At Cal State L.A., Pennington group delivers modern dance with a message by Laura Bleiberg

Los Angeles, which underappreciates its dance artists, owes a debt to John Pennington. He is one of the city's treasures. Performer, choreographer, teacher and legacy-keeper of the late Bell…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:25am on March 28, 2016☆⚑

Jennifer Koh and Shai Wosner play in the transforming spirit of Beethoven by Mark Swed

A prodigious builder of musical bridges, Jennifer Koh is a violinist with a number of ongoing projects meant to connect people, disciplines and eras. To gain insight into a musician's mind, …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:25am on March 28, 2016☆⚑

'Dirt' at Raven Playhouse mines horror and comedy by Philip Brandes

Who knew housecleaning could be life-threatening? The revelation may offer welcome relief to slobs everywhere, but it comes a bit too late for the hapless heroine of "Dirt," Bryony Lavery's …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:44pm on March 24, 2016☆⚑

'A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder' kills it at the Ahmanson by Charles McNulty

For "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder," homicidal ambition is the mother of musical comedy invention. This Tony-winning musical, about an acquisitive young man of questionable parentage …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:44pm on March 24, 2016☆⚑

John Leguizamo begins teaching his 'Latin History for Dummies' by James Hebert

John Leguizamo is just about unstoppable. Also, at this moment anyway, just about unintelligible.The perpetually kinetic performer-playwright is calling from New York with a request to push …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 2:34pm on March 24, 2016☆⚑

Is 'The Trial of Anne Opie Wehrer' even opera? Why nearly 50 years later it stands apart by Mark Swed

With "Hopscotch" last fall, opera roamed to parts of downtown and Boyle Heights the art form had never ventured, its audiences escorted in safe environments of limousines. Sunday evening the…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00pm on March 22, 2016☆⚑

In 'Casa Valentina,' cross-dressing men show their feminine side by Charles McNulty

"Casa Valentina," Harvey Fierstein's 2014 Tony-nominated play, couldn't have found more trustworthy hands than those of director David Lee. The West Coast premiere took place Sunday at the P…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00pm on March 22, 2016☆⚑

Geffen Playhouse season to include 'Constellations,' 'Barbecue' by David Ng

"Constellations," the drama by Nick Payne that's had successful runs in London and New York, and "Barbecue," a two-family comedy from Robert O'Hara, will be part of the Geffen Playhouse's up…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00pm on March 22, 2016☆⚑

'A View From the Bridge,' directed by Ivo van Hove, coming to Los Angeles by David Ng

The acclaimed Young Vic production of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge," directed by the in-demand Ivo van Hove, is coming to Los Angeles, following recent runs in London and Broad…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00pm on March 22, 2016☆⚑

A rare opera moment: Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming at L.A. Opera show what might have been by Richard S. Ginell

In May 2014, Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming flew into town to help Domingo's Los Angeles Opera close the 2013-14 season. The unwary might have thought that the two superstars were goi…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:46pm on March 20, 2016☆⚑

Meet the philanthropic couple behind the Musco Center for the Arts by David Ng

A millionaire many times over who pulled himself up from modest means, Sebastian Paul Musco has simple advice for those want to get ahead in life: Work hard. As recounted during a recent int…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:37am on March 19, 2016☆⚑

Director Ivo van Hove's storming of Broadway continues with 'The Crucible' by Charles McNulty

For those who have been tracking the thrilling career of the Belgian-born, Amsterdam-based director Ivo van Hove, the last place you'd expect to find him working is Broadway. But the Flemish…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:26pm on March 18, 2016☆⚑

From Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to the L.A. Ballet, it's a spring full of dance performances by Matt Cooper

Spring dance performances on our radar. MARCH 25-26 Evidence, A Dance Company Ronald K. Brown's ensemble, based in Brooklyn and influenced by African dance, makes its Broad Stage debut with …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:26pm on March 18, 2016☆⚑

Broadway comes to the Southland in touring shows for 'Cabaret,' 'Chicago,' 'Kinky Boots' and more

The 2015 Tony-winning musical "Fun Home," based on Alison Bechdel's bestselling graphic novel about growing up in a dysfunctional family, won't see its national tour touch down in Southern C…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:26pm on March 18, 2016☆⚑

Theatrical works to see in spring: From 'A Gentleman's Guide' to John Leguizamo to 'Shakespeare 400'

Times theater critic Charles McNulty's picks for promising spring productions, compiled by Matt Cooper. MARCH 23 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder' The potential heir to a sizable family…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:26pm on March 18, 2016☆⚑

Actors explore their feminine sides to portray the cross-dressers of 'Casa Valentina' by Daryl H. Miller

Lounging kimonos, simple housedresses and prettier frocks hang on a rack just off the rehearsal area. On the opposite wall stands a row of wigs, near a makeup station. This could be the dres…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:29pm on March 17, 2016☆⚑

Out of loss of flamenco star comes the magical 'Toro' at Irvine Barclay Theatre by Laura Bleiberg

"Toro" is a case study in how the show can go on " despite the loss of one of its two stars " and make magic anyway. Presented Tuesday night at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, "Toro" is an offsh…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:29pm on March 17, 2016☆⚑

Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda of 'Hamilton' throw down in Rose Garden freestyle by Randall Roberts

Regardless of which candidate ends up in the White House next year, chances are we won't soon be seeing another improvised rap freestyle in the Rose Garden. In what seems like a presidential…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:18pm on March 15, 2016☆⚑

L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards: Big wins for 'Hit the Wall' and 'Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles' by Jessica Gelt

"Hit the Wall," a play about the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots, and "Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles," which sets a classic Greek tragedy in Boyle Heights, won the top award Monday night at the Lo…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:18pm on March 15, 2016☆⚑

Long Beach Opera's 'Fallujah' tackles the Iraq war with authentic anguish by Mark Swed

All war is hell. But it is a special hell for those expected to fight without understanding why, as it is a special hell for civilians caught up in the battle, unsure who are the good guys a…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:34pm on March 14, 2016☆⚑

As for Los Angeles Opera's 'Madame Butterfly,' go for the music by Mark Swed

Los Angeles Opera came into being in 1996 with a stellar production of Verdi's "Otello." It was a historic occasion at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The next evening the company presented P…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:54pm on March 14, 2016☆⚑

This new play is headed toward a really good place by Daryl H. Miller

At the back of the church, a pair of cutups whisper to each other and try none too hard to stifle their giggles. They are not kids, from whom one might expect such behavior, but a married co…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:54pm on March 14, 2016☆⚑

'Women Laughing Alone With Salad': A playwright's raucous riff on sexism and body shame by Margaret Gray

Is "Women Laughing Alone With Salad" the first play inspired by an Internet meme? In 2011 the feminist website the Hairpin published stock photographs of slender models appearing to exult ov…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:54pm on March 14, 2016☆⚑

Jeff Daniels makes a powerful return to 'Blackbird' alongside a captivating Michelle Williams by Charles McNulty

Jeff Daniels has returned to Scottish playwright David Harrower's disquieting drama "Blackbird," and his experience in the play has not only deepened but galvanized his performance. Excellen…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:34pm on March 13, 2016☆⚑

Looking for love at Unicorns 'n Things? The screwball rom-com 'Past Time' by David C. Nichols

"Just because something is imaginary doesn't mean it's not real." So goes "Past Time," Sacred Fools Theater Company's inaugural production in its new home at the Lillian Theatre, a felicitou…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 6:34pm on March 13, 2016☆⚑