9 picks for your L.A. weekend: A Shakespeare festival, Broadway musicals, ballet and more by Matt Cooper

The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Barak Ballet in Santa Monica. "Kinky Boots" at the Hollywood Bowl. "Moulin Rouge!" at the Pantages.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:00am on July 7, 2022☆⚑

13 ways to treat mom this Mother's Day: Live music, dance, theater, movies and more by Matt Cooper

Show mom a good time on Mother's Day with a little help from our curated list of 13 outings and offerings taking place this Sunday.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:06pm on May 4, 2022☆⚑

Six picks for weekend culture in L.A.: Ballet Folklórico de México, 'The Band's Visit' by Matt Cooper

A Nowruz concert and 'The Band's Visit' at Segerstrom Center. 'Anna in the Tropics' at A Noise Within. Traditional Mexican dance at the Luckman.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:00am on March 24, 2022☆⚑

'Wicked,' masked wrestlers and six more non-football picks for your Super Bowl weekend by Matt Cooper

Lucha VaVoom's masked Mexican wrestlers at the Mayan. The hit musical "Wicked" at Segerstrom Center. Esa-Pekka Salonen with the LA Phil at Disney Hall.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:00am on February 10, 2022☆⚑

Broadway and West End musicals coming to a SoCal theater near you by Matt Cooper

"The Band's Visit," "Everybody's Talking About Jamie," "My Fair Lady" and, yes, "Hamilton." Where and when to catch the biggest touring shows this fall.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00am on August 26, 2021☆⚑

From Shakespeare to 'Golden Girlz' drag: 10 best bets for your weekend by Matt Cooper

Shakespeare in Topanga. Pops in Pasadena. Rosanna Gamson/World Wide dance-theater in DTLA. Your weekend cultural options start here.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:36am on July 9, 2021☆⚑

Pride with Elton John and Demi Lovato, plus 9 more best bets for the weekend by Matt Cooper

Soprano Renée Fleming sings in Irvine, the Wallis opens its outdoor stage and Keith David stars in a virtual "Macbeth."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 2:58pm on June 25, 2021☆⚑

L.A.'s live stage is back this weekend: 24 picks for culture by Matt Cooper

L.A.'s scrappy Pacific Opera Project performs for an outdoor audience at Heritage Square. Streaming this weekend: "Rock of Ages" and an "ER" reunion.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:56pm on April 22, 2021☆⚑

17 culture picks: 'Broadway Backwards' with Jim Parsons, Cynthia Erivo, Glenn Close by Matt Cooper

Your weekend watch list also includes a profile of Twyla Tharp, a classic concert by Jessye Norman and an interactive murder mystery set in East L.A.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:59pm on April 1, 2021☆⚑

18 culture picks: An operatic salute to RBG and a 'West Wing' reunion by Matt Cooper

Your weekend watch list includes Benjamin Millepied's L.A. Dance Project, the L.A. Phil with chef José Andrés and a Passover music celebration.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 2:30pm on March 19, 2021☆⚑

19 weekend culture picks: Liza turns 75, and Lily Tomlin and Nathan Lane help celebrate by Matt Cooper

Your arts watch list: An operatic "Breaking the Waves," Nowruz comedy night, Invertigo Dance Theatre, bluesman Taj Mahal and a celebration of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:42pm on March 11, 2021☆⚑

17 culture picks: A modern dance take on 'Romeo and Juliet' and more by Matt Cooper

Streaming this weekend: Matthew Bourne's "Romeo and Juliet," a Skirball conversation with artist Ai Weiwei, and Hammer Museum and L.A. Opera programs.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00pm on February 18, 2021☆⚑

19 culture picks, including L.A. Phil benefit with Dudamel, Natalie Portman and Katy Perry by Matt Cooper

Streaming this weekend: sea shanties, border art, Anna Netrebko, Billy Porter and a Zoom talk with the California African American Museum.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:29pm on February 5, 2021☆⚑

15 culture picks: Birdland benefit with Leslie Odom Jr., the Broad on Basquiat by Matt Cooper

Randy Rainbow, Wynton Marsalis and Elvis Costello support a storied jazz club. Musical fans are invited to a "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" watch party.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:10pm on January 21, 2021☆⚑

The ultimate holiday shows list: 81 'Christmas Carols,' 'Nutcrackers' and more by Matt Cooper

What to watch while celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve? Our mega-list hits all the favorites, plus some wildcards.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:53pm on December 12, 2020☆⚑

SoCal theater listings, April 14-21: 'Falsettos,' 'The Niceties' and more by Matt Cooper

Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Tiny Beautiful Things Nia Vardal…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:00pm on April 12, 2019☆⚑

SoCal dance listings, April 14-21: A salute to Merce Cunningham and more by Matt Cooper

Extra Ancestral A celebration of the African diaspora in L.A. features performers including Viver Brasil Dance Company. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Sun., 7 p.m. $…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:00pm on April 12, 2019☆⚑

SoCal theater listings, April 7-14: Manual Cinema's 'Mementos Mori' and more by Matt Cooper

Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings 15th Annual New Play Reading Fes…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on April 5, 2019☆⚑

SoCal theater listings, March 24-31: 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and more by Matt Cooper

Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Carney Magic Magic and comedy wi…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on March 22, 2019☆⚑

SoCal dance listings, March 24-31: Malpaso Dance Company and more by Matt Cooper

The Sleeping Beauty Festival Ballet Theatre offers a full-length, family-friendly staging of the Tchaikovsky classic. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sun., 2 p.m. $42-$55.…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on March 22, 2019☆⚑

Broadway national tours: 'Chocolate Factory,' 'Fiddler' and 'Rent' are coming in spring by Matt Cooper

A bevy of Broadway musicals will be back on local boards in the coming months, including old favorites like "Fiddler," "Phantom," "Les Miz," "Miss Saigon" and the 20th anniversary revival of…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:00am on March 21, 2019☆⚑

SoCal theater listings, March 17-24: 'The Elephant Man,' 'Steel Magnolias' and more by Matt Cooper

Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings ABBA Mania Tribute show celebrat…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:00pm on March 15, 2019☆⚑

Weekend Picks, March 14-17: Leslie Odom Jr. with Pacific Symphony, Batsheva Dance Company at Royce Hall and more by Matt Cooper

Leslie Odom Jr. is belting out show tunes with Pacific Symphony, Ohad Naharin's Batsheva Dance Company comes to UCLA, and Los Angeles Master Chorale performs two distinctly different requiem…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 2:00pm on March 14, 2019☆⚑

SoCal theater listings, March 10-17: 'The Wolves' at Echo Theater Company and more by Matt Cooper

Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Fan-Favorite One Act Plays Selec…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:00pm on March 8, 2019☆⚑

SoCal dance listings, March 3-10: Jessica Lang Dance at Pepperdine and more by Matt Cooper

Matthew Bourne's Cinderella The choreographer re-imagines the Prokofiev ballet based on the classic fairy tale as a romantic fable set in London during WWII. Ahmanson Theater, 135 N. Grand A…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00pm on March 1, 2019☆⚑