Arts, music and culture

News, observations and links on the arts, music, theater, dance, photography and local institutions

LA stories: 'Soft Power,' Bimini Baths

Don Shirley | June 6, 2018 11:59 PM

For two weeks in May, two of CTG's three main stages were occupied by plays mostly set in or around the Los Angeles area.

A "Rigoletto" to revel in, plus Dudamel and Uchida

Donna Perlmutter | June 3, 2018 11:46 PM

Just how many hats can an unencumbered contender wear? Ask Matthew Aucoin, for his answer.

From stage to screen with 'Baby' and 'Rock'

Don Shirley | May 11, 2018 8:14 AM

As a theater critic in a city famous for making movies, I sometimes meet new acquaintances who assume that I see a lot of movies and TV. Sorry, but no. Usually.

Mahler's celebrants raise high the roof beam

Donna Perlmutter | April 29, 2018 9:31 PM

Performances from Tilson Thomas, Dudamel, LA Dance Project and more.

Hockney stops at LACMA for a new exhibition

Kevin Roderick | April 11, 2018 11:39 PM

"82 Portraits and 1 Still-Life" opens at the museum this weekend. Some pics.

The power of 'pluribus' plays

Don Shirley | March 25, 2018 2:11 PM

"Cambodian Rock Band," "Allegiance," "The New Colossus," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Sell/Buy/Date" and more.

Joffrey does double duty downtown

Donna Perlmutter | March 21, 2018 10:54 PM

Donna Perlmutter: Also "Fantastic Woman" on screen, "Betroffenheit" at the Broad Stage and Beethoven with the LA Phil.

The best (and worst) of all possible Lennys

Donna Perlmutter | February 18, 2018 9:05 AM

Donna Perlmutter: We're in the throes of celebrating what would be the 100th birthday of America's most famous music man, Leonard Bernstein.

Keeping up with the Trumps in LA theater

Don Shirley | February 11, 2018 7:51 PM

Awakening of local theater for the new year, and Donald Trump's first anniversary, are not entirely unrelated.

Artist Ana Serrano creates an unusual garden in Pasadena

Judy Graeme | January 22, 2018 9:05 PM

Known for "Cartonlandia," Serrano's new room-sized piece recalls her family's traditions in LA and Mexico.

Testament of the Spirit: Paintings by Eduardo Carrillo

Ed Fuentes | January 8, 2018 11:43 PM

Eduardo Carrillo a founding patriarch of the Chicano Art movement, as seen in an exhibition at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

The 2017 remodel of LA theater

Don Shirley | December 23, 2017 9:09 AM

Looking back at a pivotal year, plus some recommendations to enjoy during the holiday season.

Downtown upended and Millepied finds a home at the Wallis

Donna Perlmutter | December 17, 2017 11:25 PM

The LA Phil's Noon to Midnight festival brought a new crowd to classical music in LA. More from Donna Perlmutter.

Judith Baca legacy at Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA is still not enough

Ed Fuentes | November 28, 2017 9:15 PM

One venue for the muralist and educator is simply not enough, so here are some others.

'This Land' is whose land?

Don Shirley | November 12, 2017 8:13 PM

Neighborhoods change. Change often causes conflict. Conflict is usually an important ingredient of drama.

Carmen joins Pearl Fishers as LA's orchestras soar

Donna Perlmutter | October 29, 2017 11:22 PM

In case you thought that we, in headline-exploding Hollywood, suffer a paucity of music performances, think again.

Exene Cervenka at City Hall

Gary Leonard | October 21, 2017 10:30 AM

Take My Picture Gary Leonard runs each week at LA Observed.

Symphony for auto

Iris Schneider | October 18, 2017 10:11 PM

"A [ For 100 Cars]," a symphony based around A440, the standard tuning note of the Western world, played through the sound systems of 100 automobiles parked on a downtown roof.

Plays prescient and not so prescient

Don Shirley | October 14, 2017 11:50 PM

In two remarkable new plays, same-sex Angeleno couples are traveling with their parents or other older relatives. Bigger topics become involved.

Look inland for more PST:LA/LA art

Ed Fuentes | September 28, 2017 9:42 PM

Here are some Inland Empire exhibitions featured in the massive showcase of Latino and Chicano artists now on view across Southern California.

Bourne again: 'The Red Shoes'

Donna Perlmutter | September 28, 2017 8:52 PM

It was just a matter of time. When would Matthew Bourne attempt to cross Niagara on a wire?

Why the LA Times' new theater column needs a new name

Don Shirley | September 13, 2017 10:37 PM

I'm glad the Times has returned to its long tradition of including theater coverage every Friday, but the new column would benefit from a clarification of how it operates.

Dancer Melissa Barak visits her Chagall costumes at LACMA

Judy Graeme | August 29, 2017 10:23 PM

" I can look back and see how amazing it was," the LA choreographer says of dancing in "The Firebird" with the New York City Ballet.

'Hamilton' in LA in the time of Trump

Don Shirley | August 17, 2017 9:25 PM

Don Shirley wonders how Donald Trump's white power allies would feel about the casting of black actors as Washington and Jefferson. He also writes that "Hamilton" is no "kumbaya version of how happy we'll all be if we can just get along."

A Tchaikovsky cartoon (or not) and a Sondheim show stopper

Donna Perlmutter | August 8, 2017 12:40 AM

Will the real Tchaikovsky please stand up? The one who wrote transcendent music that stormed the heavens.

Now on stage, the apocalypse

Joel Bellman | July 19, 2017 11:32 PM

In dark times, is the role of the artist to expose? To comment, to criticize, to amuse? Since last fall, it's been all of the above onstage in Los Angeles.

Cramming for LA's 'Hamilton,' Shakespeare's problematic "Me" plays

Don Shirley | July 5, 2017 10:55 PM

I didn't want to be less acquainted with "Hamilton" than so many other people who also haven't seen it. So I embarked on a pre-"Hamilton" syllabus.

A new team of Yuja and Gustavo

Donna Perlmutter | June 25, 2017 11:41 PM

Yuja Wang is that singular pianist. Plus Bartok and Schubert, and choreographer Matthew Bourne

His British invasion - and ours

Joel Bellman | June 18, 2017 8:36 PM

I was delighted when my old Rhino Records boss, Harold Bronson, recently published "My British Invasion," his personal paean to an era some of us never stopped loving.

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David Hockney at LACMA

The artist arrives to open his latest exhibit.

The power of 'pluribus' plays

Visiting her old ballet costumes

Melissa Barak at LACMA Chagall exhibit with the artist's memorable designs.

Wilshire Grand Center lobby

Visitors check out the wall-mounted sculpture by artist Do Ho Suh.

Art Friday

The day after Thanksgiving was jumping at LACMA.

Neon treasures of LA

The Museum of Neon Art is thriving in Glendale and that's OK.

Mellow DTLA Sunday

Late afternoon in the courtyard at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel.

Mariachi covers Morrissey

LA's Mariachi Manchester likes those Morrissey songs.

Rain Room

Much-anticipated installation at LACMA requires timed tickets. A peek inside.

Chuck Berry and the Stones

One rocking Saturday night in the KHJ-TV studios in 1965. Video and backstory

Neutra and Schindler

Play imagines what happened after the estranged architects were reunited in a 1953 hospital room. Karen Wada

'Good morning, people!'

Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock. Turn it up.

For your consideration

Two costume designers who should have received Emmy nominations in our blogger's judgment.

Music at Doheny Mansion

Iris Schneider takes in some chamber music with the Da Camera Society. More

A tale of two Sugar Plum Fairies

Joy Womack comes to the Santa Monica Nutcracker from Moscow, Lyrica Blankfein from NYC. More

Baryshnikov springs onstage

After roughly 15 years of wandering in the theatrical desert, Mikhail Baryshnikov has finally found the most deserving spotlight of his post-dancing career. Donna Perlmutter

Harry Shearer and Nixon