MUSICAL NEWS: After a sold-out initial run in Thousand Oaks, Panic! Productions is bringing its hit production of the musical 13 to the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood for two performances, May 8 and 9. The high-energy show, with a cast of 19 teens, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. 13 is directed by Barry Pearl, with choreography by Keenon Hooks and musical direction by Diann Alexander. The cast includes Sam Herbert, Carly Shukiar, Samuel Thacker, Antonia Vivino, Delaney Joy, Elaine Panico, Gabriel Nunag, Mackinnley Balleweg, Mateo Gonzales, Liam Krainman. Mason Purece, Madeline Gambon, Batya Conn, Zoë Reed, Tate Downing, Ally Kaplan, Jade McGlynn, Allison Martinez, and Joey Maya. Tickets: (818) 508-4200 or www.elportaltheatre.com.
Pazos Media is launching its first edition of AvLA // Avant-Los Angeles at Club Monte Cristo in Koreatown on April 22 at 7:30 pm. The event is a fusion of Visual Art, Theatre, Jazz Music, Avant-Garde Music, and Electronic Music. Interdisciplinary theatre collective Source Material will present a preview of their second original piece “I Should Have a Party For All The Thoughts I Didn’t Say,” that magically blends live music with dance and performance. Visual artists Londubh Studio and Kaliisa Conlon will showcase an original and immersive sculpture designed exclusively for the occasion. Jazz musician and composer Daniel Rosenboom will perform the first single of his new album “Astral Transference & Seven Dreams.” Avant-garde singer and composer Dorian Wood is back from his successful European tour and will perform some of his biggest hits accompanied by a guitarist and an accordion. Keenhouse, an electronic musician, will be performing songs off his new album “A Future Past,” a production that blends electronic sounds with classical instruments. Club Monte Cristo, Koreatown: 659 S Westmoreland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90005. More information: goo.gl/1fkHd1.
CABARET: On Monday May 11, Valerie Swift Bird returns in Sister Moon, directed by Pat Whiteman, at The E Spot Lounge located inside Vitello’s, 4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. Valerie will perform with her musical director Rich Eames and the Rich Eames Trio. Doors open at 7:00 pm for dinner. Box Office Hours are Mon - Sat 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Click Here for tickets or call (818) 769-0905.
Join Ophelia’s Jump Productions and director Beatrice Casagran for Espíritu Gitano on May 9 and celebrate Mother’s Day with a Flamenco Experience. The show will feature performances by some of LA’s top Flamenco artists, musicians, singers and selections of the translated works of Federico Garcia Lorca. This one night only event is a perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day Eve with performances by Marcela Aguayo, Rosalina Castillo, Santiago Diego Martin Prechtel, Katherine Giaquinto, and Vernon Snyder. Tickets: $35 includes tapas selection, and a glass of sangria or non-alcoholic beverage. Additional wine will be available for purchase through donation. 8:00 pm at the Women’s Club of Claremont, 343 W. 12th Street, Claremont (off Indian Hill). Tickets: (909) 624-1464 www.opheliasjump.org.
WEB SERIES: After almost two years, connie & jimmy is back! Inspired by the 1953 film I Love Melvin, this episode will keep you “A-boodle-oo beep beep baum baum baum”-ing for hours. In episode 4, our charismatic duo has returned home from a frustrating dinner party. What’s on the menu must also match what’s in the heart. Our conscientious couple can’t help but shake it off in this delightful twist on “Where Did You Learn To Dance?” originally performed by Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. For more about the series, visit www.connieandjimmy.com.
MUSIC/DANCE: REDCAT presents The Murder Ballad (1938) by Los Angeles Theater Collective Poor Dog Group, April 23 – 26. With a volatile mix of desire, jealousy and emancipatory yearning, Poor Dog Group’s movement-based work, first staged at REDCAT’s New Original Works Festival, gives forceful physical life to Jelly Roll Morton's legendary 1938 recording. Originally performed in the brothels of New Orleans’ steamy Storyville district, Jelly Roll Morton’s song revels in the nastiness of its heroine’s voice, embodied here by Jessica Emmanuel, whose feral physical energy lays claim to the violent impulses of a woman betrayed. Directed by Jesse Bonnell, it delves into the myth of female madness and racialized representations of sexuality. Click Here for more information or call (213) 237-2800.
Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre (formerly known as Media City Ballet Company) and Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director and Choreographer, will kick off its 14th Anniversary Season at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood with a program of classical and contemporary dance, A Collection of Works. There will be two performances: Saturday, April 25 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 pm. Alexander Fost, a season eight finalist from So You Think You Can Dance, will make a special appearance in the show. The program will feature Chopin Pieces set to the music of Frédéric Chopin’s romantic Nocturnes, intense Etudes and his melodic Fantasie-Impromtu; the world premiere of A Beginning. A Detour. An Open Ending., a modern contemporary piece about a man fighting for his identity choreographed by Clayton Velasquez set to the music of Imogen Heap; Searching, a new Adagio contemporary ballet duet set to the music of Kevin Keller; Black Coffee in which four dancers hash out their blues set to the music of k.d. lang; and Fire and Drums, a dance of speed, strength and passion set to Native American Drumming. Tickets: (818) 508-4200 or online at www.pacificballetdancetheatre.comor www.elportaltheatre.com. [Pictured: Irina Gharibyn and Grigori Arakelyan. Photo credit: B. Deck] For more Musicals in LA news: Become a Fan on Facebook Follow Musicals in LA on Twitter Click Here to return to home page
%2BIrina%2BGharibyn%2Band%2BGrigori%2BArakelyan%2B-%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BB.%2BDeck.jpg)
