidance from the returning Mary (Emily Blunt), especially since the bank is about to foreclose on the family home. There is plenty to enjoy about Mary Poppins Returns; it is beautifully filmed with a lively animated interlude in the style of the original; the supporting performances are generally good, including Lin-Manuel Miranda as a cheerful, worshipful and resourceful lamplighter, Colin Firth as a bank president with ulterior motives, and Emily Mortimer as Michael’s activist sister. Emily Blunt inherits the title role and is a very fine Mary Poppins, floating in on her trusty umbrella, simultaneously exuding strength, rigidity, and amusement as she helps Mr. Michael (Ben Whishaw) emerge from imminent financial catastrophe (partly of his own making) and rediscover life’s wonder and promise. Blunt may not be as musically divine as Andrews, but she has a fine voice and manages to make the most out of the new songs by Marc Shaiman.
Which brings me to the major shortcoming of the sequel, the songs themselves are pretty lackluster. Yes, the new songs contain echoes of the original score by Richard and Robert Sherman, but Shaiman’s tunes are pretty much forgettable—when they’re not being derivative. In addition, some of the numbers go on for what seems like an eternity (as in the lamplighters number), while others are completely superfluous (was the Meryl Streep interlude really necessary). In addition, in turning Michael into a clueless sad sack, the script by David Magee almost negates the effect the wondrous Mary had on the original family. In the end, while this Mary is worth checking out for the performers (including some not-so-surprising appearances near the end). I doubt it will have the staying power of the original.
VICE
If you didn’t like Dick Cheney going in to see Vice, Adam McKay’s new satirical bio-pic on the powerful Vice President (who insisted that President Bush let him handle the little things like foreign policy and energy) is not destined to give you the warm and fuzzies. It is a scathing, blistering look at Cheney’s rise from being a barely competent bureaucrat to the CEO of Halliburton, and finally to the Vice-Presidency, where his decisions read like a playbook for how to enable big business and the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. However after spending two hours with this fellow, you’re no closer to seeing what made Cheney tick than you were at the beginning. Christian Bale transforms himself once again, and his Cheney is certainly interesting to watch—but the insights into his character are lacking (perhaps there is not there there). Amy Adams impresses as Lynne Cheney, a force in her own right, while Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell contribute some amusing and scene-stealing turns as Donald Rumsfeld and George W. Bush, respectively.
ON THE BASIS OF SEX
Mimi Leder’s On the Basis of Sex stars Felicity Jones as the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she begins Harvard Law School, after first being questioned (by Sam Waterston’s Dean) why she is there—taking a place away from a man). In short order, she helps her husband and second-year law student Martin (Arme Hammer) when he has a bout with cancer, transfers to Columbia and graduates (Dean Waterston refuses to let her finish her Harvard degree at Columbia, even though there is precedent), and finds soon enough that the unenlightened late 1950s culture won’t allow for female lawyers. She then becomes a professor, and later lands a tax case which involves discrimination towards a man—but might pave the way for opening up discussion and eventual change regarding discrimination toward women. On the Basis of Sex won’t win any awards for cinematic innovation, but it makes its fair share of points about the difficulties of effecting change in the face of complacency and male entitlement. Felicity Jones makes a convincing, grounded, tenacious Ginsburg, while Arme Hammer and Justin Theroux (as Mel Wulf of the ACLU) provide capable support. You know where the movie si headed all the way, but it’s a fairly entertaining ride.
THE WIFE
There is a lot of praise being heaped on Glenn Close in The Wife, and she is excellent, playing the wife of a Nobel Prize winning author (Jonathan Pryce) as they travel to Sweden for the awards ceremony. Close has resentments to spare and a secret that most of us will discover before it is shared with the audience. And while Close does deserve the praise, let us not forget the excellent Mr. Pryce, who has been neglected in all the awards talk. He is superb as an author battling his own demons and insecurities, and forever falling short. Close and Pryce—as well as Christian Slater as a persistent biographer—are very good indeed. What threatens to scuttle the film is Max Irons as the Close and Pryce’s forlorn, resentful son, who has none of the subtlety or grace of his imposing parents. One wonders how he emerged from their union—and why they don’t send him back to America.
We all know how important it is to match colors together well; blue and black are nemeses and clashing patters are an ungodly sin. Yet for all the time and patience we spend debating whether our shoes match our bags, little attention is often paid to our hair color and how it complements or distracts from our clothes. Considering how vital each are to our overall look, it’s truly an oversight of grand proportion: today, we seek to rectify that.
Finding the right shade for every hair color
We all know that clothes can come in every shape and color, and the same is true for hair. Finding a way to bring the best of both together can take some work but will result in truly fantastic results. Today we will explore four of the best ways you can make the most of your hair color by perfectly tailoring the clothes you wear to it.
1. Use a color wheel
Using a color wheel is a great way to pick out what colors will look good on you. Generally speaking, you want to find where on the wheel your hair color falls: whether that’s the yellowish hues of blonde, or the reddish undertones of a warm brunette. Once you’ve located where you fall on the wheel, look at the colors either side: these are your analogous colors, and will always be a safe bet when it comes to putting together an outfit. Looking directly across the wheel, however, and you will find your complementary color – your direct opposite. It may seem counter intuitive, but this tone will also suit you down to the grown, so feel free to use it for attention-grabbing statement pieces.
2. Use celebrity inspiration
Imitation is a form of flattery, but it’s also quite simply a fool-proof way of looking how you want. Finding inspiration from friends, strangers on the street and celebrities is a guaranteed way of building a clear idea of what you like and don’t – and what looks good and what does not. Whether you find someone who has similarly unruly hair, that particular shade of brown, or the same piqued short cut, assessing how they rock their look can offer great insight for your own style adventure. Take a look at these top fashion bloggers to start your next fashion journey.
3. Jewelry plays a big role
Jewelry can take an outfit from zero to a hundred, so make sure not to overlook it when planning your outfit. From gold, to silver, bronze, rose plated, pearl and the whole gamut of colored gem stones, there really are endless choices for what finish your jewelry offers and how it might complement your look. The main considerations when it comes to picking the right jewelry for you are your hair color, skin tone and eye color: take a look at this Grazia article for a detailed run-down of how to make the right choice.
4. Experiment freely
And finally, no matter whether you have naturally light blonde hair or dyed black hair, you shouldn’t feel too restricted by your options. Even if a color looks wacky at first, feel free to try it out: if it doesn’t work, try something else. For those who color their hair this is especially true: our natural hair color complements our skin tone, but when we dye it we can look totally different and it can bring out new accents in our skin. Consequently, we make suit different looks and colors of clothing. You’ll never know until you try!
“Jocasta: A Motherf**king Tragedy” – a timely new play conceived and directed by Brian Weir from our friends at The Ghost Road Company.
An alcoholic tattoo artist, a kid who’s been swimming laps for 25 years, an ex-con, and a woman who believes she can see the future help Jocasta when she is awakened from a dream into a literal nightmare, discovering her husband Oedipus is also her son. This at once disturbing and darkly comic theatrical work, explores modern feminism, the nature of fate, and what it takes to regain control of one’s own destiny.
Said director Weir, “We started creating this play long before the #metoo movement. As each misdeed comes to light, as each woman steps forward, it highlights the insight of the Greeks who wrote so adeptly about human psychology. For this play, I wanted to focus on Oedipus’ wife/mother, the one character who did no wrong but paid the price ten-fold. I also wanted to shine a light on some of the other much-maligned female characters, to show how women have paid for the actions of men for time immemorial.”
Brian Weir has been a member of the Ghost Road Company since 1995, developing and performing in numerous works including Asterion, The Bargain and the Butterfly, Stranger Things, the Home Seige Home trilogy, Four Dervishes, Carrots for Hare, Pantofelnik’s Suitcase, A Couple of Polish Speaking Romanians and Life’s A Dream. After receiving his MFA from CalArts, he performed in numerous theatres across the southland including Celebration, The Getty Villa, Inside the Ford, Collage Dance Theatre, Moving Arts, Playwrights Arena, the Odyssey, and West Coast Ensemble. A huge proponent of new work, he has directed pieces for The Blank Theatre and Theatre of NOTE as well as teaching workshops in improvisation and the ensemble devising process.
The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Christine Breihan, Adam Dlugolecki, Max Faugno, Kimberly Glann, Jen Kays, and Katharine Noon. Set design is by Francois-Pierre Couture, lighting design is by Brandon Baruch, costume design is by Vicki Conrad, sound design is by Cricket Myers, original music is by Jakob Berger, and fight direction is by Ronnie Clark. The stage manager is Manichanh Kham, and Mark Seldis produces for The Ghost Road Company.
The Ghost Road Company is one of Los Angeles’ premiere theatre ensembles dedicated to the creation of new work for the stage. The company is unique in its approach, having developed its own methods of collaborative development over many years. GRC has presented its work nationally and internationally from The Getty Villa, Inside the Ford, and Atwater Village Theatre, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, KO Festival in Amherst, and the Grotowski Laboratorium in Wroclaw, Poland. Recent works include Asterion, The Bargain and the Butterfly, and Home Siege Home (The Oresteia Trilogy). For more info, visit www.ghostroad.org.
WHEN:
January 11 – February 10 Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm
**** 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.
We’re pet lovers here in the NoHo Arts District. We share everything that will make our furry friends. From our pals at LA Animal Services.
There is still time to make your New Year’s resolutions! And, may we suggest that you consider including your companion animals too? Maybe your goal is to eat healthier, work out more often and spend more time with your family. Well, does your dog or cat need to drop a few pounds or exercise more as well? LA Animal Services shares some ideas with you to keep you and your pets happy and healthy in 2018.
1. Help your pet eat healthy and watch their weight.
Measuring meals can help you maintain your pet’s weight and their overall health. Whether you plan meals or free-feed your pet, calculate their calorie goals, find out how much you should feed each day, and measure it out to ensure proper nutrition.
2. Schedule a vet check-up.
Make sure your best friend is healthy by scheduling an annual exam with your vet and checking that his or her vaccines are up-to-date. Yearly examinations by the veterinarian are a key component of good preventive care. Many medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis or heart problems are common in aging pets and are much easier to manage when found early.
3. Start a daily grooming routine.
Brushing your dog or cat daily only takes a few minutes and helps remove dead hair- which also reduces the amount of fuzz you find on your clothes, floor and furniture. It also helps distribute oils from the skin to their fur, keeping their coat shiny and healthy. Don’t forget to brush his or her teeth too! Brushing teeth often is the best way to keep tartar and plaque under control.
4. Teach an old dog a new trick.
Teaching your dog a new trick or playing a new game with your cat stimulates their mind. By keeping your furry friend’s brain active, you can actually help make your pet healthier and keep them out of trouble.
5. Update your pet’s ID information.
If you moved or have a new phone number, be sure to update your pet’s license, tags and microchip with your current contact information. It’s the best way to reunite you and your buddy if they happen to get lost.
6. Exercise together.
Going on extra walks each week or running around the dog park together is a great way to bond with your dog. It’ll get you both out of the house, and you and your pet will reap the rewards of healthy physical activity.
These six resolutions won’t only benefit your pet, but strengthen your companionship with them, which only means more nuzzles from your best friend in the new year!
**** 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. New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Pet via the official NoHo Arts District Guide; www.nohoartsdistrict.com New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Pet, L.A. Animal Services, official NoHo Arts District Guide, wwwnohoartsdistrict.com, adopt don’t shop, adopt a pet, no kill L.A., no kill los angeles, NKLA, the la pound, adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt an animal, noho pet blog, noho dog lovers
Come and Celebrate the New Year with the Art Directors Guild at Gallery 800!
On Saturday, January 12 from 5:00 pm– 8:00 pm, Gallery 800 hosts an opening for a 12th anniversary exhibition of Art Unites 12, a dynamic mix of diverse artists’ work from contributing IATSE Local 800, Local 729, Local 871, Local 706, Local 44 and SAG-AFTRA.
The reception features live music performed by the “Do Drop In” jazz trio.
Located in the heart of the NoHo Arts District, Gallery 800 showcases guild members’ personal art in a series of shows throughout the year.
Art Unites 12 will commence the 2019 Gallery 800 exhibition series, which is open to the public.
This exhibit will run through March 3, 2019.
Artists participating in ADG Gallery 800 Arts Unites 12 Exhibition include:
Stephen Babcock, Anastasia Bankova, Will Batts, Pierre Bernard, Spencer Brennan, Katalin Bujnova, Susan Bolles, Dan Caplan, Matthew Carey, Joe Celli, Cari Chadwick, Matthew Chauby, Scott Clark, Marsha Craft, Risley Cline, Francisco Del Mar, Dan Dempster, Alanna Dempewolff-Barrett, Michael Denering, Stella W. Deng, Bridget Duffy-Thorn, Barbara Dunphy, Karen Torell Falkner, Bernard Fallon, James Faulkner, Brooke Feamster, Frank Forte, Carole Goldman, Pete Graziano, Susan Hannon, Cynthia Hill, Jay Johnson, Stan Johnson / Joy Roy, Marie Joxe, Casey Kasemeier, Elena Kokorina, Paul Kocalis, Catherine Koon, Anastasia Kulikova, Janet Kusnick, Kenneth Larson, Kimberly Lyons, William T. Lakoff, Melanie Mahoney, Daniel Maltese, Geoffrey Mandel, Larry Manning, Stephen Miller, John Moffitt, Mike Montiforte, Erik Olson, Dorin Parisi, Stasys Pinkus, Rhea Rebbe, Roberto Rios, Roland Rosenkranz, Crystal Schrader, Patrick Shields, Colin Sieburgh, Jeff Skrimstad, Gordon Stotz, , Rob Tokarz, Kim Tolman, Philip Toolin, Lee Wanderer, Nic Weethee and Mamie Young.
ABOUT THE ART DIRECTORS GUILD:
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,500 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists Illustrators and Matte Artists Set Designers and Model Makers and Previs Artists. Established in 1937, the ADG’s ongoing activities include a Film Society, an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (5D: The Future of Immersive Design), a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective) and extensive technology-training programs, figure drawing and other creative workshops and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. The Guild’s Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org. Connect with the Art Directors Guild and #Gallery800 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I was having a rent conversation with a coworker. You know, one of those rent conversations that only people in LA, SF, or NYC have.
One of those conversations that frequently follows on the heels of a recent move, or a rent hike when you renew your lease. My coworker was explaining that he’s not a fan of LA, the cost of living is too high, and he only moved here because his wife is from here. While I agree that all too often half our paychecks go to keeping a roof over our head, I love LA for what it gives us back. Sure, you could move to Oklahoma City or Omaha and buy a house for what we rent in a single year here. But you wouldn’t have all of the free, accessible, and quality art shows, concerts, bars, restaurants, etc. that LA does. While we pay for rent – we often don’t have to pay for good, quality art. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is one of the foundational institutions that spearheaded free, quality art.
The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) was established 1954, and committed itself then as a high quality, free public art venue. At its inception, LAMAG hosted classic masters of art, modern art, and crafts. The gallery has since narrowed its focus to here, the community at large, and it emphasizes LA artists. And LA artists from communities that don’t traditionally receive well-deserved shine.
With an impressive, local cast of artists, Here (https://www.lamag.org/portfolio_page/here-2018/) introduces physical and conceptual boundaries as a group show. Here challenges us to look at our own communities: what they have been to us, who they are to us, and how they’ve both changed and how we’ve changed them. Here also reminds us that El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles (LA’s originally colonized name under Spanish rule) is a complex space inhabited (sometimes not so fluidly) by diverse and intersectional communities. LA continues to be a shared space in both human geography and physical boundary.
Not uniquely, but in a very self-aware, meta conversation with the exhibition itself, Here asks gallery-goers to participate in the conversation about community. Pen and paper invites visitors to draw their neighborhood and answer some simple questions about the locale: what community means to you, where your community is, etc.8.5×11″ white rectangles greet new visitors and usher them out with a rather predictable representation of ‘community’: physical, geographical representations of geography. Frequently drawings of the 101, 405, 10, 5, and any other freeway you’ve spent days of your life in traffic on. The meta conversation lies in who visits this gallery and who has drawn these pop-up group show contributions. I don’t have these answers. Anecdotally I can guess based on those who I visited the gallery with, but LAMAG does ask for demograhic information on the way out (in lieu of an entry fee).
Videos, mixed media installations, and paintings greet visitors. Gloria Galvez created a video of a residential wall in her neighborhood, which pays homage to Tupac Shakur’s poem which reads, “Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else cared.” Galvez’s work brings us an excruciatingly localized space close to her heart, but also gives us a simple community fixture that we identify with in our own LA communities: a wall. But this wall also just looks like an LA wall. If you’ve lived in LA long enough…you know what this type of wall and mural looks like. A wall is also highly metaphorical and clever as a tool for discussion about communities, and it’s also a literal physical boundary being discussed by our current Administration. Er..I suppose it’s not a wall now, but artistic steel slats. But you know what I mean. Galvez is one of many artists who let us in on their secret (i.e. have unpretentious work), and invites us to share conversation ranging from the local to the global.
Umar Rashid has a powerful piece done in simple acrylic & ink on tea-stained paper. Rashid explores power shifts and conflicts, and Rashid reimagines a fantastical version of colonization – one in which imperialism in the Americas has been propogated by Africans. While LAMAG explores local instantiations of subjugation and 21st century power-dynamics in LA, Rashid brings us to the first ‘staking of claim’ to CA. Rashid reminds us of a deeply entrenched and cyclical narrative of ownership of both people and communities.
LAMAG offers us the heart of LA on a platter – big city appeal and rockstar art, with the personal conversation of how we fit in and interact with our city (and city’s history). It’s personal with global feel, and self-aware as a free gallery that sits on a plot of land formerly owned by Frank Lloyd Wright. LAMAG is a gem that sits unpolished in a hillside of Los Feliz. Rather…it’s unpolished until you walk inside.
What is the NoHo Neighborhood Council, or “NOHONC”?
I have lived in North Hollywood, Noho adjacent, for about ten years now and I have been writing for NoHoartsdistrict.com for five and although I have known about The NoHo Neighborhood Council, or “NOHONC,” if I am absolutely honest I have never really had the faintest idea of what it actually did…so I dropped in on one their monthly meetings to find out.
Every 2nd Monday at 6:30 pm the local NoHo Neighborhood Council hold a board meeting. The 23 elected members get together at the East Valley High School to discuss various local topics and to hold a public forum, an opportunity for “stakeholders” or local residents, business and members of other community groups, to communicate with each other and to voice concerns, grievances and most importantly to bring their own ideas on how to improve the NoHo neighborhood.
It’s all very civilized, the members sit at a long table facing the public seating and each meeting has its own agenda based around the City Council’s office current activities. So whatever is a priority of the Council office becomes a priority of the neighborhood council.
This really could cover anything from community outreach to public safety concerns, land use, parks and of course the homeless…always a concern. It’s a fascinating and complex weekly ritual. Each member has the opportunity to bring their own particular agenda or bring up something for a vote to the board…very democratic and fluid, a bit medieval, but only in a good way.
Recently they have lent their support and even some of their budget to projects such as the NoHo Block Party, NoHo Summer Nights Concert Series, a call for local Muralists to brighten up the streets and some serious work on the homeless committee…the secretary of the board is Pastor Stephanie Jaeger who runs the wonderful St Matthews Church and their brilliant Homeless programhttps://www.stmatthewsnoho.org
If you are interested at all in getting involved in NoHo as a community, or if you are annoyed about something you see going on or have some brilliant idea to make our glorious NoHo an even better place to live, then please bring yourself along to the next meeting on September 10th. There’s even usually a few tacos or some such nosh, so you won’t even have to miss your dinner!
All joking aside, the world is very, very fraught, our lives are overly stressed and the general feeling of “what the hell” is pretty much everywhere. So feeling connected to our home, to the people who surround us and the ground beneath our feet may just help a little. What gets decided in this small space with a group of very devoted and concerned neighbors does actually have an impact…plans are made, things are accomplished and the City pays attention.
They are always looking for help, the council is made up of residents and as we all know people come and go, LA is very transient, so as folks move on their places need to be filled. You never know, a quick scouting visit may very well turn into a place of the board and the beginnings of a new life in politics…perish the thought!!
I for one am quietly impressed with their devotion, their fortitude and quite frankly their stamina…it takes a village and by golly it takes forever! But fortune favors the brave and Rome wasn’t built in a day and, well, you get the idea.
LA is a city of neighborhoods and every one of them has a certain flavor. NoHo has been searching for it’s own flavor for some time now, but it’s coming together and no small amount of responsibility for that should be laid at the feet of the Neighborhood Council and their members. Trash cans don’t just get beautified by pixies in the night you know. NoHo is a small, unique, feisty place to live, lets all work to keep it that way.
The Soraya Presents the Return of the Renowned Aspen Santa Fe, Ballet Saturday, January 19
Tuplet by Alexander Ekman Dream Play by Fernando Melo 1st Flash by Jorma Elo
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet‘s bold vision – top global choreographers, distinctive groundbreaking repertoire, and virtuoso dancers – has fostered a jewel of a dance company in the American West. Now, ASFB celebrates the fourth year of its residency at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) with a program of works that celebrates the company’s commitment to creating new contemporary dance on Saturday, January 19 at 8:00pm. ASFB will perform Tuplet by Alexander Ekman, Dream Play by Fernando Melo, and 1st Flash from world-renowned Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo.
Date:
Saturday, January 19 at 8:00pm
Venue:
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330
Tickets:
Prices: Starting at $39. Prices subject to change. By Phone: (818) 677-3000 Online: TheSoraya.org
This multi-year residency by a major performing arts company furthers the mission of The Soraya to become the cultural hub of the San Fernando Valley. Long-term relationships between artists and audiences are crucial to the success of emerging arts institutions and the communities they serve. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, one of the nation’s most important contemporary ballet companies, is the first company to embark on a residency at The Soraya. ASFB enjoys worldwide acclaim with invitations to perform at noted venues around the world, from Teatro La Fenice, the historic opera house in Venice, Italy, to The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the U.S.
“We feel so priviledged that Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has chosen us as their home-away-from-home as we welcome them for their fourth consecutive year,” said The Soraya Executive Director, Thor Steingraber. “We’re also excited to host works by Jorma Elo, one of dance’s most sought-after choreographers; Alexander Ekman, who has choreographed for over 50 companies worldwide; and an ASFB-commissioned work by Fernando Melo. The choregraphers are what make the evening so spectacular and Melo and Elo have both had worked here before, returning after their previous successes.”
About the Program
Tuplet
Choreography: Alexander Ekman Music: Mikael Karlsson, Victor Feldman, “Fly Me To The Moon” Video: Alexander Ekman Costume Design: Nancy Haeyung Bae Lighting Design: Amith Chandrashaker Staged by: Ana Maria Lucaciu
Performers: Katherine Bolaños, Seia Rassenti Watson, Evan Supple, Anthony Tiedeman, Pete Leo Walker, Joseph Watson
Premiere: May 22, 2012, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Joyce Theater, NYC. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s production of Tuplet is made possible through the generosity of Toni & Jim Kaplan and Orli & Bill Staley.
Tuplet is a swift, pulsating 20-minute tour de force for six dancers. Utilizing a score created in collaboration with the dancers’ own rhythmic impulses and employing their individual bodies as percussion instruments, the soundscape is integrated with original electronic music composed by Mikael Karlsson. “I’m attempting to find a fraction of an answer to an extremely large question: What is rhythm? In my world of music and dance this theme is a huge challenge and continual exploration for me. Tuplet endeavors to understand a small fragment of this quest,” Ekman says.
Dream Play
Dream Play by Fernando Melo), photo by Jordan Cruet
ASFB Commissioned Work Choreography: Fernando Melo Co-creator: Shumpei Nemoto Music: Erik Satie, Frédéric Chopin Lighting Design: Seah Johnson Costume Design: Jérôme Delbey Scenic Design Construction: Danny Bacheldor
Performers : Katherine Bolaños, Sadie Brown, Jenelle Figgins, Seia Rassenti Watson, Austin Reynolds, Evan Supple, Anthony Tiedeman, Pete Leo Walker, Joseph Watson, Jenny Winton
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s production of Dream Play is made possible through the generosity of Kelley and Mark Purnell.
In Dream Play, the audience is invited to experience a constant shift of perspective…between the whimsical world created by the artists and the raw process that generates its animation. It is my hope that this theatrical experience will stimulate your imagination and generate countless interpretations for your enjoyment. It’s important to note the creative process and the development of the physical vocabulary was a collective act in which all parties involved proposed ideas and solutions. – Fernando Melo
1st Flash
Choreography: Jorma Elo Music: Jean Sibelius* Set Design: Jorma Elo
Lighting Design: Jordan Tuinman Costume Design: Joke Visser Assistant to the Choreographer: Urtzi Aranburu Costume Construction: Nete Joseph
Performers: Sadie Brown, Jenelle Figgins, Seia Rassenti, Anthony Tiedeman, Pete Leo Walker, Joseph Watson Premiere: September 18, 2003, Nederlands Dans Theater, Lucent Danstheater, The Hague, The Netherlands. *Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in d-minor, Opus 47 (1905) Movement 2, Adagio di molto; Movement 3, Allegro, ma non tanto
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s production of 1st Flash is made possible through the generosity of Maja and Nic DuBrul.
About Alexander Ekman, Choreographer: Tuplet
Alexander Ekman is an international choreographer/director creating dance pieces for opera houses, theaters, and museums. He also directs films and music videos, as well as live performances in pop up locations. Ekman is known for his fast-paced timing, witty humor, and clever transitions. Since 2006 he has devoted his time creating pieces that both entertain and question the observer. He aims to transform the atmosphere and to always surprise the audience. Around 50 dance companies worldwide have performed Ekman’s works including: Royal Swedish Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance, Ballet de l’Opéra du Rhin, The Norwegian National Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Sydney Dance Company, The Royal Ballet of Denmark, and Vienna Ballet. Among his many awards and nominations, Ekman received the Swedish Medea Award for “Inventor and Renewer” in September 2015, as well as the Såstaholm Award, and the Birgit Cullberg Scholarship.
About Fernando Melo, Choreographer: Dream Play
Fernando Melo is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 16 he was awarded a scholarship to train at the Vienna State Opera Ballet. He has been in Europe ever since, building his career as a dancer and choreographer and creating works around the world. Among the companies he has choreographed for are: Göteborgsoperans Danskompani (Sweden), where he is also currently rehearsal director; Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf (Germany), Introdans (Holland), Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, München (Germany), Luzerner Theater (Switzerland), Luna Negra Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico New York (U.S.A.), and Norrdans (Sweden). In addition, Fernando choreographs for opera. His recent projects include Die Schöpfung by Joseph Haydn for Vocal Futures, London, (U.K.), Daphne by Richard Strauss at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse, (France), Solaris by Detlev Glanert at the Oper Köln (Germany) and L’Opera Seria by Florian Leopold Gassman at La Monnaie in Brussels (Belgium).
About Jorma Elo, Choreographer: 1st Flash
Jorma Elo is one of the most sought-after choreographers in the world. He has created works for companies including American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Netherlands Dance Theater, and Finnish National Ballet, among others. Elo trained with the Finnish National Ballet School and the Kirov Ballet School in Leningrad. He danced with Finnish National Ballet and Cullberg Ballet until joining Netherlands Dance Theater in 1990, where he enjoyed a 15 year career. Elo was appointed Resident Choreographer of Boston Ballet in 2005, where he has created many world premieres, including Sharp Side of Dark (2002), Plan to B (2004), Carmen/Illusions (2006 & 2009), Brake the Eyes (2007), In on Blue (2008), Le Sacre du Printemps (2009), Sharper Side of Dark (2012), and Awake Only (2012). Boston Ballet premiered a full length performance titled “Elo Experience” in 2011. Elo was awarded the Benois de la Danse prize for best choreography in 2010, for his production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, commissioned by Vienna State Opera Ballet, and Slice to Sharp for the Stanislavsky Music Theatre. In 2012, the Finnish Government awarded Elo the Dance Artist Prize. Elo has also been awarded the Choreography prize in the 2005 Helsinki International Ballet Competition, and he was the recipient of the Prince Charitable Trust Prize and the Choo- San Goh Choreographic Award in 2006. He was nominated for a 2008 Isadora Duncan Dance Award. Elo has been featured in Esquire, Dance, and Pointe magazines.
About Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Ballet’s dynamic story in the American West In 1996, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Founder Bebe Schweppe invited Tom Mossbrucker and Jean-Philippe Malaty to create a ballet company in Aspen. A unique, multidimensional arts organization developed rapidly from the ballet school Schweppe had established in the Rocky Mountains. “Bebe’s vision for Aspen to have its own ballet company was the project of a lifetime,” says Malaty, ASFB’s Executive Director. “We embarked together on a serendipitous adventure. More than twenty years later, the connection between the dancers and our two communities is deep and inextricable.”
Forging a new frontier The company began modestly with seven dancers. Growth was organic. Friends in the field—Gerald Arpino, Trey McIntyre, Septime Webre, Dwight Rhoden—offered start-up repertoire. Moses Pendleton’s popular Noir Blanc was a seminal event for the young ASFB. It launched a tradition of commissioning new works. An open, exploratory style emerged as Mossbrucker and Malaty tapped the creative scene in Europe where classical ballet was breaking from its boundaries. The athletic and adventurous American dancers found themselves at a crossroads of dance history. The divide between ballet and modern dance was dissolving.
Innovative business model In 2000, the Aspen, Colorado-based ballet company forged a dual-city relationship with Santa Fe, New Mexico, broadening its scope and lending crucial revenue diversification. Under this hybrid business model, a roster of arts activities flourishes year-round in both cities. Performance, education, presentation, and community outreach all join in the mix. In 2014, ASFB shared resources with a local troupe, Juan Siddi Flamenco Santa Fe (JSFSF). This entrepreneurial project led to artistic heights at Jacob’s Pillow and New York’s Joyce Theater. Fortified with new experience and relationships, JSFSF continues to thrive in its own right.
New commissions ASFB’s mission places highest priority on developing new dance works and nurturing relationships with emerging choreographers. The company fostered the early careers of now in-demand global dance makers like Nicolo Fonte (nine commissioned Fonte works in the ASFB repertoire), Jorma Elo (three commissioned Elo works), Edwaard Liang, Jacopo Godani, Helen Pickett, Cayetano Soto, Alejandro Cerrudo, and others. Works by late 20th century masters—William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Twyla Tharp—round out the repertoire.
“We value building relationships with choreographers who become integral to the company. The natural beauty of our surroundings has a profound impact on creativity. Our choreographers find it inspiring to create here,” says Mossbrucker, ASFB’s Artistic Director.
Renowned in the U.S. & abroad Based in the American West, ASFB occupies the vanguard of its field, brandishing a strong national reputation. Repeat engagements at the American Dance Festival, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Joyce Theater, The Kennedy Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and Wolf Trap testify to the company’s popularity and ability to please audiences. The company has toured overseas as well, with prestigious invitations and bookings in Brazil, Canada, France, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, and Russia. Premier funders—National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts / National Dance Project, Joyce Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Wolf Trap Foundation, Jerome Robbins Foundation, and Princess Grace Foundation—have supported ASFB’s growth.
Into a bright future Since its founding in 1996, ASFB has carved a reputation as a dance-lover’s dance company. It has genuinely reshaped the field, introducing new choreographic talent to national stages, fostering a new breed of exceptional dancer, and stimulating audiences with high-caliber performances. Fueled by an annual budget of over $4 million and an endowment nearly twice that size, the company’s strong artistic vision is supported by solid financial footing.
Bebe Schweppe, Founder, grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and started dancing at the Georgia Dance Theatre, under Frankie Levy at the age of seven. She was invited by Robert Joffrey to study at his school in New York on a full scholarship at age eleven. Bebe moved to Aspen in 1975 and fifteen years later founded the Aspen Ballet School. Her presence was a catalyst in the region. In 1996, she invited Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker to develop a small professional company in Aspen. Through their combined energies, the Aspen Ballet Company was born a year later. Shortly after, new performing opportunities beckoned in Santa Fe, upon which the company was renamed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Bebe speaks with pride when she considers the changes that have occurred over the years to her “baby.” “The Company has evolved to having earned a name of its own – ASFB. What a treat! It is recognized by other artists and respected by all. This is of course due in large part to Jean-Philippe and Tom.” She cites that “their strength has been in their unique ability to perceive and design a repertoire that entertains all parts, whether it’s the audience or the dancer.” Tom and Jean-Philippe have “greatly succeeded” in realizing her dreams for the company, she says. “I am thankful that I had the dream and was lucky and persistent enough to convince JP and Tom to relocate from New York City. Never did I imagine that one day the company would be performing nationally and internationally and never did I imagine that one day they would be performing works by internationally famous choreographers. Although I had the dream, I never imagined so much. I feel very lucky.”
Jean-Philippe Malaty, Executive Director, was born in the Basque region of France. After receiving his baccalaureate in dance, he accepted scholarships to study at Mudra, Maurice Béjart’s school in Brussels, and at John Cranko’s ballet academy in Stuttgart. Invited by acclaimed instructor David Howard to study in New York, Jean-Philippe traveled to America under Howard’s tutelage. Jean-Philippe’s performance career began with Joffrey II. He also danced as a guest artist with Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Jean-Philippe segued from the stage to an administrator role while still in his twenties. A key member of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s start-up team, Jean-Philippe has been central to developing the company’s unique dual-city-based hybrid business model. He directs operations in two locations, overseeing a $4 million budget that he allocates to the company, two schools, an esteemed presenting series, and an award- winning folkloric outreach program. Jean-Philippe’s first love is teaching and when his schedule permits, he conducts master classes at schools and universities. In 2013, Jean-Philippe shared an honor with Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker when the Santa Fe Community Foundation bestowed its Piñon Award on the company. In 2012, the Denver Bonfils-Stanton Foundation granted Jean-Philippe a Livingston Fellowship in recognition of his significant leadership role in Colorado’s non-profit sector. In 2010, in recognition of ASFB’s contribution to the field of dance, Jean-Philippe and Tom were honored with the Joyce Theater Foundation Award. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Jean-Philippe is proud to have forged a company alive with American energy, invention, and eclecticism.
Tom Mossbrucker, Artistic Director, has been artistic director of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet since 1996. Over the course of his career Tom has built a prestigious arts organization sharing two homes in Aspen and Santa Fe. In his role as artistic director, Tom cultivates highly sophisticated and challenging works of contemporary ballet. His shining achievement is ASFB’s roster of 27 ballets created on commission by leading global choreographers. Tom began to dance at age four, studying tap in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington. He pursued classical ballet training at the School of American Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School. His twenty years as a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, performing in over 70 ballets under the direct coaching of founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, coincided with a period of high artistic achievement for the company. Tom danced in ballets by great twentieth century choreographers: Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Laura Dean, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylián, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp. Signature roles included Iago in Jose Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane; Champion Roper in Agnes DeMille’s Rodeo; Billy Eugene Loring’s Billy the Kid; and Romeo in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet. This rich dance background Tom brings to coaching dancers today. In 2013, Tom shared an honor with Executive Director Jean-Philippe Malaty when the Santa Fe Community Foundation bestowed its Piñon Award on the company. In 2010, in recognition of ASFB’s contribution to the field of dance, Tom and Jean-Philippe Malaty were honored with the Joyce Theater Foundation Award. A former board member of Dance USA, Tom currently serves on the board of The Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey Foundation.
About Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
The 2018-19 Season marks the eighth year 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 mission of The Soraya is to present a wide variety of performances that not only includes new and original work from the Los Angeles region but also work from around the world that appeal 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 will serve 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.
“Occult Electric” is an album filled with gorgeous soundscapes, rhythmic incantations, mystical, detailed, twisted coils of sound. Is this music or prayer?
Poetry made from found sounds, spoken word and manipulated atmospherics all supported with soft heartbeats of persistence. Like standing in an open space with music and sound and intricate conversational moments all spiraling in the air around you.
Sound Strider is the brainchild of Sam Was, an electronic musical artist and experimentalist, a master at sonic finagling and blissful blending of organic and wildly diverse instruments recorded in beautiful spaces imbuing them with magical elements and echos of the ancient places they occupied.
Sound Strider tours the world with his unique blend of sounds and rhythms. He writes music for Danza del Caribe, a modern dance company from Santiago de Cuba. He has performed at The Edinburgh Fringe and Mañana Festival and has recently collaborated with acclaimed singer Miriam Wakes to explore Greek mythology and ritualized performance. This year he formed the label and production company Red Tent Records along with long-time friend and collaborator Ghost In The Chill to bridge the gap between acoustic and electronica – man and machine.
All this clearly feeds this fascinating record. It defies definition. I found it both inspiring, energizing and deeply meditative. You feel as if you are inside the sound, without it overcoming or controlling you. It’s magical and beguiling, and it creates an almost hallucinogenic dream like experience…I absolutely loved it.
“It’s Time” is full of glorious, classic, soulful jazz, with more than a little funk.
Rose Ann Dimalanta’s gorgeous vocals anchor this fabulous sound. The melodious bass of Raymond McKinley and sublime drums of Massimo Buonanno lift, syncopate and playfully guide Dimalanta’s stories of love and memory. Her beautiful, subtle and sultry keyboards seem to have a life of their own as she sings.
This trio has a phenomenal musical background, once you hear the album it’s pretty clear they are at the peak of their game. Rose Ann Dimalanta is a former Prince musician from 2003-2004, Musicology tour, Grammys 2004 performance with Prince and Beyonce. Bass player Raymond has worked and toured with some of the biggest names in the gospel and soul genre (Patti Labelle, Tower of Power, Sheila E., Rachelle Ferrell, George Duke, Tony! Toni! Toné!, En Vogue among many others). Drummer Massimo is one of the most in demand drummers in Europe and is owner and producer of Lucky Tiger Productions (Switzerland).
The trio formed in 2016 and creating this sound has been a labor of love for them all. If there is one word that describes this album, in fact, for me it would be love – love of music, love of life, love of performing and love of each other…it all sounds like love.
There’s gospel here, and silky soul as well as the jazz and funk, but nothing overpowers anything else. It’s all perfectly balanced but in a way that allows for soaring and waves of musical goodness. Nothing bland here! It’s the gentle, beautiful, memorable kind of music that happens when a group really clicks. When they are all working to the same goal, in the same direction, that’s when magic happens. This album is absolute magic, shiny, glossy, funky, heartfelt magic.
“End of Time” is a progressive rock concept album.
Sam Fishman produced the record with a mind for it to be the soundtrack to an animated feature. The complex subjects he was drawn to and the songs that evolved touch on subjects as diverse as texting while driving and the search for justice, love and revolution.
This album is bold and powerful and certainly lends itself to high concept artistic animation. It’s seriously cinematic and beautifully dark. There’s an element of chaos in the music as it rises, falls and is skillfully maneuvered by some quite brilliant musicians. The tracks are interspersed with some really interesting narrative prose leading the listeners from one track to another. It perfectly and ingeniously creates a world for the listener to inhabit as the album unfolds and tells its story.
The musicality is superb. This is a brilliantly produced album and the vocalists Samantha Cram and Ryan Acquaotta perform these outstanding songs with passion, understanding, expression, gorgeous tone and huge range.
Sam Fishman began his musical career as a drummer, touring with his band Madison Rising all over the US, Japan and South Korea alongside Aerosmith, Godsmack, Lynrd Skynrd, Weezer and Chris Cornell. Clearly these iconic bands rubbed off on him, the huge stadium sound in this album has echoes of greatness and all the makings of anthemic timeless rock.
Concept albums are not always appreciated these days, to be honest. It’s been a long while since “The Dark Side of The Moon,” but maybe it’s time for a reawakening of this particular genre of storytelling. I have a passion for all kinds of music, but it has to have heart. ”End of Time” has epic heart…loved it!!!
BY LINE Mandalong Records Peter Senior’s “The Christmas Tree”
I love Christmas, but I have to say the same old Christmas songs are getting, well, old. So this new release from Peter Senior is a bit of a godsend. A great rock n roll song with a terrific groove and fun lyrics, heart warming and ready to sing along to. It’s in a classic retro style, bringing to mind Billy Joel or even, dare I say it, Shakin’ Stevens!
Peter Senior is a Sydney based singer songwriter with a clear love for Americana and a tender lyric. He’s had great success in Australia already with a couple of hit singles and his latest album, “On The Edge” was released earlier this year.
This Christmas song is perfect for parties and I can imagine it becoming a regular Christmas favorite. Office parties, family get togethers, holiday road trips, Christmas movies, radio marathons!! Senior sings of his own Christmas as a kid, playing in the moonlight, decorating the tree, the excitement of waiting for Santa, everything we all remember in from own Christmases…we can all relate, and it brings all those wonderful childhood memories back as he sings this lovely rock n roll ode to a Christmas tree…great stuff!
I love real House music and Matt Warren is real House.
This is Matt Warren’s first album in 10 years, he’s been busy remixing and producing some of the biggest names in music, including Bjork and Faith Evans, plus hundreds of other artists. Matt is old school. He prefers to record live musicians than to use samples. He knows some of the best musicians in the business and they sound amazing on these tracks.
This is heart-pumping, groove-making House. Dance the night away House. Pump your hands in the air House. Classic Chicago where it all began House. The vocals are classic too. Janis McGee lays it all out for us and Pepper Gomez’s unique style brings yet another flavor.
If you love to dance then you will surely appreciate the soulful stylings of Matt Warren and his band warming up the floor for your grooving delights. Matt began the Hard House genre with the groundbreaking “Bang The Box” in 1987 and now, more than 30 years later, he brings us the first Nu-House record with his “Music is My Life.”
Always pushing forward, Matt Warren and his collaboration with legendary diva Pepper Gomez on “Music is My Life” reaffirms his presence as a leading producer, songwriter and DJ. This is a lush, soulful, funky Hard House record and it ushers Nu-House to the world music stage. Bravo!
This is part four of my blog from the last few months.
I get asked frequently about acting exercises that an actor can do at home. For the past few months, I’ve shared some here. If you want to review them, check out my last 3 months of blogs. I covered the Three Phone Call Exercise, The Lost Object Exercise, the Personal Fantasy, and this month I’ll share the Character Fantasy Exercise.
Maybe you’re in between classes, you want to do some extra work, or you just want to explore and stretch yourself in the privacy of your home without being watched and judged. Or maybe you’re curious and want to see and experience what actors do and try an exercise or two. Doing these exercises is a good way to work on specifics, details, activity of doing, and imagination. Here is a fourth exercise that you can do on your own. Take your time and discover your way.
There are two types of this exercise:
The Personal Fantasy Exercise and the Character Fantasy Exercise. Last month I spoke about the Personal Fantasy, this month is the Character Fantasy. They are slightly different.
Exercises at Home #4 – CHARACTER FANTASY
ONE PERSON
This is another exercise in imagination and imaginary circumstances.
In this exercise, you are imagining you are somewhere, alone.
CHARACTER FANTASY
In this fantasy, you are actually playing a character, and being the character. You decide where the place is and what is happening.
Examples of a Character Fantasy:
You’re an inmate in jail.
You’re an FBI agent ready to go on a dangerous case.
You’re a drug addict on drugs somewhere.
You’re a cop getting ready to commit a crime in your apt.
You’re a prostitute in a lawyer’s office waiting to speak to a lawyer.
Get creative, and make this person alive. Give them a strong point of view. What are the feelings, the attitude, how does he/she feel and what are they are about to do, or what they have already done. Dress the part.
If you want to do this with a friend, have them enter and have them play a character as well. Both of you can get lost in the fantasy of your two characters interacting. Be creative – example: a doctor entering an inmate’s cell.
In both this and the personal fantasy, make strong choices, give these people lives, with strong points of view, feelings, needs and wants.
Keep your imagination alive! I’ll end with another of my favorite quotes.
“Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live” – Anonymous.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority announced that the 2018 Winter Shelter Program is open now through March 31, 2019.
Individuals in need of emergency shelter are encouraged to go directly to one of the listed pick-up points to get a free ride to a winter shelter. Most shelters open their doors at 5 pm. In the San Fernando Valley, transportation is available at the following locations for the Hope of the Valley shelter:
No walk-ins are allowed at the shelter. No shopping carts will be allowed in the shelter, but each guest may bring one small bag.
During the cold and wet weather season, the Winter Shelter Program provides homeless people with essential overnight shelter and meals. In addition to temporary emergency shelter, the program provides access to supportive services and housing assistance.
For more information, call the Winter Shelter Hotline at (800) 548-6047 or visit www.lahsa.org.
**** 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 Harris Poll conducted last year found that 7 out of 10 Americans said they would be willing to give up gift-giving during the holiday season, citing that they felt pressured to buy gifts and spend more than they can afford. But, there is no need to give up on this tradition. There is a simple, thoughtful, and inexpensive way to show your friends and family how much you care: a personalized gift. When you take the time to give a gift that is specifically personalized for the recipient, they will know how much thought you put into it. Whether its a stocking stuffer for mom or a Secret Santa gift for the office, a personalized gift will be truly appreciated.
Personalized NOHO
An awesome way to personalize a gift is to purchase something useful from a local shop and add the recipients name to it. An inexpensive yet custom decal of their name or an image they would enjoy can be ordered from Etsy and applied to just about anything from travel tumblers to notebooks to dog food bowls. Embroidery is another option, though generally a little pricier. This is a great option for anything soft like a makeup pouch a sunglasses case. There are a ton of great shops around NOHO where you can grab an item to personalize. Stop by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for a beverage lover, Animalia NOHO for pet parents, or Iguana Vintage Clothing for your unique fashionista friend.
Online Love
Sometimes, it really is just easier to shop from home, and there is no shame in it! Nothing says personal like a custom photo collage. You can arrange up to 36 photos onto one canvas to make an awesome gift. CanvasPop.com explain that by taking the time to select photos that feature the people you love or special times you have spent together, the gift becomes a symbol of your appreciation for them and your friendship. It is no longer just an item, it is a show of your affection.
We’ve all heard the statement “It’s the thought that counts” when it comes to gift giving. At times though it can be difficult to figure out what someone would really like and you may also worry that someone else might get them the same thing. An easy solution to this problem is to give a unique personalized gift that can be treasured forever. And, you can basically personalize anything! Decals are an easy way to make something mundane special and embroidery and engraving are classic personalization methods. Your gift will look look like million bucks but it actually very affordable. Whether shopping in the real world or the virtual one, a personalized gift is really a great way to go.
Every so often LA Music Scene likes to go to clubs and check out the local talent around the area.
This time out we focused on three stand-out acts that caught our attention in a way that made them stand out above the rest of the acts around town.
It is important to note here that the LA Music Scene is not into throwing a spotlight on bands that aren’t serious about their craft and who are not willing to put in the work it takes to be more than a local act. The following acts are better than most and deserve a bit of a spotlight.
Boardner’s at La Belle in Hollywood recently hosted the record company launch party for Dark Spark Music which is founded by author and industry maven Vicky Hamilton. “I founded Dark Spark Music because I wanted to start a label to help new bands develop to give them a fighting chance,” Hamilton explained. During the opening of the show Hamilton had said “I’m getting tired of there only being “baby” bands and “established” bands and there is no middle-class bands. This is my way to springboard bands and get them to the next level.”
Hamilton does know a thing or two about springboarding bands as she used her music savvy to bring such major acts as Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Poison and Faster Pussycat to the music industry forefront. Hamilton has an ear for music and the two acts that caught LA Music Scene’s attention at her launch party were Tender Beats and Damian Sage Music.
Tender Beats were introduced by Hamilton as a cross between Radiohead, Nirvana and Jack White, which is totally correct, but I also heard in the background acid rock psychedelia of 60’s San Francisco rock band Fever Tree. Combine these elements and you have a cool act that delivers songs such as “Bugs In Your Walls” and “Shapes In The Sky,” which are catchy. Tender Beats are originally from Brazil via New York to Los Angeles and have a very polished look. This trio is currently on tour around the USA.
Damian Sage Music struck a chord with LA Music Scene with the song “Cold Blooded,” which coupled with electric guitars, presents a hard-hitting story about a strong woman. Hamilton may love loud guitars, but LA Music Scene loves songs about strong women and Alice Cooper’s “Poison” ranks at the top of that list. This song is iPod worthy at a stunning five stars. If you look up “Cold Blooded” on YouTube you will find the acoustic version which is a bit less in your face than the electric guitar driven version.
Outside of great composition, Sage has learned how to move and reach out to his audience and draw them in. This song got me up and dancing which doesn’t happen that often with new acts. Another song that demanded attention is “The Hardest Goodbye” that is a country inspired ballad with a soulful electric violin playing alongside which gives it a depth that penetrates one’s defenses.
Of particular interest was Logan Sheppard who is Sage’s 17-year-old drummer. This isn’t his first trip to the stage and he has played with Love Past Blue, Sofya Wang and plays at the annual Autism Rocks LA that has provided him with the opportunity to share the stage with music luminaries from Kiss and Quiet Riot, to name a few.
In addition, Sheppard has had a feature story write up by guitarinternational.com where they cite his percussion style as “eclectic and electric,” which is quite a lot of kudos for such a young man. Sheppard is a talent on the rise and will be a great asset to Damian Sage Music. Sheppard has been spotted sporting a t-shirt that has “Ego Kills Talent” on it; let’s hope that sentiment is kept in perspective.
Had to leave and missed Elvis Suissa which I am told is very good and put on quite a show. The event can be viewed on YouTube at Daze With Jordan The Lion/#826 Vicky Hamilton’s Showcase For Dark spark Music and all acts mentioned have a Facebook account with more contact info.
Made it over to The Federal in North Hollywood at the upstairs venue to catch a band that is arena venue ready – City Of Sound. Big sound coming from this very different band in that it is heavy on the composition and lays on a heavy dose of an electric violin. This aspect reminded me of violinist David Garrett who mixes classical music with the excitement of rock music which explodes onstage. Violinist Lacey Nova makes the transition from classical music to a more rock-oriented genre flawlessly and adds another dimension to City Of Sound’s repertoire.
City Of Sound are a NoHo-based outfit that is set to release “Silent Empire,” their new album in Spring 2019. Songs from this alt-rock act included “Animus,” “Silent Empire,” “Wake Up,” “After Glow” and “Odyssey,” which strung together take one on an etherial journey. Jordon Wright (vocals/piano/lyricist) strives to compose music that gets in your head and hits you with a one two punch. City Of Sound’s bio states that Wright wants to take his audience “on a journey of reflection” with their album “Silent Empire,” and their song “Odyssey” begins that journey. Available now is “The Madhouse” at cityofsoundmusic.com.
City of Sound have curated a loyal audience of fans that “get” them and the music and will enhance any City Of Sound show that they play. Watching the fans move about and have fun was great and enhanced the listening experience. If you want to hear songs that have been compared to Bono of U2 and actor Jared Leto’s band Thirty Seconds To Mars with their rich and layered music that makes you stop and think about what you are listening to as well as feel inspired to such a degree as “Pride (In the Name of Love)” will provoke or any song from “Rattle and Hum” or “Joshua Tree.”
The Broad Stage Presents “Jane Austen Unscripted” directed by Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan.
I’m ashamed to say that this was my first visit to The Broad Stage.
What a gorgeous venue! It’s really the perfect place to take in some Christmassy theatre and what could be more Christmassy than Jane Austen?
This production of “Jane Austen Unscripted” is entirely improvised, I really can’t imagine the extraordinarily high level of sheer nerve these actors must have in order to attempt such a thing.
We begin the evening with a theme picked from the audience, this evening it happened to be marshmallows and then the actors improvise a play around that theme. It was masterful. Each actor took on a character in front of our very eyes, and collectively and quite magically pursued the story together to its ultimate conclusion. The timing was perfect, the subtext profound, and the performances electric.
This kind of long-form immersive improv takes a skill level and a commitment to detail that’s really in a class of its own. But just because something is difficult doesn’t necessarily make the results always good. These actors, however, with the brilliant support from the lighting and sound technicians, create an evening of sublime storytelling filled with intricate plot twists and sweetly engineered romances.
Impro Theatre was founded in 1988 and began as purely short form improv.
It has now thankfully evolved into this truly stella company and has established itself as the preeminent and rightfully treasured L.A. improv group, performing year round as well as internationally.
Its members are virtuosos of the form, as skilled with language as they are with action and able to manipulate, enunciate and extrapolate with “Austen-tacious” abandon. I beamed like a fool throughout the entire performance and rocked with laughter and delight…they are really that good.
I cannot recommend “Jane Austen Unscripted” enough. This is a play of such epic brilliance that it must not be missed. Bloody fantastic !! Miss Austen would be thrilled I’m sure.
It’s only on for a few more nights so dawdle at your peril!!
Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Madi Goff, Kelly Holden Bashar, Paul Hungerford, Stephen Kearin, Jo McGinley, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Mike Rock, Paul Rogan
ENSEMBLE GUEST ARTISTS
Nick Clark, Sara Mountjoy-Pepka, Matthew Pitner
IMPRO THEATRE STAFF
Dan O’Connor
PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Rick Bernstein MANAGING DIRECTOR
Nick Clark, Madi Goff ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS OF THE IMPRO THEATRE SCHOOL
Recently, I’ve been on the hunt for the right rugs for my house.
I was looking for something bright with a bold statement to contrast my bland furniture and floors. I almost gave up until one day when scrolling through the internet, I saw some southwestern rugs and decided to have a look.
Typically, I hadn’t thought of these type of area rugs because I had previously associated them with log cabin getaways and cowboys. After viewing several rugs of different colors and patterns, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I had just discovered what I’ve been looking for all this time.
I took a trip to the nearest store to look for the colorful rugs, and this sealed my fate. Read on to find out how I, a typically reserved homemaker, is currently obsessed with southwestern rugs and why I wish I knew about them sooner.
Why I Chose Southwestern Rugs
They’re Glamorous
Southwestern rugs have become the show stoppers in my home. I prefer a balance between contemporary and modern colors to bring out the flashy look I needed. I combine both geometric patterns and native motifs with both bright colors and earthy tones. I’m thrilled with the results. My home looks brand new without touching a paintbrush or changing the furniture.
There’s So Much Variety–
The variety for southwestern designed rugs is as wide as your imagination. Luckily, I was sure of what I needed for each room, and all I had was to pick a mat with the dominant color and pattern of what I wanted.
I wanted tones that stood out from my furniture and floor. I also needed different textures for door rugs, runways, and bedrooms. My advice is, before getting to the shops, figure out the kind of mats you want regarding color and patterns. Finding so many varieties can be a little offsetting, and you might end up with beautiful pieces that clash with your home.
Southwestern Rugs are a Growing Trend
Being a reserved person, I used to keep off bold colors and busy patterns when decorating my home. That could explain why I didn’t notice the many beautiful southwestern rugs all over the place. Ever since that day at the store, I see them everywhere.
It could be that a lot of people are now embracing these bold pieces of art. Whatever the case, the demand for them seems to increase daily. Don’t be left out of this trend. Get yourself a cut of the Native American history while prices remain stable.
Affordability
Southwest area rugs are by far the most affordable rugs I’ve come across. There are, of course, expensive ones made of wool, viscose, and leather, but the synthetics are still as beautiful at half the price. I have woolen rugs in my living room and prefer synthetics for the runways and the dining area.
I have had so much fun redecorating my home with Southwestern rugs from Southwestern Rugs Depot where unlike before where working with standard carpets didn’t require any creativity. It’s been a stress-free and enjoyable task working with these rugs. They’re like magic buttons that change a room’s atmosphere with just a click.
I can confidently state that I’m no longer a reserved homemaker. I now want my rugs to pop rather than blend in with the rest of the items. I’m officially a fan of southwestern rugs with bold colors and busy patterns.
This is a beautiful album. A gorgeously open, melodic and timeless group of songs tinged with Americana, folk and gentle rock.
Todd Warner Moore has spent time living in Hungary and is now settled in Hong Kong, so the sweet familiar American sound seems all the more stripped back and all the less cliché when you think how far this music has travelled.
There’s also a wonderful gypsy quality, which has perhaps some deep connection to his wandering soul. I hear echoes of The Water Boys, Mumford and Sons, Talking Heads, Loudon Wainwright III. There’s a little Dylan in there too and some John Lennon, but really this sound is all Mr Moore’s.
It’s the kind of music that makes you smile…widely. It’s anecdotal, painting crystal clear pictures of the stories it remembers. The songs are purposeful, poetic and beautifully crafted. Filled with warm cellos, violins and violas, guitars, double bass and a myriad of percussion, they spiral and turn in tender heartrending waves.
This album is consistently good. Each song leading seamlessly into the next. If there’s a theme it seems to be love and forgiveness, to each other and to us all. It’s a healing sound, rich and polished. Moore’s voice is authentic and he uses it rhythmical and thoughtfully flipping from full rounded vocals to breathy intimacy with divine backing vocals from Leah Hart.
It’s no surprise to me that Todd says of this album, “I feel that it is the album I have always been striving to create.” It’s as good as anything I have heard in this genre.
Todd Warner Moore has carefully curated this for us and I for one am very grateful. Loved it!!!
Each year I try to come up with new and innovative ways to decorate for the holidays.
Well, this year is no different. Many who know me, know I love the winter and snow. I love taking winter vacations back east, staying in mountain retreats or lodges.
When I was younger my family stayed at a beautiful lodge in the Poconos one season. The mountains, large pine trees and the snow made it a magical visit. So this year I have a few tips to decorate for that mountain cabin feel.
1. I purchased a plain wreath for my front door. I simply added some pine cones along with berries, candy canes and a red velvet ribbon. I just wanted a touch of the mountain feel on the wreath.
2. Why not try a milk can and a few old lanterns to create a centrepiece. Simply find a table runner and add whatever you need to pull it together; more pine cones, tree branches, red plaid ribbon, etc. Add a few votive candles around the table for subtle lighting. Let your imagination guide you.
3. One thing I really love is using vintage ornaments for the tree. They really add to the relaxed feeling you have in the woods or mountains. Adding ribbon to the tree instead of garland is another layer.
4. When inviting guests over for the holidays, I really like to add touches all around. I like adding Christmas touches to the guest bath. I add a small tree or poinsettia to the counter along with holiday soaps and towels.
5. Lastly, I like to add something to the mantle. Garland, maybe small decorated topiaries and a few special ornaments finish off the room.
Whatever you decide to decorate with, just know to create your own style. And above all, have fun doing it.
What are YOU doing for New Year’s Eve, North Hollywood?
Ring in the New Year with dinner, cocktails and dancing at The Federal NoHo!
Folks are staying in for New Year’s Eve, in the NoHo Arts District that is. If you are looking to kick off 2019 in style then North Hollywood is the place to be this New Year’s Eve. The Federal NoHo will be ringing in the New Year with a chill evening of dinner and dancing in their upstairs club.
“VIP Open Bar will be held in our exclusive speakeasy, Salon, and it includes appetizers, party favors, admission to the nightclub and champagne toast at midnight. Join us for the our hottest dance night with Culture Clash DJs in the Upstairs! Cost of entry includes entrance to our Upstairs Club plus party favors and champagne toast at midnight.” – The Federal Team
WHEN:
Monday, December 31 from 7pm-2am Dinner seating from 7pm-10pm Club Upstairs at the Federal opens at 9pm
WHERE:
The Federal North Hollywood 5303 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
**** 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.
These days it’s hard to find anyone without an opinion of what’s currently going on in our country, but some are doing a little more than just ranting. Paul Maged has written a protest song, “The Resistance” and it’s not just opinion and clever lyrics, it’s really excellent, hard driving, toe-tapping, head-banging rock.
With echos of Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and the best kind of Billy Joel, “The Resistance” is a call to arms, a celebration of the freedom to speak, or in this case, sing your mind. He holds nothing back, his pain and anger in every word, his determination to resist, to fight and to survive victorious, with catchy phrasing ripped straight from the headlines.
He uses his gorgeous, intense voice to raise the stakes in every verse, fully supported with brilliant guitar riffs and punchy rhythms. This track sounds like the opening to a rock opera, revolution in the air, full on character assassination, inspiring anthemic roaring. It’s quite the action exhortation and just gets better and better with each play…I’m a believer!!
“This album tells the story of my leap of faith to start a life in Los Angeles. It’s my story. It covers the highs and lows, the beauty and the struggle, and wraps it up into a pretty little bow.”
Heather Gruber has written an album that somehow manages to uplift and inspire while she sings of her heartbreak, hardships, setbacks, self-doubt and failures, all with a smile in her voice and hope in her heart. This kind of honesty mixed with an almost manic ability to turn her frown upside down is pretty remarkable. It’s also very, very addictive…
With sounds inspired by Regina Spektor, Sara Barielles and a touch of Alanis Morrissette, Heather finds her own very distinctive voice. Clear and pure, with just a touch of her Texan country roots. Sweet harmonies, quirky flickering vibrato, but nothing contrived or artificial. No, this feels authentic and deeply personal. The journey Heather writes about, from Tennessee to L.A., from love to loss, from confusion to whatever’s next, is beautifully laid out in these really excellent arrangements.
What seems at first like simple singer-songwriter tracks evolve into much more. Pop, jazz, country, folk, all expertly mixed together. Her ukulele playing along with some great piano, cello and drums, she even tricks us into some gorgeous R&B.
This is a wonderful album. A surprise in fact, full of love and endearing openness.
Heather Gruber’s sound is shining, soft, soulful and unique and lifts us up above all this dark noise around us…I loved it!
