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Chicago comes to The Valley

Lisa Bianconi
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The Last Act of Lilka Kadison

Los Angeles is a theatre town. Yes, it is. But the East Valley is a theatre hub. The NoHo Arts District dot com team had the opportunity to chat with the TONY Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company from Chicago on their play “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison” that they brought to L.A., to the Falcon theatre, right here in Burbank.

What is “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison” all about?
Falcon Theatre, Abbie Phillips and Jan Kallish in association with Lookingglass Theatre Company Present the West Coast Premiere of The Last Act of Lilka Kadison written by Nicola Behrman, David Kersnar, Abbie Phillips, Heidi Stillman, Andy White and directed by Dan Bonnell.

At age seventeen, Lilka Kadison flees Poland on the eve of World War II. Seventy years later in Los Angeles, she’s spending her afternoon hassling her son, wrestling her caregiver, and arguing with the ghost who keeps rearranging her furniture – and her memories. Join us on this journey about the power of story, humor and grace in the face of loss. Originally premiered at the Tony Award winning Lookingglass Theatre.

 Brittany Uomoleale and Nicholas Cutro star in the West Coast Premiere of THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON, directed by Dan Bonnell and now playing at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Lamont www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Brittany Uomoleale and Nicholas Cutro star in the West Coast Premiere of THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON, directed by Dan Bonnell and now playing at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Lamont

While everyone seems to be so youth crazed, what inspired you to write a story that features an elderly woman towards the end of her life?
We workshopped this play over a period of time during which life continued around us. Babies were born, parents and grandparents died, teenagers grew up. The idea of exploring the last day in the life of a smart and complicated woman, and meeting her seventy years earlier as a 17 year old felt very compelling. We manage to explore the best both worlds, first love and other discoveries, memories, wit and revelations.

Mindy Sterling and Usman Ally star in the West Coast Premiere of THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON, directed by Dan Bonnell and now playing at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Lamont www.nohoartsdistrict.com 

Mindy Sterling and Usman Ally star in the West Coast Premiere of THE LAST ACT OF LILKA KADISON, directed by Dan Bonnell and now playing at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Lamont

What do you want the audience to take with them after seeing the play?
A satisfying full-bodied theatrical experience – one where the audience will find many points of identification. Specifically for NOHO residents, know that you live in the virtual epicenter of the setting of the play.

Inside our carefully handcrafted, production utilizing a well-tuned quartet of actors, live music, innovative production design and magical toy theatre – beats the heart of a giant action epic of the human heart. You’ll laugh, you’ll be delighted, and then tears will flow. And then, call your mother.

How did your writing team come together?
The creation of The Last Act of Lilka Kadison was a collective act. It began originally a radio series, One People, Many Stories was a global survey of classic Jewish stories, produced by Johanna Cooper and myself. Then through the generous imagination of the Righteous Persons Foundation, we joined with TONY Award winning Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago to workshop together to discover the play. David Kersnar, Heidi Stillman and Andrew White are all founding members of the Lookingglass Ensemble. The talented young LA writer Nicola Behrman joined our crew when we lost Johanna Cooper to illness.

Have you worked with director, Dan Bonnell on other projects?
This is the first time. It can be a delicate dance between a writer/producer and a director that we proudly tango-ed through. Dan is a deeply experienced and gifted director and I would relish the opportunity to collaborate again.

Since, you have such a rich and diverse creative background, what advice would you give a new writer?
Make something. Keep at it. Consume everything that makes you curious and inspired.

Where does the play go from here?
There is already interest for productions in some regional theaters, There is even some possibilities of touring abroad. Of course, it would be great to eventually land somewhere in NY. Although, the circumstances of Lilka are very specific, the experience is very universal – and I’d look forward to sharing this with as diverse an audience as possible.

Any future creative projects on the drawing board?
Yes, looking forward to pursuing several theatre projects with some colleagues from Lookingglass Theatre Company.

For more information on The Lookingglass Theatre Company, visit www.lookinglasstheatre.org 
To purchase tickets, visit www.falcontheatre.com

The Last Act of Lilka Kadison at the Falcon Theatre on www.nohoartsdistrict.com

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

Big Burgers for the LAPD

Lisa Bianconi
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Support the North Hollywood Division of LAPD, including the Jeopardy and the Cadet programs.

North Hollywood and surrounding neighbors will come together again this April 7 to support our Los Angeles Police Department and the Jeopardy and cadet programs. How does NoHo support our officers and the great programs they run? By burgers, of course.

LAPD Officers will be on-duty all day and evening at the Counter Restaurant, serving up the BEST BURGERS in town. This is a fun way to have a meal while supporting our police department. Remember 20% of your bill goes to the LAPD PALS – this includes takeout too. Your participation today makes for a better community tomorrow!

WHERE: 12117 Ventura Blvd • Studio City • CA 91604
Free parking behind the restaurant

WHEN: Monday, April 7th • Lunch 11:00–3:00 • Dinner 5:00–9:00

HOW: Click on the flier below, print out the flier, head over to The Counter and enjoy your meal and the great service.

“We have one of the best cadet programs in the city. The outstanding community support allows many of our kids to do things they may never have been able to do, if it was not for this program. Please come out and support the North Hollywood PALS program and enjoy some outstanding food,” says LAPD Senior Lead Officer John Catalano

PALS TheCounter flyer F1 copy

Why it is important to support this North Hollywood fundraiser?

P.A.L. – Police Activity League

The Police Activities League is a youth crime prevention program that relies on educational, athletic and other recreational activities to cement a bond between police officers and the youth in our community. It is based on the conviction that young people – if they are reached early enough — can develop strong, positive attitudes towards police officers and the law. Studies have shown that if a young person respects a police officer on the ball field or in the gym, he or she will likely come to respect the laws that police officers enforce. Such respect is beneficial to the young person, the police officer, the neighborhood, and the business community.

The Police Activities League promotes trust and understanding between young people and police officers by bringing youth under the supervision and constructive influence of dedicated law enforcement professionals. The program also enhances public awareness about the role of police officers, including the reinforcement of responsible values and attitudes taught by parents.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

NoHo Supports SWAN Day

Lisa Bianconi
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SWAN: Support Women Artists Now Day – Free Festival of Women Playwrights & Directors

Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative www.nohoartsdistrict.com

It’s March and the time we officially celebrate the history and accomplishments of women around the world, and right here in Los Angeles. The NoHo Arts District dot Com team celebrates Women’s History Month every month but even more so in March. So we are proud to support Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative and Little Black Dress INK as they present a day of free playreadings and connections to celebrate Support Women Artists Now Day.

WHEN: Saturday, March 29 from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Samuel French Bookshop in Hollywood
7623 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(at Stanley, east of Fairfax in Hollywood)

INFO: http://lafpi.com/events/

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE:
10:30 a.m.: Refreshments + Connections / deadline to submit Micro-Reads pages
11:00 a.m.: Playreadings:
• Civilization by Velina Hasu Houston, directed by Laura Steinroeder
• Douds, Iowa by Debbie Bolsky, directed by Katherine Murphy
• The Stiff by Kathryn Graf, directed by McKerrin Kelly
12:00 p.m.: Micro-Reads – directed by Lynne Moses
1:00 p.m.: Refreshments + Connections / deadline to submit Micro-Reads pages
1:30 p.m.: Playreadings:
• Over Ripe by Becca Anderson, directed by Gloria Iseli
• Awesome Big Somebody by Sarah Tuft, directed by Holly L. Derr
3:00 p.m.: Micro-Reads – directed by Laurel Wetzork

WHAT’S SWAN DAY ACTION FEST?
The day’s events include readings of plays written and directed by women, as well as two sessions of Micro-Reads (open to women writers in attendance) and opportunities for theatermakers (of all genders) to network and find future collaborators — women artists working in Los Angeles.

SWAN Day Action Fest plays are Civilization by Velina Hasu Houston, directed by Laura Steinroeder; Douds, Iowa by Debbie Bolsky, directed by Katherine Murphy; The Stiff by Kathryn Graf, directed by McKerrin Kelly; Over Ripe by Becca Anderson, directed by Gloria Iseli; and Awesome Big Somebody by Sarah Tuft, directed by Holly L. Derr.

In addition to the playreadings, the day’s events include impromptu Micro-Reads: one page of writing performed on-the-spot, directed by Lynne Moses and Laurel Wetzork. To have work included as a Micro-Read, women writers should visit guidelines at lafpi.com/events.

March 29, 2014 marks the seventh International SWAN Day, a holiday designed to showcase the power and diversity of women’s creativity. Sponsored by the Bay Area organization WomenArts, SWAN Day has been celebrated with over 1,000 events in 23 countries. This is the first public arts event in Los Angeles created for the holiday.

Samuel French Theatre & Film Bookshop has partnered with the Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative since January, 2013, opening its doors for quarterly Gatherings and Micro-Reads. SWAN Day Action Fest will inaugurate the Bookshop’s new Green Room performance space.

Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative www.nohoartsdistrict.com

“We love having LA FPI here,” says Hollywood bookshop manager Joyce Mehess. “It’s always inspiring and fun and spontaneous — no stuffiness about anything. And with the festival it will be great to see fresh ideas come alive on our own stage. It’s exciting to have live theater under the bookshop’s roof.”

Performers for playreadings and Micro-Reads will include actors from The Vagrancy, a female-helmed L.A. theater company that partners with LA FPI in producing bi-monthly Tactical Reads, plays written and directed by women. Plays to be read in SWAN Day Action Fest were selected through a blind, open submission process curated by Little Black Dress INK.

Little Black Dress INK is an organization dedicated to creating production opportunities for women and to strengthen the female playwright network. Now in its third year, Little Black Dress INK’s Female Playwrights ONSTAGE Project will present readings of short plays by women in Sedona, AZ; Ithaca, NY; and Santa Barbara, CA beginning in April. ONSTAGE finalists will also receive a staged reading at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in May, and a full production in Prescott, AZ in September. More information can be found at www.LittleBlackDressINK.org.

Los Angeles Female Playwrights Initiative is an L.A.-based movement working to ensure that women playwrights are fairly represented on local stages and beyond. Formed in 2010, LA FPI has established itself in the Los Angeles theater community through its support and promotion of female playwrights and their projects. The results of the LA FPI Study, posted in 2011, were the first attempt ever to look at gender numbers in L.A. Self-reporting by playwrights and data from LA STAGE Alliance revealed a figure of 20% as reflective of the overall percentage of plays written by women in Los Angeles-area theaters.

In recent years, LA FPI and its co-founders, Laura Shamas and Jennie Webb, have been actively working with other organizations across the country and internationally to advance the gender parity movement.

For more information on the LA Female Playwrights Initiative and the SWAN Day Action Fest, visit lafpi.com. The site is set up as a hub for theater artists as well as theatergoers, with a popular Persons of Interest Blog, highlights of Women at Work Onstage in Los Angeles, the “What She Said” podcast and more.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

Interior Design – How organized am I?

Christopher Porikos
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Many people set a goal in the spring to clean out the house, garage, basement, closets, etc. Some set super high goals and expectations and often fail. They make the attempt to clean out a room or two, get discouraged and stop. They haven’t made a plan or realistic goal for themselves. Remember, it’s a process. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the clutter.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Plan ahead. Make the time to start your project. Not doing so could set you up for failure. Set aside a specified amount of time for each space.
2. Pick one room or just a closet to start. Make a plan of action that is doable and think about the end result.
3. Sort through items devoid of as much emotion as possible. Make three piles. One to save, one to donate, and one to discard. Stick to your plan and be ready to let go. I know it won’t be easy, but will be worth it once completed. Ask yourself when the item was last used or worn.
4. Take an inventory of the items to be saved. Do you really need them? How much space is needed to save these items?
5. For stored items, use clear containers or ones where you can label with the contents. This will allow easy access when searching for things. If storing things in a garage or basement, try using a different color for each room.

There are many places today to find just the right types of storage containers that will work for you. They come in all sorts of sizes and shapes to suit your needs. Try the larger home stores, containers stores or the discount stores. They offer options at all different price points.

Good luck!

Review – “Salvation Town,” the new album by Jonny Two Bags

nohoarts
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J2B Album Cover

Like heaven and like hell, pop music is well-stocked with angels and devils. From “Devil or Angel,” the magnificent mid-1950s ballad by the Clovers, through Bobby Helms (“My Special Angel”), Elvis Presley (“The Devil in Disguise”), the Beatles (“Devil in Her Heart”), the Rolling Stones (“Sympathy for the Devil”), and many more, lyricists have found these mythical figures apt symbols for good and bad.

The tradition is maintained in “Salvation Town,” the new album by Jonny Two Bags (a.k.a. Jonny Wickersham, guitarist for Social Distortion). And although we get more references to angels than to devils, the best — or better — life remains elusive.

In the album’s strong opening number, the singer has “One foot in the gutter and one foot kickin’ in the door to heaven.” This is a song of anxiety, if not desperation. The stalemate can’t last, and the center won’t hold. As for God, he/she/it is not around much.

J2B Brandise Test Edit

 

“Salvation Town”  celebrates without apology or irony LA rock of the early 1980s, especially the Blasters and the electric side of Los Lobos. Most of the album’s 10 songs, all of them written by Wickersham, feature the irresistible country/rock punch that kept Club Lingerie in business for so many years.

The trademarks are there in the opening song, “One Foot in the Gutter”: big and easy chord changes, which the listener can hear coming from far away, the tight, rigid beat of Pete Thomas’s drums, and Wickersham’s vocals, which are always in front of the instrumental backing.

Wickersham has not just captured a sound: he’s also captured the architects of the sound. Contributors on the album include David Hidalgo from Los Lobos and guitarist Greg Leisz, who previously worked with Dave Alvin of the Blasters, among others. LA-based performers from the 1970s are also featured on the album, including Jackson Browne, who shares vocals on “Then You Stand Alone,” and the great David Lindley, who plays on four tracks.

The opening bass string riff of “Hope Dies Hard” immediately suggests those LA mainstays, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. After the song ended, I had the chorus to Petty’s “Refugee” running through my head.

photo10 

“Then You Stand Alone” may well be the first track in the history of rock to mention the big cross that you can’t help but see while driving south on the 101 Freeway through the Cahuenga Pass. Visible from the Hollywood Hills, the cross is a nagging reminder to drugged-out musicians, egomaniacal stars, and shady agents that there’s another way. Wickersham considers his options in a song that boasts an irresistible shuffle beat and friendly power chords.

On the album’s two acoustic numbers, the singer switches to a light drawl, which befits the mood and theme. He fools us in “Alone Tonight”; instead of melancholia and loss, as suggested by the title, we get the message that it’s not so bad living by yourself. “Clay Wheels,” however, is the sorrowful tale of a man who can’t seem to get his life started.

We all know the type: sometimes he wears a suit and makes a million dollars per year. Fear of falling short is not confined to a particular class or region of the country.

“Salvation Town” is an introspective album that will find plenty of fellow travelers. After all, how many of us — man or woman — also have “One foot in the gutter and one foot kickin’ in the door to heaven”?

And the best part is, in America, you don’t have to be a practicing Christian to achieve salvation.

 

Planning Your NoHo Weekend? Here’s some help.

Lisa Bianconi
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What are you going to do in NoHo this weekend?

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 OTHER 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 the 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…ENJOY NOHO!

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

MAYOR Garcetti Comes to NOHO!

NoHo - North Hollywood
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Mayor Eric Garcetti visits NoHo Arts District

The Mayor of Los Angeles came to NOHO this week. The visit was arranged by Councilmember Paul Krekorian and the timing could not have been better.

Over the last year, we had our struggles in the area of Lankershim & Chandler Blvds. It’s not a surprise considering the amount of people now in NoHo. Between the large multi-family apartments, live/work space units, the growing retail industry and approximately 34 thousand daily commuters using the Red Line, we had an increase of crime in the area.

We have seen more reported property crimes then violent crime. Thats the good news. Car break-ins are our biggest challenge but can easily be reduced with the assistance of the public and through a constant reminder of securing and hiding your personal property.

Recently, we have established a new partnership with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the MTA. This working relationship has a common goal of improving public safety and reducing the number of incidents that have occurred on or around the Red and Orange Line area. With the assistance of the Council Office, we had a series of strategy meetings that have already resulted in some dramatic changes.

There is a temporary camera system now in place giving law enforcement a 360 degree view around the MTA property. We are told this will remain in place until the permanent cameras are installed. “No Loitering” signs have been placed throughout the area and private security hours have now been extended. The public should now see additional police presence between the law enforcement agencies with a zero tolerance for public safety.

We are now seeing a reduction in crime in the area and so has Councilmember Paul Krekorian and Mayor Garcetti. Mayor Garcetti, thank you for all the support and especially your recent visit.

NASA, Earthquakes and Ballet?

Lisa Bianconi
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Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles Uses Ballet to Tell the Story of Climate Change

TRAILS Luminario Ballet www.nohoartsdistrict.com

We love dance. We love dance even more when it touches the entire world. We love dance even more when it touches upon making our world a better place. The NoHo Arts District dot Com team spoke with the folks at Luminario Ballet who has graced the NoHo stage numerous times. We spoke with them about their upcoming project, Trails, a ballet that uses NASA images to tell the story of climate change. Get to know Luminario Ballet, North Hollywood!

Can you tell us a little about the show?
TRAILS will be a ballet and aerial ballet using projected images from NASA starting outside the earth, from the International Space Station, with views of Earth from space. Then it will diagram our planet in drought, on fire, with torrential rains, then Flooding, and… shaking with earthquakes! The terror we all remember, with a reference to the insanity that is fracking- (no way in CA!). Then Traffic and our lives being affected daily by the packed freeways, the dirt and exhaust, and road rage that builds up from it…. going smoothly into the refuge we love the best in LA, the ocean….underwater, to then discover the wreckage from Fukushima’s earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor meltdown, lurking there and slowly coming toward us. It will be a real wake up call!

TRAILS will also be an interactive website- www.trailsballet.org — with a forum/bulletin board to ask questions and offer solutions- where companies, corporations, and homes can go to learn how to green their grounds or buildings; where schools can meet to gather for environmental projects, curriculum, and community service; where artists can show their work on the environment; a place to list exceptional ideas on cleaning up our environment which need funding, and a place for all of us folks to gather to organize meet ups for our own communities. This part of TRAILS will be self perpetuating, and very important to our world, and we are linking through NASA.GOV with Princeton and Yale climate change websites to really spread our ideas around.

California is always a leader- so- let’s lead!

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How did you come up with concept of using dance to show the destruction of climate change?
Dance is my language as an artist, and, dance is universally understood by everyone, no matter what language, culture, age, or era they come from. We all communicate to each other with body language every day, even without knowing it- and- so, when we send cultural emmissaries to other countries, dance allows us to be genuine and understood. It allows us to describe urgency, and, climate change makes me feel the need urgently to be understood. I grew up looking at the Jules Feiffer cartoons of the dancer in the black leotards who danced to…. everything that she thought and felt, and, I want our piece to be that too, to describe what we are all thinking and feeling.

What made you decide to use Indy GoGo?
Indiegogo has a non profit department which allows a 501-c-3 dance company such as ourselves to crowdfund (not always allowed with other crowdfunder sites) and takes a smaller percentage from us as a non-profit than a regular for-profit group. Also, indiegogo allows us to keep all our percentage of pledges raised, regardless of whether we reach our goal or not- other crowdfunders do not!

How can the public get this show produced?
Please donate to us! any amount, and as often as desired! The more we raise, the better. That will mean we can present the piece to a broader public. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/trails/x/2411052

TRAILS Luminario Ballet www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Who is Luminario Ballet and why give to Luminario Ballet to present TRAILS?
In just five short years, Luminario Ballet, the little engine that could, has performed for over 30,000 audience members all over SoCal and premiered our Season four rep shows back East last year, opening the 10th Annual Miami Dance Festival to rave reviews.

We have proven ourselves worthy of fine choreographers, presenting Michael Smuin’s work from San Francisco Ballet, pieces from Lewitzky Dance, and this past year our guest choreographer was Debra Brown, who choreographed 13 of Cirque du Soleil’s 15 shows! Additionally, we support and promote many great CA choreographers such as Josie Walsh, Stefan Wenta, Alexandre Magno, and Judith FLEX Helle. Luminario Ballet is at the forefront of synergizing ballet and aerial dance together on stage, taking this beautiful art form to the next level. Luminario Ballet has done commissions from the LA Philharmonic (Copland’s “Rodeo”, Ginestera’s “Estancias”), International chamber music group Le Salon de Musiques (Schubert’s “Winterreise”), Dana Point Symphony (Stravinsky’s “Firebird”, Tschaikovsky’s “The Tempest”, and Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”), and New Valley Symphony (Tschaikovsky’s “Swan Lake”).

Luminario Ballet is an award-winning, professional ballet and aerial dance company with some of LA’s finest stars of the dance and aerial world.

Luminario Ballet performed at last October’s World Dance Awards and, not only held it’s own, but was, according to Broadway’s superstar Ben Vereen and movie choreographer Paul Becker, “…the highlight of the show!”

Luminario Ballet has proven time and again that the quality of our work is world class, and that we deliver our message to the highest standards around. Your donations will be used wisely- in these budget conscious days, we squeeze every penny three times!

What does the future hold for Luminario Ballet?
This spring finds Luminario Ballet performing in different out of town shows- building our SoCal audience–Santa Barbara at Girls Rock!, Dana Point Harbor for the Festival of Whales with the Dana Point Symphony, ARTWALK San Diego with PKG Dance Project’s dance festival, and a beautiful site specific piece in the historic San Clemente Casa Romantica in late May.

We are very excited to collaborate in 2015 with the New Valley Symphony and the Marat Daukayev Ballet, focussing on TRAILS. And… touring!

Why donate?
What we do matters- it really does.
Donating to TRAILS gives you bragging rights to both ownership of the TRAILS show and the trailsballet.org website (YOU funded this!) —and also a platform to express yourself!
To lovers of our environment- this is something you can build and be proud of, take to your child’s school, your city council meeting, your office- and get things DONE!
To artists of all kinds: link up with us, present your ideas about restoring and healing our world on the trailsballet.org web forum, and present your films, videos of your work, your poetry or paintings on the environment, so the public will see that our world’s environment MATTERS to us!
We will be heard, and everyone pitching in and donating to this will make it happen. So, do not hesitate, donate now, tell your friends and family to donate, and become part of the solution!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/trails/x/2411052

Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles

www.luminarioballet.org
www.facebook.com/luminarioballet

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

Tips on How to Pick an Apartment

Lisa Bianconi
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THE ART OF DESIGN: TOP 4 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING AN APARTMENT

What do you look for when choosing an apartment? There seem to be so many options these days, it can be a bit overwhelming.

To make your apartment search easy and fun, we’ve put together a quick-and-easy checklist for you to follow when seeking out your next home sweet home – see below:

Do I like what I see?

NoHo Senior Arts Colony www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The space you live in should be visually pleasing to your eyes from the start, creating a feeling of home and comfort. After all, this is where you will spend a significant amount of time, so it should feel good!

The way a home looks on the inside and the outside should be a direct reflection of who is living there – you! Look for colors, textures, patterns and layouts that feel inviting, warm, comfortable, and make you feel like you’re home.

Does the environment fit my physical needs?

Living spaces, both indoor and outdoor, should be practical to fit your physical needs. Easy access to living spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and community facilities is vital in order to provide a safe and livable environment.

In addition, be sure you feel comfortable in the neighborhood where the apartment is located. Ask the staff or current residents to introduce you to a neighbor or two, and chat with them about the atmosphere within the local community to be sure they all feel at home.

Do I like the social environment of the apartment community?

If home is where the heart is, in an apartment building, it’s also where your social life can blossom. Social activities are extremely important, especially among apartment residents, because you want to feel like you belong.

When seeking your next apartment, take the time to meet some of the current residents, and see how they interact with each other. In addition, be sure to tour the whole apartment community, and look for spaces that promote social interaction through their design.

For example, community lounges, meeting rooms, balconies and libraries that are both welcoming and comfortable are great places for weekly or daily coffee meetings, book clubs, and other friendly gatherings.

NoHo Senior Arts Colony www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Will I stay active living here? Does the community offer activities to keep me engaged?

It’s always important to keep moving, and there’s no better way to do that than within the comfort of your own apartment community.

By seeking out an apartment that offers a variety of classes and activities, you’ll keep yourself interested and engaged in the things you most enjoy.

For example, at the NoHo Senior Arts Colony Apartments, we offer free, on-site classes in a variety of disciplines, including art classes, poetry readings, screenwriting instruction, digital art production courses, theater programs, and exercise classes, including yoga and meditation, among others.

Through these activities, many of our residents have honed their lifelong talents, while discovering new artistic passions and pursuits. These classes and programs also provide residents with the opportunity to meet new people and form friendships with others who share similar interests.

When looking at apartment communities, be sure to check out the activity schedule and ensure that it’s full of interesting classes that will keep you motivated and involved.

NoHo Senior Arts Colony www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Apartments at NoHo Senior Arts Colony are now available for lease. The community is for adults age 62+ and features one-and two bedroom apartments. Art and social programs referenced above are available free of charge to our residents. The community also features on-site art openings, theatre previews and play readings by the professional Road Theatre Company. Whether you are an artist or simply take pleasure in the creativity of life, visit www.nohoseniorartscolony.com or call 855-399-5381. NOHO Senior Arts Colony is located at 10747 Magnolia Boulevard in North Hollywood, California.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

John Sarno, Take Center Stage

Lisa Bianconi
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NoHo Arts District Profile on Acting Coach John Sarno

John Sarno acting coach www.nohoartsdistrict.com

On any given day, the NoHo Arts District has more than 20 acting workshops/classes happening. How do you find the right acting teacher? You make sure they have been formally trained, have years of experience as an actor and teacher, and have the credits to prove it. There is one man I know that fits that description and that is John Sarno. John has coached more than 500 stars since he began teaching in 1976. John spent many years in New York studying acting with major teachers and then finally at the Lincoln Center Repertory Theatre under Elia Kazan. John was invited to work at the Actors Studio and became a student of the great Peggy Fury. Lee Strasberg invited him into the Master Class where he spent many years and also lived with Mr. Strasberg.

John has been interviewed on radio and television numerous times because of his Golden Globe nomination for film and his Hollywood Motion Picture Council Award for television. His television appearances have included many major television guest-starring roles. He has taught seminars all over the country and recently has produced four DVDs that really show you the real road map to success in Hollywood. DVDs are distributed at www.hollywoodacting.com and Amazon.com.

John, what advice would you give to an aspiring actor?
– You must learn how to focus your thoughts and energies.
– There is no such thing as a method actor. There is only method training.
– All great actors have techniques they use to find the character, learn their lines, channel their energies and access their sense memory.
– Learn your lines without memorizing them because when you memorize the lines you kill the imagination
– Be non-judgmental and to find the focus for the correct zone for performance.

What goes on in class?
In the master scene study class, you warm up with sensory skills needed for the audition. You work on a reading of a scene, monologue or improvisation. You can also put up a scene in which advance repetition work is applied to the scene as done in the New York Actors Studio. It’s all about the process.

Interested in a good acting class? Give John Sarno a call (818) 761-3003. His classes are taught at Actors Workout Studio 4735 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91602. For more information about his teaching DVDs, CLICK HERE>>

John Sarno acting coach www.nohoartsdistrict.com

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

Gotta Dance – Melinda Sullivan is Doing it Right

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Melinda Sullivan is Doing it Right – an exclusive interview for Gotta Dance

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Melinda Sullivan is an inspirational performing artist in our community. You’ll recognize her from SYTYCD season 7, with a comeback on season 11 to perform in a duet with fellow tap dancer Aaron Turner. She earned a place on Dance Magazine’s top 25 to watch for 2013, and won Capezio’s prestigious A.C.E. Award in 2012. That winning entry, entitled “Gone,” debuted in expanded form in New York in August 2013. She continues to develop her many talents and interests as a dancer, singer, and actress, which have given her a broad platform for her performance opportunities and artistic enterprises. I am grateful to Melinda who eloquently shares her experiences and latest projects with NoHoArtsDostrict.com.

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KC: For our professionals and aspiring professionals out there, what can you share about the experience of working in the different mediums of stage, TV, and film? What’s lending to your success and how has that shaped how you prepare for a versatile career path?

MS: As a dancer, I am lucky to have a strong ballet and jazz foundation coupled with a passion for tap, more of a “niche” dance style. That has allowed me to be versatile while at the same time being unique. Also, dancing takes an incredible amount of mental focus. I’m thankful that I had that focus at an early age. The only way to push through the discipline and sometimes monotony of your technical training is to stay inspired. Look to the masters of your art form to get you to your next level. Read books, watch footage, listen to musical scores written for dance, etc.

Once dancing and performing become your job, you must seek balance between being an athlete, an artist, and a working professional. It can be tricky. Cross train and take care of your body, feed your soul with good art, and meet people in your field who you respect.

Most importantly, if you want to work in both LA and NY as a dancer, you ABSOLUTELY need to start singing and acting ASAP.

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KC: You’ve had several roles portraying characters that emulate turn-of-the-century to mid-century styles and settings. Tell us about your influences and what you’re bringing forward from these eras in some of these roles.

MS: Campfire Vaudeville is a song and dance experience that one of my best friends Galen Hooks created. She brought me on as a performer and choreographer, and last year we had a few live appearances around LA coupled with some really incredible video content that Galen executive produced (directed by Charles Oliver). Campfire Vaudeville pulls from a few decades, but definitely turn of the century culture. The project was based on these songs that Galen had written that are influenced by early folk/spirituals, and we thought sand dancing/hoofing would go well with that music. Both art forms are at the root of American jazz music and the original American jazz dance, aka tap dance. You can watch the video here.

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Then, by chance, I was referred to director Gilly Barnes for a video project as a part of a series called The Decade Series. It was a centennial film project for Vanity Fair. Gilly asked me to play a woman during the suffrage movement who had been imprisoned for marching to fight for women’s voting rights. Gilly had done a lot of research and encouraged me to do the same. I am thankful for directors like Gilly who use dance to tell stories. In this case, the story was based on historical events, which made it even more powerful for me as the artist interpreting Gilly’s direction and my choreography. The day of the shoot, the wardrobe department even had a vintage prison outfit that a woman had worn. It was a really incredible project to be a part of and the final edit was very powerful, as Gilly had another actor recite a letter that a marcher had written as well as footage from that time. You can watch the video here.

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Shakin’ The Blues Away is the second collaboration between myself and director Dante Russo. One of my career goals is to be involved in a movie musical, whether it be in front of the camera or on the creative side. This piece was an ode to MGM musicals, where were the golden age for this genre. I looked at a lot of the footage from that time of the female tap dancers, and I kept coming back to Ann Miller’s piece. She was fiery, confident, showy, over-the-top—the epitome of a Hollywood diva. The movement is really specific as well, and was a great challenge for me as a performer and choreographer. I rehearsed for several months on the piece before filming it and had to work mostly on my upper body. Ann’s style was very angular, and her body was able to create these incredible pictures. I had to work a lot on clarity of my body lines in front of the mirror, over and over. Also, she was able to change directions on a dime. That was a big part of my rehearsal process as well. And turns! Lots and lots of turns. All that ballet training came to use for the long turn sequence at the end of the piece. That particular shot for the film was shot with a crane, and I think we did it like 26 times in a row. It was quite an athletic piece, but it really inspired me to keep working in that direction with my performance quality. In general, that style of dancing takes a huge amount of core strength, so your legs and arms can go anywhere while you are still over your legs, and the ability to perform BIG, facially and energetically. No one will ever dance like Ann, though. She is truly one of the greatest! You can watch the video here.

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KC: This summer your evening length show, Gone: A Sound and Theater Project, debuted at New York’s Ailey Citigroup Theater. The reviews for both the choreography and music were fantastic! Will there be a restaging here in Los Angeles? What’s next for that production?

MS: Producing/choreographing/performing/writing Gone was such an incredible learning process. I literally got a taste of EVERYTHING: running my first audition, collaborating with a composer and director, assembling a lighting and sound designer, budgeting, fundraising, the list goes on. The performance in NY was part of the Capezio ACE Award Grant I received in the summer of 2012. Now that I don’t have any deadlines, I have been taking my time to review the material and see what I would like to develop and change. I want to present a concert of my work here in Los Angeles in the coming months, and I would like to include excerpts of Gone in the evening. Nikos Syropoulos (composer of Gone) and I are continuing our collaboration and we are very excited about what we have learned from the process as well as what we will create next. You can watch a video rendition here.

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KC: Tell us about the Melinda Sullivan Dance Project and what you’re working on now.
MS: The Melinda Sullivan Dance Project was created underneath the umbrella of the Pasadena Arts Council. PAC has a program called “Emerge Projects”, which incubates individual projects and emerging organizations, offering them the ability to seek funding through fiscal sponsorship. In order to produce Gone in NYC, I needed to raise $15,000 in addition to the grant money I received in order to cover costs of production, travel, dancers, musicians, sets, etc. Establishing MSDP with PAC allowed me to receive donations through Kickstarter and use their resources, knowledge, and administrative expertise to act as a non-profit.

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KC: Tell us about your work with the community and dance advocacy.MS: Teaching has become a big part of my life. I am constantly inspired by the students in my classes. When students are fearless, they can do anything! It is also fun seeing it click for people that as a tap dancer, you are a dancer AND a musician. As a teacher, class is the perfect place to play as a choreographer, and there’s nothing like watching the students bring your movement and rhythms to life. I teach regularly at The Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles, and I tour with New York City Dance Alliance. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel and work with students from around the world, in places such as Bogota, Colombia, Tapei, Taiwan, and Stockholm, Sweden. Tap dance is an oral tradition. My teachers passed down not steps and music but stories and artistry. I feel that it is my duty, as an artist and a student of such a wonderful cultural art form like tap dance, is to continue to share what I learned with as many people as I can.

Thank you Melinda! Follow her here.

Women’s History Month: Stumbling and Falling

Lisa Bianconi
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Stumbling and Falling

Well here we are, March 2014, Women’s History Month. As I am contemplating what story to write surrounding the numerous contributions made by women, I find myself struggling. I am compelled to address how perplexed I am by the world around me. I wonder if there is a misogynist movement afoot. Now I say this sort of tongue in cheek. But still….

A 14 year old Pakistani girl, Malala, is shot in the head and neck for promoting education of girls – Nirbhaya, a 23-year-old med student in Delhi was brutally gang raped on a bus in Delhi, later dying from the assault. A female protestor in Egypt was dragged and beaten while wearing a blue bra; we know the bra color because as she was being beaten and dragged in the streets her bra was exposed. Maybe this is too far away geographically to relate to? I have a point to make so please bear with me. One in four female college students are raped! How is any of this unobjectionable? Why are the streets not filled with outraged men and women?

Malala www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The 60’s women’s liberation movement had women take to the streets protesting asking for the rights of women to be provided unbiased opportunities and considerations. (Let’s also throw in there not to be abused too.) That sounds like a simple enough request to me. What could anyone have against this? Well surprisingly, there were accusations that feminist were; anti-family, baby killers, lesbians, ugly, men haters, destroyers of capitalism on and on. Hmmm, ugly why was that included?

Women took to the streets during the 1840’s suffrage movement. Opponents vehemently opposed giving women the right to vote argued; women are emotional therefore unable to make logical decisions, women have representation through their husbands, women would neglect their household duties and children would suffer. I have a load of quips begging to be made here but that would belabor my point, so I will continue.

Slave and Activist, among other things, Sojourner Truth, in 1851 addressed an Ohio Women’s Right convention. Sojourner pointing to a male in the audience states: “that man over there says that women needs to be helped into carriages, lifted over mud puddles, and to have the best place everywhere.”

Sojourner, had worked in the fields, plowing and planting, had her children sold away, and was subjected to the lash, she asked the convention, “Ain’t I a woman?” This question resonated with me poignant in its simplicity! If a woman is to be cherished helped and lifted, how is it possible that the road Sojourner traveled was one of complete disparity?

Soujourner Truth www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Sojourner, Suffragettes, Feminist, Blue Bra protestor, Nirbhaya and Malala, what do these historic women have in common? These are women who have suffered the consequence of misogyny.

There is empirical evidence connecting democracy (inter-changeable with equality) in the home to democracy in the country. Professor Valerie Hudson, author of Sex and World Peace writes: “The template for living with other human beings who are different from us is forged within every society by the character of male-female relations. In countries where males rule the home through violence, male-dominant hierarchies rule the state through violence. The larger a nation’s gender gap in equality between men and women or the more violently patriarchal their structures, the greater the likelihood that a nation will resort to force and violence in the form of aggressive nationalism.” Whoa, did that blow your mind?

I get that many of us have come to accept gender inequality as ordinary. Not noticing it until an event or events happen that exposes misogyny. I blurred the lines between the crumbs of progress and my aspiration of living a life of equality. This is where I have stumbled and fallen.

I pick myself, to honor the women who have gone before me, enlightened, struggled, and died to bring to my attention the need to remain focused and diligent in resolving the inequity between men and women.

It’s March, Women’s history month. Let us all salute and honor the multitudes of women who have and are working toward Women’s equality. Male or Female, declare yourself a feminist, wear it proudly, act as Feminist – Let’s talk about it! Loudly and often. Let’s make history!!

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

Related Links:

Definition of Feminist – Websters’ dictionay

Women Under Siege

College campus and rape

Feminist Majority Foundation

 

Dianne WilliamsDIANNE WILLIAMS – Playwright, performer, singer and activist is the author of The Rise and Fall of My Breasts, making its New York debut in the Spring of 2015.

A native of Massachusetts, Dianne currently lives in Southern California, where she has made substantial contributions and volunteers time and effort on behalf of humanitarian, social service and charitable causes and organizations.

As a writer she has produced; a novel, short stories and written numerous articles. Also a theatre critic Dianne provides insightful reviews for NoHo Arts District.

Dianne was a contract singer with Soul Unlimited. She toured as a solo artist performing with her own band throughout Southern California and Asia.

As an actress she used her multiple talents performing in dramas and musical theatre.

“I am grateful for every day that I am able to be of benefit to mankind, and it is an honour to participate in the creative world.”

EXCLUSIVE: Listen to Johnny Booth’s New Song “Passages”

Caroline McElroy
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We fell head over heels for Johnny Booth when they put out their 2012 album Connections. You’ve heard their track “Ink And Sky” featuring Tommy Rogers of BTBAM, right? That album gave us so many chills that we put it as one of our favorite records of the year. The downside: it left us jonesin’ for more.

After two years of stalking their every move, Johnny Booth are back with a new release — this time with an EP called The Bronze Age. It comes out this Saturday through Hotfoot Records, and we’re thrilled to premiere a brand new song from it titled ”Passages.”

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Dont forget — they’ll be doing an EP release show in Long Island, NY on February 15th at the Amityville Music Hall. And from all of us here on the West Coast, we have our fingers crossed for some SoCal shows.

Enjoy.

photo by Craig Jay

This article was written by Ryan Minic from www.Ryansrockshow.com. This is a great site to keep you updated on bands that are on the forefront of exciting things. The site offers a more organic perspective than what you’d find in other blogs and introduces you to new music that captures the spirit of the times.

Movie Review – Non-Stop; Three days to Kill; Some Unsolicited Musings about the Oscars

Mike Peros
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Liam Neeson reunites with Unknown director Jaume Collet-Serra in Non-Stop, yet another movie destined never to be coming to an in-flight theater near you. Neeson is an alcoholic air marshal going through a rather rough patch: his daughter has died of cancer, his wife has divorced him and if that’s not enough–he has been receiving text messages while on a nonstop flight from New York to London, that passengers will begin to die every twenty minutes, unless a hefty sum ($150 million) is transferred to an off-shore bank account. He has to cope with any number of potential suspects (as in a planeload of passengers who resemble loud, obnoxious castoffs from the 1970 classic Airport), as well as off-camera superiors who think he’s lost his edge and his reason, and a suspicious, if not downright contentious flight crew.

The first hour of Non-Stop is actually pretty tense, with some interesting twists and developments, and the viewer is also kept wondering why Julianne Moore is in the picture (Support for her beleaguered seatmate? Attractive yet evil mastermind?—if you believe in guilt by casting. Caring, sensitive, secretive red herring?). Neeson brings conviction to the somewhat far-fetched, if intriguing proceedings; in his recent spate of action-driven films (save the megabudget Clash of the Titans opuses), you never sense a great actor is slumming. He handles the action scenes with verve and intensity, he agonizes eloquently, and there is one supremely funny moment (borne of his character’s discomfort) where he makes certain guarantees to the put-upon passengers. If the last half-hour lets bceomes regrettably conventional (as big secrets are revealed), Neeson, as well as Moore and Michelle Dockery (from Downton Abbey), manage to more than sustain audience interest.

Another aging action hero takes center stage in Three days to Kill; this time it’s Kevin Costner as a CIA operative (more like a legalized assassin) who, in the wake of a botched operation wants nothing more than to retire from service and make up for lost time with his estranged family, (wife Connie Neilsen but more importantly, teenage daughter (Hailee Steinfeld). However, ther may not be too much time, as he is suffering from terminal brain cancer and given a few months to live. Enter Amber Heard as an enigmatic, capable, and quite attractive superior who promises Costner access to an experimental drug that may just prolong his life—if he’ll do just one last job.

This drug does have its side effects, and at times, the movie reminded me of John Wayne in El Dorado, as the Wayne character in that film is incapacitated at the most inopportune moments (as in during a showdown), as Costner’s character is throughout. Like Non-Stop, Three Hours to Kill, really shouldn’t work—but it does, thanks mainly to its still formidable, if aging star. Costner, who could be a little bland and humorless in his younger roles, is never less than convincing as a seasoned, fatigued professional who comes face to face with his own mortality–while trying to overcome the perils of fatherhood. There are several moments when his worlds collide, as in an amusing scene where he convinces a reluctant hostage to provide a tomato sauce recipe for his unwitting daughter (via cell phone) and his scenes with the bad guy’s (referred to as the Albino) limo driver, who also happens to be a family man. As I say, none of it is plausible, but Three Hours to Kill is always engaging and never less than entertaining.

Some Oscar thoughts (or hindsight is always 20-20)

Just because Leo and Marty join forces to come up with another lengthy epic doesn’t mean it has to be nominated for Best Picture. I generally liked The Wolf of Wall Street, but it was too long by at least one hour and tended to belabor the obvious.

Bill Murray showed a lot of class with his acknowledgement of Harold Ramis and Ramis’ impressive comedic oeuvre.

No matter what innovations the show makes, it still manages to clock in at well over three hours. Case in point: I love Over the Rainbow, but was it really necessary?

I liked Ellen DeGeneres’ opening monologue, and some of the other jokes, but the pizza bit did go on a little too long.

If I were Idina Menzel, I’d thank my lucky stars for John Travolta. Everyone now knows her name, and they should, for she’s immensely talented on stage and film, and nothing less than gracious in person.

Those folks in the orchestra didn’t really cut off too many of the early acceptance speeches, then came back with a vengeance, only to lay low for select others. Don’t know what this proves, but I thought I’d mention it. By the way, it was fitting for Cate Blanchett to finally mention Woody Allen (during her protracted speech) after avoiding his name during the last few award shows.

Jack Witt’s Book Helps Beat Man Boobs, Muffin Tops, Beer Bellies and More

Lisa Bianconi
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Jack Witt’s Tight Tone and Trim and Cut, Cool and Confident

Jack Witt health and fitness expert www.nohoartsdistrict.comThe NoHo Arts District dot com team should frame this phrase: “What Makes NoHo Special Is The People.” We are happy to share the successes of our local North Hollywood folks and would like to give a big round of applause to NoHo’s own health and fitness expert and personal trainer Jack Witt on the launch of his new books. Jack’s new paperback book for women, “Tight, Tone, and Trim” and for men, “Cut, Cool, and Confident,” make getting in shape and healthy eating easy, simple and fun. The books include numerous illustrations, demonstrations and humorous anecdotes while targeting those pesky problem areas like “Cankles,” “Muffin Tops,” “Beer Belly” and “Man Boobs.”

What made you decide to do books?
After 10 years working as a personal fitness coach, with people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, I really wanted to get everything I’ve learned and all of the elements and techniques that helped a lot of my clients succesfully reach their goals, into an easy to follow, simple and fun book.

Tell us what are the books about?
They are kind of funny, as well as being chock full of great motivational tips, ways of thinking, and specific exercises; and the covers and illustrations are sort of mid century retro looking. I incorporated all the common problem areas on the human body that my clients would ask me about over the years like “Cankles,” “Thunder Thighs,” “Beer Belly” and “Man Boobs.”

Was it difficult doing the books on your own?
It was a real learning experience being an indie author and self publishing on Amazon.com. Luckily, I had some other indie authors that coached me and pointed me in the right direction along the way, including Leslie LeMon, author of the DisneyLand Book of Secrets on Amazon.com. I’m really happy with how my debut books turned out, and the girl who did all the illustrations, Kaitlin Howell, was just amazing to work with.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do their own books?
Start broad with your ideas and just get them out of your head on to paper. Let it all flow naturally. Then you can start crafting your story and ideas into more specific sections/chapters and piece it together with continuity. Most importantly though, have fun with it. It will probably take a little longer than you think to get the book finalized and up for sale, but stay focused and positive, and the day you hit the “publish” button you’ll feel terrific and accomplished.

Why should someone buy your book when there are quite a few fitness books on the market?
Great question! I always say that health and fitness shouldn’t be rocket science and too serious, so these books are really easy to follow, humerous, and have lots and lots of illustrations to show you how to do exercises correctly with step-by-step instructions. They are kind of like having me as your very own personal fitness trainer 24/7. Ha ha, I’m right there with you on every page!

 Jack Witt Tight Tone Trim - NoHo Arts District  Jack Witt Cut, Cool, and Confident, www.nohoartsdistrict.com 

Can you give us some latest tips on fitness?
It’s not really new research, but recently I’ve been reminding my clients that one pound of weight loss equals 3,500 calories. So a pound of weight loss per week would equal 500 calories per day (3,500 divided by 7 days per week = 500). Start looking at how you can shave off 500 calories per day, either by exercising longer to expend 500 caloires, or by eating better to intake 500 calories less, or a combination of 250 calories each, which is a great choice.

How to purchase your books?
Just go to my Amazon author page at https://www.amazon.com/author/jackwitt and you’re just a couple clicks away from having a fitness book that will really make a positive impact on your lifestyle.

Follow Jack on Twitter @GetFitWithWitt

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

Health – Caffeine Infused Slimming Tank Tops-Silly Trend or Effective

Jack Witt
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 Caffeine Tank Top

Recently my friend Cherie Higgins asked me about a clothing product she saw for sale infused with green coffee and brown algae to “rev up the body’s fat metabolism while creating a slimmer appearance”. ( And apparently the active ingredients withstand up to 20 machine washings.)

So you gotta ask yourself; “is this a silly idea, or can it actually work to reduce fat, and am I willing to smell like a barista all day just to lose a little more fat off my body?!”

In my humble opinion, the idea of wearing clothing laced with caffeine to stimulate fat breakdown sounds a little too good to be true, sort of maybe a passing trend or fad without much research to support its claims of “1 inch off the hips” etc.

Yes it’s true that caffeine can help mobilize fats from the fat tissues and increase your metabolism. Some studies have shown that caffeine can in fact increase metabolic rate by 3% – 11%. However, it’s much less in older and heavier people, and it’s important to note that people become tolerant of caffeine’s effects over time.

Moderate doses of caffeine are considered 200 – 300 milligrams per day, or about 2 -4 cups. Anything more than that and a person can get a whole bunch of side effects such as:

– Nervousness
– Stomach Upset
– Fast Heartbeat
– Muscle Tremors
– Insomnia

My guess is that you probably already get a moderate dose of caffeine with your consumption of coffee or tea each day and you really don’t need extra caffeine from your clothing adding to that. After all, insomnia (lack of sleep) causes weight gain, stomach upset leads to less effective workouts, and nervousness may lead to stress and de-motivation.

So keep the caffeine in your cup and leave it off of your clothes. With regular workouts, including resistance/weight bearing exercise, basic food management practices, proper sleep at night, and reduced stress; your metabolism will be optimized and safely burning off as much fat as it can.

Cheers,

Jack Witt, MS, CPT
Fitness and Health Coach
“Get Fit with Witt”
Individuals / Groups / Corporate
310.562.5629 Cell / 818.760.3891 Main
www.getfitwithWitt.com
https://twitter.com/GetfitwithWitt

New paperback books “Tight, Tone, and Trim” and “Cut, Cool, and Confident”
available at https://www.amazon.com/author/jackwitt

What are the benefits of buying a NEW home in NoHo?

Lisa Bianconi
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Homeownership and The Top Three Benefits of Buying New

If you’re currently in the market for a home, there are several reasons why new is better than resale. Here are the top three:

1. Greater Energy Efficiency

New homes are built in a way that not only provide savings on a homeowner’s utility bills, but also have a less harmful effect on the environment.

With a focus on reducing energy consumption, all new homes built today are required to meet the energy standards of the California State Energy Commission and Title 24, a state approved energy code for all new construction. What this means for homebuyers is cost savings (of varying degrees) on water and energy bills.

While the environmental engineering on homes isn’t something that most people think about, it can have a huge impact on homeowners’ pocketbooks in both the short- and long-run. It’s also something that a lot of existing resale homes can’t compete with (unless they were to undergo major renovations). Some of these features include AC condensers, insulation within walls and attic space, meters that exceed codes, fan wattage, and furnace coils that are rated for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly refrigerant.

Some of the more easily recognized energy efficient cost-saving features are Energy Star rated appliances, dual-glazed windows with energy saving glass to keep cool air inside and the sun’s heat out in the summer, tankless water heaters, low-flow shower heads and low-flush toilets – things that usually come standard in a new home, but would cost thousands in upgrades on an older one.

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2. Less Maintenance & Hassle

Buying a new home means new everything – roof, paint, walls, floors, plumbing, windows, appliances and more. This means less time and money spent on maintenance when compared to a resale home that has been through years of wear and tear. Knowing what you are getting in your home allows you to eliminate any concerns about what may or may not have been done with construction or maintenance in the past.

For example, the majority of California homebuilder MBK Homes’ communities feature best-in-class materials such as high-end Stego Wrap Moisture barriers and rain gutters, which reduces the possibility moisture damage under floors and in walls. Additionally, concrete tile roofs come with at 25-35 year life expectancy. Spending less time and money on the upkeep of your home allows you to spend more on the things you and your family want to, whether it be on vacations, furniture, hobbies or other activities.

3. More Customization

New homes also provide homeowners with the ability to customize their space. Not only do new home communities generally have several floor plans to select from, but buyers almost always have the ability to select their own flooring, cabinets, countertops and paint. They have the ability to really make the home their own.

MBK Homes, for example, offers unique designer selected P3 flooring packages at each of its communities that provide buyers with cost savings and a customized look and feel. Each of the three flooring packages offered – preferred, premium and premier – can be applied to any of the residence floor plans and is available in a variety of color choices.

In many Southern California cities, the main challenge to owning new is the high demand and lack of inventory available. Fortunately, there are new infill communities such at Vineland Metro in North Hollywood that is providing a new type of housing option.

Located at 6552 North Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood (on the corner of Vineland and Kittridge), Vineland Metro by MBK Homes is the only new for sale product available in the area, which is central to major employment centers and adjacent to the NoHo Arts District eateries, shops, and entertainment venues. The community features 27 two-story detached Spanish and cottage-style homes with private outdoor areas and up to five bedrooms and three bathrooms. Starting in the mid- $400,000s, the homes are an attractive option for people currently living in or looking to relocate to the North Hollywood area. Sales began at the community last month and continue to remain strong, confirming the demand for new housing in the area.

The Vineland Metro sales center and model home is open daily. Stop in to talk with a new home consultant or visit www.MBKHomes.com/VinelandMetro for more information before the homes are gone.

Vineland Metro homes North Hollywood

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

Independent Filmmaking – More of what not to do!

Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros
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“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes”
Oscar Wilde

You said it Oscar!

sam
On location, Lancaster, CA, Cold, early and miles from anywhere, having the time of my life…

Since there are rather a lot of mistakes to make, and while I feel from time to time that I have made more of them than most humans on this earth, I thought I would continue along the oddly popular theme of my failures, just for a little while longer…

So let us see what other mishaps and disasters I have unique and invaluable experience in and go from there shall we!

My number one mistake made while making a film, or doing anything else for that matter is:

trying to not make a mistake….

Yes, you read me right!

Making mistakes is how we learn, whether we are toddlers taking our first steps or filmmakers making our first film…it all good!

If you are in too much of a panic and so worried that you will do the wrong thing or make the wrong choices you will undoubtably make even more mistakes than you would without all the stress.
But you will make mistakes, everyone does.

Even the most seasoned of filmmakers screws up, repeatedly, just read their biographies, but that should inspire you!

It should also be something that you build into your productions schedule, its always a good idea to figure in some ‘cock up time, ’ as we say in England.

Expect and accept that you will do something wrong, or some disaster or another will befall you.

Accept it and move on….and learn from it!

Once you get over yourself and assume that what can go wrong sometimes does, then you can move on to the next potential pitfall.

Rushing it…

Easily done, especially when you are all inspired and stuff!

But if you rush it you will definitely regret it. This is something important and it deserves the consideration and the planning and the rewrites and the workshopping and the additional rewrites. It is true that some things are done best off the cuff, in mad passionate creative fervor, and with little to no preparation. But making a film is not one of them.

Especially a film made with hardly any money where everything you put on screen counts more than ever.

So please don’t be afraid of waiting until you have everything you need and want and the time is right, the cast is right and the location is right.

All this preparation will pay off on the day of filming and most especially in the editing room, where you will congratulate yourself time and time again for being a ‘cautious Nancy’ and for ignoring all that told you to just go out and “shoot the damn thing.”

And finally, the mistake all filmmakers make, whether they be students, novices or the most experienced on the planet, being overly cautious and therefore boring.

Imagine the world out there, the world we have to work with. Full of wonder, stories, drama and amazing possibilities. Then remember the last student film or short film you saw. Everyone thinks that the story is the most important part of filmmaking, and they would be right, of course it is.

But its also incredibly important to tell the story well, and interestingly and with vision and drama and style and a certain amount of risk.

Not to mention the effect all of that has on the production value of your film. Take yourself out into the world around you and film your story there. Don’t worry about permits or insurance or getting in the way. You are an artist for heavens sake, your supposed to get in the way!

One of the biggest mistakes I see made over and over again is to limit yourself by the locations you choose. Never ever stay home and film your friends in your apartment and think that is enough. Go out at night and film from your car window on the freeway, on a bridge, up a tree, on the beach, on top of a building. Anything you can think of that makes your story more compelling and more astonishing. If it doesn’t work out then you can chalk it up to one of your mistakes to learn from, but try…

You will find, I can promise you, that this expansion of your storytelling horizons will not only add depth, pathos, style and daring to your film, but it will inspire the crew, the cast and most definitely you, the director, to expect more from yourself, and therefore more from your audience.

And as a member of your audience I can tell you most assuredly that I respond particularly well to someone with high expectations of me, in fact, I am sick of filmmakers having low expectations of their audience and therefore themselves.

Film is art and art is revolution, and although some revolutions I am sure started in someones apartment, they didn’t stay there very long, they went out into the world and showed themselves, and changed it.

Expect that of yourself, after all, whats the worst that can happen?

We are all used to disappointment, but real failure is not to try at all.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child?

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Yes, it takes all of us to raise a child.

North Hollywood LAPD officer Catalano and East Valley High

Like many people, I don’t like to watch the news since most events being reported are sad and depressing. Well, nohoartsdistrict.com is reporting on a story that shows the “goodness” of humans right here in the NoHo Arts District. The story starts out with a kind and caring gesture by North Hollywood Police Division’s Senior Lead Officer John Catalano. Elijah and his mother Angelica enrolled one month ago in East Valley High School. They had been homeless and now are living in a small hotel room where there is one communal stove for 200 people. “Cooking a healthy meal for my son is difficult but I am thankful I have a roof over my head and a good school that Elijah calls his second home,” said Angelica.

I asked Angelica how she got into this bad situation when she had a Master’s Degree from the University of Cincinnati and a 10-year work history in TV and film on the east coast. She told me that she had an oral agreement from a cable station that she had the job and that she only had to move to Los Angeles. She and Elijah came to Los Angeles only to find the job was gone and that her life savings was depleted after looking for a job for three months. Fortunately, East Valley High has a team of professionals who truly care about their students and saw that this family needed help. School Principal Carrie Allen who treats all 800 students like they were her own stepped in. She told LAPD North Hollywood Division’s Lead Officer John Catalano about Elijah and his mom’s plight. Officer Catalano saw one thing that needed to be taken care of immediately. Elijah had on tennis shoes that were ripped so bad he was almost walking bare footed. Elijah told Officer Catalano that his mom was trying to find him shoes but she couldn’t find his size 15 plus they were very expensive. Officer Catalano on his time off ran to seven stores and finally got Elijah two pairs of tennis shoes. Officer Catalano didn’t want any fanfare about doing this wonderful deed because it came from the heart.

officer Catalano, lapd north hollywood division

Elijah is only 14 years old but wise for his years. “We have been through a rough time but I know we are going to be okay because we now have people who care about us said Elijah.” This positive attitude comes from his mom. The first thing she said to me was that she was thankful for all the help she has received and now wants to give back to someone less fortunate than her.

Captain Whittingham of our North Hollywood Police Station told me that the station had “adopted” East Valley High and are committed to assisting students and families in a variety of ways. Elijah has enrolled in LAPD’s Cadet program and once again can dream about being an inventor when he grows up!

Elijah and Angelica still need a permanent home. I hope I can write another story about the good samaritan that found them that home! For any type of assistance for this family, please contact Carrie Allen, East Valley High Principal at 818 753-4400.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

It’s Let’s Take a Nap Day!

Lisa Bianconi
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national napping day

Well, it isn’t actually a holiday but more of an observance that the NoHo Arts District dot Com Team likes to observe. We think it couldn’t come at a better time, after Daylight Savings/Sleep Stealing/You Stole My Hour Time. So Monday (3/10) we say “Happy Napping Day, North Hollywood!”

Founded by Boston University professor William Anthony and his wife Camille in 1999, Napping Day is the unofficial holiday set aside to help people adjust to Daylight Saving Time and to highlight the health and productivity benefits of napping.

They have written two widely acclaimed books, The Art of Napping and The Art of Napping at Work,  which explain their findings on the value of a nice nap.

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According to the power nap couple, napping helps in the following ways:

1. Napping improves mood – makes you feel better 
2. Napping improves performance – makes you more productive
3. Napping is no cost – no expensive clothes or equipment needed
4. Napping is no sweat – no shower needed
5. Napping is self prescribed – no doctor’s orders needed
6. Napping is non-fattening – you cannot eat while napping
7. Napping is a non-invasive procedure – no one does anything to you
8. Napping has no dangerous side effects – unless you are driving

“We chose this particular Monday because Americans are more ‘nap-ready’ than usual after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time,” William Anthony said in the Boston University news release announcing the holiday.

When we are forced to “spring forward,” we lose that precious hour so it’s much easier than normal to nap. We can all relate to that 3:30 mid-afternoon blah, especially after a bad night’s sleep with one less hour on the clock. Since most of us are at work, we must settle for the power nap, a 20 to 30 minute snooze. It’s just a quickie to rejuvenate your mind and body. 

Remember Seinfeld’s George Costanza made a bed under his desk? Well, here are some other ways to nap at work:

  • Try a bathroom stall (take off your shoes so they won’t know who is in the stall)
  • Inventory/stock room is usually not frequented much.
  • Duck in the office of an employee out sick
  • Take the “stairs” is something most people don’t do…bring something comfortable to sit on. 

In Bangladesh and Indian Bengal it is called bhat-ghum, literally meaning “rice-sleep.” Spaniards take their infamous siestas and Germans enjoy ein Schläfchen.
In China and Taiwan it is called wujiao. Most Chinese schools have a half-hour nap programmed straight after lunch. And best of all, Japanese businesses have created “Nap Rooms” for their employees. 

So Los Angelenos join the rest of the world in celebrating the art of the nap! Close your office door, roll up your jacket and take a snooze under your desk.

If your boss asks you what you’re doing. It’s simple, ask: “Didn’t you know it’s National Napping Day?”

Happy Napping!

 

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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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

Beyond the Martini: “Picking up the Pieces” workshop

Lisa Bianconi
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We here at nohoartsdistrict.com are always thrilled when we hear about new events, classes and things that really set our neighborhood apart. Well, it all boils down to the people making these things happen. We have been fans of The Sherry Theatre since it opened in NoHo and appreciate all the creativity that comes from this black box theatre space. We got the chance to chat with Katherine Boecher about a unique workshop she’s created. It’s highly focused on the actor and on a particular scenario. Her Beyond the Martini: “Picking up the Pieces workshop will be held on March 19 and April 16. So North Hollywood, meet Katherine.

What is Beyond the Martini: “Picking up the Pieces” workshop all about?
It’s a workshop to help actors to effectively respond, re-engage and re-energize after emotionally draining roles. One of the greatest obstacles working actors will deal with in their career is the fallout from being emotionally involved in heavy material. This three-hour workshop tackles the difficult problem we as actors have of taking our work home with us. Faced with the inability to release the work, our relationships and our lives suffer. Too many actors have been bound by this dilemma. We explore how that affects our personal and professional lives, and investigates how we can face it head on, making it work for us, with the greater goal of service to our art and our communities.

katherine boecherWhat will an actor expect to take from the workshop?
The actor will learn to:
• Take control of the storyline, incorporating your unique experience to grow both personally and professionally.
• Make your support systems an integral part of your experience, deepening your relationships both on and off set
• Evolve as an artist, dramatically increasing your audience.

We will present applicable strategies that will equip working actors to transform their post job experience from exhaustion, feat, anger and confusion into exciting, organic, and resilient service to their team, their families, their work and their communities.

WHEN: March 19 7-10PM and April 16 7-10PM
WHERE: The Sherry Theatre 11052 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
REGISTER: www.makinmoviesman.com/class.html

www.katherineboecher.com | Twitter @mizzboecher

Why did you decide to create What is Beyond the Martini: “Picking up the Pieces” workshop?
Actors are accustomed to taking work home with them. Stars from Kevin Bacon to Heath Ledger have been quoted discussing this exact issue. It’s a problem we all face from time to time. One particular year I played several battered women in a row, on shows ranging from The Closer to Perception to Heroes to Past Life. After hours and hours on set, in that headspace, take after take of crying real tears in a hostage situation, or screaming as I was dragged down the hall by my neck, my emotional health began to suffer. I found myself dealing with anxiety and depression that I couldn’t seem to shake. My work life was going great, but at home I was a wreck. I couldn’t figure out why. It took me over a year and quite a bit of money in therapy to pinpoint the issue. I was loading in all of these imaginary memories, imaginary circumstances into my body, and playing them out on screen, but I wasn’t doing the work to unload them after the work was over. I wasn’t healing. It was out of my own work to return to a healthy place and develop a technique for myself to be able to rebound after doing the work I love to do in a way that would get me back to enjoying my family and my new baby as quickly as possible, that I realized I might be able to help other actors as well, to be of service to other actors dealing with the same issue.

“Anyone who gets nightmares from Fox’s creepy thriller The Following isn’t alone. The two stars say it happens to them, too. Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy both said Monday they take work home with them sometimes.” -AP Mobile

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How are you involved in the NoHo Arts District?
I’ve been a part of The Sherry Theater since its inception. My husband Lukas is the managing director of the theater, and we were planning our wedding while we were building the Sherry theater, converting it from a derelict store front into the beautiful theater it is, with Scott Haze and a close knit group of our artist friends. I shared the stage while acting in the first play we ever opened at the Sherry Theater, DEVILS NIGHT, written, directed, and starring Scott Haze. We even had our engagement dinner inside that theater! Most recently I’ve partnered with actress and fellow Sherry Theater member Ciera Parrack for her Nights Of Soul, reading my poetry to some wonderful audiences. I also assist with management of the theater. We have a great community here in North Hollywood that has continued to grow as our little theater has.

I’m a grateful alumna of Playhouse West right here in North Hollywood, as well as Warner Loughlin in Hollywood.

Katherine BoecherA little more about Katherine

“Most recently I had the incredible opportunity of working with Joaquin Phoenix for Spike Jonze on the film HER, out now in theaters. Unfortunately all of my characters storyline was taken out in post production, but I am keeping the experience with me! – Katherine Boecher

Katherine Boecher, (also known as “Pippi”), made her feature film debut in Shonda Rhimes’ CROSSROADS (2002), and has been drawing accolades for her work in television and film ever since, cementing her reputation as a multi-talented, up-and-coming young actress. She starred opposite Jackie Chan in the Lionsgate comedy THE SPY NEXT DOOR, (which grossed over $50 million worldwide). Katherine’s other major title film credits include director Michael Bay’s power-packed, action film BAD BOYS 2, as well as a memorable role opposite Winona Ryder, Wes Bentley and Ray Romano in the independent film THE LAST WORD (Official Sundance Film Festival Selection).

On television, the versatile actress is best known for her recurring guest star role on the CW’s SUPERNATURAL (as the demon Lilith), and she has toured the globe speaking to fans of the popular series. Katherine has also guest starred on Emmy winning shows like MAD MEN and THE CLOSER, as well as CSI:NY and PERCEPTION (TNT). Born in Beaumont, Texas, and raised in Kansas, Katherine began her career as a model at age 14, signing with the exclusive FORD modeling agency in New York, and at only 5’6″, becoming the shortest model to sign with the top agency. Katherine has traveled around the world extensively as an international model, walking the runways and living abroad in Milan, Paris, London and Tokyo. She has appeared in Italian Vogue, Harpers Bazaar,and Elle, among many other publications.

Wanting to explore more of her creative talents, Katherine first moved to Los Angeles in 2002, quickly booking her a television commercial and shortly thereafter a series regular role on the television pilot, TRASH, for Warner Brothers. When she is not working in front of the camera, Katherine spends her time on the other side of the camera for Makin Movies Man!, a production company she founded in 2013 with her husband, actor Lukas Behnken. Katherine and Lukas live in Pasadena with a lively bunch of animals and the light of their lives, a 10 month old son that Katherine gave birth to naturally at their home. Katherine spends her extra time working as an activist for recovery, ending domestic violence, and promoting natural birth and attachment parenting.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

What are your NoHo plans this weekend?

Lisa Bianconi
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What are you going to do in NoHo this weekend?

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 OTHER 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 the 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…ENJOY NOHO! 
 

 

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

It’s time to learn about wine, NoHo.

Lisa Bianconi
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It’s wine time, North Hollywood. Don’t be afraid. You’ll be in the hands of the Wine Goddess

Does this sound like you or someone you know?  “I like wine. I know nothing much about wine. I want to learn more about wine.”  When part of the NoHo Arts District dot come team felt this same way on a recent trip to Napa Valley, we went to the Goddess for help, the Goddess of Wine. Now’s your chance to get some wine knowledge but in a fun, hands-on way, by tasting wine. Join Denise Lowe, the Goddess of Wine, on Sunday, March 16 for what we like to call wine school.

the goddess of wine noho arts districtHow did you become a wine aficionado?
I always liked wine – even before I was old enough to drink it legally (ahem…) – but I had a life-changing experience when a friend brought me a bottle of Rufino Riserva Chianti Classico back in the early 80’s. That was a $10 wine at a time when people were drinking jug wines – Carlo Rossi, Cribari, Riunite – so it was a heckuva gift. It was unlike anything I had ever tasted, and went exceptionally well with the spaghetti and meat sauce I made for dinner. That was the beginning. Several years later, my husband and I fell in love with a Merlot from Clos du Val in Napa; we went searching for the winery, found lots of other wines, wineries and friendly folks who loved to talk about and share their wines, and that set us on our path.

What tips do you have for wine novices to learn more about wine?
Keep tasting! It’s really the best way to learn. The more you taste, the more your palate remembers what you tasted, what you liked or disliked. And find a wine store in your area where the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The big stores like Bevmo are OK for quick stops, but if you really want to learn, your best bet is to develop a relationship with a local wine purveyor. They can introduce you to wines that you might not find on your own.

What can we expect from your Wine 101 class?
Fun! The whole idea of Wine 101 is for students to realize that there’s no mystery to wine tasting. Students will learn how to look at, smell and taste wine; they’ll learn how wine is made, the many regions of the world where grapes are grown, and we’ll throw in some history and personal experiences.

WHAT: Wine 101
WHEN: Sunday, March, 16 at 12PM
WHERE: Luna Vine Wine Bar 3206 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank
TICKETS>>

In terms of wine etiquette, what are some dos and don’ts while tasting wine?
Be open. Taste everything, but don’t drink everything. That’s what dump buckets are for. You don’t want to get drunk. Besides it being bad form, it fatigues your palate and you can’t taste effectively. And then you fall down, and it’s embarrassing…

What are your favorite places to taste wine?
I love, love, love the Central Coast of California, from Malibu to Paso Robles. You read that right – Malibu is one of the newest AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in California – and there are great wines coming out of there. Personally, I’m really passionate about the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. It’s really close to visit for a day or two of wining, the winemakers are friendly and the wines are extraordinary.

Do you have a top 5 list of your favorite wines?
I have to limit it to 5!? That’s a tough one. Here is a list of 5 wineries within 1 to 2 hours’ drive from the Valley, and whose wines I keep in my cellar:

Shai Cellars – Buellton – No tasting room, but on the wine list at several great restaurants, including the Tam O’Shanter here in LA. Big, beautiful Rhone varietals from the Happy Canyon and Ballard Canyon AVAs in Santa Ynez. Buy direct from the website: www.shaicellars.com

Four Brix – Ventura – Great tasting room in an industrial park. Most of the grapes are sourced from Paso Robles. Winemaker and owner, Gary Stewart, is extremely knowledgeable and happy to talk about winemaking. www.fourbrixwine.com

Cantara Cellars – Camarillo – Mike and Chris Brown have a lovely tasting room, also in an industrial park, and most of their grapes are sourced from their family estates in Lodi. Cute dogs, too. www.cantaracellars.com

Tercero Wines – Los Olivos – Winemaker Larry Shaffer is passionate about Rhone varietals, and I’m especially fond of his delicate white wines as well as his full-bodied reds. www.tercerowines.com

Clos Pepe Estate – Lompoc – Winemaker, vineyard manager, and all-around Renaissance man, Wes Hagen, makes some of the best Pinot Noirs from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. He also makes killer, and very affordable, Syrah under the Axis Mundi label. www.clospepe.com

Find the Goddess of Wine here:

www.goddessofwine.com | Twitter: @goddessofvino | Facebook: Goddess of Wine  |  goddess@goddessofwine.com

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

“Dancing From The Ghetto” (Part 2)

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Dancin Program

Well…..Well…..Well…..Here we are again! In my last installment I took you on a trip from the beginning of my career until my unleashing in Hollywood. Let’s just get right to it….shall we????

The year 1988 – I was now on the “A-List” of dancers and I didn’t even have a clue. The ride became fast and furious very quickly. I was determined to get a chance to dance on “FAME” but no cookie. There was someone similar to my type on the show but my first gig with Ms. Debbie Allen was at Le Sporting Club Du Monte Carlo with her act. It was my first time to that fantastic city and got to meet the Prince of Monaco.

For the next couple of years, I was bouncing between Ms. Allen, Michael Peters and Lester Wilson, each claiming that I was “their dancer.” Mind you, I belonged to no one but myself. They both kept me on a serious schedule of TV shows and live appearances including: The Debbie Allen Special, The 1st Annual Movie Awards (Peters), The 63rd, 64th & 65th Academy Awards (Allen), Comic Relief (Lester Wilson), The Essence Awards (Peters), Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Tribute (Allen), The Las Vegas Hilton with Bill Cosby & Phylicia Rashad (Peters), Welcome Home America USO 50th (Allen), Jackson Family Honors (Peters), The Emmy Awards (Lester Wilson) Black Filmmakers Hall Of Fame (Peters)……..you get the point lol…….

I must take a moment to give a shout out to all the amazing teachers who kept my engine running and my chassis well tuned: Jackie Sleight, Joe Bennett, Doug Caldwell and Claude Thompson. I also taught some classes at a few studios: Du Pree Dance Academy, Studio A and Alley Kat. Let me not foget to mention that I was till traveling to Japan to teach, perform and choreograph with Broadway Dance Center Tokyo, choreographing numerous club shows, TV shows, commercials, music videos and Live concerts. The money was STUPID and creative juices were flowing!
Then came movie time……once again, the schedule became frantic. I was blessed with the opportunities to dance in such films as: Polly 1 & 2 for Disney (Debbie Allen), Sister Act 2 with Whoopi Goldberg (Michael Peters), What’s Love Got To Do With It with Angela Bassett Michael Peters), Death Becomes Her with Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis (Brad Jeffries), Hot Shots with Charlie Sheen (Lester Wilson), The Five Heartbeats (Michael Peters) and my 1st featured role as “Teddy The MC” in the CBS TV Movie “Stompin’ At The Savoy” starring Mario Van Peebles, Lyn Whitfield, Vanessa Williams, Jasmine Guy, Darnell Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Dawnn Lewis.

I was in heaven….a huge leap out of the dance corp onto the big screen. I had gone back to my roots as and Actor. The phone began ringing off the hook after I appeared in The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage Magazine and Daily Variety. The most major call came from Casting Diva Robbie Reed. She was looking for an actor to portray Jermaine Jackson in The Jacksons TV Movie “An American Dream.” Ms. Reed called me to audition numerous times and I could not pull myself together to go in.

Now most actors would jump at the chance but for some reason, I was thrown into a dismal state of being. Looking back, I now realize that I had a serious case, “Fear Of Success.” I digress to say that I came from humble beginnings and my Life in the entertainment industry was already fulfilled, due to the fact that I was doing what I loved, earning a very healthy living, traveling, working with the best individuals in every field of my art and I was still in my 20’s. The fame of it all was not appealing and scared me because I was witness to what happened to fellow Artists once bitten.

After my brief hibernation period, I emerged with a vengeance! Once again, Momma Debbie Allen was there to uplift and support me. She requested that I join her during the final season of “A Different World” as her assistant, principal stand-in and featured guest star in a few episodes. This opportunity afforded me the chance to sharpen my tool kit in many areas simultaneously. I took her shot notations, help her set-up shots and was a featured singer/actor on camera. It doesn’t get any better than that. I learned everything they never teach you in school and I am forever indebted to Ms. Allen. I love her dearly.

I must mention that in the midst of all this activity, started to panic and think about my future after Dance, even though the end was nowhere near insight, I thought hahaha……so I enrolled at Sound Masters Audio/Video Institute in North Hollywood and became a certified Sound Engineer in 1994. Wouldn’t you know that on the night of my graduation, we had the major Northridge earthquake. It was a sign that I was truly coming out but to where and what, was left to be desired!

In 1996, after a few more trips to Japan, more TV shows and dance concerts, I got the old “Broadway Itch” again. In December, I packed my bags and headed for NYC after receiving a call from Mercedes Ellington about a new musical “Play On” (based on Twelfth Night) that she was choreographing for Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. That was all I needed to know! By this point, I am still in my prime at the age of 33 and so ready. It was so exciting to work with Director Sheldon Epps, Musical Director Luther Henderson and Associate Choreographer Louis Johnson. The cast was stellar: Carl Anderson, Tonya Pinkins, Andre DeShields, Larry Marshall, Yvette cason, Cheryl Freeman and Lawrence Hamilton, to name a few.

During previews, I received a call from the producer of a touring company of “The Wiz.” He was looking for a choreographer and was recommended to me. OH MY GOD!!!!! Before he could offer me the job, I was in rehearsal in the day and performing at night. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! Now….get a load of the cast of “The Wiz” – Peabo Bryson (Wiz), Ce Ce Peniston (Glinda), Tony Terry (Tin Man) and Diva Grace Jones (Evilene)….I almost pissed my pants! They all were so amazing to me and very supportive, especially Grace.

On the first tour stop, Philadelphia, I would take the train down for rehearsal and rub back to perform each night. This went on for about a week or so. The show opened to mixed reviews but it was an awesome experience. It came time for my final payment but for some reason the Producer refused to pay me. The show was at intermission, Grace and the cast rallied around me in support and told the Producer that if I did not receive my money, the cast would not continue the performance. My mouth dropped and I went numb. I never felt such love but they all knew how hard and tirelessly I worked to make them feel comfortable and look their absolute best on stage. Eventually, I was paid and the show went on. After the show Grace offered me a ride back to NYC in her limo.

What a time and fun ride we had, cocktails were flowing and we bonded like you wouldn’t believe. Note: She had just finished the show, jumped into the limo in full stage beat (make-up) and we made a food stop on the New Jersey Turnpike. Of course, she wanted to come inside with me hahaha. You should have seen the entire place come to a stand still. Here is Diva Icon, Grace Jones, in Evilene make-up, tight leggings, heels, huge ring in her nose and demanding service…..PRICELESS!!!!!

OK…back to “Play On”…..we are in previews, show is going well, I was in performance one night, friends in the audience, low and behold, there is a major set malfunction, I am riding onto the stage on unit, 2 twirling towers start to leave the stage as I enter, they do not clear in time, sets crash and I am caught between and 100lb piece of wood falls on me. I can definitely say that ‘I was a show stopper.’ Not funny! Needless to say, I was out of the show before opening night….DAMN! Before I could heal, the show closed and I went into a major depression.

In 1999, after tons of therapy, I heard they were hiring for “Fosse” on Broadway but there would be a cattle call. I was number 101. People and myself were amazed that I recovered so well and so fast. I was asked to join the touring company which I refused. They later called and said that a slot in NYC became available and asked my interest. Before they could ask….I was in rehearsal replacing Sergio Trujillo featured as Mr. Bojangles….NIRVANA! Also joining the cast was my dear friend Stephanie Pope, as the Star, and Keith “Tyce” Di Orio as Bojangles Spirit.

Ann Reinking actually put me into the show and gave me her blessing. While I was over the moon , the experience was not the most enjoyable or memorable , due to a few circumstances. I needed constant therapy to maintain such a rough schedule and challenging performance, I felt a sense of dis-ease with a few cast members and Broadway was changing into a numbers game….it was losing that Family feeling so I began to change inside and out, lost respect for the work and myself which led to an early termination by mutual decision. So what did I do, took my show on the road and headed for Japan to Star in my own Fosse revue produced by K-Broadway Tokyo.

I was able to offer employment to a few good friends, Garry Q. Lewis (Choreographer/Performer) and Terry Mathis (Hair Stylist). While sitting by the pool one day, I was surprised by a visit from my friends Sharon Ferrol and Choreographer Keith Young who happened to be in Tokyo with Baby Face. We had a ball and the show went well.

After returning to New York, a few days later, the “911 Incident” happened. I actually watched as the second plane plowed into the second tower. I felt as if I was watching a Steven Spielberg movie.

I worked on various other small stage productions, low budget films and began working with DJ’s singing dance music. While walking down the streets of NYC during the Winter of 2001, I heard “Hey Lacy, we been looking for you,” it was friend and Choreographer Ken Roberson. He told me to call Director Charles Randolph Wright immediately regarding a new musical workshop being created using the Gamble & Huff music catalogue . Well, after a few workshops over a year, the role of a lifetime was built on me to Star in “Me and Mrs. Jones” as Calvin The DJ starring Lou Rawls, Darlene Love, Nita Whittaker, Nika Noni Rose, Andrew Wright and Orfeh as my Co-Star at the Prince Theatre in Philadelphia. Can you say “winning” LOL

However, a few days shy of opening night, I ruptured a vocal chord and was put on vocal rest. I had no understudy which meant the show had to shut down. I was in a catatonic state. This had never happened to me in my entire career. I was replaced without consideration, sent home and spiraled into a deep, dark depressive state for over a month. I would not leave the bed or my room and would not eat much. My Mom was very nervous and concerned so she booked a cruise ship gig and took my sister and I away. I sailed into a New Year and new chapter.

I must say that it did some good but when I returned, I got wind that “Me and Mrs. Jones” was starting up again without me. That did it! I truly had a nervous breakdown then. My friends Sharon Ferrol and Keith Young called me and said, “Lacy get over here to LA, we have a spare room for you.” I took the offer which was the best thing I could have ever done. Leaving New York lifted fifty (50) pounds of my shoulders. My voice came back without surgery and no severe damage. How do you spell GOD!

Within days I was feeling myself and once again, the phone rings. This time, it was casting director Peter Wise offering me the male singers cover position in a new musical starring Chaka Khan set for Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel directed by Billy Porter, choreographed by A.C. Ciulla and musical direction by Stephen Oremus. Would you believe…..I Said NO!!!!! hahaha He kept calling and I kept refusing. I had low self esteem, was in a state of confusion and thought my career was over. But….after offering me Assistant Director/Choreographer and a significant paycheck, I finally said YES!

That was the inception of my company, Uncle Earl Productions now Uncle Earl Enterprises. It was the 1st major step in taking back control of my destiny, my career and my Life! I could go on and on about the rest of my career but that is irrelevant, at this point. The whole purpose of sharing my journey was to enlighten and educate, if only one individual who may need inspiration, about how I survived the roller coaster ride of this business through adversity from the beginning to this very day. Each day I awake, I feel blessed and highly favored for the valleys and the hills.
I am now on the path of nurturing and sharing my gifts with up and coming talent and pay homage to those who graced the stages of the world before me. I would not change one moment, there are no accidents or coincidences. Everything that happens in your Life is relevant to your growth: mentally, emotionally and physically.

I welcome you all to discover The Ultimate Underground Experience, my global music, arts and education multi-media project. It encompasses theater, film, music, video and production. It is a safe haven for total artistic and creative expression. The aim is to bridge the gaps between Humanity using Arts & Education as tools.

I want to thank Nancy Bianconi and the Noho Arts Commission for allowing me to express myself on such an amazing platform. I welcome any and all inquiries for partnerships and/or investment options. 

Lacy Darryl Phillips aka Uncle Earl is currently Producer/Host/DJ of “The Ultimate Underground Experience” Radio Show and TV project broadcast every Monday, Thursday and Saturday 9am & 9pm at www.KLEDLive.com (91.1 FM) sponsored by www.MusicXray.com . He also serves as Media/Marketing Director at www.WorldDanceAwards.com produced by Allen Walls and Carey Ysais.

For more information, please go to: 

www.ultimateunderground.com 
http://www.youtube.com/user/earlhitz012210
https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-UNDERGROUND-EXPERIENCE-RADIO-SHOW-ULTIMATE-UNDERGROUND-TV-PROJECT/104694422912265
https://twitter.com/theuncleearl
 http://www.linkedin.com/in/lacydarrylphillips
http://www.reverbnation.com/TheUncleEarl
https://soundcloud.com/underground-hitzhttp://www.musicxray.com/profiles/841
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ultimate-underground-podcast/id466386433?mt=2
 https://plus.google.com/+LacyPhillips

Pet District – From Coast to Coast: Why Your Pet Thanks You For Choosing California

nohoarts
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My entire past week was spent experiencing the many different cultures and environments during a cross country road trip from Virginia to California. What I discovered, (or should I say confirmed), is that we are the best pet owners in the nation! First, let me acknowledge that I’m perfectly aware how impossible it is for me not to be biased on the subject since I was born and raised here. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, hooray Californians! We are the BEST! Not only do we live the good life, our pets do too! They’re the most exotic, talented, happy and loyal pets I’ve seen, and it only took a handful of states to compare to for me to realize it. 

Dogs on the East Coast don’t get to play outside

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Outdoor activities are generally avoided in cold weather states. While stopped in Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas, I could count the number of people I saw walking their dogs on one hand! The few I did see out with their pets were heavily bundled up, and their pets looked more cold than happy. Since there were so few other people outside, I wonder how often dogs get to play and interact with other dogs. Somehow, the dogs on the east coast look pale compared to west coast dogs, and their personalities seemed less excitable. The east coast lost a few more points when I noticed that businesses were significantly less pet friendly than California’s. So, not only were people not out walking, biking or skating to run errands with their pets, their pets weren’t welcomed even if the owners had brought them!

Everything is bigger in Texas…except for the dogs

dog2

I was expecting to see some of the most exotic large breed dogs during my visit through Texas. I imagined they’d be running free through the many off-leash parks. Instead, I saw that most people had designer breeds that could fit in your purse! Confused, I did the research to find that the most popular breeds in the state are actually larger breeds, but in the common areas like Dallas and Fort Worth, the cutesy small types are the dogs most commonly out and about with their owners. Texas is by far a much better state as far as pet friendliness and respect. It’s the first state I passed through with a monument dedicated to military working dogs – bonus!

Avoid the desert at all costs!

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Okay, it’s actually not that serious. As I got closer to home, I realized pet life got better in quality. New Mexico and Arizona are unique weather states for pets, but they make do! Although I still did not see many owners out with their pets as often as I do in California, I did notice there were many more than the previous states. My biggest concern of them all was how much Scottsdale and Tempe Arizona reminded me of Cancun during spring break. Humans need their fun, too, but the huge party life made me wonder who was taking care of all the pets! It seems both cities are large attractions geared towards young party people and less toward families and their pets. But who knows, maybe there was an area where they let the dogs out.

CALIFORNIA FOR THE WIN!

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We’ve got everything. Your pet might not know it, but it’s very lucky that its owner lives in a state considered being one of the top pet friendly vacation spots in the world! I’m almost certain California takes the cake on number of businesses that are pet friendly. In addition to that, there are pet hotels, celebrity pet grooming services available to everyone, designer pet shops, annual dog surfing competitions, acting and photography opportunities (only in Hollywood!), and endless more outrageous places and events for our pets! Veterinarians make house visits, and restaurants know to have outdoor seating. No need for bulky harnesses and sweaters here, our pets enjoy the sunshine year round! Hands down, California pets and owners are the best! Bravo!

Join the NoHo Kickball Team

Lisa Bianconi
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We got adult kickball leagues right here in North Hollywood.

North Hollywood Kickball www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Kickball is a fun childhood sport that brings back a lot of memories for many of us. Some may have the dreaded memory of being picked last while others replay their glory days of being a fifth grade kickball star. Whatever your memory, you have the chance to show those kids you can play kickball now that you’re an adult or to relive the days of kickball stardom. Either way, North Hollywood has a team for you. So NoHo, meet Michael Winfield, a Community Coordinator for WAKA® Kickball and get playing. 

Why did you start a kickball league in NoHo?
Well, though I didn’t start the league, WAKA’s CA Studio, I have played in every season since it began back in 2005. Of the 3,500 plus players that have been in the league in those 8-9 years, only four of us have played in every season.

Originally I played with the Awesome Helicopter Ninjas and the North Hollywood Hoodlums. The Ninjas (and the league) was started by one of my best friends. Though I didn’t know him when it first kicked off. It was the perfect team for me. I wouldn’t say I was obsessed with ninjas. But I was obsessed with ninjas. I have the tattoo’s to prove it. It was a prefect fit.

What’s the NoHo Team name? Do you have a sponsor? Do you need a sponsor?
I’ve been playing on AKT (A Kickball Team) since 2009. Most teams in the league don’t have sponsors (though we’d love one!) since a single season of play (8 weeks plus playoffs) isn’t that expensive in the long run. However some teams in the league, like Sofa King Good, play in bigger kickball tournaments (like WAKA’s Founder’s Cup Kickball Championship in Las Vegas) and do get sponsorships from time to time. At this point I think we practically sponsor Bud Light. We’d love to get some of that money back…

NoHo kickball league, play kickball in north hollywood www.nohoartsdistrict.com

Which team do you love to beat?
No team in particular, though Sofa King Good stands out as the best in the league and we’d love to come away with a victory from them at some point…

Oh! Last season a team openly mocked us by changing their name to A-Gray-T. The intent was tongue-in-cheek but their impersonation was pretty poor. Making fun of us is one thing, but at least have the dignity to do it right! We enjoyed beating them last season 8-3.

How does someone sign up to play? Do you have to do that dreaded picking process where the last one picked sucks?
You can sign up for this league at www.kickball.com/castudio as well as many others in Los Angeles through kickball.com. You can sign up as a Free Agent and be placed on a team by the league rep (me!) or you can sign up with a small group of friends and be placed together. If you have enough people, you can start your own team!

The old schoolyard style of being picked last doesn’t exist in WAKA kickball.

Where and at what time do you practice?
IF we practice, you mean. 🙂 Our team, and our teammates, have been playing a long time and we’ve got this kickball thing down. The game isn’t that complex, its just playing it .AKT is mostly a bunch of cagey vets that are infused with a ton of new blood energy. We’ve practiced from time to time, but it’s easier to do some sort of AKTivity like bowling or BBQ’s.

North Hollywood kickball league, www.nohoartsdistrict.com

So when you kick everyone’s butt and win all your games, what’s next? Is there a championship?
Each league has it’s own championship, though our team hasn’t made it that far, we’ve gotten tripped-up in the Semi-Finals for far too many seasons! That’s not to say that players on this team haven’t won the Studio Championship (the Cup of Incredible Incredibleness) before. I’m a three time winner, as is my captain, his wife and quite a few others.

What other events do y’all do?
Aside from kickball? Kickball.

WAKA, aside from offering kickball, also has a Foam Dodgeball league that plays in Hollywood. But for the most part, our players play in this league and many, many other WAKA leagues in L.A. There are quite a few leagues in the Valley (Star, Sun, Valley, etc.) and a ton over the hill (Hollywood, Tinseltown, Celebrity, Silverlake). L.A. is a great place for kickball, given the right time of year you can play every night of the week with a ton of different teams.

How can we go watch a game? Do you have cheerleaders?
All of our games for Studio are played at the North Hollywood Rec Center on Monday nights from 7 pm till 10 pm. Each team usually plays one game a night, but we have four games going at a time at 7 and 8:30. As for cheerleaders…well, that’s an AKT staple. Many of the Sharkettes on our team have pom-poms and dance during the game (in between plate appearances and playing the field).

Why is there a link to a bar on the site?
Each season (and most WAKA leagues) have a relationship with a local bar where all the players from all the teams go after the games to socialize, enjoy discounts on food and drink and to play various social games. We even have a season long social challenge separate from the kickball games that keep the action going well into the night. Tuesday mornings can be rough!

Our league bar is The King’s Head in Studio City. They’ve been very great to us over the last couple of seasons. It’s been one of my favorite bars we’ve been to in all the years I’ve been playing.

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So? What are you waiting for? Start playing kickball!

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

Disability doesn’t matter. He still “runs” the L.A. Marathon

Lisa Bianconi
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Actor with Disability and Member of the Senior Community Runs LA MARATHON to Help the Group Rep

Just short of his 66th birthday, Henry Holden, an actor with a disability, will run the LA MARATHON on March 9th. In doing so, he will help raise funds to support his theatre company, the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, which is facing a frivolous lawsuit that could drain their operating funds. Henry’s also racing to see if he can improve his time of twenty years ago – when he was in his mid-40’s and first participated.

Since then, Henry has had open-heart surgery to repair a mitral-valve. Recently he was checked out to make sure all was a go, and he got a big thumbs-up from his cardiologist.

 Henry Holden The Group Rep www.nohoartsdistrict.com
 Donation for the Henry Holden LA Marathon can be made at
 https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/store/254/donate/22716

When asked about the challenge for someone with a disability (due to polio) he replied, “All my life I have taken on physical challenges. From the time I was eight and initially struggled to go sledding with friends to now – – I have excelled in scuba diving, horseback riding, skiing (both water and winter) flying a small engine plane, and gliding. It is those physical accomplishments that have spurred me on in my pursuit of becoming a professional actor.”

For the past few months, Henry has been has been working out in his racing chair on the NoHo Bike Path at Chandler and Vineland. With the gracious help from the owner and employees at H&S Bicycles on Victory Blvd., he is assisted with the rigors of unloading the racing chair from the van and the positioning of his body on the racing chair.

When Henry started training, he was clocking 40 – 50 minutes for the 6 miles round-trip on the path. This past Sunday, he increased his workout to 2 hours and 20 minutes and did 23 miles. “I feel prepared for the 26.2 miles. Twenty years ago, I used a wheel-chair and my time was 4 hours and 25 minutes. The speedier racing chair should help better the time and hopefully have me cross the finish line somewhere under the 3 hour mark.”

Having been an active member of the Group Rep for more than 3 years, Holden takes pride in having acted in main stage productions, as well as having produced and written for evenings of one-act plays called Putting on Your Shorts. Henry is donating his Marathon pledges to help defray the costs of a discrimination lawsuit regarding Ladies Night being instigated by two male audience members.

“GRT has been my family and has afforded me the opportunity to grow as an actor and as a playwright. In addition, the Lonny Chapman Theatre which houses the 40 year-old established theatre company the Group Rep, is one of a few theatres that is accessible to people with disabilities. I don’t want that taken away from me.”

Holden is asking people to donate $1 for each mile of the LA Marathon rounding out the donation to $26. Donations of any amount will be graciously accepted.

On a personal basis, it will give Henry Holden satisfaction to not only complete the Marathon but also educate the public as to what people with disabilities are capable of.

To make a much needed donation to the Group Rep for Henry Holden’s LA Marathon challenge please visit www.thegrouprep.com or call (818) 763-5990.

A direct donation for the Henry Holden LA Marathon can be made at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/store/254/donate/22716.

Information about Henry Holden can be found at henryholden.com.

Henry Holden The Group Rep www.nohoartsdistrict.com

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

The Red Brick Road (Theatre Company) Leads to NoHo

Lisa Bianconi
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The Red Brick Road Theatre Company Makes NoHo Its Home

Red Brick Road Theatre nohoartsdistrict.comThe NoHo Arts District has been called the NoHo Theatre District, and for good reason. This one-square mile section of North Hollywood is home to 20+ theatres, the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City. So simply put, we do theatre in NoHo. The neighborhood is thrilled when a theatre company chooses to make NoHo its home. So North Hollywood, let’s welcome our newest theatre company to the district: The Red Brick Road Theatre Company!

Why did you decide to make the NoHo Arts District your home?
The NoHo Arts District has been our home for over five years now. We were originally at the original Avery Schreiber Playhouse on Magnolia. When we heard that it was going to be no longer we had to search for a new home around NoHo. We chose the JET Studios for the great atmosphere and the collaborative nature of the spaces available. NoHo Arts district is a great place for small independent theatre artists, actors and producers.

Tell us a bit about your company and why you do what you do?
The Red Brick Road theatre company encourages the development of new works by emerging playwrights both local and abroad through world, west coast premieres and an annual summer playwright’s festival. We strive to draw new theatre audiences by selecting material for mainstage productions that features a diverse ensemble as well as highlight and challenge cultural ideals. We also try to provide existing theatre attendees with thought-provoking and high caliber events with an attention to production value.

The Red Brick Road theatre company is an official non-profit 501(c)3 company. We were formed in 2007 by a group of 5 strong-willed, dedicated actors and theatre artists. The company has grown to a group of over 20 talented, hard working actors, producers, writers, designers, and directors.

Why did you choose “How I learned to Drive” as your first play in your new permanent home?
The company members have wanted to do How I Learned to Drive for a few years now. When we realized we had to move and find a new home, we knew this was a great piece to premiere in our new space. We knew that it would challenge our actors, designers and directors as well as our audience members. We chose this Pulitzer Prize winning play because it is a compelling, relevant story about extreme family relationships and the vulnerability of them, told in a creative and dynamic way. We always want you (an audience) to leave our shows being effected by what you are experiencing or have experienced, leave with a sense of confidence that a Red Brick Road show is of high quality for a small professional theatre.

Red Brick Road Theatre www.nohoartsdistrict.com

What shows can we look forward to see from you all?
For our current 2014 season, we have two more shows in development. In June, we have our Shorts 3: Los Angeles Playwrights Festival (June 19-June 22nd) for new emerging writers. In September, we will be producing Down the Road by Lee Blessing (September 19th-October 25th). In August, we will announce our 2015 season. We look forward to expanding our company and look down the road to even new great and inspirational work.

To audition for the company or contact us, email The Red Brick Road at info@theredbrickroad.org. Visit us at theredbrickroad.org

Follow us on Facebook at The Red Brick Road Theatre Company | Twitter @theredbrickroad

Come see us and follow us down the Red Brick Road! We are doing the type of work and theatre that you will love.

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.  

L.A. Weekly Shows NoHo Love

Lisa Bianconi
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There are so many things happening in NoHo and our one-square-mile arts district is growing. This section of North Hollywood has been called the NoHo Theatre District because we have more than 20 theatres, the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City. North Hollywwod has also been called the NoHo Dance District, for the amount of studios and the dancers it attracts, nationwide and worldwide. Our Millennium Dance Complex just opened up studios in Tokyo, Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh. We just had artist Wiley Wallace paint our first NoHo Mural  and famed muralist Levi Ponce just recently completed the second NoHo Mural.  We are proud of our community. If you are an individual, group or business doing something positive in NoHo, we want to hear and share!

The L.A. Weekly recently interviewed us to chat about what makes North Hollywood a great place to be. Make sure to follow @OfficialNoHo on Twitter for up-to-date news on what’s going on in NoHo.

Get to know the neighborhood!Thanks, L.A. Weekly for the love!

Click image for full article!

LA Weekly NoHo Article

 

Read the full story here>>

**** 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, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com.

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ABOUT US

The NoHo Arts District is a one-square-mile community in North Hollywood that is home to more than 20 live, professional theatres, dance studios, art galleries, public art, music recording venues, acting and art workshops, international dining options, clothing and specialty shops, and businesses that create a myriad of art forms. NoHo is "Where the Arts Are Made." - "NoHoArtsDistrict.com"

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