The Brief

In the weeks leading up to the silver screen debut of Wicked, haters bemoaned the possibility that hordes of hyped-up, grown-up theater kids would crash the remake of the beloved Broadway musical.

After a month of showings with standard rules — no talking, texting or singing — select theaters are inviting that very crowd to raise their voices in singalong screenings.

A disclaimer: While theater kids do exist in public media, I’m not one of them — my experience with the dramatic arts amounts to one Saturday afternoon painting sets for a friend’s show in high school. I have seen one staged rendition of the Wicked musical and remember just enough of the lyrics to “Popular.”

Now that I’ve witnessed a singalong screening firsthand, I am here to say: The haters are wrong. The enthusiasm, creativity and reverence of the fans enhances, not detracts, from the moviegoing experience.

Will it be wonderful?

Walking into the AMC at the Americana, you’d forget Wicked was even still playing.

All the posters have been swapped for forthcoming movies, but you could spot a few outfits inspired by Oz headed toward the matinee showing of the singalong show.

Several members of the Clevenger family wore matching pink bows.

The ladies of the Clevenger family— Mom, Jeanne, and daughters Maddie, Abby and Paige. Jeanne said the soundtrack has been playing in the house and car nonstop since they first saw the movie in November. "I love the social justice aspect, too, of Elphaba standing up to the wizard," Jeanne said. "We also can't wait for the second part to come out."

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“We decided to do a fun girls’ date,” said mom Jeanne. “My husband and their brother, they loved the movie, but they didn't need to sing along.”

Rowan Wooten paired a puffy-sleeved black dress with Doc Marten boots and a striped undershirt as a nod to the other Wicked Witch (of the East.)

“I've been waiting for Wicked since I was 8 years old,” they said. “I was so scared it was going to be terrible. But I saw it the first day it came out and it was amazing.”

Wicked, the musical and the movie, are based on the eponymous 1995 book about the land of the yellow brick road before and after Dorothy’s arrival.

After news spreads that the Wicked Witch of the West is dead, Glinda the Good Witch reveals the two had been friends once (that is, their paths did cross, at school).

In the movie, Ariana Grande takes on the role of Galinda (emphasis on the GUH) and Cynthia Erivo plays the emerald-skinned Elphaba (affectionately Elphie).

“I was kind of bullied as a child,” Wooten said. “I really identified with Elphaba and I also really loved Galinda [be]cause she's just so sweet once you get to know her.”

‘No keeping quiet in this theater’

After the lights dim, Grande and Erivo reminded us “there’s no keeping quiet in this theater” (prompting the first of many rounds of applause throughout the show) and led us in a series of lip trills to get warmed up.

I sat next to Wooten.

Rowan Wooten donned their "best Wicked Witch" look for the singalong screening. "I've been waiting for Wicked since I was 8 years old," Wooten said. "I was so scared it was going to be terrible, but I saw it the first day it came out and it was amazing."

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Instead of sinking into the plush seat, they sat straight up, shoulders back, ready to project. (They used to be in choir.)

The movie’s musical numbers are accompanied by karaoke-style text on the screen. The text turns gold and sparkles as the lyrics scroll.

The first number, “No One Mourns the Wicked” was subdued, perhaps feeling out the vibe of the theater or too loyal to the Wicked Witch of the West to celebrate her demise. But by the time Elphaba and Galinda trade barbs in “What Is This Feeling?” the majority of the audience is singing along.

The cast vocals still dominated the soundscape, but a pleasant hum filled the theater. The only loathing was on screen.

The science of singing 

When this audience leaves the theater, they’ll not only have the experience, but they’ll be better off in other ways, too. Research has found people can feel less stressed and  more connected after hitting high notes together— or at least trying to.

For example, if you’re stressed or anxious, you might take frequent, short, shallow breaths. To sing, people inhale and exhale with control and precision.

“There's a kind of regulation of the cardiorespiratory system that happens when we sing that seems to have a calming effect on the body,” said Toronto Metropolitan University psychology professor Frank Russo. He co-directs the college’s SingWell Project and has studied the experiences of people who sing alone and together.

“You do not need to be a trained singer or highly talented singer to receive these benefits from group singing,” Russo said. “I think what's critical is that everyone has the same collective goals, that we're here to have a good time. We're here to sing together and to enjoy singing together.”

Russo pointed out that the human voice as an instrument dates to ancient times.

“We live in this culture of specialization where we've got this idea that you have to train for many years and you have to be expert in something before you can do it publicly,” Russo said.

If you need an example of our primal connection to music, just look to babies. I recently witnessed a friend’s infant son delight in a playlist of jock jams.

“They're totally involved in the joy of music,” Russo said. “I think we're all capable of that. We just have to let our guard down and get over our egos.”

Being part of a community 

I floated out of the theater on the final high note of Erivo’s "Defying Gravity" and caught up with the Clevenger family.

High school freshman Abby is an “OG fan.” She’s seen Wicked on Broadway and the movie once before.

 "They all were fans," she said of the audience. "I felt more connected to the people."

Roxy Panaro came to the screening with her husband. "I love that everybody was singing, but it wasn't like screaming," Panaro said. "It was ... feeling the community of people who really loved the movie."

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“It felt really freeing,” her mom Jeanne added. “During the regular movie, you wanted to sing, but had to hold back. It was … a communal experience.”

Long time musical-theater lover Wooten said that when they were little, “I was constantly being told by teachers to stop singing ‘Popular.’” The screening was filled with people who knew not only the chorus, but also the preceding dialogue ("Dearest Momsie and Popsicle…").

“There were multiple times where I'd glance over and somebody in the back would make eye contact with me and we'd make the same face,” Wooten said.

There was laughter and applause throughout the show, but no one in the audience ever tried to upstage the stars on screen. When Elphaba and Galinda finally connect on the Ozdust Ballroom’s dance floor, there was a reverent hush, save for a few emotional sniffles.

Members of the audience “held space” for each other to experience the journey.

I couldn’t help but think of something Russo said as I walked out of the theater and into the crowded, twinkling walkways of the Americana.

“Although we're all individuals and we appreciate our individuality,” he said, “we're more likely to see ourselves as part of a greater whole when we sing together.”

LAist reports on local issues for — and with — communities across Southern California, but chances are most readers have never spoken with a journalist before. Your stories and experiences power our reporting, so it’s important that people know what to expect when they speak with a reporter.

That’s what this guide is for.

Below are some tips from our newsroom on what to keep in mind when talking to a journalist.

Remember: You are the expert on your own life

Tell the story you want to tell about yourself.

Be honest. Truthfulness and facts are central to journalistic ethics.

Also know your worth. Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.

Common questions

How can I get a journalist’s attention?

Contact reporters by social media or send them a personal email — at LAist, contact information is available on our staff page. If you meet a reporter, get their business card. It will usually have a direct phone number to talk with them.

Will all my words be published?

Probably not. Journalists are often working with a limited word count or air time. They will likely use one short sound bite or quote from you. It’s also possible they will not use your interview at all. Reporters and their editors decide what will get published.

Can I see a copy of the story before it's published?

Probably not. It is against journalistic ethics to have sources review a story before it’s published. Imagine if a journalist were to do a piece about government corruption. You wouldn’t want the government agency to review the story and edit it. Editors review stories for accuracy.

When will the story be published?

It depends on the type of story. Some stories are short and may air on the radio or be published online the same day you talk to the reporter. Other times a reporter might work on a story for several weeks or months. It’s OK to follow up with the reporter who talked to you and ask when the story might be done and ask them to let you know where you can read or hear it.

Can I speak with a fact-checker?

You are welcome to ask reporters about their fact-checking process or how they make sure a story is accurate. Not all outlets have fact-checkers. If the story is an investigative story or a long-form or magazine format, designated fact-checkers are more common. At LAist, reporters and editors are responsible for verifying information.

What if I am asked about something that makes me feel uncomfortable?

Your story is your own and during an interview you have full control over what you say to a reporter. Answer questions in any way that makes you feel most comfortable, and you can always decline to answer a question.

What do I do if a reporter asks me about my immigration status?

You don't have to disclose your immigration status to a reporter. If it's directly relevant to the story, a trustworthy reporter will explain that and also tell you how they'd handle the information. You can decline to answer.

• More on how LAist handles this topic

How do I determine if the newsroom I'm speaking with has a specific point of view?

It's a great question and relates directly to media literacy — meaning how well you can spot misinformation, disinformation and bias. The reality is that we all have points of view. Here are some tools to check on where a publication falls across the political spectrum:

• FAIR's (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), which describes itself as a "progressive media watchdog group" has this media literacy guide.
• PEW Research Center, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan nonadvocacy organization, has information on sources most popular with different political perspectives
• You should be able to find information on who funds the work on the site (corporations, individual owners, subscribers, members and so on).
• You can also check out this interactive chart tracking media outlets across the political spectrum (note that you may need a paid version to search smaller outlets). Ad Fontes Media, which describes itself as a "public benefit corporation" which they said means they are "a for-profit business with a stated public mission," has been publishing its analysis since 2018.

Is everything I say usable in a story?

You can come to an agreement with reporters ahead of the conversation about how your words can be used:

• “On the record”: This means that everything you say in your conversation with the journalist can be quoted, published and attributed back to you. By default, you should assume any exchange you have with a journalist is on the record unless you mutually agree otherwise. 
• “On background”: This means that you are sharing information with a journalist that can be referenced in a story, but is not directly attributed to you. 
• “Off the record”: This means that you are sharing information that is not for publication. People may share experiences or tips off the record if they want the journalist to be aware of the information but don’t want it mentioned in a story. Remember that “off the record” only counts if both you and the journalist agree to it. 

It's worth noting that different newsrooms may use these terms slightly differently. You should confirm with the reporter that you have as shared understanding of the meaning.

Do I need to pay to be in a news story? Can I get paid?

No and no. You will not pay or get paid to be in a news story because this is against journalistic ethics. Anyone who receives payment for a story could be swayed to bend the truth.

What if the reporter gets my story wrong?

If you feel that the reporter misrepresented your story, you can ask for a correction or an update to clarify a point. Reporters want to get the story right and they don't want to incorrect or misleading information to go unchecked. That said, corrections deal with information that is factually incorrect, so you should be ready to explain what was wrong and why. Under California law, you have 20 days to demand a correction and the publisher has to respond within a set period of time.

• More on California civil defamation claims and the definition of defamation.

How can I prepare for an interview?

Think about the main points you want to get across in your interview. What are the most critical things for the reporter to know? Some people like to organize their thoughts into three major points. If you are not used to telling your story, you may want to have a friend ask you some questions to practice. Depending on the story, a reporter may also ask if you have any pictures to share that they can use to help tell the story.

Get involved with LAist

Ask LAist reporters questions

You can reach out to LAist reporters through the contact information listed on their bios. All our editorial staff, including the teams reporting, editing and producing news, are listed here.

How else you can be a part of LAist's reporting

Aside from contacting journalists directly, you can share your story with LAist through short surveys and meeting us in person. Learn more here.

This guide was originally written by former LAist early childhood producer Stefanie Ritoper, with contributions from Mariana Dale. Cato Hernández and David Rodriguez also contributed to this guide. 

File this under things that could only happen in L.A.

Paradise Dynasty, the Singapore-based chain known for its signature eight-flavor xiao long bao, has teamed up with Burritos La Palma — the SoCal burrito institution whose birria de res recipe traces back over 45 years — to create a limited-edition birria soup dumpling. The Birria XLB will be available starting Monday (May 11) for a limited time at Paradise Dynasty locations.

I've eaten my weight in both soup dumplings and burritos, so naturally, I'm a fan of both.

Paradise Dynasty has been on a steady ascent as a major player in L.A.'s dumpling scene, with locations at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.

Meanwhile, Burritos La Palma — known for its simple, savory burritos and finely crafted flour tortillas — has been capturing hearts and stomachs since Alberto Bañuelos opened the first eatery in L.A. in 2012. It’s since grown to several spots across L.A. and Orange County, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2024 for its high-quality, Zacatecan-style handmade flour tortilla burritos at an affordable price.

How the collab came together

So what exactly is a birria soup dumpling? A delicate wrapper, lightly packed with tender birria de res — slow-braised beef stewed in chilies and spices — juicy, savory and gone in one bite.

It all began with a call from Paradise Dynasty, when Jason Kuo, district manager for Paradise Dynasty USA, reached out to Bañuelos, calling it, simply, a perfect match between the two dishes.

Kuo said the idea came straight from the community.

"When we started asking guests and people around us what flavor they would want to see in a soup dumpling, birria kept coming up again and again — it was very clear. If we're going to do birria, it has to be done right. Burritos La Palma was the first name that came to mind."

Bañuelos was "beyond thrilled" to have been approached.

"We come from a small town in Mexico, and to be able to elevate to the level of Paradise Dynasty and that culinary perfection, I can't even really put it into words," he said.

It took months of R&D to get the right consistency. Bañuelos said the process required dialing down the moisture and upping the spice potency and landed on serving a fresh red salsa with thin slivers of serrano peppers alongside — a riff on the black vinegar and pickled ginger traditionally served with soup dumplings.

The Birria XLB's juicy interior is part of what makes it work — the dish is served with a fresh, tomato-based salsa and slivers of serrano pepper in place of the traditional black vinegar and pickled ginger.

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How it tastes

I got a chance to try the dumplings ahead of the public launch and was struck by how well the combination worked. The juicy nature of birria is almost turbocharged in dumpling form, its savory, herbaceous flavors fully encapsulated in the thin skin, creating an exceptional texture in every bite. The dish hits even harder when dipped in the light tomato-based salsa — a rush of freshness that cuts through the richness, with a spike of heat from fresh serrano. (Feel free to skip the peppers if spice isn't your thing.)

But what's most impressive is how organic it all feels. This isn't fusion for fusion's sake — it's a natural meeting of two dishes that are deeply embedded in the Southern California diet, each playing to the other's strengths.

It feels like a logical meeting of the minds — birria and soup dumplings have both been part of L.A.'s culinary zeitgeist for the better part of a decade, and it makes sense that these worlds should collide.

When asked whether a collaboration like this could happen anywhere else, Bañuelos was quick: "It has to start in L.A. You just can't compete."

Where to try it

Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody. They’ve signed a letter, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.

The letter comes in the wake of an investigation by the California and Texas Newsrooms, public media collaboratives in those states. LAist is part of The California Newsroom.

The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health experts interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.

The letter says the detention violates federal regulations because the children are “entitled to the full range of medical care, including reproductive health care.”

Rep. Gil Cisneros, who represents the central San Gabriel Valley, says he worries that pregnant migrants who are apprehended in California will be put at risk if they’re sent to a part of Texas that is short on obstetric care. Of particularly concern: High-risk pregnancies are common among minors.

“If they were in California," he said, "they would be able to have more choices of the type of health care that they would get when it comes to reproductive health care.”

Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the West San Gabriel Valley, wrote in a statement that “this administration is so intent on restricting abortion that it is using immigration detention as a tool to control these girls’ bodies.”

Mark Betancourt is a regular contributor to The California Newsroom. 

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.

The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teachers union.

A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites.

“‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.

United Teachers Los Angeles called the DOE's accusations a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the district’s reassignment policy.

“[Employees] are not reassigned to another classroom or to any other setting where they would interact with students,” read a statement provided by the union. “This policy protects both students and staff and creates conditions for a thorough and appropriate investigation of allegations.”

What to expect from the federal investigation

The federal investigation, overseen by the department’s Office for Civil Rights, will assess whether the district’s policy violates Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a statement that Title IX requires schools to address claims of sexual misconduct in a “timely manner.”

“It is unconscionable that the district would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids,” Richey wrote. “The Trump administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students and restore common sense to our schools.”

The Trump administration also has recently targeted LAUSD's desegregation policy and transgender student protections.

Last year, the office failed to resolve any cases related to sexual harassment, sexual violence or racial harassment, according to a report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders in late April. Sanders is the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.

In March 2025, the Trump administration pushed to cut over half of OCR’s nearly 600 staff members, which contributed to a growing backlog of cases. Those employees were placed on administrative leave pending the result of legal challenges, and many were later brought back.

The Education Department has also withheld records related to civil rights investigations, prompting a lawsuit from investigative nonprofit newsroom ProPublica.

What does LAUSD’s policy say? 

LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff.

The 110-page protocol document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.

“Los Angeles Unified takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement. “Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of every student and staff member in our care.” The statement also said the district follows Title IX procedures and continuously reviews its policies, training and reporting systems.

The UTLA settlement outlines several circumstances where an employee can be reassigned, including a law enforcement investigation of misconduct, sexual harassment of a student, behavior toward a student perceived to be motivated by a sexual interest and communicating with a student for non-school-related purposes.

School employees are “mandated reporters” who must, by law, notify local law enforcement or child welfare agencies of suspected child abuse or neglect. California Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded K-12 school district leaders in late April of their legal obligation to prevent sexual misconduct and protect students.

How prevalent is sexual misconduct in California schools?

There have been few comprehensive studies of sexual misconduct in schools. A 2004 report to the Department of Education estimated 1-in-10 students experiences sexual misconduct, ranging from inappropriate comments to physical abuse.

A new California law requires schools to train students and staff to recognize and report misconduct and write new policies on “appropriate behavior.” It also will create a new database of educators credibly accused of abuse.

More than 1,000 lawsuits related to sexual abuse that date to the 1940s have been filed against California school districts since the enactment of a 2019 law that gave victims a three-year window to sue.

LAUSD has authorized $750 million in bonds to pay for sexual misconduct settlements related to suits stemming from the law.