Here are the five shows you need to see: This Weekend in LA (7/13-7/15)
American Ballet Theatre La Bayadère – Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
July 13-15
In 1980 Natalia Makarova’s production of La Bayadère had its debut with the ABT. It was the first time the ballet had permanently entered the repertoire of Western ballet companies. The ballet is set in India and depicts the relationship between a temple dancer, Nikiya, and her lover Solor. If it were simply a love story, there would probably be no story. Vengeance gets in the middle of their love. For those familiar with Moulin Rouge, you might find a few similarities between this ballet and the final show Harold Zidler puts on with Satine and Christian in the film.
The real highlight of this engagement is the opportunity to see ballet superstar Misty Copeland. She will be performing only in Friday night’s show. But don’t let that discourage you from seeing a different performance. There are many very very fine dancers at ABT including Isabella Boylston, Jeffrey Cirio, Here Seo, Cory Stearns, Gillian Murphy, Devon Teuscher and Christine Shevchenko. thisis a great opportunity to see a ballet that has been part of the company for nearly 40 years and makes full use of the company.
Barbara Morrison – Catalina Bar & Grill
July 13-14
If there is one person who regularly celebrates the deep tradition of jazz in Leimert Park and helps keep it alive it is vocalist Barbara Morrison. She holds an annual “Broadway in the Park,” and has monthly “Jazz in the Alley Events.” There’s also the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center there, too. Oh, and she’s also quite a good singer.
Morrison has performed with jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Etta James, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, the Count Basie Orchestra, Mel Torme and others. This weekend she has two concerts at Catalina Bar & Grill where she will sing her heart out.
Photo by Paul Dimalanta
Arrival & Departure – Fountain Theatre
Official opening July 14th (runs through September 30th)
Writer/director Stephen Sachs was inspired by David Lean’s classic film Brief Encounter. It’s a classic love story about two people who meet at a train station casually. But when their feelings grow more deeply than either could have imagined, the consequences for their personal lives grow immeasurably as well. You know this can’t end well!
In Arrival & Departure the couple is a deaf man and a woman who is hard of hearing. The production is performed by both hearing and deaf actors.
Every Act of Life – Outfest at the DGA
July 15th (second showing July 22)
Even if the name Terrence McNally doesn’t ring a bill, no doubt many of the the plays and musicals he has written will: The Ritz, The Rink, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Ragtime, The Full Monty, The Visit and Anastasia are just some of them. Anastasia is currently playing on Broadway. The Visit and Kiss of the Spider Woman both starred Chita Rivera .
Every Act of Life is a documentary about this four-time Tony Award winner is by producer/director/writer Jeff Kaufman. Marcia S. Ross is also a producer on the film. It is an intimate and detailed look at this prolific writer and is considered a must-see film for fans of theatre.
The first screening is being held on Sunday at the DGA. There is a subsequent screening on July 22nd at Regal LA Live.
When the film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, there was a Q&A moderated by Frank Rich. Here is an excerpt from that evening:
Verdi’s Otello – Hollywood Bowl
July 15
In this one-night-only concert performance, Gustavo Dudamel conducts the LA Philharmonic with tenor Russell Thomas in the title role of Otello. Julianna Di Giacomo plays Desdemona and George Gagnidze plays Iago. What makes this concert particularly compelling is that Thomas is a Black opera singer performing a role that is regularly played by white singers in make-up. We spoke with him about the responsibility of being the first major Black tenor to play the part in major theatre in America. It’s an interesting conversation and worth your time. For fans of opera, this is a must-see concert.
