Death of a dancer: Peter Frame
Sep
16
2018
Former New York City Ballet principal dancer Peter Frame, a beloved teacher and coach, performs the duet from Balanchine’s AGON with Victor Castelli. Frame, at right, died August 30, 2018 — sadly, the day after the passing away of Paul Taylor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kurt Froman (@kurtfroman) ...
Chase Finlay, who danced Balanchine’s ‘Apollo,’ calls women ‘sluts’ 1
Sep
12
2018
As the young god Apollo, the title role of the ballet masterpiece created by the choreographer George Balanchine at the precocious age of 28, former New York City Ballet dancer Chase Finlay had “great dignity,” “tapering limbs,” “a beautifully long and firm neck,” and a “powerful thorax.” Those words were written by New York Times ...
Jimmy Webb, in Pepperdine season opener, to honor Glen Campbell
Sep
11
2018
Legendary Grammy-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb (with hits including “Wichita Lineman,” “MacArthur Park,” “Up, Up, and Away,” and “Highwayman”) will perform in a prestigious season opening night at the intimate Smothers Theatre, one of our favorite places to attend concerts and performance. In a touching tribute to Webb’s close friend and artistic partner, the late Glen ...
Backstage brawl for Michael Kidd & Dolores Gray’s mother
We’re always looking for good show-biz stories involving the estimable Dolores Gray. Jack Cole, who worked with Gray on several projects — Kismet, Designing Woman among them — had a few select words about Gray … and her mother. In this case, the story concerns Gray’s hiring for Destry Rides Again, the Broadway musical adaptation ...
Puppets to bow out after Bob Baker ‘Spooktacular’
Sep
5
2018
The final show (and we hope and pray the spookiest) at the longtime home of Bob Baker Marionette Theater will enjoy a loooong run — scaring the heck out of a lot of Los Angeles kids throughout the season-‘o-ghoulishness. Soon thereafter, the puppet theater that has occupied its charming digs beneath the First Street Bridge ...
Vijay Iyer/Teju Cole ‘Blind Spot’ syncopates jazz, photography, text
The intriguing image above represents the visual component for “Blind Spot,” a much-anticipated live performance soon presented by CAP UCLA at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. The collaborative effort showcases two artists at the top of their respective fields: jazz pianist/composer Vijay Iyer and writer/photographer Teju Cole. A familiar face on the covers of Downbeat ...
To the gardens! with the Isadora Duncan Dance Company
Aug
29
2018
The Duncan troupe, which continues to frolic, reach, stretch, and place the human body in harmony with natural surroundings under the leadership of Lori Belilove (who studied with Duncan acolytes herself), has a very strong roster of upcoming events this summer’s end and into the autumn. One caught our eye. Maybe because there’s wine involved? ...
Bob Fosse ‘wunderbar’ in MY SISTER EILEEN at retrospective 5
It came as a mild surprise even to arts·meme‘s Debra Levine, despite delivering a talk, “Bob Fosse, Dancer,” prior to the two movie musicals (both named for ladies!) screened on August 25, 2018 at UCLA Film & Television Archive’s “Fosse, Fosse, Fosse!” retrospective. Bob Fosse was a good movie star! First up was KISS ME ...
Adieu ~ till we meet again, Jack Rutberg Fine Arts 5
Aug
27
2018
When you gotta go, you gotta go. But when you gotta come back, please send us your new address, Jack Rutberg Fine Arts! The estimable art gallery where we have enjoyed so many wonderful exhibits, opening receptions, chamber music concerts, lectures and art talks — all punctuated by learning and laughter — will close its ...
Dance-trance at Lincoln Center 2
Everyone has the right to respond to our crazy age as best they can. And who am I to say that the eighth annual staging of “9/11 Table of Silence Project,” a “prayer for peace and healing” choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi for 100+ dancers, is not a valid expression of grief and anguish in still-traumatic ...