Arts, music and culture

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

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.

Low and slow all for show

Ed Fuentes | June 15, 2017 11:22 PM

Las Vegas artists created a life-size lowrider pinata — based on the iconic Gypsy Rose, a 1964 Impala — for an upcoming exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Sebastião Salgado on a life in photography

Iris Schneider | June 7, 2017 9:39 PM

"Today there are very few photographers. But there are a lot of people with cameras."

LACMA costumes curator on Queen Victoria as fashion icon

Judy Graeme | June 4, 2017 4:55 PM

The museum houses over 2,500 pieces of Victorian-era clothing. Women in America followed her lead.

Satirical salvos in 'Monster' and 'Archduke'

Don Shirley | May 30, 2017 10:07 PM

Our columnist sees spring plays from South Coast Repertory, the Mark Taper, Latino Theater Company, Ebony Repertory, Open Fist Theatre and the Bootleg.

'Tosca' glitters, Calleja swoons, Abraham and Taylor dance

Donna Perlmutter | May 18, 2017 11:27 PM

Finding a nugget of gold just may be worth a whole, long dig. But trust me, it wasn't easy to spot in the case of LA Opera's "Tosca."

The Fountain flows

Don Shirley | May 5, 2017 1:10 AM

Fountain Theatre is assuming an especially prominent profile this week, with concurrent productions at two venues.

Desert X marks the spot

Ellen Alperstein | April 23, 2017 12:19 PM

The outdoor season ends for desert art.

Grand nights for singing and dancing

Donna Perlmutter | April 16, 2017 9:56 PM

Right now Los Angeles looks like the new center of vocal arts, with Plácido Domingo as its long-time major benefactor.

Costume designer Mary Zophres moves on from 'La La Land'

Judy Graeme | April 5, 2017 12:41 AM

One of the most in-demand costume designers in Hollywood is preparing for two new projects and still basking.

Rosie Hamlin, 71, writer and singer of 'Angel Baby'

Kevin Roderick | April 3, 2017 11:54 AM

We must have played "Angel Baby" a million times since the only hit from Rosie and the Originals came out in 1961, Art Laboe posts on Facebook.

Paul McCarthy and Paul Schimmel

Gary Leonard | April 3, 2017 1:14 AM

Take My Picture Gary Leonard runs weekly at LA Observed.

Heather guides us through Mister Ritchie's Neighborhood

Don Shirley | March 21, 2017 9:06 AM

CTG's "Remote L.A." is not a traditional city tour. But it does go outside.

Orchestras play musical chairs... and more

Donna Perlmutter | March 19, 2017 9:26 PM

Deborah Borda heading back to to New York is big but not the only move being talked about.

Many, many words for female genitalia

Judy Graeme | March 5, 2017 1:37 PM

Neon tubes spell out 240 slang terms in the Jason Rhoades exhibition at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel in the downtown Arts District.

Streetscape: West 2nd St.

Kevin Roderick | February 20, 2017 5:59 PM

The Sunday afternoon line outside the Broad Contemporary Art Museum went down the block

Mozart opera closes the gap and Schnittke sounds an alarm

Donna Perlmutter | February 16, 2017 10:53 PM

if you were lucky enough to hear Schnittke's "Not a Summer Night's Dream" from the LA Philharmonic, led dazzlingly by Gustavo Dudamel, it had to grab you.

'Antiques Roadshow' drives into the desert*

Ellen Alperstein | February 15, 2017 11:04 AM

'Antiques Roadshow' revisits Palm Springs, where nine years ago a record was set for the most treasures valued at six figures.

Zoot Suit returns to the Mark Taper Forum

Kevin Roderick | February 13, 2017 9:31 AM

The iconic Luis Valdez play is back where it started in 1978.

Ritchie Valens legacy keeps growing

Kevin Roderick | February 5, 2017 7:13 PM

Been a few years since I posted on the anniversary. But here are a couple of videos.

All the street's a stage and sack lunch 'fellowship'

Don Shirley | January 26, 2017 10:08 PM

January 21 was a great day for immersive theater in Los Angeles.

Where in LA Kristen Stewart drives in 'Ride Em on Down' video

Kevin Roderick | January 17, 2017 1:40 AM

Every location, in order, researched by reader Don Bentley and his brother.

Lois Boardman's jewelry collection finds a home

Judy Graeme | January 9, 2017 10:03 PM

LACMA exhibit provides a window into the life and personality of the octogenarian South Pasadena collector.

Lynne Westmore Bloom, 81, painted the Pink Lady of Malibu Canyon

Kevin Roderick | January 7, 2017 6:40 PM

As Lynne Seemayer, she created an indelible part of LA street art lore and became something of a legend.

Tyrus Wong, legendary Disney artist, was 106

Kevin Roderick | December 30, 2016 5:28 PM

Wong's artwork inspired "Bambi." He contributed to other films and was also known for his beach kites.

Theatrical highlights of 2016

Don Shirley | December 23, 2016 8:26 PM

My year-end highlights list gives me a chance to admire productions that I didn't mention earlier in the year.

Go to the arts archive > > >

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