Saturday, May 19, 2012
It's fun and games with the "un-dead" and Johnny Depp.
Anyone remember “camp’? No, not summer camp or camping out in Yellowstone: good old-fashioned, over-the-top, no-holds barred “camp” as in...well, as in Tim Burton’s latest assault on our visual senses, Dark Shadows. The late Susan Sontag wrote in her essay “Notes on Camp” that the style’s trademarks were “artifice, frivolity, naive middle-class pretentiousness, and ‘shocking’ excess.” All the preceding and more can be applied in spades to Dark Shadows. I have not seen a single episode of the famed (aka infamous) daytime TV soap opera that fueled the inspiration for this inglorious mess, and whether that counts as a plus or minus depends on your tolerance for such fare. I came with a blank slate, mixed expectations after somewhat tepid …
Monday, May 14, 2012
A local cable show takes a look at the under-construction performing arts center.
Calabasas High School's new performing arts center is featured in the latest episode of CTV's Your City, Your Issues. Host John Loesing takes viewers on a virtual tour of the new facility, which includes a 650-seat main theater and a smaller, more intimate 100-seat black box theater. He also interviews several performing arts students who share their excitement about the new venue, slated to open next January. Your City, Your Issues can be viewed on CTV's website. Also, tours of the theater during its construction are open to the public.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Calabasas High students are recognized for their musical talents in Reno and Washington, DC.
The Calabasas High School Music Department recently celebrated bicoastal musical honors by receiving top awards at the Reno Jazz Festival and at the Heritage Music Festival in Washington D.C. On April 26, 65 members of the high school's jazz bands traveled to the University of Nevada for the Reno Jazz Festival, one of the country's leading jazz festivals since 1962. The three-day event attracted some 9,000 participants including the best school bands in the nation for competitions, concerts and workshops with professional artists. The Calabasas students were honored with a plethora of individual and group awards with the Jazz "A" Band placing third in its division of 15 bands, the Jazz "B" Band winning fourth in its division of 15 bands, …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Enjoy free performances of productions from around the globe.
The California International Theatre Festival returns to Calabasas with productions from Australia, Ireland, Israel and other countries. All performances are free to the public and will run from May 17-21 at Founders Hall inside the Calabasas Library. This year's theatrical lineup includes: AUSTRALIA The Bear Trap, by Daniel R. Lillford. May 17-18, 8 p.m. IRELAND The Bad Arm: Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer, written by Máire Clerkin. May 19, 2 p.m. ISRAEL A Happy End, by Iddo Ntenanyahu. May 19, 8 p.m. and May 21, 7:30 p.m. NEPAL/USA To the Top, Speaker: Dr. Julius J. Budnick. May 20, 2 p.m. JAPAN/CHINA/IRAN/USA Ancient Meets Utterly Modern, dance theatre concert performed and created by Lonny Joseph Gordon and Beijing opera master …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The 5-year-old Bay Laurel Elementary students wins a Spider magazine contest.
Batman may have the spotlight most of the time, but 5-year-old Bay Laurel Elementary kindergartner Sam Green says he's also a big fan of the Dark Knight's sidekick, Robin. In fact, Sam likes the Boy Wonder so much, he entered a drawing of him in a Spider magazine contest asking young readers to submit pictures of someone or something they love. Sam was one of the winners and had his picture published in this month's edition of the children's magazine. "I like drawing comic books," he said. Sam is currently working with his 8-year-old brother on a comic book series about Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Sam said he wants to be a writer when he grows up.
Monday, May 7, 2012
The imaginations of sculptors, painters and other kinds of artists swarmed the Commons this past weekend.
Thousands of artworks were on display Saturday and Sunday at the Commons for the annual Calabasas Fine Arts Festival. Everything from acryllic paintings to fountains made out of horn instruments were on hand for art admirers to enjoy. Click through our photo gallery for our recap of the event.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Some of the screenings will take place at the Laemmle Town Center 5 in Encino.
The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday, with movies showing at Laemmle Theaters in Encino, Beverly Hills and Pasadena, and a screening at Temple Judea in Tarzana. The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) "builds community awareness, appreciation and pride in the diversity of the Jewish people through film," according to its website. Here is the schedule for Encino. All performances at at the Laemmle Town Center 5, unless otherwise indicated. May 5, 8 p.m: My First Wedding May 6, 3 p.m: iTeenLA Film Fest May 6, 5 p.m: David May 6, 7 p.m: Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom May 7, 12 p.m: Death in Brooklyn (showing at Temple Judea) May 7, 7:30 p.m: Wunderkinder May 8, 7:30 p.m: The Rescuers. Includes discussion with Emmy Award-…
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
More than 150 artists from various mediums will flock to the Commons on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 150 painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and jewelers will have their prized works on display for the annual Calabasas Fine Arts Festival this weekend. The free event at the Commons is being held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will host a wine garden outside of Toscanova. A flight of Italian wines costs $10. All proceeds go toward benefiting the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce Education Scholarship Fund. Check out our coverage of past fine arts festivals here and here.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Calabasas resident Michael Barr and his band Volumes have made it big in the metal scene.
A little more than three years ago, the band Volumes didn't exist – today, the groove metal band is signed to a major label, has put out two records and is touring multiple continents. At the center of it all is Calabasas resident Michael Barr, who is one of two vocalists for Volumes. Barr, originally from Woodland Hills, got started in the metal scene roughly eight years ago when he started hearing about local bands and going to shows. "When I was in Woodland Hills, there were a lot of good local bands that I looked up to," he said at the recent New England and Metal Hardcore Festival. "... That's kind of how I got started – I was really obsessed with these bands and the whole hardcore/metal scene was kind of a mystique to me." "I was …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Three stories about war on the homefront is being produced by the Spotlight the Arts Foundation.
A three-part series of play readings with the theme of war in one's homeland begins next Monday at Founders Hall inside the Calabasas Library. The series, produced by the Spotlight the Arts Foundation and entitled What I Did During the War, features a trio of classic productions including Henry V, Major Barbara: A Comedy and Caucasian Chalk Circle. Admission is free. Matthew Henerson pitched the idea to the foundation and is directing as well as appearing in the performances. He said the three plays were chosen to give audiences a look at how people experience war on their homefront. "It occurred that to me that America has been at war pretty consistently since 2003, but the American experience of war is very different from other countries…
Carol Elliott
12:21 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Looks like it will have a "captive" audience. It looks like a maximum security facility!!!! more ›