REVIEW: ‘Mayerling”s tornado at the Chandler

Dance · Reviews
Kiss of Death: Natalia Osipova as Mary Vetsera, Ryoichi Hirano as Rudolf in Mayerling at the Royal Opera House. Photograph: Helen Maybanks Last night, at 8:20 pm, most of Los Angeles experienced a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. But those viewing Kenneth McMillan‘s sprawling historic dance-drama, Mayerling, performed by the Royal Ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of ...

From the politically toxic Lillian Gish

Film
Friend-of-artsmeme Mike Kaplan shares an image of a movie poster personally autographed by Lillian Gish. Kaplan produced THE WHALES OF AUGUST (1987), which starred the then-elderly but still luminous Gish, in marvelous scenes that convey her screen magic with Bette Davis, who also stars in the film. Featured here is a Gish movie from another ...

Time to reassess Lewitzky? 1

Dance
photo: frances chee That was my takeaway after viewing Luminario Ballet‘s wonderful performance, Sunday June 23 at the Skirball Cultural Center, of two absorbing works by choreographer Bella Lewitzky. Pictured are excerpts from “Inscape” (1976). The work is driven by its marvelous costumes — stretch “duotards” designed by Rudi Gernreich, who, prior to his vigorous ...

Beautiful, bountiful Baroda Wall for County+USC Medical Center

Visual arts
It’s fanciful and fun. It’s generous, grand, and gorgeous. It may bring a welcome distraction–solace or even levity–to a public space where the less fortunate among us traverse weighty health issues with perhaps troubling or stressful emotions. This gift to our city by philanthropist David Bohnett got a lovely launch party this week on the ...

The new American intolerance: Gish Film Theater shorn of name 2

Film
by 
ed. note: With a heavy heart, we publish words submitted by Mike Kaplan, a friend of artsmeme whose peerless collection of dance movie posters now hangs at the National Dance Museum in Saratoga Springs. Mike, the producer of ‘The Whales of August’ (1987) starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish, is at the forefront of controversy ...

Transcending ‘correctness’: Lillian Gish

Film
I’ve never been in style, so I can never go out of style. – Lillian Gish

Peter Selz, remembered by friend/colleague Jack Rutberg

Visual arts
ed. note: we are pleased to share words written by gallerist jack rutberg who shares memories of his special friendship with peter selz, just passed away. I am saddened to relay the news that our dear friend Peter Selz passed away this morning. The impact that Peter made, and will continue to make, on the ...

It’s a pah-tay! Rennie Harris FUNKEDIFIED @ the Ford 2

Dance
fabulous photo by Julieta Cervantes for the New York Times shows Joshua Culbreath and Puremovement in “Funkedified” Let’s face it. The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre is the best place in town to get up get down get funky get loose. That’s because … hey, you’re outdoors! You’re not boxed in by walls. You’re not cramped ...

Fred & Ginger (& Mark) do ‘The Continental’ 1

Dance · Film
mark sandrich, fred astaire do the continental, but not cheek to cheekphoto: MARC WANAMAKER/BISON ARCHIVES The wonderful shot of director Mark Sandrich and Fred Astaire palling around at RKO Studios comes courtesy of artsmeme friend Marc Wanamaker. Thank you, Marc! The director and dancer are collaborating on a crazy-long, Art Deco-drenched, epic dance sequence for ...

Tiny us a-tremble at ‘Titanic Live’

Film · Music
Us small! Titanic big! It’s a big show! In the second-ever such concert/film screening in the United States, the blockbuster film Titanic will be shown on a vast LED outdoor screen with James Horner’s epic score performed live by the New West Symphony.  The special event will take place on the campus of California Lutheran ...