On a country estate in mid-19th century Russia, the aristocrats play cards, drink vodka, take snuff and philosophize, the servants do all the work, and everybody is imprisoned in a private h…
From its earliest days, the Hollywood Bowl has thought of itself as a Hollywood-size opera house. And why not? Opera likes all things outsize. Full summer opera seasons in the amphitheater o…
Can a classic be offensive? Certainly reactions to certain scripted narratives, from Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" to D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" have changed with time and sen…
La Bayadère American Ballet Theatre stages Natalia Makarova's reimagining of Ludwig Minkus' 19th-century romantic tragedy about a temple dancer in India and the warrior she loves. Dorothy C…
Capsule reviews are by Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.), Charles McNulty (C.M.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Alisan Porter in Concert The Br…
"Fish stories," we call them " those times when truth gets embellished in a bid to make the ordinary seem more important or exciting. "Big Fish" " the 1998 novel, 2003 movie and 2013 stage m…
Shhhhh. John Lithgow is performing his solo show, "Stories by Heart." The five audience members are riveted. Don't speak, don't fidget, and for God's sake, don't look at your phone. The acto…
Classical Compiled by Matt Cooper iPalpiti's Duo De Ascaniis Pieces for piano and violin by Schubert and Janácek. Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hill…
DANCE Compiled by Matt Cooper Next Chapter Benefit show featuring Southern California's Maha and Company. Found Theatre, 599 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach. Sun., 2:30 p.m. By donation. (562) …
Capsule reviews are by Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.), Charles McNulty (C.M.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Hungry Writer-performer Michael…
Every year, the motion picture academy nominates five films in the original score category and for a few weeks, some notice is paid to the crucial role music plays in the best and most belov…
It's summer, and love is in the air " and in the story lines of this week's small-theater offerings. Romance figures comically in Shakespeare's ode to midsummer frolics, tragically in a brie…
Famed "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera" choreographer Gillian Lynne, who both inspired and worked closely with theater impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, has died. She was 92. The English balle…
Nixon Library Sunday Concerts 4th of July concert with the Huntington Beach Band. Richard M. Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. Sun., noon. Free. (714) 993-5075. Sundays Li…
Capsule reviews are by Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.), Charles McNulty (C.M.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings Dead Boys A young gay man and t…
Shakespeare specialist, musical theater star, minor Broadway deity. These are just a few of the attributes we might ascribe to Len Cariou. These days, the 78-year-old, Canada-born actor is a…
The Geffen Playhouse premieres Peet's play, which centers on a 10-year-old tennis phenom, her mother and her coach and which stars Mamie Gummer, Abigail Dylan Harrison, Caroline Heffernan, T…
Amanda Peet, an actress whose conventional beauty is spiked with a refreshing awkwardness, has branched out into writing. Her play "The Commons of Pensacola" made a respectable showing at Ma…
"Hamilton" didn't come out of nowhere. For the past century, American music theater has been struggling with how exactly to represent our national character on stage and who we are. It's a l…
Kate Burton portrays the parental magician in a gender-flipped take on Shakespeare's "The Tempest," directed by Joe Dowling, at the Old Globe.
Casting a woman as Prospero in William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is no longer a novelty. Helen Mirren starred as Prospera in the 2010 Julie Taymor film and, more recently, Harriet Walter p…
First things first: Let's have a round of applause for Reprise 2.0, the reboot of Reprise Theatre Company, which officially closed in 2013. Lovers of old musicals " baby boomers and their el…
The Reprise series is back after a five year absence, this time branded Reprise 2.0. It opens at the Freud Playhouse with Kathleen Marshall dusting off an old defunct gem.
Made in America California Philharmonic's summer opener features Dvořák's "New World Symphony," Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" narrated by Aldis Hodge, and a selection of Sinatra hits p…
Capsule reviews are by Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.), Charles McNulty (C.M.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.). Openings The Blade of Jealousy Henry Ong…