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Rouge Artists Ensemble Presents “Wood Boy Dog Fish” @ The Garry Marshall Theatre

Award-winning artists’ collective Rogue Artists Ensemble has fashioned a new version of their Ovation Award-winning “Wood Boy Dog Fish.” 

Based on the already very twisted Carlo Collodi’s “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” written by the ensemble’s own Chelsea Sutton and directed by Sean T. Cawelti, “Wood Boy Dog Fish” manages to take this macabre and gruesome tale to new depths of despair and heartache, all with help of genius puppetry, darkly glamorous sets and the occasional original show-stopping song.

We begin in Shoreside, a rundown seaside town that has grown up around the entirely fictitious legend of the Dogfish, a demented sea monster conjured up to lure the tourists and that has now taken on a mythological life of its own.  The local theatre puts on daily shows staring Fire Eater, a rock star of the sideshow performers and a demanding boss to Geppetto, the local puppet maker.  She demands several new puppets each day, ripping them to shreds during her performance to the delight and glee of the clamoring crowds.

Geppetto, who has just lost his true love Blue, the inventor of the now broken headlining Dogfish Adventure Ride who died trying to push the ride to the extremes to please the crowds. Exhausted and heartbroken, Geppetto makes a new puppet, something magical or pre-natural happens and bingo, a talking and walking puppet who thinks he is alive is born.

This play is a little outside the norms of theatre, which is excellent.  Many of the characters are played by puppets and of course, its main hero is also a puppet, although he desperately wants to find out what ‘real’ is and then become a real boy.  There are effects, incredible lighting, sound design and even an entire number in 3D. You will be required to wear the glasses!!

It’s the standard story, but with a modern, ghoulish take.  The sets are amazing and the puppets strange and otherworldly.  There are some horribly brilliant characters, all vying for attention and control, all struggling to survive in this dogfish eat dogfish world.

I loved this play.  It’s weird and it’s wonderful, packed full of intriguing and elusive characters, lessons on how to be kind and become human and quite a lot of humor, which is intense given the subject matter.

You won’t see something this unique outside of Broadway or the West End, I’d say.  All the actors and puppeteers are really excellent.  It takes a lot of belief from the actors to truly pull off a play the could so easily mock itself, to help create a classic. I really do think this play has the chance to become one.

I highly recommend “Wood Boy Dog Fish.” The costumes are fantastic, the effects quick thrilling and, of course, the Garry Marshall Theatre is one of the most special stages in L.A., so the company is exceptional.

It’s quite a short run, only up through June 24th, so grab your favorite, or possibly your least favorite kid and prepare for the thrills!  It played to sold-out houses for its entire run a couple of years ago, so don’t mess about!!

https://www.garrymarshalltheatre.org

Written by Chelsea Sutton

Directed by Sean T. Cawelti

Running from May 18 through June 24, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 pm. and 7 p.m

The Garry Marshall Theatre is located at 4252 W Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA 91505.

Cast

Tyler Bremer as Cat, Lisa Dring as Wick, Tane Kawasaki as Blue, Amir Levi as Fox, Rudy Martinez as the titular Wood Boy, Ben Messmer as Geppetto, Sarah Kay Peters as a puppeteer, Keiana Richàrd as the Fire Eater, Mark Royston as a puppeteer, Miles Taber as the MC of Funland, and Paul Turbiak as the terrible Dogfish and the Cricket.

Production Crew

scenic designers Francois-Pierre Couture and Matt G. Hill, costume designer Lori Meeker, sound designer Steve Swift, lighting designer Joey Guthman, video designer Dallas Nichols, hair and makeup designers Joceyln Pazos and Erica Romero, prop designers Jason Anderson and Victoria Pamlenyi, choreographer Nate Hodges, and puppet and mask designers Greg Ballora, Sean T. Cawelti, Christine Papalexis, Jack Pullman, Morgan Rebane and Brian White.

NoHo News: The Soul of Richard Rodgers. HOT Soul Yoga. The Ford. Valley Theatre Awards. Awesome Theatre. NoHo Farmers + Pilates Instructors.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: The Soul of Richard Rodgers. HOT Soul Yoga. The Ford. Valley Theatre Awards. Awesome Theatre. NoHo Farmers + Pilates Instructors.

Follow NoHo News with Bloglovin

**** 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.

Training shelter and rescue dogs

Boy, could I go in a million different directions, but let’s start with something simple. Who am I? 

Well, my name is Bethany and I started training dogs in basic obedience when I was very little in 4-H and for dog shows. This definitely did not prepare me to work with behavioral issues or dogs from ‘the system’ as I like to call it. When I moved out at 19 I headed to the big city and got a difficult pup of my own. That truly was my first introduction to animal shelters and rescue dogs.

I know it’s hard to imagine, but there was no social media or smartphones. Just me, growing up on a farm and playing ‘Oregon trail’ on the computer. I never knew anything about them and now I’m surrounded by people that need my help with dogs with “difficult pasts”. I wasn’t ready and started to do some serious research, studying with other trainers, books and eventually the world wide web became everyone’s go-to. I became very skilled using different methods and approaches to different dogs and issues. Over the years I realized something incredible. People who raise dogs from puppies have the same issues as the shelter dogs with “difficult pasts”. How can that be?

All of these abandoned animals are much more difficult and require more love to feel like they fit in, right?

That misconception is what has drawn me to working with rescue organizations and countless clients with rescue dogs over the years. I work very hard to change the perception of adopting a shelter dog or rescue dog so they have a better chance at succeeding in the home.

Disclaimer! I know there are special cases of abuse or neglect with dogs from bad pasts or poor genetics that require more attention to training. Those exceptions are not what I am talking about. The vast majority of dogs that owners adopt and then struggle with having to do with leash reactivity/aggression, excessive barking, neediness, destructive in the home, pulling on a leash, jumping on people, anxiety, the same issues people who raise puppies deal with. Raising puppies is HARD! It can be fun and rewarding, but very challenging. The adolescent months can be difficult to navigate. They often leave dogs stuck in an aroused mindset they cannot control themselves. This is the same thing I see with dogs that have been adopted, except they have the excuse of being adopted therefore they must be more difficult.

That is the misconception I work hard at helping owners navigate. So let’s get to the good stuff! What do you do?

How do you get a dog to settle into the home without having that “honeymoon phase” of good behavior disappear just after a few weeks?

Structure
Boundaries
Calmness
Properly timed rewards
Consistency
Meet with a trainer right away if you need experience.

Dogs don’t just settle in and be dogs. They need boundaries to learn the rules in a new place, even if they had rules at their last place. Now I know what you’ll say! You adopted this one dog that just settled in, was respectful and did great without all that stuff. Well, I had that dog too. His name was Charlie and he was from German Shepherd Rescue in Burbank, CA. The bad news is I have worked with enough dogs and had enough shelter dogs to know that Charlie was actually NOT the norm. Dogs need to know where they can and can’t go from day one. They shouldn’t be allowed the run of the house and the yard in the beginning just because you want them to be comfortable because in 3 months they will be so comfortable they will be barking at knocking on the door, jumping on guests, chewing couches or worse. Before being showered with hugs and kisses and thinking they are the head of the house, they need to know what they can and can’t do from day one. Dogs want to know where they should sleep, where their food and water is, and to be taken on walks. Let them settle in for a while and get to know all sides of you before they meet the side that just wants to pet them.

Boy, do I know that is difficult, especially with sweet and friendly dogs.

Our most recent rescue, Dakota, pictured, is that type. She is just happy go lucky all the time. The problem is, many happy go lucky dogs love people and because of that, it can be difficult to see their stress and anxiety being in a new place. Jittery excitement often masks nervousness. It was so important to just let her settle in, learn the routine of the house. I bonded with her by walking her and training basic commands before snuggling on the couch. This was so important for her to learn to be calm, respect my family and be comfortable being alone when I leave for work. Because of that solid start, she now gets a ton of freedom and affection. We started with rules and boundaries, a calm attitude when working with her. She earned her affection. We stayed consistent for several months before loosening up the reigns in the house. That way she was allowed to really blossom. Any boundaries she might naturally push are now more easily reeled in.

It’s my goal to help everyone do the same. I don’t want to hear any more stories about sweet, loving, affectionate dogs that end up biting a child on their first couple of days in their new home while everyone was on the floor petting and playing with the new dog. I don’t want to hear any more stories of people returning dogs for pulling on the leash or barking at other dogs. I am working hard for the day when people start training from the beginning instead of using it as a last resort because they now have no other choice but to either train or return the dog.

I can only hope that this resonates with some of you out there who are struggling with your dog or thinking about adopting vs. purchasing a puppy.

Whatever decision you make, know that both require effort, discipline and patience and when done well, the pay off is huge and you will develop a deep bond with your dog, of any age.

Bethany Wilson
Ruff Beginnings Rehab
818-732-1364
http://www.RuffBeginningsRehab.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/RuffBeginningsRehab 
https://www.youtube.com/c/RuffBeginningsRehab 

Patapaa expected to perform at Ghana Meets Naija 2018 – News in Ghana

Patapaa expected to perform at Ghana Meets Naija 2018 – News in Ghana

Music plays an important role to bring the people of different culture, tradition, customs and attitudes together. It even helps the people to respect, learn and adopt many good things from each other. Empire Entertainment has taken a good initiative to bring all the music lovers of both Nigeria and Ghana close with the help of music programs. Want to know more about the Ghana meets Naija. Do not worry we are here to give you all the details about the event.

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West Africa’s biggest Musical concert

According to the news in Ghana, the music event Ghana Meets Naija launched on 8th May 2018, last Tuesday in ACCRA. The event was held at the First Atlantic bank forecourt of airport area.

In the launch event it was declared that along with the musical concert, there will be more acts such as dance acts.

When and where the musical program will take place

The Empire Entertainment took the initiative for the 8th time to organize one of the largest musical show or concert. This year the concert is named Ghana Meets Naija. The organizers also revealed that the West Africa’s largest musical show will be organized on 9th June 2018 at Saturday evening. The program or the event will be organized in Accra International Conference Center or AICC.

The musical program is to celebrate the songs of Patapaa and Fancy Gadam and also to see the musical war between them. The performers will perform and give their best in front of more than 20,000 audiences worldwide. However, apart from them many other musicians and composers will participate in the show. Browse this site for more details.

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Themes to be conducted in the musical event this year

In the launch party of Ghana Meets Naija, the artists were introduced with the patrons. The meeting was held as they will have to perform together in the performance night that is on 9th June. It was also an initiative to create a strong relationship between Ghana and Nigeria.  

Another reason for conducting the annual concert is not only to celebrate, amuse and delight people with good music and songs but also to explore the various kinds of similar elegance, attitude, belief, culture, fashion, practice and customs of people together in one place and under one roof. People from various countries are expected to attend the event.

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Names of composers participating in the annual musical concert

In this year’s event, many famous musicians and singers will participate. They will give their best to prove and make a new place for themselves in front of the audiences. Some of the better performers who will participate and perform in the present musical concert of 2018 are Mr. Eazi, Mayorkun, Wizkid, Fancy Gadam, Stonebwoy, Patappa, Kidi, Kuami Eugene,Ponobiom also known as Yaa pono, King Promise and many more. However, Patappa also famous as the corner hit maker will be the main attraction of the musical program.

Expectations of the organizers about the West Africa’s biggest Musical program

The organizers explained that the musical concert will also help the people to understand the importance of amalgamation, friendliness and love for one another. The concert is to make the people understand that they are one and have many similar things such as habits, likes, dislikes etc. The people can express their views and ideas about one another in the best way in this musical program.

Motto of the organizers

The main motto to organize the musical event is to celebrate the success and growth of both the Nigerian as well as the Ghanaian artists, composers, musicians, etc. Another motto is to bring the fans of both together so that they can enjoy a lot with one another.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Empire entertainment Nat Kwabena Adisi also famous as Bola Ray told the Ghanaian people to wait for good surprises. The surprises are expected be extraordinary and beautiful too from the stars of the Nigeria.

A little glimpse of the music concert

From the last few decades it can be understood by following the various kinds of musical programs that many big music composers and singers along with dancers participated in the event. Some of the popular and most famous performers and singers who participated in the musical program are Shatta Wale, M.I, Davido, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, R2Bees, Kwaw Kese, Guru, Manifest, Samini, 4X4, timaya, etc. They have already become the patrons of music who inspire people to love music.

Shatta Wale performed in various musical concerts. He is also the only Ghanaian singer among the other Ghanaian singers who performed five times in each and every musical concert. However, this year he will not perform and lead the music battle from the front. Stonebwoy will lead the battle.

Five ways to update your guest bath.

We’re all looking for cost-effective ways to update our homes.

Materials and labor can be fairly expensive if we’re not careful. 

Listed below are five ways to create a new space without breaking the bank.

  1. Toilets.  Many of us forget about buying a new toilet when renovating the guest bath.  We look at paint, paper, fixtures, etc.  But don’t overlook this piece.  With the many styles on the market today, it’s easy to enhance the space.  One main benefit to this is cost efficiency.  With rising utility costs, replacing the toilet with a low flow feature, which uses less water, will save you money each month.
  2. Countertops. The countertop is one of the first things someone notices in the bathroom.  And many times we think replacing old countertops is just too expensive.  But if you look around you can find a deal.  Many stone yards will have remnants or ‘left over’ pieces.  If you’re lucking enough to find a piece you like and will work in your design plan, then you’ve found yourself a deal.
  3. Mirrors.  This is a piece that can really wow your guests.  From sheer simplicity to over the top scrolls and carving, this can make or break your look.  Have fun with this piece.  Just make sure to keep it within the scale and proportion of the space.  You don’t want the vanity area to feel too top heavy.
  4. Hardware.  Replacing the faucet and towel bars can also make a huge impact.  No one wants to use old rusty fixtures.
  5. Accessories.  One of the easiest ways to update any space is with accessories.  And the guest bath is no exception.  Adding a piece of art, new towels and even a few choice bath accessories will not only change the look but will change the way it feels.

Enjoy!

Hot. Soul. Yoga.

We like to showcase our North Hollywood businesses that create some awesome things for us to enjoy. We particularly like when that awesome thing is actually good for us! Why? We always say: “NoHo is only as great as its people.”

Meet Erin, creator of Hot Soul Yoga. She’s helping us get and stay fit in a soulful and HOT way. So let’s give a BIG NoHo welcome to Hot Soul Yoga. 

Class Times:

Saturdays at 11:30AM

Class Location:

5259 Lankershim Blvd #C
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Tel: 818-487-0100

BOOK A CLASS>>


Hot Soul Yoga NoHo via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

What is your back ground?

I was a professional dancer and can be seen on many music videos & world tours with Beyoncé Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Pink, Janet Jackson, just to name a few.

How did you first get into yoga?

All of that dancing is like a sport & my body needed some major love & healing. That is how I found yoga! After realizing I accomplished all I ever wanted to as a pro dancer I decided to retire. I quickly realized, I didn’t want my body to look like I retired. So after getting certified in Two different yoga styles I developed a class that has kept me in pro dancer shape. I strongly believe and live by the Law of Attraction so I included that as a main part of our workout and named it “Soul Sculpt” It’s training for your body, love for your soul and aligning the two together as one!

You get your fitness goals in while aligning with your Inner Being/highest self plus strengthen and practice the Law of Attraction. Manifest the life you desire every Sat 11:30am. Transform from the inside out!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiVoo5FHPb9/?taken-by=hotsoulyoga

Please describe a Soul Sculpt class.

We begin each class by setting our intention on something we’d like to Manifest into our life experience. It’s not about just saying what you want, but Feeling & Visualizing it into existence. We start with a small meditation set our intention for class/life then use the energy & effervescence of working out to catapult that desire. Sprinkled with Positive Affirmations. We end class with a incredible Savasana, if you don’t know what that is you’re in for a treat! Come to class to find out! Basically leaving class feeling like a million sweaty bucks! Every class you take that skill of Manifesting becomes stronger and stronger! Not to mention your booty, abs, and arms look fantastic! It’s a total body workout that burns up to 500 calories or more per class! Because of the HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training you will be burning calories and fat for the next 48hrs after class! And bcuz of my dance background the playlist is Epic! But to me, that’s not really the point.

Hot Soul Yoga stands for beauty from the inside out. Having the confidence, courage, self worth & knowingness to Manifest the life you desire bcuz you know you are truly worthy of receiving it! Most of us without realizing it fight for our limitations instead of believing we have no limitations. Self Love & self awakening is what it’s all about!

Is Soul Sculpt for everyone, age, fitness level?

Soul Sculpt is absolutely for any age male/female ranging from 16-100 and is all levels. All you need to do is show up! I tell my Yoga family that it will always be a challenge! The class will never be a walk in the park but it’s something we work our way up to and watching my yoga babes transform and grow is so amazing! For example, maybe to start it’s a basic squat that over time evolves into a squat jump with a weight! My class is a no judgment zone, we are all one and reaching our goals together!

Hot Soul Yoga NoHo via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

What do you want NoHo readers to know about this approach to fitness?

This class goes beyond your regular workout or yoga classes. It’s a journey within that weeds away the blockages, knocks down old belief patterns about yourself which allows you to break through to your best version of yourself! So whether you need to get back into shape, reinvent yourself, or maintain the great shape you’re already in, this class is a beautiful way to fortify and align your body to your soul. Even after teaching this class every Saturday, I’ve realized my own ability to manifest has gotten so much stronger because once a week I’m practicing the law of Attraction, re directing my own thoughts with my yoga family and deliberately creating the life I desire!

A yoga class at most studios is $22-26 dollars. My class is $17 dollars when you sign up online. I offer a lower rate so that it’s more affordable to come consistently, that way you can see and feel results. Right now we have a special going buy 4 classes and get your 5th class free! Positive thinking is a choice that takes practice! Grab your Tribe and sign up! Add us to your weekly self-love regimen.


**** 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.

Friendships and what actors (and all people for that matter) should strive for to have a rich life.

 Friendships

I was talking with my wife recently about friendships as she was planning a birthday party for me.

We were making a list of friends to invite. We discovered something interesting about living in Los Angeles, being an actor, and how it affects the quality and issues of friendship.   Much advice in this blog is about the craft of acting, but also important is sustaining the life of being an actor and striving in LA.  I’d like to talk about that today.

Many people come to LA to start over, start a new beginning, leave what’s behind and relocate here and pursue their dreams. In many cases, it involves literally changing their identity, self-image, and social circles that they either want to pursue or let go of.  Some people don’t even tell their family, relatives, and lifetime friends that they are pursuing acting. They want to wait until they are more confident or even “make it”. 

I thought I’d take a look at look at friendships and what actors (and all people for that matter) should strive for to have a rich life.

I broke them down into 4 categories:

  1. The Unconditional Friend – We all need someone like this. Someone that we can call at 2 AM in the morning in a crisis. They don’t judge us, we can cry, vent, and fully express ourselves. They are there, unconditionally loving us.
  1. Friends with Common Interests – These are playmates, people you like to do things with, go out to dinner, dancing, parties, hiking, sports, concerts, movies, church, etc. Things you do and things you like to do. Some of these are acquaintances, some are good friends. These might change as your interests change.
  1. Work Friends – People you work with. It’s great to have people that you work with that you can be with, whether it’s commiserating together about a job you don’t like or a fervent and connected conversation with someone that shares the same passion about your work that you do. Also, these people become your network as you pursue your new goals and lifestyle.
  1. Neighbors – It’s a good feeling to feel and be a part of your community, so neighbors can be a great way to help you feel safe, and connected to your home. It’s nice to see a neighbor, to say hello to or chat with, as you come and go, and perhaps get each other’s mail, house-sit, feed the pets, and keep an eye on each other’s place.
  1. Long-Term Friends – These are people who you have a long history with. They know your story and they know your personal narrative. This might be a person you just have a phone relationship with. It’s someone you’ve known a long time, and you have a history with. You might have shared dreams together years ago, so when you’re considering a big change, they have a reference and might be able to help you keep in touch with your values.  This might be an old schoolmate or someone you grew up with.

There’s an old saying that friendships are there for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  

Of course, some friends can fill several of these roles, but having friends with these qualities can help create a full life, and in times of struggle, loneliness, crisis, and celebration, help take away the existential loneliness that the collective consciousness of humanity shares.

I share this for the LA actor, especially for those newcomers because we need friends to lean on. It builds community, makes connections.  You might notice I haven’t mentioned anything about social media friends, I think the jury is still out on the long-term effects of this. I think personal, interpersonal connection is vital for a happy and successful life.

So, being the acting teacher, and as this is an acting blog, I’ll move to a comment about acting and preparation. So many roles are with and about friends.  How specific are you in doing the personal and emotional preparation when playing a friend? Or being a friend?

Consider the “types” of friends that I pointed out here. Choosing one of those types can affect the color, temperature, and nuance of your character. It might add and make them more intricate, specific, and unique.

The more specific in your work, the more the layers in your character work.

Till next time, your friend, Fran.

.

“The Soul of Richard Rodgers”

Tony and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter brings his boundary-pushing “The Soul of Richard Rodgers” to the Soraya for one night only on Saturday, June 2 at 8:00pm.

Tony and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter does not hold back. The busy actor, composer and director has also put out four solo albums. The most recent, Billy Porter Presents: “The Soul of Richard Rodgers,” features Porter’s new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs, from “My Funny Valentine” to “Edelweiss.” Porter will be bringing his album to life on the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts stage on Saturday, June 2 at 8pm.

“I like to think of [this album] as the Richard Rodgers version of the Hamilton Mixtapes,” Porter said. “These are classic songs that everybody knows and loves, and I’m so excited for people to hear them in a brand-new way.”

Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers www.nohoartsdistrict.com

“Billy’s joyful and powerful interpretations of composer Richard Rogers is the perfect way to end our ground-breaking 2017-18 season,” said Thor Steingraber, Executive Director of The Soraya. “Richard Rodgers music is part of our collective American culture and Billy’s soulful approach is fresh, deep and new and I know our audience will love it.”

This June, Billy Porter will co-star in Ryan Murphy’s new dance drama television series Pose on FX. In May, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ 7th Annual Voice Awards will honor Porter with the “Courageous Voice Award” for being an LGBTQ icon and a role model for gay and black youth.

Single tickets beginning at $38 are now available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.TheSoraya.org or call 818-677-3000. Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts is located at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330. Ticket prices subject to change.

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Billy Porter won the 2013 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for this groundbreaking performance as Lola in “Kinky Boots.” “Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers” is Porter’s fourth album and was released in April, 2017. The album features new, soulful takes on classic Richard Rodgers songs and his first as producer and content curator, with collaborators James Sampliner and Michael “Lofey” Sandlofer.

“JazzTimes” said of Porter’s record, “Porter, a marvelous vocal amalgam of jazz, soul and funk, brings a bold freshness to the material, still Broadway-worthy but mirroring “Hamilton’s” dazzling unorthodoxy.”

About Billy Porter
Billy Porter is a Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning singer, composer, actor, playwright and director from Pittsburgh, PA. As a recording artist, Porter’s solo albums include his first CD, “Untitled,” on A&M records, “At the Corner of Broadway + Soul – LIVE” on Sh-K-Boom Records, and “Billy’s Back on Broadway,” on Concord Records. He originated the role of ‘Lola’ in the Broadway hit “Kinky Boots,” which won him 2013 Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Other theatre: “Shuffle Along,”“Miss Along,” “Miss Saigon,” “Five Guys Named Mo, “”Grease,” “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Dreamgirls,” “Angels in America,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “Radiant Baby,” “Birdie Blue,” “Songs for a New World,” “Ghetto Superstar “(one-man show), “Topdog/Underdog,” “King Lear.” His play, “While I Yet Live,” premiered in 2015 at Primary Stages. As a director, his credits include “Topdog/Underdo”g and “The Colored Museum” (both for Huntington Theatre Company); Film/TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “So You Think You Can Dance” (as a guest judge), “The Broken Hearts Club,” “Shake Rattle & Roll,” “The Big C,” “The Humbling,” starring Al Pacino, Baz Luhrmann’s “The Get Down.” Porter’s concerts credits include opening act for Rosie O’Donnell and Aretha Franklin, Carnegie Hall, John McDaniel and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as well as The Buffalo Philharmonic, Peter Nero and The Philly Pops, soloist for President Bill Clinton and various benefits throughout the United States.

About The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
The Soraya opened its 2017-2018 season on September 16 with a performance of “AMADEUS Liv”e (Milos Foreman’s 1984 Academy Award-winning Best Picture with live orchestra) with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and members of the LA Opera Chorus. The evening honored the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Foundation in recognition of the family’s recent $17 million gift that will rename VPAC as the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Performing Arts Center, known as The Soraya. The gift is one of the largest in the history of the California State University and the system’s largest single gift to support the arts; gift to support the programming and operations of the award-winning Valley Performing Arts Center – which has become one of the cultural jewels of the region in the six years since it opened.

The 2017-18 Soraya season signals a new era for the premier event venue. Under the leadership of Executive Director Thor Steingraber, the renamed Younes and Soraya Nazarian Performing Arts Center expands 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.

The 2018 Valley Theatre Awards Nominees Are…

The 2018 Valley Theatre Awards will celebrate excellence in Valley theatre.

The NoHo Arts District is a one-square mile neighborhood that has 20 theatres, the highest concentration outside of New York City. That in itself is a reason to be proud and to celebrate. But the work our theatres produce is what we are going to celebrate on Monday, June 4 at the 2018 at the 4th Annual Valley Theatre Awards at The Colony Theatre. This year, www.nohoartsdistrict.com publisher Nancy Bianconi will be honored with a lifetime achievement award for her role in helping to promote theatre in Los Angeles. The annual gala is an evening to enjoy food and wine, fun performance, meet Valley theatre folks and is a time to acknowledge and award the “best artists” on this side of the hill. Meet the 2018 nominees…

“This annual event celebrates the creators of intimate theatre in the NoHo Arts District and the San Fernando Valley,” says Paul Storiale, Valley Theatre Awards producer.


Valley Theatre Awards via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

 

WHEN:

Monday, June 4, 2018
7-9:30PM

WHERE:

We are pleased to announce that based on an overwhelming amount of tickets sold and requested, we have moved the location to a larger venue!

The Colony Theatre
555 N 3rd St.
Burbank, CA 91502

(Please do not contact the venue for information)

There is plenty of free parking as it is at the corner of the Burbank Mall. Across from the former IKEA Location.

The Colony Theatre for the Valley Theatre Awards via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

TICKETS>>


Here’s the list of 2018 nominees>>

 

Valley Theatre Awards via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The Valley Theatre Awards was created to bring recognition to the great work being done in the NoHo Arts District and San Fernando Valley, to honor its artistic heritage, and to provide a meeting ground for this extensive community. 

The Awards focuses on intimate theatre and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to our culture. We believe that publicly recognizing excellence in intimate theater will expand audience awareness and appreciation of a wonderful theatre experience in our community.

Support your local theatre.  How? Easy. See a show!

NoHo Theatre Guide  |  NoHo Theatre Reviews

 

NoHo News: Valley Theatre Awards. BH artSHOW. Awesome Theatre. Young Actors Space. NoHo Farmers. Pilates Instructors.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News May 17, 2018 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

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**** 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 Young Actors Space Hosts Their 17th Annual Summer Production Conservatory

This summer, Young Actors Space (YAS) is proud to host its 17th Annual Summer Production Conservatory.

The conservatory is run by Patrick Day, owner and Artistic Director of YAS, and Nora Eckstein, Associate Director at YAS for 35 years. The Annual Production Conservatory will mark the 17th original play performed by actors from ages 10-17.

The play – written by Eckstein – is a work in progress right up until the performances and is heavily influenced by the students input throughout the camp based on improvisational scenes they perform during the week. The original plays vary in genre from murder mystery to epic westerns to Shakespeare adaptations. The camp is a fast-paced workshop where actors from all over the world create an original production in about 75 hours over two weeks. Actors get to experience the art of creating a play from concept to final performance in the YAS Theatre.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiZ67ryntAa/?taken-by=young_actors_space

“Our summer production workshop offers a truly unique theatrical experience for young actors,” says Eckstein, who has written 14 original plays for young actors, as well as scores of scenes and monologues.

“There are no ‘spear-carriers’ or ‘townspeople’ in our shows – they are ensemble plays, with everyone having a good part, no matter how large the cast. I write to the actors’ strengths and skills, and everyone has a chance to shine.”

Young Actors Space via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

“We are looking for actors with endurance, fortitude and heart that can work really hard in an incredibly positive and supportive environment to make this year’s flower bloom,” says Day, who directs the conservatory’s play. Day himself started out as a child actor, appearing in such films as “Ernest Goes to Camp” and American Playhouse’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” as the titular character. “Since Nora and I started building these original ensemble shows, I look forward to summer again like I did when I was 13 years old.”

Past students who have participated in camp have gone on to have professional careers as actors. “My time at the Young Actors Space summer conservatory were some of the best summers I’ve had,” says YAS actor Fallon Smythe (Disney’s “I Didn’t Do It” and Nickelodeon’s “Lost in the West” trilogy). “The conservatory gave me the opportunity to work on my craft and be a part of something completely original.”

Students also get to work with actors of all ages. “It gives you great experience working with a variety of different age groups,” says Robert Prephan (CBS’s “Scorpion”). “You don’t just work with new people, you make new friends.”

Young Actors Space via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Other past participants include Nichole Bloom (NBC’s “Superstore,” Showtime’s “Shameless”), Uriah Shelton (Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why,” Disney’s “Girl Meets World”) and Hudson Thames (ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” ABC’s “Malibu Country”). Camp alumni have also been accepted into undergrad programs at UCLA, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, UC Berkeley, Chapman University, USC and The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

The YAS Summer Production Conservatory is for kids and teens ages 10-17 and runs from July 9 – 22, 2018. It includes roughly 75 camp hours, and 4 performances for friends, family and invited industry professionals. The cost for camp is $1,300. Registration is available at www.YoungActorsSpace.com or by calling (818) 785-7979.

Established in 1979, Young Actors Space (YAS) is the original and premier school for performers as young as age five to adults and is currently celebrating its 38th year of operation in the Sherman Oaks, CA. YAS alumni include Academy Award Winners Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Hillary Swank, as well as notable actors Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Shailene Woodley, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, Molly Ringwald and Jessica Biel. For more information, please visit www.YoungActorsSpace.com.

YAS SUMMER PRODUCTION CONSERVATORY SCHEDULE:

WHEN:

July 9 – 22, 2018

Performances:
Fri. July 20 @ 7 p.m.
Sat. July 21 @ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sun. July 22 @ 2 p.m.

WHERE:

Young Actors Space
5918 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

Join the  YAS Summer Production Conservatory>>


**** 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.

Tales of Modern Motherhood – This Sh*t Just Got Real

The Whitefire Theatre Presents “Tales of Modern Motherhood – this Sh*t Just Got Real”

A special Mother’s Day performance, one night only.

Writer/Performer Pam Levin has been touring this solo show for the past year to great success, on both coasts. And to be honest, the success does not surprise me.

Solo shows are a very specific art.  Not all actors can pull them off and fewer still can do so with material as extremely intimate, honest and downright maternally brutal as Pam Levin does in her “Tales of Modern Motherhood.” 

Pam pulls no punches as she relates to us the moments in her life that mean the most, good and bad.  As she charms us with her humor and her shimmying, she shares artfully curated stories from her life that lead us up to the theme of the show, motherhood.  Pam never planned on having children, she was far too busy, too focused on her career and a little too scared.  But, just like the rest of us, when life comes calling, you grab it by the whatevers and get on with it.

Pam has the kind of warm and powerful personality that not only fills the stage, it fills the entire block!  She communicates her life so beautifully with the audience, flirting, playing and cajoling us all into her world.  This isn’t Pam’s first foray into the solo genre, oh no.  She calls herself a veteran and she is, having paid her dues all over the world touring her previous show, “The Quiet Room,” for which she was awarded the Los Angeles ADA award for best Solo Production.  So we are dealing with a stalwart professional here!

This show is funny, touching, fearless and very cleverly constructed.  One story flows into another as we wend our way through Pam’s colorful existence.  She teases out each laugh and tear from the audience with the cunning that only a mother would have.   Her stories of parental disasters are chilling in their familiarity to all of us long suffering and long loving parents.  I cannot tell you how many times I have wept and laughed at the same time since having kids. Pam shares my pain and my loves with her big heart and her refreshing candor.  Her own birth story is totally relatable and hilariously truthful…we all feel your pain, my dear!!

But this show is more than funny stories and shocking confessions.  “Tales of Modern Motherhood” is what we all would love to say about our struggles being parents, partners and being human.  She speaks what we feel and that is why it works so well.  Pam is us, heart and soul and sleepless nights and no regrets.

I absolutely loved this show. If you happen to have the opportunity to catch Pam Levin and her “Tales of Modern Motherhood” then treat yourself, this show is too wonderful to pass up. You can follow the tour on talesofmodernmotherhood.com

Bravo Pam! I’m right there with you!!

Written and performed by Pam Levin

Produced by Brett Winn and Fred Levin

Publicity by Anita J. Lee and Sandra Kuker PR

Directed by Mark Hatfield

Lighting by Mark Hatfield

Stage Manager – David Svengalis

Assistant Stage Manager – Scott Sanders

Graphic Designer – Stewart Hopewell

Website Design – Tom Bloczynski

Technical Director – Collin Mulligan

Photography –

Ride of Silence in the NoHo Arts District on May 16

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event commemorating those who have been injured or lost which cycling in the public roadway. Started in 2003, thousands of cyclists convene at hundreds of locations across the globe to participate in this silent ride. In the City of Los Angeles, 25 cyclists have lost their lives from 2016 – 2017, not counting the four recent tragedies in South LA and Woodland Hills.

Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. (Read the full history here…)

For the third year in a row, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition https://la-bike.org/event/rideofsilence2018/ will be host a ride out of the North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station. The presentation will start at 6:30pm and as a show of unison across the globe, the ride will be leaving exactly at 7:00pm. This is a large ride and we’ve consistently had a media presence, so please arrive on time.

The ride will cover seven miles and all cyclists should bring a helmet and lights. RSVP and show support for those we’ve lost.

WHEN:

May 16
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

WHERE:

North Hollywood Metro Red Line Station
5357 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

COST:

FREE

RSVP>>


**** 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 Road Theatre Presents The Red Speedo

“The Red Speedo” marks the end of The Road Theatre’s 26th season and they have decided to go out with a bang…

The entire play is set in a competitive swimming club, the action taking place beside the pool itself, which is brilliantly brought to life onstage by The Road’s enviable set designers.  Ray is the swimmer, he has been all his life and it is absolutely the only thing he is any good at.  He’s rapidly aging out of it, however, and this is his last chance at qualifying for the US Olympic team.  His last chance at succeeding, his last chance at avoiding getting a real job, so the stakes for him are very, very high.  His brother Peter has a lot on the line too.  He is banking on Ray being his ticket out of his tedious life as a lawyer and plans on facilitating his family’s ever-over-extended lifestyle with his cut of Ray’s earnings from sports sponsorships and media appearances.  He sees this as the beginning of his new career as a sports agent, hoping he can make millions, and plus, his daughter’s school fees are “astronomical.”

Red Speedo Road Theatre NOHO
Coronado Romero, Adam Peltier and Jason E. Kelley

But there’s a problem.  On the eve of the qualifying rounds for which Ray is a shoe-in to win, a large stash of what looks like performance-enhancing drugs has been discovered by the team’s coach in the fridge in his own office, of all places.  The coach is intent on turning the drugs into the authorities and dashing the chances of his entire team as a consequence.

This is where we begin our story, at the exact moment when the coach tells Ray and Peter that he feels he has no ethical choice but to ruin both their lives.  Peter tries to appeal to absolutely anything he can within the coach, but to little avail.  Ray insists the drugs belong to another swimmer and the coach does believe him, but they all know that, regardless, the authorities will assume that the entire team are all doping and shut them down…so no Olympics.

Is this play about ethics? 

I’m not sure it is really.  The relationship between Peter and Ray is a weird one, but what siblings don’t have weird relationships from time to time.  Ray, as it turns out, has a far from pure past and and Peter’s feverish belief that money will make his life so much better and less stressful is naive to say the least.  The pressure these two put on each other is excruciating and quite brilliantly portrayed by these two excellent and highly watchable actors.  We sit quietly squirming in our seats as the situation goes further and further off the rails.  As it escalates and deviates and dodges and surprises us.  The sheer magnitude of manipulation by Ray with not only Peter but the coach and even his ex-girlfriend, whom he summons under the pretext of love and marriage only to hit her up for steroids since his are now locked away in the coaches office…yes, they were his and yes he needs them to qualify.  It’s just one twist after another as the intensity builds to murderous levels.

Red Speedo Road Theatre NOHO
Adam Peltier and Kimberly Alexander

“The Red Speedo” is a lesson in unrestrained greed. 

Greed for money, greed for success and the eternal greed for unearned respect and love.  It’s also a really beautifully constructed story.  The characters are us at our least admirable and most shamefully human.  Everyone has their way with each other in the end and what is left is both shockingly real and deftly original.

“The Red Speedo” is really excellent theatre, no holds barred, adrenaline-infused, thought-provoking and powerful…and I highly recommend it. 

The writing is effortless, quick and smart and a bit nerve-wracking at times and very, very funny.  The playwright, Lucas Hnath, has received the Kesselring Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Whiting Award, two Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Citations, an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, and an Obie…not too shabby.  The director, Joe Banno, has directed over 130 plays in the US and Italy and has taken four fabulous actors and a demanding play and made theatre magic, the rarest kind of magic that stays with you long after you leave the theatre.  The Road Theatre has a knack for choosing plays that astonish and challenge us and they never, ever play it safe, for which we should all be extremely grateful.

Tickets and Showtimes

Written by Lucas Hnath

Directed by Joe Banno

Running May 11 through June 1, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm.

The Road Theatre on Magnolia, The NoHo Senior Arts Colony, 10747 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood.

http://www.roadtheatre.org

“Red Speedo” will feature Adam Peltier as Ray, Coronado Romero as Peter, Jason E. Kelley as Coach and Kimberly Alexander as Lydia.

The Design Team for “Red Speedo” is as follows: Set Design by Stephen Gifford; Lighting Design by Derrick McDaniel; Sound Design by Chris Moscatiello; Costume Design by Mary Jane Miller. Properties Design by Tally McCormack. “Red Speedo”  is produced by Donna Simone Johnson and Maurie Gonzalez

Weight Loss Mistakes You Might Not Realize Your Making

 

If you need to lose a large amount of weight to get down to your target, or even if you are struggling just to shed those last few pounds, you know how frustrating it can be when the results don’t correlate with your effort.

You might be doing everything that you think that you’re supposed to be doing, and yet you still aren’t where you want to be. This can extremely demoralize and make you want to give up the effort completely. That’s a step that you should never take, however, because it only leads down an unhealthy path. The key is not getting discouraged, take a step back, and try to determine where it is you might be going wrong.

The difficult part of this process is that you might not even know where you’re going so wrong. Weight loss is a complex thing, and no two people are exactly the same when it comes to how they might be responding to certain stimuli. As a result, it can be a matter of trial and error before you realize the formula that works in an effective fashion for you. That formula just might include weight-loss products like Fizzyslim, which can jump-start you past any plateaus against which you might be futilely running. Along with that, you need to take a close look to see if any of these common yet easy-to-overlook mistakes might be tripping you up.

  1. Same Old, Same Old Workout

Maybe you’ve been walking the same path for the past ten years. Or perhaps you lift weights three times a week in the same sequence every time. Your body gets used to all of that sameness and settles into a kind of metabolic rut. The only way that you can sometimes snap out of that rut is by introducing something new to kind of shock the system. A few new exercises to the regimen can be just the thing to make that happen.

  1. Lack of Balance

You might hear sometimes that when it comes to diet, you should cut out fats. Others say that you should out carbohydrates. They can’t all be right, of course. In truth, a diet that balances nutrients and types of foods is the best way to go about it. If you’re just eating all protein or all carbs or an inordinate amount of any one type of food, there is no way that you can strike that proper balance.

  1. Poor Rest

One of the things that the body needs to really realign itself to its optimum weight is the right amount of rest. If you are not getting your sleep, you probably will be coming up short. In addition, tired people tend to eat more than those who are well-rested, so there lies another reason why bad habit in terms of rest can hinder your efforts.

Check to see if you are making one of these errors as you try to lose weight. If you are, rectifying that error can make a lot of difference almost immediately.

Meet Los Angeles Music Photographer Harold Sherrick

When it comes to the local music scene in Los Angeles, music photographer Harold Sherrick is the linchpin that weaves a decade’s long career that has him crossing paths with every well-known act on the music scene and is perhaps the best example of the six degrees of separation theory.

Up until recently, Sherrick was a Valley boy that took full advantage of living in the best possible place in the USA to track and attend top of the line musical acts such as The Doors, LOVE and The Seeds.

Every local show I would go to over the past few years, there was Sherrick with his camera pointed at the stage and shooting away.

One of those shows was The Sloths’ show at Amoeba Records in Hollywood.  The photo that he took of The Sloths’ lead singer Tom McLoughlin and I made it into my story about that evening in 2017.

Sherrick has a stunning photo of McLoughlin visiting with former radio and TV personality Sam Riddle.  Riddle had his finger on the pulse of what was the happening music scene back in the day and Riddle’s show “Star Search” showcased the talents of many a young pop music icon.  Riddle also hosted the teen dance shows “9th Street West” and “Hollywood A GoGo” on KHJ TV and was also a radio DJ. I met Riddle in the 60s from dancing at the Teen Fairs at The Hollywood Palladium which led to gigs dancing on his TV shows.

Back in 1966 Phil Spector directed a rock n’ roll film titled “The TNT Show”  featuring an excellent group at the time called MFQ, which is Modern Folk Quartet.  The theme song was “This Could Be The Night” which resonated with me at that time and I was in that film and adored the MFQ.  Turns out that Sherrick worked with the MFQ to pull together a documentary four years ago about their career.  This project is awaiting further funding to put on the finishing touches so it can be released.  The MFQ had hoped that their song “This Could Be The Night” would enable them to leave the folk scene and enter the coveted rock genre. It didn’t work out that way sorry to say. “This Could Be The Night” was written by Spector and Harry Nilsson and is a tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson.

Sherrick also has worked on several photo projects for Spector from 2000 to 2003 that were the result of Sherrick’s being at the right place at the right time in 1993 to meet up with the once famous music producer and former Teddy Bear.

One of Sherrick’s favorite projects to work on was the documentary about local garage band phenoms The Seeds. This 2016 documentary was titled “Pushin’ Too Hard” after one of The Seeds’ well-known songs and was premiered at The Egyptian Theater in August of 2016.  Among those that appeared in the film was local music scene legend Kim Fowley.  According to Sherrick, Fowley had a knack for networking acts, such as The Runaways, into lucrative projects.  Fowley’s appearance in the film was his last public appearance before passing away in January 2015.

As has been indicated, Sherrick has had a knack for being in the right place at the right time to ensure his getting some of the best footage of important events locally.  One event that comes to mind is the night that he was attending a viewing party at Vintage Los Angeles maven Alison Martino’s home for a segment of “Eye On L.A.”  titled “Legends of Laurel Canyon” which was a take-off on  Harvey Kubernik’s book “Canyon of Dreams.”  The special was written and directed by “Eye On L.A.” host Tina Malave and is about the legendary music personalities that called Laurel Canyon their home.  Among the attendees to the viewing party were media relations guru Elliot Mintz, LOVE co-founder Johnny Echols and his girlfriend Georgianna Steele Waller, Malave and then Jim Morrison’s house owner Matt King. Echols offers up an interesting take on The Doors and how they replaced LOVE as the hip band of that era in this interesting segment.

King had offered to give Sherrick a tour of the Morrison house when the viewing party was over so off Sherrick went.  Because of this incredible timing, Sherrick was able to get some excellent footage of the damage done to the Morrison house when an arsonist set fire to a Mazda Miata parked in front of the house which in turn did damage to the infamous Morrison residence at 8021 Rothdale Trail, AKA as Love Street, in December 2011. Sherrick also co-produced a video regarding The Doors’ “Morrison Hotel.”

Sherrick was also able to get one of the last photos of Rumble guitarist Link Wray in 2005 at his last show just before his passing.  Led Zeppelin axman Jimmy Page featured  Wray’s Rumble in his rockumentary “It Might Get Loud” as his musical “ah-ha” moment.

Among his more recent work is a recreation of The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s original 1967 LP “Incense and Peppermint” cover and a  very recent show in Claremont, CA at Space Gallery and Records.  The show ran March 3 to March 26, 2018 and featured music shots from the Post Punk era and displayed Sherrick’s photos of The OffSpring, L7, Joe Strummer, The Cure and Cyndi Lauper.  The show also featured a tribute to Tom Petty whom Sherrick said was always warm and very nice to him.

Coming up in June 2018 is a show in Providence, Rhode Island.  The venue has yet to be named and is a reworked barn that is still being renovated. In the works is a planned coffee table book titled “Women of Rock” featuring  Sherrick’s work.

As I went over the details of Sherrick’ s impressive career  I kept asking myself “How is it possible that we did not connect during all this wonderful work era?”

This self-taught photographer’s father had worked for the Herald Examiner which is where he developed his thirst to shoot photos and his timing.  His first camera was a Brownie Box Camera that shot black and white photos.  Today he owns a vast array of photography equipment that ranges from a 35 mm Nikon to his trusty MIA 120.  Sherrick prefers the older versions of cameras to today’s tech versions where the camera is doing all of the work.

Want to see more of Sherrick’s work?  Then hop onto your computer and head over to www.thecacheagency.com  where you will be blown away by the over 300 photos that Sherrick has on file there.  Among the rock luminaries featured on this site are The Bee Gees, Cheap Trick, The Doors, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Dave Grohl and Jimmy Page.

———————————————————————–

In 2011 I attended a group called the LA Fellows to enrich my background as an entrepreneur.  L.A. City attorney Mike Feuer had made it pretty clear that we could not rely upon on big business to save us economically…case in point is Toys R Us.

While attending this program it was required that we serve some time working for a non-profit in order to understand the benefits of non-profit orgs, and how they can be a viable option for work.

Without hesitation, I chose to work with “My Friend’s Place” in Hollywood as a volunteer. This non-profit works with the teenage homeless population that come here in record numbers hoping for a better life than the one they are running away from.  To me, they are the most vulnerable of the homeless.  These kids are victims of domestic violence, molestation and in some cases had to leave home because of their LGBT status.

I had first heard about “My Friend’s Place” from Kelly Osbourne in 2010 and had bookmarked it in my brain for future use.  Osbourne had staged a fundraiser for them that included her bevvy of celebrity friends such as the Kardashians.

I enjoyed my time with them and often check in to see what is new and what is needed.

They recently held a gala that was hosted by actor and musician Jack Black, also in attendance was honoree Miley Cyrus and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. “My Friend’s Place” offers many valuable services to the youth that find their way to them. Please check out their Facebook page and see what you can do for them if you are so inclined.  There is even a quick donation space and your donation is tax deductible.

I donate my clothing to them when I clean out my closet to accommodate newer more trendy items for the concerts and club dates that I attend.

“My Friend’s Place” is in their 30th year of helping homeless teens and are open Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm.   This address is 5850 Hollywood Blvd., phone number is 888-501-8889.  Their website is www.myfriendsplace.org.

Loft Ensemble Presents The Columbine Project

This play tells the story of one of the most diabolical moments in recent American history, the Columbine High School shooting. 

The writer, Mr Storiale, using accounts and memories shared with him directly by some of the survivors as well as passages from their journals and diaries, and the journals and videos from the killers themselves, has methodically and with great respect pieced together the days leading up to the shooting as well as the shooting itself.

In vivid and moving detail, we are transported to the world of Columbine.  The high school brutality of life, the normalizing of competitive barbarism, the heartbreaking pummeling of spirit, and uniqueness and individuality into tormented and broken souls.  There is something spectacularly ugly about American high school.  The acceptance of hate, the legitimizing of cruelty, the mechanizing of hierarchical and societal systems so medieval in nature it’s amazing anyone survives it. 

These brutalities can only breed more brutalities and this play lays bare our horrifying suspicions of motive and blame. 

The two boys who committed these terrible crimes were once just boys.  Although it’s clear that the kind of evil they committed can never be explained away by something as convenient as bullying, the kind of social structure this school and so many others offer children, all so totally unprepared for the harshness of others, as well as teachers too busy or not interested enough to notice pain is an obvious, compelling and all to common narrative that is parallel by the many subsequent mass murders since Columbine.

The somber brilliance of this play is how all these pieces of this tragic puzzle are scattered about on stage in vignettes of truth and consequence. The realities of the lives of both the murderers and their victims are made real and breathlessly full by some pretty incredible performances.  We are privy to moments drawn from diaries and conversations, memories still fresh and so stunning in their averageness.  We see ourselves on this stage, our daughters and sons and our deepest fears and greatest nightmares.

Of course this is even more relevant with every passing day now. 

When will the next shooter strike, which school, or college or university?  How can we predict something so horrible that it can happen anywhere to anyone?  The rage against this, the most American of horrors is palpable, but is it enough?

Only time and politics will tell, but for now, in our world of theatre, we can be thankful that writers write what we need to see and hear, again and again, to keep us angry and heartbroken and active.  It might not be a play that makes you laugh or brings you obvious warmth and fond memories, but it does give a powerful and important reflection of the tragedy of our American times.  It should be obligatory viewing for every high school, every politician, every gun owner and every president, of the NRA or White House, not that I am expecting miracles.  But we can hope can’t we.

I had a visceral and lasting response to “The Columbine Project.”  I cannot recommend it enough.  Go for the history, go for the heartache, the performances and the inspiration to create change.  It’s sadly a part of our American culture, a shameful and awful part that needs to be talked about and shared in ways like this until it’s gone and becomes ancient American history.

“The Columbine Project” is truly excellent theatre. Poignant, purposeful and deeply and wonderfully acted and directed.  I wept a few times, as I am sure you will too, but don’t we need to weep for this?

Running it’s final shows Saturday May 19th at 8pm & Sunday May20th at 7pm

Loft Ensemble, 13442 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks California 91423

https://www.artful.ly/store/events/14848/

Written by Paul Storiale

Directed by Bree Pavey

Cast

Marc Leclerc, Tor Jensen Brown, Victoria Anne Greenwood, Dantzen Debusk, Stephanie Jones, Bryan Rasmussen, Diane Renee, LaVel Stacy, Benjamin David Rawls, Dray Debusk, Gary J. Clayton, Nora Yessayan, Madlyn Sweeten, Max marsh, Devan Schooled, Danielle Power, Barbera Ann Howard, CJ Merriman, Matthew Wayne Roberts, Bree Pavey, Sarah Nilsen

Production Staff

Producers – Tor Brown, Bree Pavey, Madlyn Sweeten

Writer – Paul Stoiale

Director – Bree Pavey

Associate Producer – Pat Brown

Assistant Directors – LaTiera Harmon, Danielle Power

Stage Managers – Katy Laughlin, Sarah Nilsen

Set Design – Madylin Sweeten

Lighting designer – Matthew Richter

Sound Design – Tor Brown, Bree Pavey

Costume Design – Linda Muggeridge

Graphic Design – Amanda Chambers

Photography – Emma Latimer

Press Agent – Jim Martyka

Very independent Filmmaking – Simplifying the Audition Process

Auditioning must be one of the most unnatural and stressful parts of the filmmaking process. 

No one enjoys it, except perhaps the places that provide the spaces, the online sites that facilitate the process, some casting directors and a very few masochistic actors and directors.  

But of course, it is probably the only way you are going to see a large selection of actors quickly and with as little pain as possible for all involved….or is it?

I have just recently fallen in love with the self-tape.  Lately, it’s become more and more prevalent industry wide.  It used to be a backup, in case an actor was out of town working or just couldn’t get out of their day job or the director was too busy or not enthusiastic enough to come to the first pass of auditions.  But now it’s become an acceptable and in some cases preferential way for filmmakers and actors to meet without the “fakeness” of the audition culture.  Unless you are some kind of auditioning savant, most auditions can only ever give you the minutest of chances of matching the project with the perfect actor painlessly.  This is why most projects further up the food chain don’t really audition at all, the leads at least, relying on people they know, have worked with before or who are already attached via studio/money. 

Well us very, very independent filmmakers can also forgo the uncomfortable silences and the general awkwardness of the audition and plump for the ease and tranquillity of the self-tape.  What could be more civilized in fact?  The actor has time and opportunity to do their best possible work and without the leering, obtuse or, very possibly, the utterly uninterested gaze of the “casting” portion of your production team and moves directly on to you, the writer/director/producer….perfection.

But then what, I hear you ask?

Well, once you have whittled down the enemy…just kidding…I mean once you have made a few well-chosen selections as possible cast then I prefer a meet-up.  I’m sure you know a coffee shop that lets you linger with a few million refills…there are a couple that I have discovered, hit me up if you want the lowdown…and no, they are not all staffed by actors. 

The self-tape gives you the closest thing to what an actor can give you on set I believe, once they have the opportunity to prepare, to study and to give you there very best, which is what we all want after all.  I know there are some actors who are always good, but at least with the self-tape, they get to give their best performance and you can, without the stress of having to think about who shows up and who doesn’t, too many actors and too little time, or worrying about your meter etc. 

When it really comes down to it, casting is a mucky business and we’d all like to skip it and go straight to the first day of filming.  Self-tape can get you as close to that as humanly possible with a little more grace and a little less time suck…thank the gods!!

NoHo News: NoHo Artwalk Expands! NoHo Comedy Festival. Pilates Instructors. Awesome Theatre. BH artSHOW. NoHo Carnival

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: NoHo Artwalk Expands! NoHo Comedy Festival. Pilates Instructors. Awesome Theatre. BH artSHOW. NoHo Carnival

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**** 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.

Learning to play the piano: Why it’s easier now that ever

Learning to play a musical instrument is almost a rite of passage for many kids around the world.

Whether it starts with strumming on dad’s guitar in the summer holidays or tapping out a few notes on the family keyboard, many of us have memories of picking up an instrument in our youth, not really knowing what to do with it, but having fun nonetheless. Some of us were lucky enough to be taught by a friend or family member, while others had to learn what we could through books, and trial and error.

Fast forward to today, and the option for learning to play an instrument are far greater in number and infinitely more accessible. While back in the pre-internet era your chances of being taught to play the piano rested mainly on the shoulders of a school teacher or private tutor, the exponential growth in the world wide web has brought with it new ways to learn these skills. From online Skype tutors to virtual teachers and ‘follow along’ apps, there are plenty of ways to learn, and for instruments such as the piano, some of these ways have never been possible before.

Virtual tutors

If you want to learn to play the piano, the quicker you learn the basics, the better. The best thing about online piano tutorials is that they can guide you in ways that even a real-life tutor can’t. For example, some of these services use a “guitar hero-esque” approach, where above a virtual keyboard, coloured squares scroll vertically down on to each key. This can feel much more natural than either trying to read tradition piano sheet music or having a tutor showing you the order in which to hit the keys and asking you to remember the sequence. As a key is meant to be pressed, a coloured bar appears over that particular key, and only disappears when you should take your finger off the key. No need to know how to actually read music, or even understand how each note differ. Simply press the key that you are told to. You will still learn the different chords, notes and tempos, but the emphasis at the start of your programme will very much be on getting those fingers of yours to move across a keyboard quickly and accurately.

Face to face is still an option

For those of you who prefer the human touch, there are options available to placate your needs. Skype-tutors, of which there are huge amounts, will tutor you from afar, critiquing your style and ability as they show you where you have been going wrong. While this can be a daunting idea for some people, others enjoy having someone watching over their shoulder (or through their webcam, rather), helping them identify their issues. This way of learning is great for those who are already at a ‘certain level’, but have found that they have hit a natural wall in their progress, and require an expert eye to help them get over a particular hurdle. That being said, there are still tutors that can help absolute beginners as well as advanced players.

Endless videos to learn from

Finally, for those of you who have mastered the basics, have no interest in tutors, but wish to learn how to play more songs, Youtube is a veritable sea of tutorial videos that can help the budding pianist learn where they are going wrong. While you will obviously have no tutor helping you, or piano app pointing you towards which key to press, you still may find that watching someone play the part of the song you are having trouble with can help you work out where you were going wrong. There are also plenty of so-called ‘Youtube tutors’ out there, but the lessons are obviously a one-way conversation, so in general, it is more difficult to learn this way.

Whichever approach you take, learning to play the piano has never been easier. If one tactic doesn’t work for you, then you can simply try another. With a little effort and dedication, you can learn a new skill in a way that suits you the most. And it isn’t just the piano that can be learned this way. From guitars to flutes, drums to violins, you can find lessons, apps or tutors for pretty much any instrument out there.

This is also another great boon of learning online; you can learn to play instruments that aren’t exactly ‘typical’ in your area. Go back twenty years, and it may not have been very easy to learn to play the Sitar while living in rural Scotland, but now, if no sitar teacher can be found, you can simply find one online, or download an app, and get learning. If you have been planning on learning to play an instrument but have been putting it off due to time restrictions, or a lack of motivation, there really isn’t a better time to start. With so many options available, your excuses are getting a little few and far between.

Make Your Kitchen a Showroom in Perth

Make Your Kitchen a Showroom in Perth

You don’t want to have a kitchen that is merely functional, as this can often mean that the kitchen is a boring space. Consider just how much time you spend in the kitchen. You are likely spending many hours cooking, talking with family, and even entertaining there over the course of the week. You want the kitchen to be a showroom in Perth that looks like it could be photographed for a magazine spread.

To get some inspiration on the type of kitchen that you want, check out some award-winning kitchen designs. They can help to give you a better sense of what might be possible with your kitchen. There are quite a few options when it comes to the style of the kitchen that might work well in your home, and you can get some great ideas, which you can then bring to a designer to help make them a reality.

What Do You Need to Consider for Your Kitchen?

When it comes to designing a kitchen, you have to consider quite a few elements. First, you need to think about your budget and just how much you want to change in the kitchen. Are you looking for just a few cosmetic changes that will be relatively easy to accomplish, or are you looking for a full renovation and a brand-new kitchen? What types of design and style would you like to have for the kitchen?

Consider the colors and the overall theme of the kitchen. This can help you when you are making decisions for the cabinetry, the flooring, the countertops, and even the appliances that you want. Let your vision help you put together the basic idea of your kitchen showroom in Perth.

Why Work With a Designer?

Could you design and remodel the kitchen on your own? While it might be possible, you will find that it is not as easy as you might think. It will typically take a professional eye to make sure you have all of the right elements in the kitchen, and that the design and the layout really work well together. One of the best options to consider is to check out some of the award-winning kitchen designs by Zeel Kitchens. This top designer can help to turn your kitchen into a showroom in Perth. Let them help you make your dream kitchen become your favorite room in the house.

How to Sell Jewelry Securely

How to Sell Jewelry Securely

When it’s time to sell jewelry you no longer want or need, it’s very important to work with trusted buyers. While you may be tempted to use garage-sale type websites or newspaper ads, these venues are frequented by thieves who pose as serious buyers. Some of their victims are robbed in person, and others are fooled by fraudulent “buyers” who use fake or stolen accounts to make it look like an actual payment has been received. Although our goal isn’t to frighten anyone, you deserve to be as well-informed as possible. With your well-being in mind, here are some of the best ways to avoid jewelry fraud.

  1. Check Diamond Buyers’ Reputations

Trustworthy diamond buyers have stellar reputations, complete with recommendations. One of the best ways to avoid jewelry fraud is to use an analytical approach and take some time to conduct some research. Look to see whether there are reviews available, and if so, spend a while reading what others had to say about their experiences with the buyer. Were they happy with the outcome of the sale? Did they feel as if they received a fair price? How did they feel about the service they received throughout the course of the transaction? Was the jewelry buyer cordial and professional when communicating?

  1. Be on the Lookout for Quality, Professional Services

It’s very easy for anyone to set up a website these days. Protect yourself and minimize risk by looking for well-established jewelry buyers who offer a high level of service. The best jewelry buyers are easy to contact via phone or internet, and they typically provide you with a solid estimate of your item’s fair market value based on professional grading by the GIA or another trusted gemological lab.

Besides offering grading, certification, and authentication services designed to ensure that you receive fair market value for your jewelry, the best jewelry buyers provide secure shipping for your items and normally include insurance. Although it is highly unlikely that your valuables will be lost or stolen while en route to the buyer, insurance coverage provides you with a high level of protection against financial losses.

As for financial transactions, make sure the diamond jewelry and diamond buyers you choose work with trusted entities such as Wells Fargo, PayPal, or other well-known financial institutions.

  1. Take a Look at the Buyer’s Items for Sale

If the jewelry buyer you’re considering is offering to consign, auction, or sell items on your behalf, it’s advisable to spend a little bit of time looking at the way jewelry is presented for sale. Are the photos professional and appealing? Are the descriptions written in a clear, professional manner? Does this look like a good place to buy jewelry? While this step does take a little bit of time to complete, it will give you a good idea of the way your own jewelry will be presented to potential purchasers.

  1. Ensure that the Buyer Carries the Proper Certifications and Licenses

Unless you are selling jewelry to a private party, it’s important to look beyond the buyer’s storefront or home page and see what type of certifications and/or licenses the business possesses. Do they carry a rating from the Better Business Bureau? Have they been certified to handle and/or facilitate the sale of previously owned jewelry? What kind of security, insurance, and shipping companies do they use to ensure that their trading partners enjoy safe transactions?

Legitimate businesses provide their customers with detailed information about the certifications and licenses that they carry. Be wary of any jewelry buyer who seems evasive, or who does not offer such information when asked. The best, most trustworthy jewelry and diamond buyers tend toward transparency, giving their licenses and certifications pride of place in their storefronts and on their websites.

  1. Reputable Buyers are Best

The best way to avoid jewelry and diamond fraud is to watch out for promises that seem a bit too amazing, and to do your best to deal with reputable buyers. When selling diamonds or jewelry, ensure that there are safety measures in place. If you’re selling your jewelry in person, go to a public venue and insist on verified funds before turning your jewelry over to the buyer. Pawn shops and jewelry stores are generally safe, as there are stringent regulations governing these businesses. When selling online, be sure to use verified methods of payment. If the sale takes place in auction format, ensure that you work with a company that extracts payment from buyers before shipping items to them, and double-check to ensure that your payment will be sent securely.

Whether you’re selling online or in person, always look for high standards. Transparency should be a priority when selling jewelry, as should customer satisfaction. If you feel that there’s anything strange about a transaction, you’re probably right. Trust your instinct and you’ll be far more likely to enjoy a successful sale and come out on top.

 

The Right Place at the Right Time: Beychella

Over the last few weeks, before Kanye lost his mind, the hot topic on every news outlet and social media platform was Beyoncé’s electrifying performance at Coachella.

Over the course of the entire weekend, there were 41 million live views with fans tuning in from 232 countries in addition to the 99,000-person venue capacity.

April 14, 2018 #Beychella made its mark on history with Beyoncé being the first Black woman to headline in the 20 years since the festival started. The two-hour spectacle was dripping in a luscious cultural sauce that was only amplified by a custom bleacher style pyramid that filled the entire stage; making the massive marching band, dancers, majorettes, steppers, krumpers, and flexers a kinetic backdrop of bodies throughout the entire show. Choreographers JaQuel Knight and Chris Grant pulled musicians from Atlanta and cast a barrage of beautiful dancers to pay tribute to historically Black colleges and universities as well as Black activists and artists, including Malcolm X, Nina Simone, and Fela Kuti.

Through all the hype, there was a celebration that paralleled the wave energy that swept over the world. For those of us who have been in the dance industry we understand what a night like this means for our friends who have worked tirelessly and on occasion without reward, without pay, and without acknowledgement, to create the type of career experiences that they’ve always dreamed of.

Almost 15 years ago, I met a bubbly group of girls in Inglewood who loved to dance. Being a few years older, my friends and I took them under our wing and protected them like our own sisters. We shared our life lessons, our downfalls, and our accomplishments. Whenever we got the chance to, we would give them opportunities to perform at Carnival (choreographers showcase in Hollywood) or cast them in music videos just for the industry experience. One of these little divas was Shellee Samuels.

Since we met, I’ve been blessed to see her grow into a dynamic performer and phenomenal woman. As soon as she told me she’d be hitting the stage for Beyoncé’s Coachella debut, I knew God had His hand in this. Everyday that passed, I got more and more excited to see someone I’ve watched her start from Slauson Ave, travel around the world, then go MIA for her education and after that, dive back into the dance community to now be in the space to receive a blessing of this magnitude.

To truly align with your purpose, being in the right place at the right time is necessary mentally and spiritually as well as in the physical. Shellee’s story is a testament to that.

Name: Shellee Samuels    Instagram handle: @ishellee

Age: 25                              Astrological Sign: Capricorn

Where are you from and was dance an active part of your life growing up?

I was born and raised in Inglewood, CA. Dance was always apart of my life. I pretty much began dancing as soon as I could walk! Everywhere I went and every time I heard music I would dance. My parents knew I loved it and enrolled me into Lula Washington Dance Theatre.

Who are some artists / choreographers that have inspired you?

I’ve been inspired by so many along the way. Artists like Beenie Man, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, and Rihanna have been an inspiration. Choreographers that inspire me include JaQuel Knight, Chris Grant, Luther Brown, Betty Rox, Luckie, Charm, LaurieAnn Gibson, Tanisha Scott and Fatima Robinson and plenty more.

How did you receive the news that you’d be doing Beychella?

I received the news via email. I remember I had just pulled into my driveway and I checked my email before going into the house. I screamed out “Thank you Jesus!” like a hundred times. I sat there and tears of joy began to fall.

Have you danced for Queen B before or is this your first time?

Beychella was my first time dancing with The Queen. I worked with JaQuel a while back and recently I was invited to come in and audition for Coachella.

Tell me about the first day of rehearsal. How did you feel and what was your mindset going in?

The first day of rehearsal was magical. I walked into the room surrounded by some of the dopest dancers in the industry. The energy was crazy and it was such a vibe. We were all dancing for our lives and it felt so good. I should’ve been exhausted the way I was dancing but I felt like I was walking on clouds when I left that first rehearsal. The room was magic.

What was the inspiration for her show and how does it personally connect with you?

The show was inspired by the culture of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). Examples of this were seen with the stepping, strolling, the marching band, choreography, set, costumes, and more. As a “Devastating Diva” of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. this performance meant so much to me. Literally stepping and chanting the words, “Imma Ah Diva” with Beyonce’ was so memorable. This show invited America to get a close up view into college experience at an HBCU.

Did you have to keep it a secret that you were performing?

I did keep it a secret because when something is that magical you allow the magic to speak for itself.

What was your favorite part of the performance?

I’m not sure if I could say I had one specific favorite part. Each number I performed had its own feeling and brought out a different emotion, which each felt amazing in their own way. The opening was exhilarating; no other number felt like it. Then there was “Déjà vu’” with Beyonce’ and Jay Z which was so epic. The style of this number brought me back to my drill team days performing in the bleachers during the Inglewood High school football games. Also, “Run the World” was another incredible number. During this number I felt the girl power flooding the stage. The choreo is so empowering, the song is one of my all time favorites, the lyrics speak my truth, and during this number Beyonce’ walks down the stairs right past me. Then we dance all together with her. This moment was historic. Talk about an experience of a lifetime!!

Growing up in LA, did it always seem like the entertainment industry was right in your back yard or were there doors to bust down like anyone else?

It definitely didn’t feel like “Hollywood” was in my backyard. I lived in Inglewood and I trained in that area. My family was from Jamaica and didn’t know anyone in the industry. The doors were definitely still there for me to bust down. I learned how to Krump and began training with a dance group called Hall Of Fame. During the beginning of the Krump era I was picked up by a dance agency and worked with some amazing choreographers. I never could afford to attend any of those Monster dance conferences so getting anywhere close to the industry required long drives to North Hollywood. I had to PUT IN WORK. My dedication to taking classes after school and the support of my mom definitely got me to where I am.

Was there a moment you thought the circumstances of your surroundings would be a hindrance to your dreams?

Never that! My mom has always taught me that all things are possible with faith in God.

How does growing up in LA affect the foundation of your style?

Growing up I enrolled at Debbie Allen Dance Academy where I trained in a variety of styles ranged from ballet, hip-hop, tap, African, dancehall, salsa, reggae, modern, and jazz. However growing up in LA I learned the street style known as Krump, which will always enhance my freestyle and strengthen my performance.

What was the BEST moment of the overall Coachella experience?

Finally arriving to show day, the anticipation of preparing to present to the world what you have worked so hard on. It’s the greatest feeling to be on stage interacting with over 100,000 people for over two hours. But just being on stage with one of the greatest artists of all time was a truly extraordinary experience.

What’s next for you?!?

GOD’S PLAN!!!

Staff Picks: Beverly Hills artSHOW May 2018

Landscape and other Contemporary Artists provide special exhibits on the topic of grand perspectives May 19 and 20 at the Beverly Hills artSHOW.

The City of Beverly Hills will hold the spring Beverly Hills artSHOW, soon to enter its 45th year, on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show will be in historic Beverly Gardens, at the City’s center, along four park blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard. The Beverly Hills artSHOW is a free event that brings 250 artists from all over Southern California, the Southwest and the rest of the United States. The event has attracted over 40,000 visitors from all over the country and other parts of the world, including Europe, Canada, along with Middle and Far Eastern countries. 

The show’s special feature highlights artists whose work evokes that which celebrates the vast spaces of both natural outdoor and thrilling urban vistas.

Beverly Hills artSHOW Spring 2018 www.nohoartsdistrict.com

A few of these featured artists include: Chris Blunkell, a British native, who paints the untrammeled hills of Palm Springs and Coachella Valley with acrylic and charcoal. Oil painter Patrick Dennis of Cambria, who renders a sublimely infinite connection between the sea and land of the central California coast, and Carol Steinberg, a California artist displays an intense, personal version of Impressionism in her Yosemite Park series. Acrylic painter Donald Archer pulls apart and throws together views from California highways, as though a technicolor earthquake had just left its mark.

Other artists, less influenced by California nature, and more by contemporary spaces, include underwater photographer Mallory Morrison, Karchi Perlmann, creator of an exuberant multi-exposure series called

Discombobulated, Ivano Stocco, mixed media painter of Los Angeles’ long alleys and streets, and Marshall Vanderhoof, photographer of dramatic Southern California cityscapes.

All 250 participating artists will exhibit and sell their work, giving attendees a special opportunity to acquire limited editions and newly released pieces. In addition to fine art and specially featured work, guests can enjoy live ambient music, children and family art projects, popular food fare and food trucks, a Wine & Dine Garden, and a Beer & Small Bites Garden at this free, fun event. As always, a few demonstrating artists will show the public how art gets done! Convenient, inexpensive parking is located directly across from the show grounds.

The 2018 artSHOW sponsors and media partners include: Lincoln, Engel & Volkers, Kevita, Blank Espresso, the LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Art Association, Fabrik Magazine, LA Art Party, Yelp, and the Beverly Hills Conference and Visitor’s Bureau. Food and Beverage support come from Premiere Events, Stella Artois, and Hint Water. The show’s charitable partner is Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and its sister organization, Healing Art with Kids.

For general information about the May 2018 Beverly Hills artSHOW, visit www.beverlyhills.org/artshow or call (310) 285-6830. For media inquiries, contact Dana Beesen at dbeesen@beverlyhills.org or call (310) 285-2530.


**** 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 Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company Presents “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

The Porters of Hellsgate return to NoHo with one of my personal favorites, “The Tempest.” 

Why do I love it? Because of all Shakespeare’s plays, “The Tempest” is the most complete to me. 

It’s full of magic and humor, but balanced by darkness and control and revenge.  The characters are dramatic but human, hilarious but meaningful, and the revenge is dealt with by love, not violence, which is nice…especially given the current climate.

So I was ready to be very, very happy when I took my seat, knowing that The Porters of Hellsgate always give absolutely everything they can and are usually brilliant.  I was not disappointed.

THE TEMPEST at The Porters of Hellsgate via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

From the very beginning, this play is both honorable to the text and vivid and fresh with the casting and the performances.  Leon Russom is perfection as Prospero.  Giving a thoughtful, sweet and wily performance, holding the audience in the palm of his wistful hand.  His story is the one the play pivots around and we must connect with him, believe in him and trust him, otherwise the play becomes a series of amusing scenes.  But Russom’s Prospero is so centering and gently bold that he makes everything else possible.

There are many other stellar performances here, full of life and laughs and magical delight.  Ariel is particularly preternatural. Christine Sage plays her entirely aloft, suspended from the theatre ceiling, held up by cascading silks and skills quite breathtaking…more magic, and stunning she is too!

But everyone is quite brilliant. All these roles are played fantastically well as cleverly crafted pieces of the whole. “The Tempest” is considered one of Shakespeare’s finest works and to do it justice takes a brave company, which The Porters of Hellsgate is, of course, now on their 26th production as they work their lovely way through Shakespeare’s entire canon of work.

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

THE TEMPEST at The Porters of Hellsgate via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

I loved this production. It has a lightness of touch and a reverence for the beautiful words and iconic characters but still manages to find freshness and newness in these disparate people wandering this lonely isle.  The staging is also light, simple but extremely evocative and fluid, fitting itself wonderfully around the various storms and ships and cells and wilderness.  There is passion in this production, from everyone involved and I cannot encourage you enough to see it.  We are very fortunate to have this particular merry band of players calling NoHo home.  Bravo!

Running April 28 – June 3, Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 2PM

Directed by Alex Parker 

The Whitmore Lindley Theatre, 11006 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601

http://www.portersofhellsgate.com

THE TEMPEST at The Porters of Hellsgate via www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Cast

Leon Russom as Prospero, Christine Sage as Ariel, Michael Bigley as Adrian, Thomas Bigley as Stephano, Sean Faye as Alonso, and Timothy Portnoy as Trinculo, Will Block as Ferdinand, Matthew Jayson Cwern as Antonio, and John Tourtellotte as Caliban, Whitton Frank as Sebastian, Kita J. Grayson as Miranda, and Julia Silverman as Gonzalo.

Micah Cover is the production’s Magic Consultant.

Review of Avengers: Infinity War

The highly anticipated (and so far hugely profitable) Avengers: Infinity War certainly has its share of action and humor, as well as an intriguing premise.

In fact, this latest Marvel creation, from directors Anthony and Joe Russo, has both everything and not enough. The screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Avengers, stockpiles virtually all of the heroes in the Marvel Universe (with some notable exceptions).  They must now do battle with an increasingly omnipotent Thanos (Josh Brolin), whose Draconian plan to combat overpopulation is a galaxy-wide genocide, exterminating half the inhabitants so that the survivors can be fruitful and safely multiply, so to speak. To that end, Thanos needs to gather all six Infinity stones, thus guaranteeing him unlimited power. The problem for Thanos is that several of these all-important stones are either in possession of certain Avengers (like Dr. Strange, to name one) or are stored in areas known to other Avengers.

One of the most satisfying aspects of Avengers; Infinity War is how well it makes use of a starry (and unwieldy) assemblage of superheroes, deftly splitting them up into different groupings in order to do thwart, or perhaps destroy Thanos. For instance, there are sparks to be had when Robert Downey’s Ironman shares screen time and wisecracks with Tom Holland’s impetuous Spiderman and Benedict Cumberbatch’s incredulous Dr. Strange (his reaction upon hearing there is also an Antman is priceless); a vengeful Thor (Chris Hemsworth) bonds with Guardians of the Galaxy’s Rocket and Groot (voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel) as they try to locate an important weapon; meanwhile David Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is having trouble getting into Hulk mode, and suggests that Captain America (Chris Evans) be contacted—although Avengers fans know that he and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) are in exile, after the events of the earlier Civil War. In the end, all roads lead to Wakanda for an earth-shaking confrontation. (Did you think Marvel would keep Black Panther on the sidelines after his huge summer hit?) In addition, Thanos (as portrayed by Josh Brolin via motion-capture) is the series’ most formidable, complex and compelling villain yet—on his way to perhaps capturing the universe, Brolin’s Thanos pretty much steals the film (though he does get some competition from Ruffalo’s bruised and battered Banner, who can’t quite “get his Hulk on”).

As skillful as the screenwriters are in devising situations for this Mad, Mad, Mad World of heroes, some do suffer in comparison (Don Cheadle, Anthony Mackie are reduced to virtual “fly-ons”), while others are notably absent (Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Paul Rudd’s Antman). It’s also hard to make an emotional investment in the proceedings when one knows that: a) sequels with name characters are coming our way, and b) certain characters are forced to behave in ways that seem only plausible if the screenwriters wish to needlessly prolong the action. (Have I mentioned there will be a Part Two coming in 2019?) Without giving too much away, there are at least three instances where our heroes can either subdue or vanquish Thanos, and yet fate—via the screenwriters’ heavy hand—conspires against them every time.  Maybe it’s because Infinity Wars is a tad too long that the idle viewer has time to think of such matters—perhaps the next installment will tighten the pace a little (and reduce the bloat), so that this phase of the Marvel Universe can reach a completely satisfying resolution. In any case, Avengers: Infinity Wars has enough good character-driven moments to make one want to see the finish—even if it is a year or so away.

NoHo Park Spring Carnival 2018

We are lucky to have a beautiful park in the NoHo Arts District. Get out and have some fun at North Hollywood Park’s Spring Carnival 2018 May 11-13!

There is something for everyone at the North Hollywood Park Spring Carnival 2018…great rides, the best cotton candy and a great way to play outdoors. What better way to meet the locals and support North Hollywood Park!?

WHAT:

North Hollywood Park Spring Carnival 2018

When:

May 11-13, 2018
Friday: 5-10:30PM
Saturday & Sunday: 1-10:30PM 

Where:

North Hollywood Park – Southside

11455 Magnolia Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Tujunga and Magnolia, across from Amelia Earhart Library

Each year the North Hollywood Recreation Center runs two carnivals, one Mother’s Day weekend and one at the end of summer/beginning of fall. The North Hollywood Carnival is a major fundraiser for our NoHo neighborhood park and they are able to generate funds to help keep the park staffed and programmed for the community throughout the year. North Hollywood Recreation Center offers many sports and cultural classes and leagues throughout the year and offer great camps when the kids are on vacation from school in summer, winter and in spring.

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**** 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.

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NoHo News: Free Comic Books. Wine Festival. Pilates Instructors. Awesome Theatre. NoHo Artwalk.

Here’s your NoHo arts community update!

We look forward to sharing lots of fun and unique news, events, profiles and updates on what’s happening in the NoHo Arts District.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what’s going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here’s a glimpse at what’s going on in North Hollywood. Click on the image and to see the online version of our NoHo News…ENJOY NOHO!

NoHo News: Free Comic Books. Wine Festival. Pilates Instructors. Awesome Theatre. NoHo Artwalk.

Follow NoHo News with Bloglovin

**** 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 Eclectic Company Theatre and Thomas Prosser Present “Eclectic Stew”

Eclectic Stew, which includes the plays  “Raft- Glub, Glub, Glub” by Thomas Prosser, “Strangers on a Train” by Mona Deutsch Miller, “Your Lucky Day” by Paul Gulino, “Someday Can’t Come Soon Enough” by Thomas Prosser and “The Leaving” by Ed Horowitz.

The Eclectic Company Theatre is back with a vengeance. 

Their latest production is a selection of plays written by company members and running the gamut from romantic comedy with suicidal tendencies to transgender love and redemption, dark matrimonial dramas, a despicable criminal’s poetic justice and for the final play, a twist on a family drama, greed, treachery, lost loves and a distinct feeling that it’s all just some kind of terrible purgatory…it’s quite a selection!

I enjoy short form plays enormously.  It really gives playwrights and actors opportunities to develop ideas and characters.  To risk some, but not all.  To try out material based on their own lives that might be difficult for them to face, while still being able to actually put it up.  Grouping work in evenings like this is where great things begin.

This particular group of plays have some wonderful beginnings. The actors are excited to be on stage and they immerse themselves in the lives of these disparate people completely. The Eclectic Company always gives a lot of themselves, there is little fear or boundaries and the audience is always sure that whatever happens, it’s certainly won’t be dull!

Although these pieces are works in progress, the bones are good, the characters well defined and they have vivid, strong hearts to them. 

I can see easily how they might expand these stories into longer plays.  “Raft,” taking up the entire second half of the show, is a more rounded piece.  Three men trapped on a raft together in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, all with more to lose than their lives.  It’s a fascinating exploration of what men might do in desperate and life-threatening moments. It’s full of strange delusions and nightmares, manipulations and revelations, all constructed to divide the men from the monsters.  All extremely relevant if you ask me!

Supporting our local playhouses is important, through them we support local writers, directors and actors and their art. Art has never held as important a place in our culture as it does today…with all the world around us on fire. So don’t dawdle, this is not a long run and I am told that the short form plays may change from week to week, so get your tickets now!

Tickets and Showtimes

Running from May 6 through May 20. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 5 p.m 

http://nohoartsdistrict.com/theatre/the-eclectic-company-theatre

Cast

Ethan Mikael, Antoinette Westcott, Gianna McLaughlin, Ric Amaya, Diadra Smith, Doc Farrow, Thomas Prosser, Craig Winner, Robbie Stubbs, Josiah Authier, Broc Sargent, Sarah Melick, Mia Hjelte, Rachael Crane, Kenlyn Kanouse.

Directors

Thomas Prosser, Cal Oliver, Spencer Valenzuela, Broc Sargent.

Lights & Sound by Broc Sargent

Publicity by Thomas Prosser & Mona Deutsch Miller

The Best Sports Bars In NoHo

North Hollywood is full of surprises. From fancy cocktail hotspots to some of the most exquisite restaurants in the world, this place has it all. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that NoHo is also home to some amazing sports bars.

 

Here are the five finest places you can take your friends to grab a beer, watch a match, or sort out your online fantasy league over delicious pub food:

1.  Champs Sports Pub (Burbank Blvd)

Champs is the sort of place that could win you over and make you a regular visitor. It’s got the friendliest staff, the most talented bartenders, and a massive high definition screen for all your games. The place is one of the most popular sports bars in the neighbourhood, and it can get so crowded on weekends or match nights you might have to call ahead to reserve a table.

2.  Big Wangs (5300 Lankershim Blvd)

Don’t let the odd name catch you off-guard. If you’re looking for more than just great drinks and widescreen TV playing your favorite match, this is the place to go. It’s got a limited menu, but the food is absolutely delicious. No one who has ever visited Big Wangs has ever stopped talking about the humongous buffalo wings. Try them!

3.  Tiki No (Lankershim Blvd)

Loud and exciting Tiki No is the perfect spot for a late-night match. If you’re just going to have a beer or a simple shot, this isn’t the place for you. Their signature drinks are called tiki cocktails – complex mixtures with a unique flair and colourful liquids. The decor is a mix of natural grass huts, carved wooden sculptures, and  lava rock pyrotechnics. A visit to Tiki No promises to be an unforgettable evening.

4.  The Park Bar & Grill (Burbank Blvd)

The Park is for sport fans who won’t compromise with pub food or limited menus. It’s got the widest range of grilled meat and burgers, while the homemade chips and salsa are unbelievably tasty. The hospitality is off the charts. Every staff member greets you with a smile and is happy to tell you all about the specials on the drinks and food menu. Try the homemade Jell-O shots, the chocolate stout, or the 100% organic apple cider when you visit. 

5.  Jalapeño Pete’s (Studio City)

Jalapeño Pete’s is absolutely massive with tons of seating space both indoors and out. The light blue hues for all the furniture and wide open spaces make this one of the most welcoming and relaxing sports bars you’ll ever find. Try the exquisite Basura Bowl or buy one, get one drink free if you turn up before 9pm. If you can manage to turn up on odd days when the place isn’t too crowded, they might just offer you a great deal on the food as well.

These are some of the best sports bars in North Hollywood. Have fun!