Eleven-year-old arts·meme sings birthday song to self
Jun
3
2019
Ten was a biggie. That was last year. We threw a party. A birthday bash. But this one snuck up on us, and behold, on May 24, 2019, arts·meme turned eleven years old. Happy birthday, arts·meme ! No one noticed. We even forgot the date ourselves. So little Miss arts·meme had to sing an arts·memey rendition ...
Judy Garland plays The Barn
She pulverized the Palace, and made carnage of Carnegie Hall. She slayed in Las Vegas. But you ain’t seen nothing yet … till you see Judy Garland play the Barn. That is happening Wednesday June 12. And we’re going! Garland, known to be a droll wit, made numerous appearances on television in the ’60s that ...
Pre-show snackery: simple smoked-salmon sandwich
It’s not gourmet. It’s a simple repast. It’s what the British call “homely.” But it is good — and it’s necessary. With apologies for the teeth marks, may I introduce you to the lowly pre-theater bar snack? Everyone knows that the eternal question for theater-goers is … eat before or after the show? This option ...
Dance finale, dance party & dance season to come, all @ CAP
Jun
1
2019
Oh the seasons, they come and they go. That’s easy enough for us mortals to say. But for a monster-scaled live-arts presenter like the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, it takes both brains and brawn to pull off a full season. You live it, breathe it, push it, pamper it, and promote ...
Our day with Doris: June 5 at Laemmle Anniversary Classics
Jun
1
2019
Doris Day (1922 – 2019) From our friends at Laemmle Theatres Anniversary Classics, a tribute to America’s most spirited sweetheart, Doris Day, who died on May 13 at the age of 97. A double feature of two of her very best musical films—the Western romp ‘Calamity Jane’ and the dramatic story of 1920s torch singer ...
Unmasked: Melania Trump revealed
May
25
2019
flotus, bloatus, or just baloney? It’s a brilliant idea for a new play. Because haven’t we suffered enough from these horrible people? It is way past time to mock and laugh at them. Throwing custard pies is a possibility. In the meantime, Asylum Theatre and writer/producer Liana Mesaikou are poised to present the world premiere ...
Dior @ V&A: simple ‘toile’ says it all
May
25
2019
christian dior ‘toile’ mock-up for couture gown Rather than recreate with photography the sensory thrill of touring “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams,” the massive, immersive exhibition celebrating the history of the House of Dior at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, I’ll evoke the experience by sharing a ghostly echo of one of his ...
Gwen Verdon sighting: ‘Drink your prune juice!’ 2
There’s our girl: Gwen Verdon You’re a contract dancer at Twentieth Century-Fox, and you’re lazing around the studio with the guys, killing time. No assignment. All of a sudden into the rehearsal hall strides Jack Cole, hurriedly. He impatiently assembles a sage bit of choreography on you. Growling orders at Matt Mattox and Frank Radcliffe ...
Cyndi Lauper, Ph.D.
May
24
2019
i used to just wanna have fun … now it’s different. photo of cydni lauper by brent hallenbeck For a high-school dropout whose life was changed by an experience while attending Northern Vermont University – Johnson, it must have been a pretty wonderful day May 18, 2019, when Cyndi Lauper was granted an honorary doctorate. ...
Mehraban windows connect classic & contemporary design talent
May
21
2019
A happy highlight of this year’s La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) three-day design festival showed its face to the public on a busy, design-rich Los Angeles boulevard. Two chic and fascinating windows, designed by Gary Hutton and Chad Dorsey, lent special life at Mehraban, a three-generation purveyor of contemporary and artisinal rugs. Mehraban hosted the ...