American Masters Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance, premiering nationally Friday, December 28, 2012 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings), tells the story of the first quintessentially American dance company, the Joffrey Ballet. Founders Robert Joffrey (12/24/1930 – 3/25/1988) and Gerald Arpino (1/14/1923 – 10/29/2008) revolutionized American dance by combining modern with traditional ballet to create a new and daring art form. Narrated by Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), the 90-minute documentary is the first to chronicle the Joffrey Ballet’s pioneering dance philosophy. Award-winning filmmaker Bob Hercules traces the company’s struggles and triumphs: from its humble beginnings in 1956, touring the United States in a borrowed station wagon, to becoming one of the world’s most exciting and prominent ballet companies.  Read the rest of this entry »

Dance label Halocyan Records will take over Medusa Lounge with relentlessly inventive UK producer Untold, with support by John Tejada (LA), Sumsun (FL), and WMX (LA) on Thursday, November 29, 2012 starting at 9:00pm.  The evening’s vibe will span from lush and melodic to dark, dubby and grimy.  Solid Gold Dancer will provide the visuals for the evening.  Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. The entrance fee is $10.  Venue capacity is limited and early arrival is strongly suggested.  Medusa Lounge is located at 3211 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057.

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Tears of Joy Theatre will perform The Ugliest Duckling, a puppet theatre version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale, at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz at Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 7:30pm.  Set in Australia and starring a cast of colorful creatures in tabletop rod puppet form, The Ugliest Duckling adds a new twist to the beloved story.  Written by playwright Marc Dunworth, The Ugliest Duckling features a baby platypus that will never grow into a graceful swan. The story is one of self-acceptance and will be performed by Tears of Joy Theatre, known internationally for bringing amazing puppet theatre to audiences young and old.  Read the rest of this entry »

Angel City Chorale (ACC), whose annual holiday concert has been a favorite with Los Angeles audiences since 1993, kicks off the season this year with Making Spirits Bright on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2, 2012.  Both performances start at 7:00pm.  ACC is Making Spirits Bright at Wilshire United Methodist Church with the broadest selection of holiday music offered in the City of Angels.  From traditional carols to rousing gospel numbers, from humorous takes on familiar Christmas songs to music celebrating the joy of Chanukah, ACC offers something for everyone.  This season’s selections range from a beautiful new Christmas work published just this year to the now-classic work of an American master, with selections from Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.  However you celebrate, Angel City Chorale’s uplifting, jubilant concerts will brighten your spirits and lighten your hearts this holiday season.  Read the rest of this entry »

Maximillian Gallery, the award-winning street art gallery in West Hollywood, unveils its newest exhibit, Once Upon a Time in the West, with an artists’ reception on Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  The exhibit features top street and urban art by a talented roster of artists: Andy Appleton, Mauro Caputo, John Carr, COL, COPE2, DD$, DeeKay, Dog Byte, Richard Duardo, Felix, Rene Gagnon, Gregos, Listak, Devin Liston, Septerhed, Smear, Steven Swimmer and Tazroc.  Once Upon a Time in the West runs through Thursday, December 20, 2012.  Also, Maximillian Gallery is pleased to now feature a selection of unique Rene Gagnon Abraham Obama lenticular prints reworked from Ron English originals.  Read the rest of this entry »

The performance space at Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, with the support of the Québec Government Office in Los Angeles, is pleased to present French-Canadian folk revival quartet Le Vent du Nord as part of its public performing arts series.  The highly-acclaimed band’s traditional Québécois music is heavily influenced by Celtic sounds.  The show will take place at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 7:30pm.  Tickets cost $35 ($25 for students).

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Arts organization Create:Fixate (C:F) presents Magnetic on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Lot 613 in Downtown Los Angeles.  Beyond C:F’s signature blend of vibrant artwork and music produced by local talent, this exhibit will feature a gallery filled with illuminated and interactive art installations from kinetic art, interactive video, and light sculptures, to video mapping.  The excitement begins at 4:00pm with a three-hour gallery preview.  The main event starts at 7:00pm and closes at 2:00am.  Read the rest of this entry »

Live Talks Los Angeles presents An Evening with Oliver Sacks In Conversation with David Milch on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.  Dr. Sacks, neurologist and best-selling author, will discuss his provocative new book, Hallucinations (to be released November 6, 2012), which takes the reader into the eerie, psychedelic, and ultimately very real world of hallucinations.  Milch is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, best known for his work on Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue and Deadwood. The talk is part of Live Talks Los Angeles’ art and culture evening series of talks with speakers from the worlds of art and entertainment.  The event is at 8:00pm, with a reception from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.  Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Differences is pleased to announce the Tuesday, November 6, 2012 release of Dinotasia, an animated feature film narrated by Werner Herzog, on DVD/Blu-ray and digital platforms in the U.S. and Canada through Flatiron Film Company, a label of Cinedigm Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: CIDM).  A marriage between classic visual storytelling and CGI dinosaurs, the film is an anthology of humorous prehistoric stories created in the cartoon-style of the Golden Age of animation.  The film is co-directed by long-time Herzog collaborator Erik Nelson and Disney character designer David Krentz.  The DVD/Blue-ray includes the 83-minute feature film plus an extended scene, a mating rites extra story, and a stunning hand-drawn version of the final story.

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The Theatre @ Boston Court presents O-Lan Jones: 20 Years of Theatre and Music, for one night only, on Saturday, October 20, 2012 in Pasadena, CA.  Nine songs by O-Lan Jones have been selected for the performance from the following five productions: After Stardrive, Katy Cruel, The Dybbuk, The Woman Who Forgot Her Sweater, and The Woman in the Wall.  Selections include Appalachian duets, operatic solos, and tribal pieces, which will be performed by recurring cast members from Overtone Industries, Jones’ experimental production company that creates original music theater and opera.  As a special treat, the evening will also feature the first public performance of Jones’ improvisational group, The Spontaneous Combustion Choir.

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