LOS ANGELES — It’s a three-peat for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
The Tim Burton legacy sequel to his 1988 horror comedy topped the North American box office charts for the third straight weekend with $26 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It edged out the animated new release “Transformers: One,” which brought in $25 million. The Optimus Prime origin story from Paramount Pictures features the voices of Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry and Scarlett Johansson.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” a Warner Bros. release with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder returning as stars, has earned more than $226 million domestically in its three weeks after a monster opening of $110 million — the third best of the year — and a second weekend of $51.6 million.
Third place went to the James McAvoy horror “Speak No Evil,” which came in at $5.9 million in its second week for a total of $21.5 million.
On the whole, the box office was in a quiet phase that is expected to break when “ Joker: Folie à Deux ” dances its way onto the big screen on Oct. 4.
The year’s second-highest grosser “ Deadpool & Wolverine ” remained in the top 5 in its ninth weekend with another $3.9 million and a domestic total of $627 million. Only Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has earned more.
The Demi Moore-starring, Coralie Fargeat-directed body horror “The Substance,” which made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, brought in $3.1 million on limited screens in its first weekend for the sixth spot.
The Daily Wire movie “Am I Racist?” — in which conservative columnist Matt Walsh goes undercover as a “DEI trainee” — stayed in the top 10 after a fourth place finish last week, earning $2.9 million for seventh place and a two-week total of $9 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
Ten years ago this month, when The Adventure Zone started as a one-off actual play experiment on the My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast, two of its four hosts worked here, at Polygon. In fact, Justin and Griffin McElroy helped co-found this place, after we worked together at another video game website (RIP Joystiq) as far back as 2007. I mention this, in the interest of disclosure, because I am not impartial when it comes to all things McElroy.
It’s been 10 years since the show began and rapidly grew across many seasons and hundreds of episodes, across a bestselling graphic novel series and countless live shows. I can measure my life alongside its evolutions.
When I listened to the first episode of The Adventure Zone — this would be the introductory Balance arc, up and running on its own podcast feed later in 2014 — I did so while building some basement shelves, in part to hold some kid stuff overflow for a 9-month-old upstairs. The most recent episode I listened to was the pilot episode for TAZ’s new season, Abnimals (not a typo), during a recent family drive to the beach, with a now 10-year-old listening along. The theme song is still stuck in his head (more on this later).
“Imagine a world in which all of the anthropomorphic animal hero shows of the ’90s and early 2000s existed at the same time,” explains this season’s Dungeon Master, Travis McElroy (or “zookeeper,” as the team floated in an early episode shared with me). “And within that world there were three team members who had been removed from their former teams for various reasons now trying to form their own kind of ragtag group trying to exist in this world of heroic teens. And this time no swears.”
Artwork from a graphic novel adaptation of The Adventure Zone.Artwork from the cover of The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins
Those three team members include Roger Mooer, a Charolais cow — well, technically a bull — with a knack for spy stuff and a gift for ballroom dancing, as played by Clint McElroy, their dad; Navy Seal, an aquatic commando who is also a beefy anthropomorphic Ross seal and is not and has never been, it must be noted, a member of the armed forces, as played by Griffin McElroy; and Axe-O-Lyle, an extreme firefighting axolotl who can regrow his limbs… but it’s kind of embarrassing, as played by Justin McElroy.
Why the shift to a family-friendly format? “What sort of changed my mind on it was seeing how meaningful it was to me to find decent stuff that I like listening to with my kids,” Justin says. “We have a few podcasts that they’re obsessed with and it’s nice to find ones that I’m into too. So making something that could serve that purpose I feel was also sort of a public good, or at least serving our audience well.”
“Recently, as I’ve been doing meet-and-greets and we’ve been doing conventions and stuff, there’s just a lot more kids coming through,” Travis agrees. “Twelve-year-olds with their graphic novels to be signed, and a lot more people talked about their kids being into The Adventure Zone.”
Outside of an absence of swearing, I asked how they’re choosing to adapt their improvisational storytelling for younger listeners. Should we expect something akin to a G rating?
Travis continues, “I’ve gone back through and watched a lot of the source material cartoons and thinking about it in that framework of what those setups are, what they’re doing and what the stakes are, because, for example, with the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, they made the Foot Clan robots. So we can just kick him in the face all day. It’s robots, man! Don’t even worry about it.”
The pilot episode I listened to had henchmen who were knocked out, but never killed; environmental attacks instead of weapon-based attacks; a Big Bad doing a heist (greedy!); and some longer story arc mystery with a surprise cliffhanger ending. All the while, the play system Travis designed for the series — which rests on rolling two to three d8 dice — provides plenty of room for the flexibility and improv that has defined the show’s last decade while also emphasizing momentum.
So we can just kick him in the face all day. It’s robots, man!
“I am trying to keep action and momentum in my head,” explains Justin. “When we were doing previous seasons, the comedy was almost always the point. And so if something’s funny but not necessarily propulsive, we’ll kind of sit in it and mess around with it until it stops being funny and then move along. But I have been cautious in my head thinking this isn’t going to be interesting if you’re younger; you just want something to happen. Let’s make something happen. And if something hasn’t happened in a while, I’ll make something else happen.”
For the tabletop role-playing curious kiddo in your house, this may help whet their appetite for their own seat at the table, but it won’t give them a framework to host their own adventures.
“When I made up the rules system, I wanted something that isn’t chunky, isn’t complicated so that we don’t have to spend a lot of time explaining or adding up various die. I wanted it to be like, You roll, good, go. So that we could focus more on moving the story forward and doing the action,” Travis explains. “There are some wonderful versions of actual play stuff that you watch or listen to and learn how to play the game. I mean, it’s wonderful, but that’s not what I pictured this season to be and so I didn’t want it to be school. I didn’t want it to feel like school.”
What does come through in Abnimals is a focus on family, Clint McElroy — in a fitting role for the patriarch of the family — says. “One thing that runs through everything we do in TAZ that is also applicable here, and this was a constant in [Teenage Mutant Ninja] Turtles and a lot of those other shows, was family. I don’t think there’s any way we could do something that didn’t have something to do with family, whether it’s found family or actual family coming together. We’re going to explore that in Abnimals as well.”
You can now listen (with or without your family) to the initial “setup” episode of The Adventure Zone: Abnimals , conveniently embedded at the top of this post. But I’ll also encourage you to indulge in the season’s theme song, with music by Eric Near, lyrics by Near, Justin McElroy, and the internet’s Jonathan Coulton, and performed by Coulton.
In spite of what you have heard We’re at the height of our powers Atop the tallest of towers we stand (They’ll never stop us now)
So take my hand if you trust That we will do what we must Until it’s turning out just like we planned (We’ll find a way somehow)
Yeah the road is long But our mojo’s strong And unless I’m wrong (and I’m not) We’re at the height of our powers
Update: Added an embed for the first episode to the post, and updated some language to reflect that the season is now live.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 76th annual Emmy Awards were handed out Sunday at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
“Shogun” set a single season record for most wins with 18. “Shogun” won best drama series, and Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai won acting awards for their roles.
“Hacks’’ won the award for best comedy series. ”Baby Reindeer” and “The Bear’’ won four awards apiece.
Early winners included Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jeremy Allen White and Liza Colón-Zayas, who won awards for their work in the comedy series “The Bear.”
Stars presenting Emmys to their peers included: Billy Crystal, Viola Davis, Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Maya Rudolph and Martin Sheen.
Several actors and shows, including Rudolph, won last week. Rudolph won her sixth Emmy Award at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys for her voice work on “Big Mouth.” Jamie Lee Curtis also picked up a supporting actress Emmy last weekend for her appearance on “The Bear.”
Here’s a list of winners at Sunday’s Emmys:
Drama series
“Shogun”
Comedy series
“Hacks”
Limited, anthology series, movie
“Baby Reindeer”
Actor in a drama series
Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”
Actress in a drama series
Anna Sawai, “Shogun”
Supporting actor in a drama series
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Supporting actress in a drama series
Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”
Actor in a comedy series
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Actress in a comedy series
Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Supporting actress in a comedy series
Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”
Supporting actor in a comedy series
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
Actor in a limited, anthology series or movie
Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”
Actress in a limited, anthology series or movie
Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”
Supporting actress limited, anthology series or movie
Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
Supporting actor in a limited, anthology series or movie
Lamorne Morris, “Fargo”
Reality competition program
“The Traitors,” Peacock
Scripted variety series
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Talk series
“The Daily Show”
Writing for a variety special
Alex Edelman, “Just for Us”
Writing for a comedy series
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, “Hacks”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Shogun” had historic wins in an epic 18-Emmy first season, “Hacks” scored an upset for best comedy on what was still a four-trophy night for “The Bear,” and “Baby Reindeer” had a holiday at an Emmy Awards that had some surprising swerves.
“Shogun,” the FX series about power struggles in feudal Japan, won best drama series, Hiroyuki Sanada won best actor in a drama, and Anna Sawai won best actress. Sanada was the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy. Sawai became the second just moments later.
”‘Shogun’ taught me when we work together, we can make miracles,” Sanada said in his acceptance speech from the stage of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Justin Marks, center, and Hiroyuki Sanada, center right, and the team from “Shogun” accepts the award for outstanding drama series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Anna Sawai accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for “Shogun” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The team of “Hacks” pick up their official Emmy statuette for outstanding comedy series at the 76th Emmy Awards Trophy Table on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services)
Jen Statsky, center from left, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello, and the team from “Hacks” accept the award for outstanding comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
“Hacks” was the surprise winner of its first best comedy series award, topping “The Bear,” which most had expected to take it after big wins earlier in the evening.
Jean Smart won her third best actress in a comedy award for the third season of Max’s “Hacks,” in which her stand-up comic character Deborah Vance tries to make it in late-night TV. Smart has six Emmys overall.
Despite losing out on the night’s biggest comedy prize after winning it for its first season at January’s strike-delayed ceremony, FX’s “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White won best actor in a comedy for the second straight year, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach repeated as best supporting actor.
And Liza Colón-Zayas was the surprise best supporting actor winner over competition that included Meryl Streep, becoming the first Latina to win in the category.
“To all the Latinas who are looking at me,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “keep believing, and vote.”
Netflix’s darkly quirky “Baby Reindeer” won best limited series. Creator and star Richard Gadd won for his lead acting and his writing and Jessica Gunning, who plays his tormentor, won best supporting actress.
Accepting the series award, Gadd urged the makers of television to take chances.
“The only constant across any success in television is good storytelling,” he said. “Good storytelling that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries. Explore the uncomfortable. Dare to fail in order to achieve.”
“Baby Reindeer” is based on a one man-stage show in which Gadd describes being sexually abused along with other emotional struggles.
Accepting that award, he said, “no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better.”
Richard Gadd poses in the press room with the award for outstanding writing for a limited or anthology series or movie for “Baby Reindeer” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jodie Foster accepts the award for outstanding lead actress in a limited or Anthology series or movie for “True Detective: Night Country” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Gadd has.
Jodie Foster won her first Emmy to go with her two Oscars when she took best actress in a limited series for “True Detective: Night Country.”
Foster played a salty police chief investigating a mass killing in the round-the-clock dark of an Alaskan winter on the HBO show. While her castmate Kali Reis missed out on becoming the first Indigenous actor to win an Emmy in the supporting category, Foster praised her, and the show’s collaboration with Indigenous contributors.
“The Inupiaq and Inuit people of northern Alaska who told us their stories, and they allowed us to listen,” Foster said. “That was just a blessing. It was love, love, love, and when you feel that, something amazing happens.”
Greg Berlanti, a producer and writer on shows including “Dawson’s Creek” and “Everwood,” received the Television Academy’s Governors Award for his career-long contributions to improving LGBTQ visibility on television. He talked about a childhood when there was little such visibility.
“There wasn’t a lot of gay characters on television back then, and I was a closeted gay kid,” Berlanti said. “It’s hard to describe how lonely that was at the time,”
The long decline of traditional broadcast TV at the Emmys continued, with zero wins between the four broadcast networks.
Hosts Eugene Levy, left, and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Hosts Eugene Levy, left, and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
In the monologue that opened the ABC telecast, Dan Levy, who hosted with his father and “Schitt’s Creek” co-star Eugene Levy, called the Emmys “broadcast TV’s biggest night for honoring movie stars on streaming services.”
Though other than Foster, movie stars didn’t fare too well. Her fellow Oscar winners Streep and Robert Downey Jr. had been among the favorites, but came up empty.
“Robert Downey Jr. I have a poster of you in my house!” said Lamorne Morris, who beat Downey for best supporting actor in a limited series, said from the stage as he accepted his first Emmy.
The evening managed to meet many expectations but included several swerves like the win for “Hacks.”
“We were really shocked,” “Hacks co-creator Jen Statsky, who also won for writing, said after the show. ”We were truly, really surprised.”
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Steve Martin, from left, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez present the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Liza Colon-Zayas accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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James Johnson, from left, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, and Cathy Tagnak Rexford arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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Skye P. Marshall, left, and Kathy Bates arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Steve Martin, from left, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez present the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Steve Martin, from left, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez present the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Liza Colon-Zayas accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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Liza Colon-Zayas accepts the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear” during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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James Johnson, from left, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, and Cathy Tagnak Rexford arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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James Johnson, from left, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, and Cathy Tagnak Rexford arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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Skye P. Marshall, left, and Kathy Bates arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
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Skye P. Marshall, left, and Kathy Bates arrive at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
And “Shogun” got off to a quiet start, missing on early awards and not getting its first trophy until past the halfway point.
Still, it shattered the record for Emmys for one season previously held by the 2008 limited series “John Adams” in 2008. And its acting wins would have been hard to imagine before the series became an acclaimed phenomenon.
Sanada is a 63-year-old longtime screen star whose name is little known outside Japan, even if his face is through Hollywood films like “The Last Samurai” and “John Wick Chapter 4.” Sawai, 32, who was born in New Zealand and moved to Japan as a child, is significantly less known in the U.S. She wept when she accepted best actress.
“When you saw me cry on stage, it was probably the 12th time I cried today,” Sawai said backstage. “It was just mixed emotions, wanting everyone to win all that. I may cry again now.”
“The Bear” would finish second with 11 overall Emmys, including guest acting wins at the Creative Arts ceremony for Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal.
The Levys in their opening monologue mocked the show being in the comedy category.
“In honor of ‘The Bear’ we will be making no jokes,” Eugene Levy said, to laughs.
Elizabeth Debicki took best supporting actress in a drama for playing Princess Diana at the end of her life in the sixth and final season of “The Crown.”
“Playing this part, based on this unparalleled, incredible human being, has been my great privilege,” Debicki said in her acceptance. “It’s been a gift.”
Several awards were presented by themed teams from TV history, including sitcom dads George Lopez, Damon Wayans and Jesse Tyler Ferguson and TV moms Meredith Baxter, Connie Britton, and Susan Kelechi Watson.
The seasonal differences of the movie calendar have eroded a little bit with time. Neither of the last two Oscar juggernauts — “Oppenheimer,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — opened in the fall, the traditional launching pad of Academy Awards hopefuls.
And just the same, f all tends to be nearly as stuffed as summer is with sequels, horror thrillers and would-be blockbusters. Still, some of the old rules still apply. A large percentage of 2024’s best movies are set to unspool in the coming months.
So with that in mind, here are some of the most anticipated films of this fall, from large to small and everything in between.
A psychedelic trip makes for an unusual meeting in the latest from director Megan Park (“The Fallout”). After sipping some mushroom-infused tea, 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella) finds herself joined by her future self, played by Aubrey Plaza, on a camping trip on the lakes of Muskoka, outside Toronto. (Sept. 13, in theaters)
When former “Saturday Night Live” writer Harper Steele came out as trans, she sent an email to friends and family. An old friend and “SNL” colleague, Will Ferrell, responded with the suggestion that they travel the country together. The result is this tender and contemplative documentary, by “Barb and Star Go to Del Mar” director Josh Greenbaum, about their 16-day road trip. (Sept. 13; on Netflix Sept. 27)
Christian Tafdrup’s 2022 Danish horror film was potent enough that it led to this Blumhouse remake just two years later. James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis and Aisling Franciosi star in a thriller about how much can go wrong on a idyllic countryside vacation. (Sept. 13, in theaters)
Sebastian Stan stars as Edward, an actor with neurofibromatosis who, after experimental surgery, is cured of his facial disfigurement. But the changes for Edward, who lives next to a friendly playwright (Renate Reinsve of “The Worst Person in the World”), turn out to be a mixed blessing. With a compelling co-starring turn by actor Adam Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis. (Sept. 20, in theaters)
Writer-director Azazel Jacobs’ latest stars Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen as sisters who gather in the New York apartment of their dying father. A highlight of the season, “His Three Daughters” is one of the most memorable tales of siblinghood, and of a death in the family, in recent memory. (Sept. 20 on Netflix)
A hit out of the Cannes Film Festival, Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror parable stars Demi Moore as a TV star who’s deemed too old by male producers. A mysterious service, though, offers her the ability to change into a younger twin (Margaret Qualley) — so long as she doesn’t remain so for too long. “The Substance” seems sure to go down as a classic satire of Hollywood ageism and youth obsession. (Sept. 20, in theaters)
Brad Pitt and George Clooney play rival fixers who discover they’ve been hired for the same job in Jon Watts’ comic caper. Presumably more charming actors weren’t available, so Watts had to suffice with Clooney and Pitt. (Sept. 20, in theaters; Apple TV+ on Sept. 27)
Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s documentary seeks to capture the full arc of Reeve’s life, from the massive stardom that followed 1978’s “Superman” to his resiliency following an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down in 1995. (Sept. 21, in theaters)
This DreamWorks Animation release, adapted from Peter Brown’s popular book series, follows a robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) who crash lands in a forested wildness where it, seeking a task, raises a runt goose (Kit Connor) until it’s able to fly. (Sept. 27, in theaters)
Francis Ford Coppola’s first film in 13 years stars Adam Driver as Caesar, a visionary with dreams of a utopian New York. Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Laurence Fishburne and Shia LeBeouf co-star in this wildly ambitious epic that has already earned a wide spectrum of reaction. (Sept. 27, in theaters)
Five years after their rabble-rousing Oscar nominated DC Comics blockbuster, director Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix are back for more antihero fun. This time, it’s a musical, and Lady Gaga is playing Harley Quinn. (Oct. 4, in theaters)
Saoirse Ronan stars in Nora Fingscheidt’s adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s memoir of addiction. Ronan plays a young woman just out of rehab and returning home to the Orkney Islands in Scotland. (Oct. 4, in theaters)
Opening just weeks before the U.S. election is Ali Abbasi’s portrait of a young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan) under the tutelage of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). The film, which the Trump reelection campaign has called “pure malicious defamation,” is made with some of the ’80s aesthetics of its setting. (Oct. 11, in theaters)
What’s cooler than a documentary about your life? What about a documentary made with Lego? In this film, directed by Morgan Neville (“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”), Pharrell Williams tells his life story brick by brick. (Oct. 11, in theaters)
While all eyes will be on “Saturday Night Live” on the small screen this fall, the sketch comedy show will also have an origin story in theaters. Director Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Up in the Air”) directs this mid-’70s dramatization of the chaotic infancy of the NBC institution, with Gabriel LaBelle as creator Lorne Michaels. (Oct. 11, in theaters)
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield star in this human-scaled drama, directed by John Crowley (“Brooklyn,” “The Goldfinch”) about a relationship charted not always chronologically, through romance, sickness and parenthood. Tissues are recommended. (Oct. 11, in theaters)
Sean Baker (“The Florida Project,” “Red Rocket”) has long been one of most vital American independent directors. But he takes a step further with “Anora,” the Palme d’Or winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It stars Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn sex worker whose Vegas marriage to the son of a Russian oligarch prompts a farcical effort by his family’s henchmen to have it annulled. (Oct. 18, in theaters)
RaMell Ross’ feature directorial debut, selected as the opening night film at the New York Film Festival, adapts Colson Whitehead’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about two Black teens (Ethan Harisse, Brandon Wilson) who become wards of juvenile reform school in 1960s Florida. Ross previously directed the Oscar-nominated documentary “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.” (Oct. 25, in theaters)
Tom Hardy is back as the most volatile split-personality superhuman: Eddie Brock and his symbiote Venom — arguably the most captivating double act in comic book movies. In this, the third in the series following 2018’s “Venom” and 2021’s “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” both are on the run. (Oct. 25, in theaters)
Writer-director Mati Diop (“Atlantics”) creates testimonials for a few dozen African artworks taken from the West African kingdom of Dahomey during France’s colonial rule in this, the winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Diop dramatizes the artworks’ stories through what she’s called “magical documentary.” (Oct. 25, theaters)
Adam Elliot’s stop-motion drama, some 10 years in the making, follows the life of Grace Puddle (voiced by Sarah Snook), who begins collecting snails after her mother’s death. After her father dies, too, she and her twin brother (Kodi Smit-McPhee) are separated. (Oct. 25, theaters)
Director Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) returns to World War II for this drama set in a London under siege from Nazi bombs. Saoirse Ronan plays a single mother trying to protect her young son (Elliott Heffernan). (Nov. 1, theaters)
A new Pope is needed. Enter Ralph Fiennes. In director Edward Berger’s follow-up to “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Fiennes stars as Cardinal Lawrence, one of the Vatican figures who gather for a conclave to choose a new pontiff. When Lawrence uncovers a secret that others would rather stay hidden, the conclave teeters toward going up in smoke. (Nov. 1, theaters)
It’s not every day we get a musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions into a woman. Even more surprising is that French director Jacques Audiard pulls it off. Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez star in one of the more audacious movies of the year. (Nov. 1 in theaters; on Netflix Nov. 13th)
Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks have a long and fruitful history together dating back to “Forrest Gump” and “Cast Away.” Less good was 2022’s “Pinocchio,” so hopefully the pair are back on track in “Here.” Appearing to be filmed in one take, Zemeckis’ latest chronicles a single spot of land through history. After a home is built on it, Hanks and Robin Wright move in and raise a family. (Nov. 1, in theaters)
Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed and stars in this buddy dramedy about two cousins (the other is played by Kieran Culkin) who travel to Poland to honor their grandmother. The two are near opposites played to type: Eisenberg is a sensitive neurotic, Culkin a charismatic idler. Together, they create a funny, poignant two-hander. (Nov. 1, in theaters)
British filmmaker Andrea Arnold has dabbled in TV and documentary in recent years, which makes “Bird” her first film since 2016’s “American Honey.” Here, she returns to a working-class English backdrop for a gritty story laced with fable. A 12-year-old girl (Nykia Adams) who lives with her father (Barry Keoghan) is visited by a peculiar stranger (Franz Rogowski). (Nov. 8, in theaters)
The distance Hugh Grant has traveled from rom-com protagonist seems likely to reach a new peak in this A24 horror thriller from “A Quiet Place” co-writers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East play a pair of proselytizing Mormon missionaries who knock on the wrong door. (Nov. 15, in theaters)
Payal Kapadia’s ode to female friendship, a prize-winner at Cannes, is about two Mumbai nurses (Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha) striving for love and happiness while working and commuting long hours in the Indian metropolis. (Nov. 15, in theaters)
Twenty-four years after “Gladiator,” Ridley Scott is back with more swords, sandals and … a rhino. Yes, that horned mammal makes its way into the Colosseum this time, but it’s far from the only new addition. Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal star in this sequel, set several decades following the events of the original movie. (Nov. 22, in theaters)
Before “Wicked” was a Broadway smash, it was a 1995 book and nearly a movie. The big-screen was, perhaps, always the most fitting medium for a “Wizard of the Oz” riff. In this Jon M. Chu-directed film, Cynthia Erivo plays the woman who’ll become the Wicked Witch of the West, while Ariana Grande plays Glinda. This “Wicked” will be split in two, with part two arriving in late 2025. (Nov. 22, in theaters)
Washington has set himself the task of bringing August Wilson’s plays to the big screen. In this adaptation of Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winner, he produces while son Malcolm Washington directs, and son John David Washington stars. Led by a powerhouse performance by Danielle Deadwyler, “The Piano Lesson” depicts a Pittsburgh family in 1936 reckoning with a family heirloom, a piano, which doubles as a metaphor for the legacy of slavery. (Nov. 22, on Netflix)
A little “Moana” confusion would be understandable. There’s a separate live-action “Moana” in development and this film was originally planned as a series. But “Moana 2” ultimately, came together as a big-screen sequel to the 2016 original. Lin-Manuel Miranda isn’t returning on the music front, but most everyone else is, including voice actors Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson. The film, set about three years after the original, finds Moana heading back on an ocean adventure, this time with her sister (voiced by Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda) aboard, as well as several others. (Nov. 27, in theaters)
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey — Comedian Rich Kiamco is proud, grateful and relieved that the successful comedy road show he created and has produced for more than decade has finally found a permanent home.
Kiamco, an out gay comic who’s appeared on the “Howard Stern Show” and is featured in ABC Owned Television’s “Our America: Who I’m Meant To Be” series, launched The Laugh Tour in Jersey City, New Jersey, in September 2010.
“Originally it was a pop-up show that would tour around Jersey City, the Catskills region, eastern Pennsylvania,” he explained.
It was a way for the comedian to get stage time in front of audiences and help boost fellow comics at the same time.
Christine Goodman, director of the Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs, co-produced many of those early shows with Kiamco in a former role with Art House Productions, a performing-arts venue in the city.
“From the beginning, Rich had a real commitment to seeing The Laugh Tour through to the point of having a permanent home and a steady audience,” she said.
The show toured for about a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down venues everywhere. Kiamco launched an online version, hosting shows out of his apartment on Zoom for small groups of fans.
And then his partner and longtime manager, Sandy Gunar, died from COVID. His death and Kiamco’s deep grief, friends say, ultimately became the impetus for him to find a permanent home for his shows.
“I was just trying to find something to do other than endless Zoom grief groups,” Kiamco said. “And Dorrian’s Red Hand, which has been here for over 20 years in Jersey City, had a room.”
He approached the owners of the restaurant on Washington Boulevard and asked if they’d let him try hosting shows in the private dining room adjacent to the main bar and dining area.
They agreed, and he started with a handful of people and one show a week. Word began to spread, and eventually the room started filling up with people starting to venture out after months of pandemic lockdown.
Now, just over two years later, the club has become an established success.
“Last night was our 64th sold-out show,” Kiamco said one day last spring. “We’ve expanded to five shows a week. You know, pinch me. It’s been a dream come true.”
Its all been a labor of labor for the comedian. The club’s success is a testament to his tireless work and constant innovation, but he’s quick to share the credit.
“This comedy club is just part of a bigger conversation of supporting all these other comedians that are coming through here to tell their stories and entertain,” he said. “I’m just so grateful to be part of it.”
Photo-Illustration: Alicia Tatone; Photo: Courtesy of subject
This week, we’re highlighting 24 talented writers and performers for Vulture’s annual list “The Comedians You Should and Will Know.” Our goal is to introduce a wider audience to the talent that has the comedy community and industry buzzing. (You can read more about our methodology at the link above.) We asked the comedians on the list to answer a series of questions about their work, performing, goals for the future, and more. Next up is Sam Campbell.
Tell us a story from your childhood that you think might explain why you ended up becoming a comedian. I once cut a photo of an old man from the local newspaper and showed it to my parents. I told them that some people had come to our school and photographed our class, then used a computer to predict what we would look like when we were 50 years old. My mum was upset because the man looked pretty rough. It’s interesting because the technology I’d lied about now exists. There’s an app for nearly everything. Please no more questions about my childhood if that’s all right.
If you were immortalized as a cartoon character, what would your outfit be? I would please like to be depicted wearing a safety harness.
P.S.: My friend Greg once confided in me that he hates it when a cartoon character is wearing an outfit with a pattern and while the character moves around, the pattern remains static. Do you know what I mean? Imagine, say, an animated fellow is wearing a plaid shirt and swaying side to side, the plaid doesn’t change. It’s almost as if his shirt is an opaque window in front of a plaid background. It’s called “perspective-incorrect texturing,” and it doesn’t bother me too much, though that’s not exactly what I said at the time. I had to be agreeable. You didn’t see how angry he was getting.
What’s your proudest moment/achievement of your comedy career so far? There is a funny comedian called James Gill who runs a great night in London at a pub called the Tommyfield. He hosts the show, and once as I left the stage, he said to the crowd, “Give it up for Sam Campbell, the Maestro!” I got a real jolt from being called “the Maestro.” It did wonders for my confidence. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. I have done the gig a few times since and discovered he calls quite a lot of comedians “the Maestro.” He says it all the time about people. But you can’t discount something just because it’s short-lived! Buddy Holly only lived to be 22 years old when he died in that horrible plane crash, and he made a huge impact in the music world.
Which comedian’s career trajectory would you most like to follow? The answer is simple: Shelley Berman.
Tell us everything about your worst show ever. (This can involve venue, audience, other acts on the lineup, anything!) I’ve bombed more times than you’ve had hot dinners. Every time I go on and I am trying to showcase rather than to just goose around, I almost always die very badly. I have had some really awful and unforgivable ones lately. But, a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
Sorry this is not a specific answer. If I try to access some of those memories in depth, I might get trapped and not be able to come back. A few of these questions have been a bit close to the bone, actually. I know full well what you are up to with this so-called survey. I am watching you.
What have you learned about your own joke-writing process that you didn’t know when you started? My first performances were a bit out of the ordinary. I’d accompany groups of elderly widows on shopping trips to high-end department stores, and it was my duty to keep them entertained with clever remarks and gentle spoonerisms. I would steer clear of anything too bawdy for the longest time before I realized that that is exactly what they wanted! Now I do a lot of blue material about sex. My mouth has become filthy.
What’s the biggest financial hurdle you’ve encountered since becoming a comedian? Yikes! I have agreed to some suspicious-ass percentiles and deals. Keeps me up at night and makes my throat seize up. I make a lot of mistakes in this area. I keep all of my money in the same plastic bag I use for old batteries and my swimming shorts. This question made me confront things I wasn’t ready to face. Cheers for that.
At the end of the movie 8 Mile, Eminem’s character, B-Rabbit, starts his final battle rap by dissing himself so the person he’s battling has nothing left to attack. How would you roast yourself so the other person would have nothing to say? If I was in a rap battle, I would act sort of sheepish around my rival before the event. I’d take them aside and tell them I’d been going through a bit of a rough patch, and I’d ask if they wouldn’t mind taking it easy on me. I’d even go as far as to say that I’d been thinking of pulling out because I’d been feeling really self-conscious and wasn’t sure I was cut out for battling. On the night of the main event, my opponent would be on eggshells: He’s desperate not to say anything too untoward, he’s worried about me. I grab the microphone and spit the most insane, messed-up, deeply hateful, Hinchliffe-inspired, pure Tony, pure evil bars — dark but still clever rhymes about not only my opponent but their entire crew. During the rebuttal, I would deliberately yawn and look at my phone.
When it comes to your comedy opinions — about material, performing, audience, trends you want to kill/revive, the industry, etc. — what hill will you die on? A lot of people give me a hard time for laughing at my own jokes onstage. I would like to address this once and for all. They are not my jokes. I stole them from various open-mic comedians and “Far Side” comic strips, and my laughter is always genuine.
What is the best comedy advice, and then the worst comedy advice, you’ve ever received? Best: I have a long boozy lunch with Jimmy Carr whenever he’s not touring, and it is always an honor and a master class to listen to him muse on the craft. He recently said, “Be careful when you get to the top of the mountain. You might not be able to breathe the air.” That has stuck with me.
Worst: Johnny McAllister, who runs the comedy Lounge in Perth, Australia, used to always say to me, “Only do your gold!” It was a lot of pressure. If I was a promoter, I would say to each and every act, “You are golden. Go out there and see what happens when the light bounces off you.” Thanks for interviewing me even though I’m not an American POWERHOUSE.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” returning for its second season and Adam Sandler’s first comedy special since 2018 are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: John Legend offers his first-ever children’s album, season four of “Only Murders in the Building” shifts to Los Angeles and DJ and dance producer Zedd is back with an album after nearly a decade.
NEW MOVIES TO STREAM
— “The Fall Guy” is finally coming to Peacock, where it will be streaming starting Friday, Aug. 30, alongside an “extended cut” version. It might not have reached the blockbuster heights the studio dreamed about during its theatrical run, but it’s pure delight: A comedy, action, romance that soars thanks to the charisma of its stars. Based on the 1980s Lee Majors television series (he gets a cameo), the film features Ryan Gosling as a stunt man, Emily Blunt as his director and dream girl, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as an egotistical movie star and “Ted Lasso’s” Hannah Waddingham as a Diet Coke slurping producer.
— Ishana Night Shyamalan’s thriller, “The Watchers,” in which Dakota Fanning plays an artist stranded in western Ireland where mysterious creatures lurk and stalk in the night, begins streaming on MAX on Friday, Aug. 30.
— Emma Stone gives a performance (and interpretive dance) worth watching in “ Kinds of Kindness,” her latest collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos fresh on the heels of her Oscar-winning turn in “Poor Things.” The film, streaming on Hulu on Friday, Aug. 30, is a triptych with a big ensemble cast including Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons (who won a prize for his performance at Cannes), Hong Chau, Margaret Qualley, Mamoudou Athie and Joe Alwyn. Jocelyn Noveck, in her Associated Press review, described it as “a meditation on our free will and the ways we willingly forfeit it to others — in the workplace, at home, and in religion.” Noveck wrote that the “Stone-Lanthimos pairing… is continuing to nurture an aspect of Stone’s talents that increasingly sets her apart: Her fearlessness and the obvious joy she derives from it.”
— Somehow the Yorgos Lanthimos film is not the most eccentric new streaming offering this week. That title goes to “ Sasquatch Sunset,” Nathan and David Zellner’s experimental film about a family of sasquatches just living their lives. Starring an essentially unrecognizable Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough (in addition to Nathan Zellner), this Sundance curiosity begins streaming on Paramount+ on Monday. In his review for the AP, Mark Kennedy wrote that it is “a bewildering 90-minute, narrator-less and wordless experiment that’s as audacious as it is infuriating. It’s not clear if everyone was high making it or we should be while watching it.”
— DJ and dance producer Zedd is back with an album after nearly a decade, “Telos.” The first single is the appropriately titled “Out of Time” featuring Bea Miller, a dreamy tune with atmospheric strings that builds into a dancefloor banger. Zedd has revealed that he started writing “Out Of Time” way back in 2015 but was never able to finish it. That changed with Bea — “her voice added an emotional depth that completed the song. ‘Out Of Time’ really encapsulates the DNA of the Telos album, which is why I chose it to be the song that introduces this new era,” he says.
— If you’re into a slower change of pace, check out John Legend, who releases his first children’s album, “My Favorite Dream,” on Friday, Aug. 30. It’s produced by the chamber pop polymath Sufjan Stevens and centers on universal themes like love, safety, family and dreams across nine original tracks, two covers, a solo piano track and three bonus covers of Fisher-Price songs.
— Get ready for a blast of K-pop — on your television. Apple TV+ has the six part documentary “K-Pop Idols,” a behind-the-scenes look at the highly competitive reality of K-pop stardom, starting Friday, Aug. 30. It features Jessi, CRAVITY and BLACKSWAN as they learn choreography and pull everything together to seize the stage. Producers say the series “follows the superstars through trials and triumphs, breaking down cultural and musical barriers in K-pop with passion, creativity and determination as they chase their dreams.”
— RZA takes a sharp turn as a classical composer with the album “A Ballet Through Mud.” The composition made its debut in the form of a ballet last year, performed by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Composed and scored by the Wu-Tang Clan star, the piece mirrors his journey from growing up in the projects in New York City to famous artist, “weaving in tales of love, loss, exploration, Buddhist monks, and a journey ‘through mud.‘” RZA says he began the project early in the pandemic after rediscovering notebooks full of lyrics he had written as a teenager. “The inspiration for ‘A Ballet Through Mud’ comes from my earliest creative output as a teenager, but its themes are universal — love, exploration, and adventure,” he says.
— Adam Sandler has the feels in his new Netflix special “Adam Sandler: Love You” featuring his standup and trademark comedy songs. It’s directed by Josh Safdie who — with his brother Benny — co-directed Sandler in the 2019 movie “Uncut Gems.” “Love You” is Sandler’s first comedy special since 2018. It premieres Tuesday on Netflix.
— Charles, Oliver and Mabel (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) head to Los Angeles in season four of “Only Murders in the Building,” because their podcast is being turned into a film. Their Hollywood life is interrupted when another murder occurs, meaning the trio has a new case to cover. Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis and Eva Longoria join the cast. “Only Murders in the Building” premieres Tuesday on Hulu.
— A new animated series in the “Terminator” universe comes to Netflix on Thursday. It follows new characters voiced by “House of the Dragon” actor Sonoya Mizuno, Timothy Olyphant, André Holland Rosario Dawson and Ann Dowd.
— Luke Skywalker may get the headlines, but the true MVPs of the Star Wars franchise are rascals like Han Solo and Lando Calrissian. Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws introduces a new scoundrel: Kay Vess, a young thief who’s trying to work her way up the galaxy’s crime syndicates and make the big score. She isn’t a Jedi or a Sith, but she knows how to fire a blaster and fly a spaceship. Outlaws comes from Massive Entertainment, the developers of Tom Clancy’s The Division, and it aims to spread Ubisoft’s brand of open-world adventure across multiple planets. It launches Friday, Aug. 30, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.
— Many gamers who grew up with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System remember 1993’s Secret of Mana as their introduction to a particular type of high-fantasy role-playing. It’s been 15 years since we’ve gotten a new chapter in the marquee Mana series, but Square Enix is finally delivering Visions of Mana. A youngster named Val is chosen to accompany his friend Hinna on a pilgrimage to the life-sustaining Mana Tree, and they’ll need to use magic and swordplay to fight all the monsters along the way. The lush, anime-style graphics are bound to stir memories in old-school RPG fans, starting Thursday, Aug. 29, on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S and PC.
Top British Fascist dismisses far right rioters as ‘slobs’, blaming their failure on lack of discipline and dress sense. Slams rioters for betraying true fascist tradition of being best dressed and coiffured extremists. Infamous Nazi war criminal agrees, arguing if you claim to be ‘Master Race’, you must look and dress like a ‘Master Race’, not a drunken rabble….
Are UK’s far right riots down to an outbreak of extreme idiocy? Top academic opines that country currently has surfeit of idiots susceptible to unattributed right-wing propaganda and racist rhetoric from public figures seeking to ferment unrest. Rioters claim that violence actually provoked by ‘woke’ police preventing them from burning down mosques….
What lies behind series of attacks on fishermen by mutated fish? As woman swimmer has bottom slapped by aquatic sex maniac’s tail and angler sexually assaulted by giant man-fish, marine biologist speculates that hormones in sewage spilled into sea could be behind creation of sex-obsessed mutant fish….
Britain’s top ghost hunter discusses his most mind-boggling cases. From toilet-blocking phantom stools in Trowbridge to the ghostly talking anus of Plymouth and the moaning nun of Minehead, our leading paranormal investigator explains why restless ghosts are moving into our modern, new build, houses….
The Getty Center’s “On Thin Ice – Dutch Depictions of Extreme Weather” includes “A Winter Scene with Two Gentlemen Playing Colf; Hendrick Avercamp (Dutch, 1585–1634); Pen and brown ink and translucent and opaque watercolor; Getty Museum; 2008.13” on exhibit through Sept. 1. (The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)
Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.
EVENTS
Ventura County Fair: The fair — celebrating its 150th anniversary — runs today-Aug. 11. Fair hours: noon-12 a.m. daily. Commercial and exhibit buildings and the barn close earlier. Check the website for “early bird” online fair admission and season passes; regular admission is $20; $15 ages 65 and older and ages 6-12 (venturacountyfair.org/fair/hours-and-days/). Carnival wristband are an extra fee. Check the website for PRCA Rodeo show times, $8 or $10 (rodeo tickets are additional and are good only for a specific time and date). Concerts are free with fair admission, but there is a VIP ticket option for purchase (venturacountyfair.org/fair/entertainment/). Parking is limited onsite. Check parking and shuttles here: venturacountyfair.org/fair/parking-shuttles. Ventura County Fair Grounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd, Ventura. venturacountyfair.org
Prosperity Market’s Black Business Scavenger Hunt: Take part in the 4th annual event to discover Black-owned businesses included restaurants, services and stores, Aug. 1-25. More than 100 Black-owned businesses in the Los Angeles area are taking part. Text #BBSH24 to 323-417-0465 to participate and earn points by texting the unique code for each business you visit. A pop-up finale market and block party and winners of the scavenger hunt will be revealed, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 1 (parking lot of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, 4427 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles). www.instagram.com/prosperity.market. www.prosperitymarketla.com/. Details on the event: www.prosperitymarketla.com/pages/events
Music Center’s Dance DTLA: Have fun learning new dance steps when expert dance instructors provide lessons and DJs spin the tunes, 7-11 p.m. on Fridays Aug. 16. Schedule: Samba, Aug. 2; Hip-Hop, Aug. 9; Disco, Aug. 16. Lessons are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Check the website for instructors and DJs. Dances are subject to change. Check the website for parking or taking the Metro. Jerry Moss Plaza at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla
National Night Out Against Crime and Drugs – Mission Hills: Neighbors in the Los Angeles Police Department Mission Community Police Station area gather together at a block party to meet-and-greet the senior lead police officers, learn about crime prevention and safety tips, and enjoy music by DJ Bobby Arias, raffle prizes and free food, 5-7 p.m. Aug. 6. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Bring a picnic dinner. No pets allowed. Brand Park, 15121 Brand Blvd. Betty Ley, 818-401-3272. Details on the flyer: www.mhnconline.org/event/national-night-out-6/
National Night Out with Burbank Police Department: Meet Burbank police officers, view police vehicles, community exhibitors, refreshments and giveaways, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Johnny Carson Park, 400 Bob Hope Drive. Burbank Police Department, Community Resource Officers, 818-238-3235. www.facebook.com/BurbankCA/
National Night Out – Northridge: Event includes community resources booths, a police vehicle display, a children’s bouncy house, popcorn and a screening of “Sing 2” (2021), 6 p.m. Aug. 6. Event is cosponsored by Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee’s office and Los Angeles Police Department Devonshire Community Police Station. Northridge Recreation Center, 18300 Lemarsh Ave. (at Reseda Boulevard). See the flyer: www.facebook.com/LAPDDevonshire/
National Night Out – Valley Village: Neighborhood Council Valley Village holds an event with music, food, raffles and a “Glow Stick” walk, 6 p.m. Aug. 6. Bring your own glow stick. Also, nonperishable food to be collected, and then donated to the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry (no glass bottles). Valley Village Park, 5000 Westpark Drive. Maribel Ulloa-Garcia, 818-759-8204 or email: maribelugncvv@gmail.com. www.myvalleyvillage.com.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival: The 82nd Nisei Week events include special cultural activities, entertainment and exhibits throughout Little Tokyo, Aug. 10-18. The Grand Parade, 4 p.m. Aug. 11. Festival map: https://niseiweek.org/festival/#map. 213-687-7183. Email: info@niseiweek.org. niseiweek.org
The “Natsumatsuri Family Festival” — at the Japanese American National Museum — includes cultural performances, activities and crafts, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 10. Free. Location, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. Details: www.janm.org/events/2024-08-10/2024-natsumatsuri-family-festival
Also, the Japanese American Community and Cultural Center (244 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles) has a schedule of activities, Aug. 10-18. The JACCC presents the “Plaza Festival” — Aug. 17-18 — that includes entertainment, food and shopping, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 17; and on the second day, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 18, a “Taiko Gathering,” with local Japanese drum groups. Details on the Aug. 10-18 schedule at the JACCC: jaccc.org/events/82nd-annual-nisei-week-jaccc/
Nisei Week Japanese Festival winds up with a closing ceremony and “Ondo Street Dance Party,” 3:45-7 p.m. Aug. 18 (First Street between Central Avenue and San Pedro Street). niseiweek.org
Grand Parade – Nisei Week Japanese Festival Grand Parade: The parade includes traditional Japanese taiko drum performers, local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives, and the newly crowned 2024 Nisei Week queen and court, 4 p.m. Aug. 11. Grand marshal is David Ono, KABC-7 news anchor, and the parade marshal is actress Amy Hill. The route begins at Central Avenue; on Central and heading west on Second Street; turning north on San Pedro Street; turning east on First Street; turning south and ending on Central Avenue. 213-687-7183. Email: info@niseiweek.org. niseiWeek.org. niseiweek.org/events/grand-parade/
The Big ‘I Do’ Wedding Experience – City of Santa Clarita: If you’re engaged to be married (or planning to propose), register by Aug. 16 to be a part of the City of Santa Clarita’s event in which multiple couple exchange their wedding vows, at the same time, and followed by a group wedding reception on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2025. Couples who register will automatically be entered in a raffle to win a custom wedding dress or suit. 661-651-0823. Read the details and register: santaclarita.gov/weddings
Wings Over Camarillo Air Show: The event includes aerial performances, a classic car and motorcycle show, vintage and present-day military aircraft display, a STEM pavilion and a “Veterans Hangar,” 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 17-18. Air show performances begin at noon. All ticketing is online. Admission, for one day and plus fee $30; $20 for active military with ID; $10 ages 6-16 (details and to purchase general admission here: tinyurl.com/mshrb8my). General admission ticket holders need to bring a blanket or chairs for seating (no personal umbrellas or tents; also, the viewing area is at the “East Ramp” only). VIP Chalet tickets (seats and VIP parking) $170 for Aug. 17 or $160 for Aug. 18; $90 for ages 3-12 for VIP Chalet tickets (see details and to purchase: tinyurl.com/4es28r25). No dogs or pets are allowed. Details on attending here: https://wingsovercamarillo.com/public-notice). Camarillo Airport, 555 Airport Way. Updates: www.facebook.com/WingsOverCamarillo. www.wingsovercamarillo.com
ART
ReflectSpace Gallery: New: “(Be)Longing: Asian Diasporic Crossing.” Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Exhibit runs through Sept. 22. The gallery is inside the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St. 818-548-2021. reflectspace.org. www.reflectspace.org/post/be-longing
ONGOING ART
Babst Gallery: “Athena LaTocha” and “Sarah M. Rodriguez.” Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; and by appointment. Exhibits run through Aug. 3. Location, 413 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. 424-600-2544. babstgallery.com/
Brand 52 – Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper: The 52nd annual show includes 102 artworks — 1,574 artworks were entered for this year’s show, the largest number submitted, and also the largest number to be chosen to be exhibited. The art was submitted by artists from across the United States and curated by art critic and curator Shana Nys Dambrot. Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through Aug. 9. Exhibit catalogs for sale: www.associatesofbrand.org. Brand Library and Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. 818-548-2051. www.brandlibrary.org
Michael Kohn Gallery: “Chiffon Thomas: Progeny.” Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Exhibit runs through Aug. 17. Location, 1227 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. 323-461-3311. www.kohngallery.com
David Kordansky Gallery: Three new exhibits at the gallery: “Curated by Rashid Johnson: Bruts,” a group show (tinyurl.com/3fdvp2wu); “William E. Jones: Saturn Comes Again (tinyurl.com/bzmfkbf2); “Simphiwe Mbunyuza: Intlombe” (tinyurl.com/338wj6d7). Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Exhibits run through Aug. 24. Location, 5130 W. Edgewood Place, Los Angeles. 323-935-3030. davidkordanskygallery.com
Artist Co-Op 7: “Touch of H’art,” interpretations of the natural world by local artists — Susan Ahdoot, Selina Cheng, Beverly Engelberg, Cheryl Mann, Debbi Saunders, Joi T. Wilson. Show is curated by artist Helen Kim. Gallery Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; closed on Sunday and holidays. Exhibit runs through Sept. 27. Encino Terrace, lobby gallery, 15821 Ventura Blvd. (between Densmore and Gloria avenues), Encino. Artist Co-op 7 contact, Jeanne Hahn, 818-885-8306 or jeannehahn@aol.com. www.co-op7.org
Visual Journey – Artist Co-Op 7: A virtual exhibit from 12 members of the group, through Sept. 30. The exhibit is held in conjunction with the San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center. https://www.co-op7.org. View the exhibit here: www.sfvacc.org/
BOOKS
Book Soup: Chris Nashawaty discusses and signs “The Future Was Now – Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982, 7 p.m. Aug. 1. David Alexander discusses his photography book “Pictures of Time,” 7 p.m. Aug. 2. Moon Unit Zappa discusses “Earth to Moon: A Memoir,” 7 p.m. Aug. 22 (ticketed event, $37.73, for admission and book; event is at the Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive; www.booksoup.com/event/moon-unit-zappa). Location, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-659-3110. www.booksoup.com
Diesel, A Bookstore: Jessica Knoll (“Bright Young Women”) and Sarah Pekkanen (“House of Glass”) discuss and sign their books, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Free seating is limited at the outdoor events. Purchase a book in advance to reserve a seat (click on the website’s tab for the author’s date). Location, 225 26th St., Santa Monica. 310-576-9960. www.dieselbookstore.com
Jay Ellis in Conversation with Issa Rae: Malik Books presents a book release event for Ellis’ “Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? Adventures in Boyhood,” 7 p.m. Aug. 13. Reservations required. Admission $60.52 (includes second-level seating and a sign book); VIP admission $92.52 (includes floor seating, signed book and backstage after-party). Also, an add-on option for the backstage after-party, $28.52 (must also purchase a general admission ticket). Location, The Miracle Theatre, 226 S. Market St., Inglewood. malikbooks.com. Details and to purchase admission on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/yu58xcch
An Evening with Nancy Pelosi: The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives discusses her new book “The Art of Power,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Tickets $44.52 for admission-only; $68 for admission and book. Books must be picked up at the program. Books will not be held or mailed. No refunds. Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. Eighth St., Los Angeles. ebellofla.org/event/the-ebell-of-la-writers-bloc-speaker-emerita-nancy-pelosi-08-15-24/
CHARITY/FUNDRAISER/VOLUNTEER
Brody Stevens Festival of Friendship Walk and Softball Game: A fundraiser for Comedy Gives Back, an organization that provides help for comedians who need mental health or addiction services/treatment, Aug. 17. The Friendship Walk – 1.5 miles around Reseda Recreation Center (between the pond and the baseball field) – begins with check-in or day-of-event registration, 1-2 p.m.; walk takes place, 2 p.m. A post-walk rally includes guest speakers, comedians, music and food trucks. The “star-studded” comedians vs comedians softball game, 5 p.m. (at the Dodgers Dreamfield Little League field behind Brody’s bench. The late stand-up comedian, who died in 2019, attended Reseda High School. Walk entry fee $40 in advance; $50 on Aug. 17. Location, 18411 Victory Blvd., Reseda. Information about Comedy Gives Back, www.comedygivesback.com. Details and to register for the walk (or give a donation): https://givebutter.com/BrodyStevensWalk
Community Bingo Night: American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 in La Crescenta host the 12th annual Bingo Night fundraiser for veterans’ programs in the local area, 6 p.m. Aug. 18. Doors open, 4:30 p.m. Admission $25 (food available for purchase and the event includes raffles). Purchase tickets in advance from members of the AL Post 288 or VFW Post 1614. Also, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Crescenta Valley Weekly Newspaper, 3800 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Location, Healy Hall at Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, 2361 Del Mar Road, Montrose (enter Healy Hall from Briggs and Mayfield avenues). Dick Clubb, 818-384-5761.
Brody Stevens 818 Festival of Friendship Comedy Show: The late comedian is remembered with humor and love, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Minimum age: 21. Tickets $35.05 and up (Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/818-2024) . Two-drink minimum. Proceeds go to Comedy Gives Back mental health programs. Comedy Store, Main Room, 8433 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. https://thecomedystore.com/calendar/the-main-room/
DINING
Brew at the L.A. Zoo: The Los Angeles Zoo holds the event with samples of beers, DJs (Tyler Boudreaux, Raul Campos, Johnny Hawks), the band Arena, and food for purchase, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3. Minimum age to attend: 21 (must show a valid ID). Tickets $75; VIP $175 (includes early entry at 6 p.m.; a lounge area with drinks and food; animal keeper talks; other perks when choosing a VIP ticket). Purchase standard tickets in advance to avoid lines; also, no VIP tickets available at the door. Details on beers and other beverages: tinyurl.com/yc47phtw. Facts about the event: tinyurl.com/49kkse87. Location, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. www.lazoo.org. https://lazoo.org/plan-your-visit/special-experiences/brew2024/
Smorgasburg Los Angeles: The outdoor food and drink market has an “Ice Cream Alley” vendor area, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 4 (and all other Sundays through Sept. 1). Check the website or Facebook for vendors. Free admission. No pets allowed at this venue. Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles. la.smorgasburg.com and www.facebook.com/SmorgasburgLA/
Charles Phoenix – Southern California in Kodachrome: The pop culture author and entertaining lecturer presents a retro slideshow of 1950-1960s cultural scene through Kodachrome slides, 7 p.m. Aug. 7. The Getty Center offers this mid-century lecture for free (an advance ticket is required) or watch online on Zoom (register in advance for the link). Details and to register for in-person or the Zoom link: tinyurl.com/3xrc2ree. About Charles Phoenix: https://charlesphoenix.com/. Getty parking: www.getty.edu/visit/center/parking-and-transportation. The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive (at North Sepulveda Boulevard), Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. www.getty.edu.
Distinguished Speaker Series of Southern California: The 2024-25 season of speakers: Trevor Noah, Oct. 15; Malcolm Gladwell, Nov. 19; Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Jan. 14; Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko, Feb. 11; Zanny Minton Beddoes, April 22; Emily Chang, May 6. Subscription packages on sale for the series, $210 and up (no single tickets are sold). Programs begin at 7:30 p.m. and there will be a question and answer session. Details and information for the Long Beach, Pasadena and Redondo Beach location talks: www.speakersla.com/faq/. Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Kavli Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 805-449-2787. bapacthousandoaks.com. www.speakersla.com/locations/thousand-oaks/
Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Rain or shine. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. www.instagram.com/mainst.canogaparkfarmersmarket
El Nido Farmers Market – Pacoima: El Nido Family Centers and the City of Los Angeles present the market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, Pacoima Family Source Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market
Encino Farmers Market: ONEgeneration presents the market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Location, 17400 Victory Blvd. (between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue). Farmers market manager, 818-708-6611 or email: farmersmarket@onegeneration.org. www.onegeneration.org/farmers-market/
Good Times Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles Valley College, parking lot A, 5800 Fulton Ave. (at Burbank Boulevard), Valley Glen. Email: goodtimesfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Instagram: tinyurl.com/mrxcaxrn
NoHo Summer Nights Movie – Valley Cultural Foundation: “Barbie” (2023, 8 p.m. Aug. 10 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-noho-movie-barbie/). Free. Bring a blanket or low-back lawn chair for seating. Upcoming: “Coco” (2017), Aug. 24. North Hollywood Recreation Center (behind the North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Public Library), 11455 Magnolia Blvd. Check upcoming movies and concerts here: https://valleycultural.org/concerts-events/noho-summer-nights/.
MUSEUM
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Ongoing special exhibits: “Outside the Mainstream,” through Aug. 4. “Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema,” through Aug. 4. “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” through Aug. 4. “Significant Movies and Movie Makers,” three exhibits through Jan. 4, 2026: “Casablanca,” “Boyz n the Hood,” and Lourdes Portillo.” Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and Monday. Admission $25; $19 ages 62 and older; $15 students, age 18 and older with ID; free for ages 17 and younger. Location, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Fairfax Avenue), Los Angeles. 323-930-3000. academymuseum.org
African American Firefighter Museum: Artifacts, fire apparatus, pictures and stories about African American Los Angeles firefighters. Hours: timed entry admission, 1, 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday (make a reservation on Eventbrite here: tinyurl.com/4dx5xxhk). Donation. Location, 1401 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-744-1730. https://www.aaffmuseum.org/
Autry Museum of the American West: Museum hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older, and ages 13-18 and also students older than 18 with ID; $8 ages 3-12 (theautry.org/visit). Location, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org
Bolton Hall Museum: Hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free admission; $5 donation is appreciated. Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. 818-352-3420. Email: llhs@boltonhall.org. www.facebook.com/boltonhallmuseum and www.boltonhall.org
California African American Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Tatyana Fazlalizadeh: Speaking to Falling Seeds,” through Aug. 3. “Paula Wilson: Toward the Sky’s Back Door,” through Aug. 18 (caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2024/paula-wilson-toward-the-sky-s-back-door). Also, “Simone Leigh,” a traveling exhibit, co-presented with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (artwork to be presented at both museums), through Jan. 20, 2025 (caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2024/simone-leigh). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Parking $20 before 5 p.m.; $24 after 5 p.m. (in Exposition Park). Location, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles (in Exposition Park). 213-744-7432. www.caamuseum.org and www.facebook.com/CAAMinLA/
California Science Center: Ongoing special exhibit: “Leonardo Da Vinci: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.,” through Sept. 2 (californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/leonardo-da-vinci-inventor-artist-dreamer). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is free to the center’s permanent galleries, but there is a charge for special exhibits. Admission to the “Leonardo Da Vinci” exhibit: $22.95 ages 18-64; $20.95 ages 65 and older and students ages 13-17 with ID; $15.95 ages 3-12; (timed tickets are required for special exhibits, and also the Imax Theater; californiasciencecenter.org/visit). Location, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. californiasciencecenter.org
Craft Contemporary: Ongoing special exhibits: “Kyungmi Shin: Origin Stories” (www.craftcontemporary.org/exhibitions/kyungmi-shin-origin-stories) and “3B Collective: Highway Hypnosis,” with artwork from members of the Los Angeles-based 3B Collective — Adrian Alfaro, Aaron Douglas Estrada, Alfredo D. Diaz, Alexa Ramírez Posada, Oscar Magallanes, Rubén Ortiz-Torres — (www.craftcontemporary.org/exhibitions/highway-hypnosis). Both exhibits run through Sept. 8. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission $9; $7 ages 65 and older and students; free for ages 12 and younger. Location, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. www.craftcontemporary.org
Discovery Cube Los Angeles – Sylmar: Ongoing special exhibit: “Expedition: Dinosaur!” through Sept. 2. The Discovery Cube has ongoing exhibits that aim to make science fun for children. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $18 ages 15-61; $17 ages 62 and older; $16 ages 3-14. Location, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. www.facebook.com/TheDiscoveryCube and www.discoverycube.org
The Getty Center: Ongoing special exhibits: “The Book of Marvels – Wonder and Fear in the Middle Ages,” through Aug. 25. “On Thin Ice – Dutch Depictions of Extreme Weather,” through Sept. 1. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. Free admission but a timed-ticket admission is required (tinyurl.com/yu6fsv3s). Parking $25 (www.getty.edu/visit/center/parking-and-transportation). Location, 1200 Getty Center Drive (at North Sepulveda Boulevard), Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. www.getty.edu
The Getty Villa: Ongoing special exhibits: “Picture Worlds: Greek, Maya, and Moche Pottery,” through July 29 (www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/picture_worlds). “Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt,” through Jan. 25, 2027. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. Free admission, but a timed-entry reservation is required. Parking $25. Location, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Grammy Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Roxy: 50 and Still Rockin’,” through Sept. 2 (grammymuseum.org/event/50andstillrockin). “Hip-Hop America: The Mix Tape Exhibit,” through Sept. 4 (grammymuseum.org/exhibit/hip-hop-america-the-mixtape-exhibit). Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Admission $18; $15 ages 65 and older; $12 ages 5-17 and college students with ID. Location, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-725-5700. grammymuseum.org
Italian American Museum Los Angeles: Ongoing special exhibit: “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon,” through Oct. 13 (tinyurl.com/mrrb4pbh). Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission free; donations requested. Location, 644 N. Main St., Los Angeles. 213-485-8432. www.iamla.org
Japanese American National Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Giant Robot Biennale 5,” an exhibit of art by Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, Yoskay Yamamoto (co-presented by Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot), through Sept. 1. “J.T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist,” photography exhibit by the late James Tadanao Sata (1896-1975), through Sept. 1. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday; closed on national holidays (www.janm.org/visit). Admission: $16; $9 ages 62 and older and children; free for ages 5 and younger (timed advance tickets are recommended). Location, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-625-0414. Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamuseum and janm.org
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum: Museum hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except closed on the first Tuesday of the month and national holidays. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older and students ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required (tarpits.org/plan-your-visit/la-brea-tar-pits-buy-tickets). Parking $18. Location, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-763-3499. tarpits.org/
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes: Permanent exhibits: “LA Starts Here!” “Calle Principal: Mi México en Los Ángeles.” Hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles. www.lapca.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Ongoing special exhibits: “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting,” through Aug. 4. “Vincent Valdez and Ry Cooder: El Chavez Ravine,” through Aug. 11. “Ed Ruscha/Now Then,” through Oct. 6. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Plan your visit information here: bit.ly/2P3c7iR. Admission $23; $19 ages 65 and older and students ages 18 and older with a valid ID; free for ages 17 and younger (reserving/purchasing an advance, timed-entry online is recommended; these prices are for residents of Los Angeles County with an ID). Location, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-857-6010. www.lacma.org
Martial Arts History Museum: Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission $12; $5 ages 6-17. Location, 201 N. Brand Blvd. (corner of North Brand and Wilson Street; use entrance at 111 Wilson St.), Glendale. 818-245-6051. www.facebook.com/martialartshistorymuseum. martialartsmuseum.com/
Museum of Contemporary Art: Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is free but an advance online timed-entry ticket is required. Special exhibits are $18; $10 seniors and students; free for ages 11 and younger. Locations: the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles; MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 213-633-5351. www.moca.org/visit
Museum of the San Fernando Valley: Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free admission; donations appreciated. Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 18904 Nordhoff St. (southwest corner of Nordhoff and Wilbur Avenue), Northridge. 818-347-9665. themuseumsfvnow.org/
Natural History Museum Los Angeles County: Ongoing special exhibit: “Butterfly Pavilion,” through Aug. 25. Admission to this special exhibit is $8 by a timed ticket (30-minute time slot) and also, a general museum admission is required (nhm.org/plan-your-visit/nhm-buy-tickets). Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday (closed on Tuesday). Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required. Location, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhmlac.org
Petersen Automotive Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Eyes on the Road: Art of the Automotive Landscape,” through Nov. 2024. “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show,” through April 2025. “GM’s Marvelous Motorama: Dream Cars from the Joe Bortz Collection,” 6 concept cars from the 1950s, through March 2026 (www.petersen.org/gms-marvelous-motorama-exhibit). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $21; $19 ages 62 and older; $13 ages 12-17; $12 ages 4-11. Location, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-930-2277. www.petersen.org
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Star Wars and SDI: Defending America and the Galaxy,” through Sept. 8. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Jan. 1). Admission: $25; $22 ages 62 and older; $18 ages 11-17; $15 ages 3-10 (purchase online here: tinyurl.com/mry5ne9h). Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. www.reaganfoundation.org
Skirball Cultural Center: Ongoing special exhibit: “Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak,” through Sept. 1 (www.skirball.org/museum/wild-things-are-happening-art-maurice-sendak). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed for Jewish and national holidays (www.skirball.org/visit). Admission $18; $13 seniors, full time students with ID and ages 2-17 www.skirball.org/visit). Admission for the “Noah’s Ark at the Skirball” is an extra charge and by a timed-entry (purchase online). Location, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-440-4500. skirball.org
Valley Relics Museum: Take a trip down San Fernando Valley memory lane, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 3-4 (see website for other dates). Admission $15 and up. The museum is located at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Hangar C3 and C4, entrance is on Stagg Street, Van Nuys. Purchase tickets at the door or online. 818-616-4083. www.facebook.com/valleyrelics and valleyrelicsmuseum.org
Wende Museum of the Cold War: Ongoing special exhibits: “Undercurrents I: Stories, Symbols and Sounds,” through Sept. 15. (wendemuseum.org/exhibition/undercurrents-i/). “Visions of Transcendence: Creating Space in East and West,” through Sept. 15 (tinyurl.com/2ef586nh). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday (wendemuseum.org/about-us/visit). Free admission. Location, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. 310-216-1600. 310-216-1600. Email: visit@wendemuseum.org. wendemuseum.org
MUSIC
Waahli – Sunset Concerts at Skirball Cultural Center: 8 p.m. Aug. 1. Doors open, 6:30 p.m., for exploring museum exhibits, and for purchasing food and beverages. Free walk-up tickets; first-come, first-served. Parking $20 (no street parking). Upcoming: Vagabon, Aug. 8; DJs Jauretsi and TossTones, Aug. 16. Location, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-440-4500. skirball.org. www.skirball.org/programs/sunset-concerts-el-laberinto-del-coco
Anna Kovaleva and Elena Kovaleva: The pianist and violinist, respectively, perform a recital, 1 p.m. Aug. 3. Platt Branch Library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. Details: tinyurl.com/yj64u5v2
Concerts at Warner Park – Valley Cultural Foundation: Wanted, a tribute to the band Bon Jovi, with emerging artist Saticöy, Aug. 4 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-wanted-bon-jovi-tribute/). Emerging artists perform, 5:30 p.m., followed by the headliner (concerts end at 8:30 p.m.). Upcoming: ABBA-LA, a tribute to ABBA, with emerging artist Tomorrow’s Tigers, Aug. 11 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-abba-la/). Free admission (bring your own blanket or low-back chair for seating). Or: $20 VIP seat; $35 VIP seat and paid parking (purchase in advance). Parking: event parking begins at 4 p.m. (see the website for address and more information). See more concerts at Warner Park on the website. Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-888-0822. www.valleycultural.org
Concerts in the Park – Chumash Park: Blank Space, music of Taylor Swift, 6 p.m. Aug. 4. Upcoming: The Yacht Groove, Aug. 18. Free admission ($2 suggested donation). Bring a blanket or low-back lawn chair for seating. Food available for purchase or bring a picnic. Location, 5550 Medea Valley Drive, Agoura Hills. Click on Events: www.agourahillscity.org/department/community-services-parks-recreation
Reggae on the Mountain XII – The Homecoming: The line up includes Steel Pulse, Don Carlos, Marlon Asher, Empress Akura, Quinto Sol, Neighborhood Orchestra, Mestizo Beat, Irie Nature and Jah Faith, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 17. There will be a children’s area, beverage, food and non-food vendors. Bring a low-back chair for seating. No animals allowed. Purchase tickets in advance: $90.74; VIP $272.60. Topanga Community Club, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Information on attending, parking, shuttles and map: www.reggaeonthemountain.com/info. Updates: www.facebook.com/reggaeonthemountainfestival. www.reggaeonthemountain.com
THEATER
The Grown-Ups: Baby Teeth present the Los Angeles premiere of a play by Skylar Fox and Simon Henriques about a group of summer camp counselors who have decisions to make when an emergency occurs, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 and 8. Minimum age: 13. The play is performed outdoors around a campfire. Tickets $25. Location, Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N. New Hampshire Ave., Los Angeles. Details and to purchase tickets on Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/h2enj7uj
ONGOING THEATER
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The play by William Shakespeare, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, 15 and 29; 7 p.m. Sept. 2; 3:30 p.m. Sept. 8; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/a-midsummer-nights-dream/. www.theatricum.com
The Winter’s Tale: The play by William Shakespeare, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 and 16; 3:30 p.m. Aug. 24; 3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and 15; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/the-winters-tale. www.theatricum.com
Wendy’s Peter Pan: A retelling of J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan,” by Ellen Geer, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 25; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1, 8, 14, 21, 28; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/wendys-peter-pan/. www.theatricum.com
Tartuffe – Born Again: The play by Molière, translated from the original French and adapted by Freyda Thomas, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11; 3:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 25; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30; and other dates through Oct. 13. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/tartuffe-born-again/. www.theatricum.com
Submit calendar listings at least two weeks in advance to holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.
Paging Nurse John, you’re due to begin your shift in Orlando
Social media personality John Dela Cruz, best known for making relatable and humorous nurse content on various platforms, is heading out on his first-ever tour — and it’s coming to Orlando.
The “Short-Staffed Tour,” will see Cruz use the best coping mechanism available for someone working a job in healthcare: comedy.
Widely known as Nurse John, Cruz is a licensed nurse and uses his platform to make playful videos touching on the challenges he faces as a nurse. Often using a dramatic eye-bag filter on TikTok (and usually holding an energy drink), Cruz quickly grew a sizeable online fanbase.
Along with relatable videos, Cruz hosts a podcast that has amassed more than 3 million downloads called “I Beg Your Pardon.” Using this podcast as a form of therapy, he pokes fun at and complains about the ever-growing list of struggles that comes with working in the healthcare field.
With his first-ever tour, Cruz brings the daily aggravations of being a nurse to the stage. The show will include new material written exclusively for the tour, and those with VIP tickets will get the chance to meet Cruz and spill the workplace tea backstage — just make sure you don’t violate HIPPA.
Join Nurse John in using laughter as a coping mechanism on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased through the venue’s website.
Fugitive ex-Marine claims Trump assassination attempt faked – alleges that he shot Trump months ago, but both targets were actually inflatable decoys! Other conspiracy theorists assert that whole thing pre-recorded in film studio – like the fake moon landings – with crisis actors. Question remains – if only fake Trump targeted, where is the real Trump?
Natalie Portman starring in her first TV series in “Lady in the Lake” for Apple TV+ and Roland Emmerich’s gladiator series “Those About to Die” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Kerry Washington’s comedy “UnPrisoned” returns for a second season, Daisy Ridley stars as the trailblazing deep sea swimmer Trudy Ederle in ”Young Woman and the Sea” and Donald Glover releases his last album under his Childish Gambino moniker.
— If you loved the adrenaline rush of watching Alex Honnold scale El Capitan in “Free Solo,” Netflix has a treat for you. This time the heights are manmade but no less harrowing. In “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist takes viewers into the dangerous world of rooftoppers – the daredevils who scale the world’s tallest buildings. The subjects in “Skywalkers,” streaming on Netflix starting Friday, July 19, are Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus who are not only talented rooftoppers but also in a relationship (hence the “love story” in the title) with own ups and downs. Part heist movie, part dazzling spectacle thanks to incredible Go-Pro footage, part relationship drama, it is a no-brainer of a click.
— Daisy Ridley stars as the trailblazing deep sea swimmer Trudy Ederle in ”Young Woman and the Sea,” a very well made and inspiring sports drama that harkens back to the live-action movies Disney used to make in the early ’90s like “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.” Accessible for the whole family, the movie follows Ederle from her childhood to the Olympics and finally on her quest to become the first woman to swim the English Channel, in 1926. It had a somewhat quiet theatrical release after producer Jerry Bruckheimer found it got the best test scores of his career. But now it’ll be available for all, on Disney+, on Friday July 19.
— MAX has a few good new offerings, too, with the streaming premiere of “ Love Lies Bleeding ” (one of the AP’s favorites of the year so far) on Friday, July 19 and “The Commandant’s Shadow” on Thursday. The former is the sophomore feature of filmmaker Rose Glass, who directs Kristen Stewart in a wildly compelling performance as a gym manager who has fallen for a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brien) drifter. Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that it “gives Stewart a vivid noir sandbox where all of her talent for obsession, desire and rage finds its gnarliest expression yet.” The latter is a documentary in which the son of Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss (also the subject of the Oscar-winning “The Zone of Interest” ) reckons with his family’s past.
— And finally Prime Video has the sequel “My Spy: The Eternal City,” in which Dave Bautista’s CIA agent JJ accompanies Sophie (Chloe Coleman) on a school trip to Italy where they get caught up in a terrorist plot. Kristen Schaal, Ken Jeong, Anna Faris and Craig Robinson co-star in the Pete Segal pic which is available starting Thursday.
— In October, the Miami rap duo City Girls – made up of JT and Yung Miami – released their third album, “RAW.” The release, which embraced their spirited party records and moments of real vulnerability, followed a few years of true virality, deserved through hit tracks like 2018’s “Act Up.” But it appears all wasn’t great behind the scenes, and the duo are no longer together. But on Friday, July 19, JT will release her first mixtape as a solo artist, the 19-track “City Cinderella.” “Okay,” the lead single from the release, features Jeezy — a fiery declaration of being a heck of a lot better than just OK.
— Next week Childish Gambino will release his sixth studio album, “Bardo Stone & the New World,” what is being touted as his final album under Donald Glover’s Childish Gambino moniker. It also serves as the soundtrack to his forthcoming film of the same name. The lead track, “Lithonia,” is anthemic synth-rock, like Glover’s own take on Britpop-punk. It was co-produced by Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin, and Michael Uzowuru. A surprising turn, to be sure.
— Six of the year members of BTS are currently serving South Korea’s mandatory national service. (Jin, the oldest at 31, finished his 18-month military service last month. He will be an Olympic torchbearer at the Paris games.) But that doesn’t mean their slowing down their musical output. Jimin is preparing to release his second solo album, “Muse.” Using “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band,” featuring rapper Loco, as evidence, this release is all rosy cheeked pop songs about love and crushing. Just don’t get a cavity with all that sweetness.
— Rarely does a new artist emerge with such ambition: “I’ll Always Come Find You,” the debut album from LA rapper and singer BLXST, is a concept record of sorts that follows a protagonist named Birdie, who inherits his late father’s chauffeur car service and meets a handful of interesting personalities in the backseat. Across 20 tracks — boasting of collaborations with everyone from 2 Chainz, Amanda Reifer, Becky G, Anderson .Paak and Feid to Kamasi Washington, Offset and Ty Dolla $ign. BLXST traverses genre with the ease of a veteran artist.
— Also out Friday, July 19: Austin artist BLK ODYSSY’s latest, “1-800 FANTASY.” The eclectic release veers across his chosen genres: R&B, hip-hop, funk, neo-soul, and jazz — without ever sacrificing his earworm hooks. Start with the breakup banger “Changes.”
— Kerry Washington’s comedy “UnPrisoned” returns for a second season Wednesday on Hulu. She plays Paige, a single mom raising a teenage son who is thrown a curveball when her dad (played by Delroy Lindo) moves in after he’s released from prison. Paige works as a therapist but has personal issues of her own to work through, including fears of abandonment. The series was created by writer Terry McMillan, who tapped into her own experience growing up in the foster care system because her own father was incarcerated.
— There’s a catchphrase where people share random points in time or moments in pop culture that they think about often and describe it as their Roman Empire. By those standards, director Roland Emmerich’s Roman Empire is… the Roman Empire. Known for big budget disaster flicks like “Independence Day” and “Godzilla,” Emmerich’s first foray into television is a topic that he says has long intrigued him, the Roman Empire. “Those About to Die” is a gladiator series set in ancient Rome during the Flavian era. The cast includes Anthony Hopkins, Iwan Rheon, Dimitri Leonidas, Jojo Macari and Tom Hughes. All 10 episodes stream Thursday on Peacock.
— Part 1 of the sixth and final season of “Cobra Kai” launches Thursday on Netflix. Taking place decades after the first “Karate Kid” movie, the series follows Ralph Macchio and William Zabka’s characters Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. It’s taken years, but they’re finally on the same side of the Cobra Kai dojo — as senseis who teach teens karate. They also have a common enemy in John Cleese’s Martin Kove. The show artfully weaves characters from the original movies into its storylines. Co-creator Jon Hurwitz calls it the Miyagiverse.
— Natalie Portman stars in her first TV series in “Lady in the Lake” for Apple TV+. The show is based on a book by Laura Lippman. Set in 1960s Baltimore, Portman plays a bored housewife and mother whose obsession with two local murders prompts her to leave her family to become an investigative journalist. Moses Ingram (“The Queen’s Gambit) also co-stars with Y’lan Noel of “Insecure.” “Lady in the Lake” debuts Friday, July 19.
— Alicia Rancilio
— It’s been more than a decade since we’ve been able to enjoy college football on a video game console, and a lot has changed. For starters, the real-life amateurs can now make a few bucks. That’s good news for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter and Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, the cover models for EA Sports College Football 25. The long-awaited reboot lets you play as a coach, building a team from scratch, or as a player, fighting your way to the Heisman Trophy. Or you can just go back to your old school — 134 are represented — and enjoy all the atmosphere, fight songs and mascots you expect on an autumn Saturday. The season kicks off Friday, July 19, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S.
— Capcom’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an intriguing experiment from the company known for blockbusters like Resident Evil. It takes place on a mountain ruled by a mystical maiden, but it’s under attack from evil forces called the Seethe. During the day, your job is to rescue villagers who have been possessed by demons. After sunset, you and the villagers join forces to protect the maiden from defilement by the Seethe. The result is a curious blend of the real-time strategy and tower defense genres, with lush graphics inspired by Japanese folklore. The fight begins Friday, July 19, on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One and PC.
Following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump, The Daily Show is reevaluating their coverage of the Republican National Convention. The plan had been to film a week of shows in Milwaukee, concluding with a live ep hosted by Jon Stewart. That plan is now a no-go, per Deadline. Instead, the show will go dark Monday, followed by episodes in New York Tuesday-Thursday. Stewart may take over hosting duties as early as Tuesday. TDS expressed apologies on social media for not having an immediate plan for how to handle yet another unprecedented event in politics. “Our apologies for the inconvenience,” it read, “but due to logistical issues and the evolving situation in Milwaukee, we need to reschedule our events on the ground in Wisconsin and will look to make those up in the coming weeks.”
How other shows will handle the shooting/the convention is not yet known. Security at the RNC is expected to be tightened. Per Deadline, Stephen Colbert is still expected to do live episode after every night of the convention. These eps were always planned to take place in New York rather than on the road.
Gabbi Beauvais, as Peter Pan, and Quinnlyn Scheppner, as Wendy, in “Wendy’s Peter Pan” at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum on various dates through Oct. 4 in Topanga. (Photo by Ian Flanders/Courtesy of Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum)
Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.
EVENTS
Wizard of Oz – 85th anniversary celebration: The Museum of the San Fernando Valley presents an outdoor screening of the 1939 movie, 8:15 p.m. July 11. The museum’s event begins with a program by Elaine Horn, a Judy Garland-as Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” impersonator, 6:15 p.m., plus a raffle and silent auction of “Wizard of Oz” movie memorabilia. Prepaid tickets $10 ages 12 and older; free for ages 11 and younger. Bring a blanket for lawn seating. The event is a fundraiser for the museum. Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 9015 Wilbur Ave. (at the corner of Nordhoff Street), Northridge. 818-754-4400. Email: themuseumsfv@gamil.com. Details and to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/5ewtctbf
Music Center’s Dance DTLA: Have fun learning new dance steps when expert dance instructors provide dance lessons and DJs spin the tunes, 7-11 p.m. on Fridays through Aug. 16. Schedule: Reggaeton, July 12; Colombian Cumbia, July 19; Line Dance, July 26; Samba, Aug. 2; Hip-Hop, Aug. 9; Disco, Aug. 16. Lessons are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Check the website for instructors and DJs. Dances are subject to change. Check the website for parking or taking the Metro. Jerry Moss Plaza at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. www.musiccenter.org/dancedtla
Lotus Festival in Echo Park – People and Culture of the Philippines: The 43rd festival, celebrating the cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands, focuses this year on the Philippines, noon-9 p.m. July 13 and noon-8 p.m. July 14. Event includes artisan and boutique booths, art demonstrations, community booths, the host country’s pavilion, dragon boat races and food. Free admission. The “Lights of Dreams Water Lantern Festival” requires a ticket in advance; information and cost on Eventbrite here: tinyurl.com/38xjvenw. Echo Park Lake, 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. 213-485-5027. https://culture.lacity.gov/event/43rd-lotus-festival/2024-07-13/. www.laparks.org/lotusfestival
Valley Vibes Market – Autry Museum of the American West: The outdoor event includes handcrafted items marketplace, music, a bar and food trucks, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 14. Free admission and parking. Location: Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. https://theautry.org/events/family-activities/valley-vibes-market
The Gentle Barn: Visit rescued farm animals while supporting the organization’s ongoing mission to care for these animals, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 14 (and other Sundays). Reservations, by a timed-entry, are required in advance. Also, check the website’s calendar for special tour options and programs. Admission $26.50 ages 13 and older; $16 ages 2-12. Location, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita. https://www.gentlebarn.org/california/
Oxnard Salsa Festival: A celebration of the condiment, the music and the dance — the festival returns after 5 years — plus a marketplace of beverage, food and retail vendors, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. July 27-28. See the website for bands and their schedule. Admission $9.98 ages 13 and older; free admission for ages 12 and younger. General admission price includes live entertainment, access to beverage, food and vendor market (does not include salsa tasting). The “Salsa Tasting Lounge” ($28.98, includes festival entry, salsa tasting and additional perks). See the website for a VIP admission option. Plaza Park, 500 S. C St., Oxnard. oxnardsalsafestival.com
ART
Brand 52 – Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper: The 52nd annual show includes 102 artworks — 1,574 artworks were entered for this year’s show, the largest number submitted, and also the largest number to be chosen to be exhibited. The art was submitted by artists from across the United States and curated by art critic and curator Shana Nys Dambrot. Gallery hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Exhibit runs through Aug. 9. Exhibit catalogs for sale: www.associatesofbrand.org. Brand Library and Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale. 818-548-2051. www.brandlibrary.org
Visual Journey – Artist Co-Op 7: A virtual exhibit from 12 members of the group, through Sept. 30. The exhibit is held in conjunction with the San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center. https://www.co-op7.org. View the exhibit here: www.sfvacc.org/
ReflectSpace Gallery: “(Be)Longing: Asian Diasporic Crossing.” Opening reception, 6:30 p.m. July 27. Gallery hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Exhibit runs through Sept. 22. The gallery is inside the Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St. 818-548-2021. reflectspace.org. www.reflectspace.org/post/be-longing
Babst Gallery: “Athena LaTocha” and “Sarah M. Rodriguez.” Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; and by appointment. Exhibits run through Aug. 3. Location, 413 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. 424-600-2544. babstgallery.com/
Michael Kohn Gallery: “Chiffon Thomas: Progeny.” Gallery hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Exhibit runs through Aug. 17. Location, 1227 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. 323-461-3311. www.kohngallery.com
Artist Co-Op 7: “Touch of H’art,” interpretations of the natural world by local artists — Susan Ahdoot, Selina Cheng, Beverly Engelberg, Cheryl Mann, Debbi Saunders, Joi T. Wilson. Show is curated by artist Helen Kim. Gallery Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; closed on Sunday and holidays. Exhibit runs through Sept. 27. Encino Terrace, lobby gallery, 15821 Ventura Blvd. (between Densmore and Gloria avenues), Encino. Artist Co-op 7 contact, Jeanne Hahn, 818-885-8306 or jeannehahn@aol.com. www.co-op7.org
BOOKS
Book Soup: Carol Mitchell discusses “What Start Bad a Mornin,’” 7 p.m. July 11. Mateo Askaripour discusses his novel “This Great Hemisphere,” 7 p.m. July 12. Carol Conners, with Steve Bergsman, discuss and sign “Elvis, Rocky & Me,” 7 p.m. July 15. Adam Sass discusses “Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts,” 7 p.m. July 16. Ruth Madievsky discusses “All-Night Pharmacy,” 7 p.m. July 17. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-659-3110. www.booksoup.com
Diesel, A Bookstore: Deborah Stoll discusses and signs “Drop in: The Gender Rebels Who Changed the Face of Skateboarding,” 6:30 p.m. July 18. Sarah Manguso discusses and signs “Liars,” 6:30 p.m. July 23. Andrea Freeman discusses and signs “Ruin Their Crops on the Ground: The Politics of Food in the United States, from the Trail of Tears to School Lunch,” 6:30 p.m. July 24. Free seating is limited at the outdoor events. Purchase a book in advance to reserve a seat (click on the website’s tab for the author’s date). Location, 225 26th St., Santa Monica. 310-576-9960. www.dieselbookstore.com
Markar Melkonian: Discusses and signs “The Wrong Train: Notes on Armenia Since the Counterrevolution,” 7 p.m. July 19. Presented by Abril Bookstore. Location, Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange St., Glendale. 818-243-4112. www.abrilbooks.com
Autobooks-Aerobooks: Dave Wolin discusses and signs Ascot Chronicles — The People Who Made it Happen,” 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 20. Location, 2900 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. 818-845-0707. www.autobooks-aerobooks.com
Friends of the North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Branch Library used book sale: The group holds the sale, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 20. Members of the Friends of the North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Library get a members-only preview sale, 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. (join at the door to become a member; yearly membership $10; $5 seniors). Cash or check only. Location, 5211 Tujunga Ave. 818-766-7185. www.lapl.org/branches/north-hollywood
Ken Khachigian: California attorney, political consultant and speechwriter discusses his book “Behind Closed Doors – In the Room with Reagan & Nixon,” 6 p.m., followed by a booksigning, 7 p.m. July 30. Register in advance to attend and pre-purchase the book online (only books bought at the Ronald Reagan Library Museum store will be eligible for the booksigning). Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. www.reaganfoundation.org. Details, register and pre-purchase the book: tinyurl.com/bd6jm65n
COMEDY
Fritz Coleman: The “Unassisted Residency” show, 3 p.m. July 21. Tickets $35; $45 for cocktail table seating (must purchase two tickets for this option). Upcoming show: Aug. 18. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-508-4200. www.fritzcolemancomedy.com. elportaltheatre.com/fritzcoleman.html
Dance at the Odyssey: A dance mini-fest by choreographers whose dances confront personal and social concerns and issues. “You Live in My Spine” by choreographer Leah Zeiger, 8 p.m. July 11. “Bounded By Intervals” by Kaia Makihara and hasten dance, 8 p.m. July 12. “Rupture” by TORRENT and Caitlin Javech, and “As If Everything Was Perfect” by Gianna Burright, 2 and 8 p.m. July 13. “Degagez, il n’y a riena voir” by Hélène Bouboulis, and “Calling from the Void” by Genna Moroni and G.U.M., 2 p.m. July 14. Tickets $25. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-477-2055, Ext. 2. odysseytheatre.com. Details: tinyurl.com/2b6u2h7u
Louise Reichlin & Dancers: Performances of “Heart, Part I,” Metro Transformation, Gotta Get Up!” and “Reboot! Reboot!” and “Urban and Tribal Dances” (all six dances in the latter set — Batida, Wedding, Alone, War, Remembrance, Together — have been re-imagined), preview 7 p.m. July 12; 2 p.m. July 13-14. Tickets $25. Location, The Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. 213-458-3066. lachoreographersanddancers.org/news
Joan Jonas, Mirror Piece I and II (1969/2024) – The Getty: Fifteen dancers use synchronized choreography while holding mirrors, 4 p.m. July 13-14. The dance is part of the Getty’s “Ever Present” performance series. The dance is free, but a timed-entry reservation to the Getty Center is required. The dance is staged outdoors at the Getty Center’s Arrival Plaza. Parking $25 (www.getty.edu/visit/center/parking-and-transportation). Location, 1200 Getty Center Drive (at North Sepulveda Boulevard), Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. www.getty.edu. Details: tinyurl.com/5rn4pwhk
DINING
DineLA Restaurant Week Summer 2024: Participating restaurants offer a special lunch/dinner menu, July 12-26. Reservations are recommended. Meal times and prices vary by restaurant (restaurants offer set prices for lunch/dinner; $15, $25, $35, $45, $55, $65+). Beverages, tax and tip are extra charge. Facts: www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/FAQ. Find list of restaurants by cuisine, neighborhood, price and dining option (indoor or outdoor): www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela
Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Rain or shine. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. www.instagram.com/mainst.canogaparkfarmersmarket
El Nido Farmers Market – Pacoima: El Nido Family Centers and the City of Los Angeles present the market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, Pacoima Family Source Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market
Encino Farmers Market: ONEgeneration presents the market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Location, 17400 Victory Blvd. (between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue). Farmers market manager, 818-708-6611 or email: farmersmarket@onegeneration.org. www.onegeneration.org/farmers-market/
Good Times Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles Valley College, parking lot A, 5800 Fulton Ave. (at Burbank Boulevard), Valley Glen. Email: goodtimesfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Instagram: tinyurl.com/mrxcaxrn
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures: Ongoing special exhibits: “Outside the Mainstream,” through Aug. 4. “Shifting Perspectives: Vertical Cinema,” through Aug. 4. “John Waters: Pope of Trash,” through Aug. 4. “Significant Movies and Movie Makers,” three exhibits through Jan. 4, 2026: “Casablanca,” “Boyz n the Hood,” and Lourdes Portillo.” Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and Monday. Admission $25; $19 ages 62 and older; $15 students, age 18 and older with ID; free for ages 17 and younger. Location, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. (corner of Fairfax Avenue), Los Angeles. 323-930-3000. academymuseum.org
African American Firefighter Museum: Artifacts, fire apparatus, pictures and stories about African American Los Angeles firefighters. Hours: timed entry admission, 1, 2 and 4 p.m. on Sunday (make a reservation on Eventbrite here: tinyurl.com/4dx5xxhk). Donation. Location, 1401 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-744-1730. https://www.aaffmuseum.org/
Autry Museum of the American West: Museum hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older, and ages 13-18 and also students older than 18 with ID; $8 ages 3-12 (theautry.org/visit). Location, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org
Bolton Hall Museum: Hours: 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free admission; $5 donation is appreciated. Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., Tujunga. 818-352-3420. Email: llhs@boltonhall.org. www.facebook.com/boltonhallmuseum and www.boltonhall.org
California African American Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Tatyana Fazlalizadeh: Speaking to Falling Seeds,” through Aug. 3. “Paula Wilson: Toward the Sky’s Back Door,” through Aug. 18 (caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2024/paula-wilson-toward-the-sky-s-back-door). Also, “Simone Leigh,” a traveling exhibit, co-presented with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (artwork to be presented at both museums), through Jan. 20, 2025 (caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2024/simone-leigh). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. Parking $20 before 5 p.m.; $24 after 5 p.m. (in Exposition Park). Location, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles (in Exposition Park). 213-744-7432. www.caamuseum.org and www.facebook.com/CAAMinLA/
California Science Center: Ongoing special exhibit: “Leonardo Da Vinci: Inventor. Artist. Dreamer.,” through Sept. 2 (californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/leonardo-da-vinci-inventor-artist-dreamer). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission is free to the center’s permanent galleries, but there is a charge for special exhibits. Admission to the “Leonardo Da Vinci” exhibit: $22.95 ages 18-64; $20.95 ages 65 and older and students ages 13-17 with ID; $15.95 ages 3-12; (timed tickets are required for special exhibits, and also the Imax Theater; californiasciencecenter.org/visit). Location, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. californiasciencecenter.org
Craft Contemporary: Ongoing special exhibits: “Kyungmi Shin: Origin Stories” (www.craftcontemporary.org/exhibitions/kyungmi-shin-origin-stories) and “3B Collective: Highway Hypnosis,” with artwork from members of the Los Angeles-based 3B Collective — Adrian Alfaro, Aaron Douglas Estrada, Alfredo D. Diaz, Alexa Ramírez Posada, Oscar Magallanes, Rubén Ortiz-Torres — (www.craftcontemporary.org/exhibitions/highway-hypnosis). Both exhibits run through Sept. 8. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission $9; $7 ages 65 and older and students; free for ages 12 and younger. Location, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. www.craftcontemporary.org
Discovery Cube Los Angeles – Sylmar: Ongoing special exhibit: “Expedition: Dinosaur!” through Sept. 2. The Discovery Cube has ongoing exhibits that aim to make science fun for children. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $18 ages 15-61; $17 ages 62 and older; $16 ages 3-14. Location, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. www.facebook.com/TheDiscoveryCube and www.discoverycube.org
The Getty Villa: Ongoing special exhibits: “Picture Worlds: Greek, Maya, and Moche Pottery,” through July 29 (www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/picture_worlds). “Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt,” through Jan. 25, 2027. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. Free admission, but a timed-entry reservation is required. Parking $25. Location, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Grammy Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Roxy: 50 and Still Rockin’,” through summer 2024 (grammymuseum.org/event/50andstillrockin).”Shakira, Shakira: The Grammy Museum Experience,” through summer 2024. “Hip-Hop America: The Mix Tape Exhibit,” through Sept. 4. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Admission $18; $15 ages 65 and older; $12 ages 5-17 and college students with ID. Location, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-725-5700. grammymuseum.org
Italian American Museum Los Angeles: Ongoing special exhibit: “Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon,” through Oct. 13 (tinyurl.com/mrrb4pbh). Hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission free; donations requested. Location, 644 N. Main St., Los Angeles. 213-485-8432. www.iamla.org
Japanese American National Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Giant Robot Biennale 5,” an exhibit of art by Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, Yoskay Yamamoto (co-presented by Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot), through Sept. 1. “J.T. Sata: Immigrant Modernist,” photography exhibit by the late James Tadanao Sata (1896-1975), through Sept. 1. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday; closed on national holidays (www.janm.org/visit). Admission: $16; $9 ages 62 and older and children; free for ages 5 and younger (timed advance tickets are recommended). Location, 100 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles. 213-625-0414. Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamuseum and janm.org
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum: Museum hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except closed on the first Tuesday of the month and national holidays. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older and students ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required (tarpits.org/plan-your-visit/la-brea-tar-pits-buy-tickets). Parking $18. Location, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-763-3499. tarpits.org/
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes: Permanent exhibits: “LA Starts Here!” “Calle Principal: Mi México en Los Ángeles.” Hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles. www.lapca.org
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Ongoing special exhibits: “Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca,” through July 21. “Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting,” through Aug. 4. “Vincent Valdez and Ry Cooder: El Chavez Ravine,” through Aug. 11. “Ed Ruscha/Now Then,” through Oct. 6. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday and Thursday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Plan your visit information here: bit.ly/2P3c7iR. Admission $23; $19 ages 65 and older and students ages 18 and older with a valid ID; free for ages 17 and younger (reserving/purchasing an advance, timed-entry online is recommended; these prices are for residents of Los Angeles County with an ID). Location, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-857-6010. www.lacma.org
Martial Arts History Museum: Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission $12; $5 ages 6-17. Location, 201 N. Brand Blvd. (corner of North Brand and Wilson Street; use entrance at 111 Wilson St.), Glendale. 818-245-6051. www.facebook.com/martialartshistorymuseum. martialartsmuseum.com/
Museum of Contemporary Art: Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is free but an advance online timed-entry ticket is required. Special exhibits are $18; $10 seniors and students; free for ages 11 and younger. Locations: the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, 152 N. Central Ave., Los Angeles; MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. 213-633-5351. www.moca.org/visit
Museum of the San Fernando Valley: Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Free admission; donations appreciated. Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 18904 Nordhoff St. (southwest corner of Nordhoff and Wilbur Avenue), Northridge. 818-347-9665. themuseumsfvnow.org/
Natural History Museum Los Angeles County: Ongoing special exhibit: “Butterfly Pavilion,” through Aug. 25. Admission to this special exhibit is $8 by a timed ticket (30-minute time slot) and also, a general museum admission is required (nhm.org/plan-your-visit/nhm-buy-tickets). Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Monday (closed on Tuesday). Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required. Location, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhmlac.org
Petersen Automotive Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Eyes on the Road: Art of the Automotive Landscape,” through Nov. 2024. “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show,” through April 2025, see details on the exhibit (www.petersen.org/best-in-low-exhibit). “GM’s Marvelous Motorama: Dream Cars from the Joe Bortz Collection,” 6 concept cars from the 1950s, through March 2026 (www.petersen.org/gms-marvelous-motorama-exhibit). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission $21; $19 ages 62 and older; $13 ages 12-17; $12 ages 4-11. Location, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-930-2277. www.petersen.org
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Star Wars and SDI: Defending America and the Galaxy,” through Sept. 8. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and Jan. 1). Admission: $25; $22 ages 62 and older; $18 ages 11-17; $15 ages 3-10 (purchase online here: tinyurl.com/mry5ne9h). Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. www.reaganfoundation.org
Skirball Cultural Center: Ongoing special exhibit: “Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak,” through Sept. 1 (www.skirball.org/museum/wild-things-are-happening-art-maurice-sendak). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed for Jewish and national holidays (www.skirball.org/visit). Admission $18; $13 seniors, full time students with ID and ages 2-17 www.skirball.org/visit). Admission for the “Noah’s Ark at the Skirball” is an extra charge and by a timed-entry (purchase online). Location, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-440-4500. skirball.org
Valley Relics Museum: Take a trip down San Fernando Valley memory lane, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 13-14 (see website for other dates). Admission $15 and up. The museum is located at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Hangar C3 and C4, entrance is on Stagg Street, Van Nuys. Purchase tickets at the door or online. www.facebook.com/valleyrelics and valleyrelicsmuseum.org
Wende Museum of the Cold War: Ongoing special exhibit: “Undercurrents I: Stories, Symbols and Sounds,” through Sept. 15. (wendemuseum.org/exhibition/undercurrents-i/) Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday (wendemuseum.org/about-us/visit). Free admission. Location, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. 310-216-1600. 310-216-1600. Email: visit@wendemuseum.org. wendemuseum.org
MUSIC
The American Music of Joplin and Copland: Violinist Paul Stein discusses the musicians and performs, 3:30 p.m. July 13. Granada Hills Branch Library, 10640 Petit Ave., Granada Hills. 818-368-5687. www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/american-music-joplin-and-copland
Concerts at Warner Park – Valley Cultural Foundation: Foreigner Unauthorized, a tribute to the band Foreigner, with emerging artist Abby Berman, July 14 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-foreigner-unauthorized). Emerging artists perform, 5:30 p.m., followed by the headliner (concerts end at 8:30 p.m.). Upcoming: Twisted Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac Reimagined, with emerging artist Paper Citizen, July 21 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-twisted-gypsy-fleetwood-mac); Red Corvette, a tribute to Prince, with emerging artist Timothy J. Wilson; Wanted, a tribute to the band Bon Jovi, with emerging artist Saticöy, Aug. 4. Free admission (bring your own blanket or low-back chair for seating). Or: $20 VIP seat; $35 VIP seat and paid parking (purchase in advance). Parking: event parking begins at 4 p.m. (see the website for address and more information). See more concerts at Warner Park on the website. Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-888-0822. www.valleycultural.org
El Laberinto del Coco – Sunset Concerts at Skirball Cultural Center: The group, founded in 2017 by percussionist Hector “Coco” Barez, brings the sound of bomba from Puerto Rico, 8 p.m. July 18. Doors open, 6:30 p.m., for exploring museum exhibits, and for purchasing food and beverages. Free walk-up tickets; first-come, first-served. Parking $20 (no street parking). Upcoming: Bab L’ Bluz, July 25; Waahli, Aug. 1; entertainer to be announced, Aug. 8. Location, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. 310-440-4500. skirball.org. www.skirball.org/programs/sunset-concerts-el-laberinto-del-coco
NoHo Summer Nights – Valley Cultural Foundation: The Roaries, the band’s repertoire of 7 decades of music, and emerging artist, the band Smitten, 7-9:30 p.m. July 20 (valleycultural.org/event/2024-noho-concert-the-roaries). Upcoming: Element Band, Aug. 3; Blank Space, Aug. 17. Free admission. Bring a blanket of low-back lawn chair for seating. North Hollywood Recreation Center, 11455 Magnolia Blvd. (behind the North Hollywood Amelia Earhart Regional Branch Library). valleycultural.org. valleycultural.org/concerts-events/noho-summer-nights/
THEATER
Tartuffe – Born Again: The play by Molière, translated from the original French and adapted by Freyda Thomas, opens 7:30 p.m. July 13. Show runs 7:30 p.m. July 20 and 27; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 and 11; and other dates through Oct. 13. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/tartuffe-born-again/. www.theatricum.com
Wendy’s Peter Pan: A retelling of J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan,” by Ellen Geer, 7:30 p.m. July 14. Show runs 7:30 p.m. July 21 and 26; and other dates through Oct. 4. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/wendys-peter-pan/. www.theatricum.com
ONGOING THEATER
The Ghee Ghee Pik: The Group Rep presents the world premiere of a play by Suzy London about what may happen when artificial technology is implanted in a human’s brain, 7 p.m. July 11; 4 p.m. July 13; 7 p.m. July 14. Tickets $30; $25 seniors and students. The play is performed on the second floor stage (not wheelchair accessible due to no elevator). Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. 818-763-5990. www.thegrouprep.com
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The play by William Shakespeare, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Show runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, 15 and 29; 7 p.m. Sept. 2; 3:30 p.m. Sept. 8; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. theatricum.com/a-midsummer-nights-dream/. www.theatricum.com
The Winter’s Tale: The play by William Shakespeare, 3:30 p.m. July 13. Show runs ////// other dates through Sept. 30. Tickets: upper tier (general seating), $32; $20 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; lower tier, assigned seats $48; $35 ages 62 and older and students; $15 ages 5-15; also, $60 premium seating. Parking $10 in the lot; or, for free along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 310-455-3723. www.facebook.com/Theatricum. www.theatricum.com
Submit calendar listings at least two weeks in advance to holly.andres@dailynews.com. 818-713-3708.
LOS ANGELES — Hollywood has never known exactly what to do with Alec Baldwin, so it has done a little of everything with him.
Before the horrific 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western “Rust” put his career in question, he took on, and sent up, a wide spectrum of variations of masculinity. He has shifted from playing heroes to scoundrels to thugs to gentle father figures to office alpha males to a “ Boss Baby.”
He went from star leading man to bit player to scene stealer, at times going years without a major role in a hit film or show. But he has remained a household name for nearly 35 years, largely on the strength of his real-life personality: as an outspoken liberal, occasional hothead, talk-show guest, podcast host, game show host, and the king of all “Saturday Night Live” hosts.
Alexander Rae Baldwin III is the eldest of six children of a schoolteacher and football coach who grew up in Massapequa, New York and studied acting at New York University. He made his screen debut at age 22 in 1980 on the long-running soap opera “The Doctors,” where he remained until 1982. In 1984 and 1985 he took a step up with a recurring role on a prime-time soap, “Knots Landing.”
Baldwin would break into film in an epic year that included major parts in five major moves. His big-screen breakthrough came opposite Geena Davis and Michael Keaton in “Beetlejuice.” But Baldwin’s bespectacled, bourgeois husband character in Tim Burton’s antic ghost story would not be the norm. His archetypes would emerge in other films. He plays a cheating boyfriend to Melanie Griffith in director Mike Nichols’ huge hit romcom “Working Girl,” and a brass-knuckled, hairy-chested brawler wedded to Michelle Pfeiffer in Jonathan Demme’s “Married to the Mob.” The studios smelled a movie star.
For a brief moment, Baldwin became a leading man in the mold of Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise. He was the first to play CIA analyst Jack Ryan on screen, in 1990’s Cold War submarine thriller, “The Hunt for Red October,” a major hit. But he would be replaced as Ryan in subsequent films by Ford. “The studio cut my throat,” Baldwin said years later.
He instead played Stanley Kowalski in a Broadway revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” He would get a Tony nomination, and an Emmy nomination for a TV version.
He had a small but unforgettable role in 1992’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” as a slick business bigwig who dresses down, chews out and emasculates a group of salesmen, telling them they lacked “brass balls” (while holding a pair in front of his crotch). The role became a cultural touchstone, and an early rendition of the kind of scene-stealing part that would one day become his specialty. Years later, he would parody it as an alpha elf in Santa’s workshop on “Saturday Night Live.” Baldwin would host the show for the first time in 1990, and go on to do it a record 17 times.
Baldwin’s three younger actor brothers began to emerge in his wake. Daniel Baldwin was a regular on the series “Homicide: Life on the Street” from 1993 to 1995. Billy Baldwin starred opposite Sharon Stone in the 1993 erotic thriller “Sliver.” Stephen Baldwin had a major role in the 1995 classic “The Usual Suspects.”
The brothers as a group became a cultural phenomenon. When Alicia Silverstone admits Paul Rudd is attractive in 1995’s “Clueless,” she says he’s “kind of a Baldwin.”
Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin was expanding the family, and his Hollywood profile, by marrying actor Kim Basinger in 1993. He had starred with her in 1992’s “The Marrying Man” and 1994’s “The Getaway.” Both films flopped at the box office, but Baldwin and Basinger would remain an A-list couple in the public eye for a decade, even playing themselves on “The Simpsons.” Another flop came with the final attempt to make Baldwin a blockbuster leading man, 1994’s “The Shadow.”
Baldwin’s career as a movie star flagged in the late 1990s. He starred in director Rob Reiner’s “Ghost of Mississippi,” but began becoming a bit part specialist, and a popular voice actor, narrating the kids’ show “Thomas & Friends” and the Wes Anderson film “The Royal Tenenbaums.” He still hosted “SNL” almost annually, and was a fiery liberal Democrat on TV talk shows and in other public appearances.
Baldwin’s role as a casino owner in 2003’s “The Cooler” got him his only career Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor. New York Times critic A.O. Scott said “Baldwin swivels elegantly from viciousness to self-pity” in the role.
Strong supporting performances were becoming a trademark. Director Martin Scorsese put him in 2004’s “The Aviator” with Leonardo DiCaprio and in the 2006 best picture winner “The Departed” where he gives Matt Damon a highly quotable, Boston-accented lecture on marriage and manhood.
With new career highs came personal lows. His 2003 divorce from Basinger grew ugly. In 2007, TMZ aired a leaked voicemail from Baldwin to their 11-year-old daughter Ireland, who had missed a scheduled visit with him, on which he called her a “thoughtless little pig.” Baldwin later said in interviews that he considered suicide in the aftermath. Ireland mocked the moment in a 2019 Comedy Central Roast of her dad, saying she almost missed the event because she hadn’t checked emails from her dad in 12 years.
In a full turn toward television, Baldwin was perfectly cast on NBC’s “30 Rock” as Jack Donaghy, a conservative and acerbic network executive whose sparring with Liz Lemon, the show’s creator and star, was a huge part of the series’ appeal. Baldwin would win two Emmys for the role, and more acclaim than he’d received in years.
In 2012, he married yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas. The two have seven children together.
After “30 Rock” left the air, Baldwin would act sporadically while he played himself more often. He played the boss in a pair of “Mission Impossible” movies. And he voiced the animated “Boss Baby” in 2017. He also hosted a prime-time revival of “The Match Game” for five seasons. And he continued to host a public radio show and podcast, ”Here’s The Thing,” in which, in an urbane, laid-back-but-intellectual tone, he interviewed public figures.
He became a national phenomenon in the run-up to, and aftermath of, the election of Donald Trump, when “SNL” brought him on to do his over-the-top impression of his fellow New Yorker, which won him his third Emmy. More public ugliness emerged, though. He would be charged with assault and harassment in 2018 after a fight with a man over a New York parking spot. He later pleaded guilty only to harassment.
On Oct. 21, 2021, on the New Mexico set of the indie Western “Rust,” Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in a small church, and pointed the gun at the cinematographer, Hutchins. It went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.
In an interview that December with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Baldwin said he had not pulled the gun’s trigger. He would be charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023.
Alex English should be on summer break when I call him on a Thursday afternoon, but instead he’s fresh off of two stand-up sets in New York City, and is last-minute packing for a red-eye flight to London, where he will take the stage at the Top Secret Comedy Club that weekend. The work never ends when you’re, well, a working comedian.
Since joining the SNL writers room in 2021 (season 47), English has shown an uncanny knack for the kind of humor that hits you in all the right places (all the more impressive considering he had no prior sketch experience before SNL). In his short but remarkable tenure, he’s blessed audiences with “Hot Girl Hospital,” “Nice Jail,” and the instantly iconic “Lisa from Temecula,” which he tells me was inspired during a holiday trip to Detroit, his hometown.
English says the source of his humor is found not on social media but in analog experiences. “I talk to people, to my family. I read the paper. I also read a lot of books,” he says. “I love to people watch. I’m an old man.”
English belongs to the next generation of exciting—and excitingly queer—comedians that include humorists John Early, Bowen Yang, Sam Jay, and Joel Kim Booster. What they strive to achieve is not a viral moment, which English says too many new comics thirst for, but a common understanding through life’s absurdities. In fact, English is adamant that social media ruined not only the art of comedy, but also our relationship to it. So I asked him to explain how we got here, and how we might get back.
Jason Parham: What frightens you about the state of comedy right now?
Alex English: I was on a flight recently. Another passenger was watching a clip on their phone and I was like, “Oh, I know that person.” Within seven seconds of the video, he just scrolled off of it. I’m sure that time was the comic setting it up or talking to the audience. That scared me. I was like, “I don’t want anybody to do that to me. I don’t want anybody scrolling off of me.” You know what it is, also—because everybody’s doing it now, it becomes so saturated. There’s no uniqueness to the videos I’m seeing. That’s no diss to people doing it. I just feel that’s not the way I should be doing it.
That’s fair.
Long gone are the days where you could go and perform at a club, someone from the industry sees it, and they want to put you on a platform to elevate your work. Instead, now the business is, do you have 500,000 followers from burning material that you put out on the internet or talking to an audience. When it comes to crowd work, I’m the one who came to work. The audience didn’t come to work. They came to laugh. I don’t understand this obsession with that. When I’m on stage, I don’t care that much about the audience. Like, “Are y’all dating?” Who cares? There’s no unique story to that. And they didn’t pay for that.
Whose fault is that?
I realized, especially after the pandemic, the Instagram and TikTok of it all when it comes to comedy has really ruined a lot of audiences. It’s changed the audiences’ perception of what comedy—specifically stand-up comedy—actually is. I did a show a few months ago that went well. This woman comes up to me after the show. She’d been sitting in the front. She said, “Oh my God, I thought you were gonna talk to us tonight. I thought you were gonna make fun of us.” I said, “Is that what you think stand-up is now?” There’s an expectation from audiences now because of what they’re consuming online.
