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15 Fabulous Events Happening in Southern California This Week
Stephen Daldry directs 'An Inspector Calls,' which opens at the Wallis. (Photo: Mark Douet )
Adam Sandler returns to standup (did he ever leave?). Scandal cast members reunite for a live reading.The LA Art Show opens. And mini film festivals celebrate women directors and the art of dance.
TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - SUNDAY, FEB. 10
An Inspector Calls
Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater -- 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliot, The Inheritance) directs a modern reimagining of J.B. Priestley's 1945 classic thriller, which was first staged in London in 1992. When Inspector Goole upends a dinner party at the Birling family home during the investigation of a young woman's murder.
COST: $35 - $105; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 22 - THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 10 p.m.
Adam Sandler
Dynasty Typewriter -- 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake
We spied three late-night standup sets by the comedian on the venue's calendar. The shows are 18+ and doors open at 9:30 p.m.
COST: $25 - $30; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 22; 7 - 9 p.m.
New Year New Books LA
Band of Vices -- 5376 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams
Pen America celebrates the new year with a party. Join hosts Shauna Barbosa, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Franklin Leonard, Susan Orlean Michelle Tea to raise a glass to your favorite books of 2018. The Melrose Poetry Bureau will be onhand to create personalized poems for attendees.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 22; 8 - 10:30 p.m.
It's Not Me, It's Definitely You
Tangier at Hotel Figueroa -- 939 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
Ariel Paredes hosts an all-femalea night of comedy from Heather Lindner, Ariana Basseri, Annick Addelle, Rachel Sciacca, Rachel Wolfson, Nicole Soul, Gabby Lamb, Lizzie Fabie and Al Vine. This event is ages 21+ with a two-drink minimum.
COST: $12 - $15; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23; 7:30 p.m.
Focus on Female Directors
Egyptian Theatre -- 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Now in its 14th year, the shorts program celebrates the work of both veteran and emerging directors. The screening includes Domee Shi's Bao, Emma Westenberg's Pynk and Hannah Kim's Raccoon & the Light. A discussion follows with the filmmakers including Shi, Kim, Westenberg as well as Frances Kroon, Susan Bay Nimoy, Laurel Vail and Rayka Zehtabchi.
COST: $12; MORE INFO
The LA Art Show opens at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Image: Marta Minujin, 'Parthenon of Books' )
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 - SUNDAY, JAN. 27
LA Art Show
Los Angeles Convention Center -- 1201 S Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
The West Coast's largest art fair launches its 24th edition, featuring contemporary, modern, classical and less easily defined works. Special programming areas include DIVERSEartLA, a space dedicated to art from the Pacific Rim and beyond; and Littletopia, which showcases some of the fastest rising lowbrow and pop art galleries. The opening night gala is hosted by Kate Beckinsale with Gavin Rossdale serving as art ambassador. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
COST: Tickets: $30 - $60; $125 - $250 for the gala; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 1:30 p.m.
Timeless Melodies: Oscar Songs 1934 - 1959
Bowers Museum -- 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Music historian and aficionado Larry Maurer continues his lectures on cinematic songs, focusing on Oscar-winning tunes from the first 25 years of the award. He'll discuss classics like "Over the Rainbow," "Thanks for the Memory" and "Three Coins in the Fountain."
COST: $9 - $12; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 8:30 p.m.
Gabriel Kahane
Bootleg Theater -- 2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake
The day after the 2016 presidential election, the composer and singer-songwriter hopped on a train at Penn Station in New York City and traveled nearly 9,000 miles around the continental U.S. without a phone or internet access. He talked to people along the way in order to better understand his fellow Americans and the country as a whole. Out of this journey came the album Book of Travelers: "By turns sprawling and intimate, this collection of songs is at once a prayer for empathy and reconciliation, as well as an unflinching examination of the complex and often troubled history of the United States." The event is all ages.
COST: $18 - $20; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 7 - 10 p.m.
LA Dance Film Festival
Los Feliz 3 Theater -- 1822 N Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
Love dance and film? Then check out the one-day festival that combines both and screens 13 dance films -- including fiction, documentary and animation -- from Japan, Australia, Belgium, Russia, South Korea and even here in Los Angeles. The works include fiction, documentary and animation. There's a post-screening reception with the filmmakers.
COST: $20; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 7:30 p.m.
Ms. Smith Goes to Washington
John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340 at Los Angeles City Hall -- 200 N. Spring St., downtown L.A.
Members of the Scandal cast reunite for a live reading of Sidney Buchman's screenplay for the 1939 Jimmy Stewart classic. In this updated version, an idealistic, newly elected female senator finds herself fighting corruption in male-dominated Washington. Bellamy Young heads the cast along with Scandal co-stars Joshua Malina and Jeff Perry. The play was adapted and directed by the Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs. Seating is extremely limited. Due to high security at the venue, no walk-ups will be permitted.
COST: FREE (ticket lottery); MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 5 p.m.
FIDLAR
Amoeba Music -- 6400 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
The punk-pop outfit celebrates its new album Almost Free with a live show and signing. While the live set is open to everyone, the signing is limited to those who purchase the new release on CD or indie-exclusive green vinyl at Amoeba.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24 - FRIDAY, JAN. 25
BlogHer Health
Hudson Lofts -- 1200 S. Hope St., downtown L.A.
The conference brings together speakers, content creators, social media influencers, entrepreneurs, media makers and brand marketers around the topic of health, both personal and collective. Attendees will learn about health and wellness from people who have turned their passion into a profitable businesses. Speakers include Compton mayor Aja Brown, actress Alyssa Milano and writer/performer Sarah Jones.
COST: $175; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24 - SATURDAY, JAN. 26
katabasis
The Getty Villa -- 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades
The Getty Villa's entire campus become a stage in Fourlarks' site-specific opera. The production blends live music with ritual theater as audience members participate in a walking procession. The work's title? It translates to "descent to the underworld."
COST: Tickets start at $30; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 24 - FRIDAY, JAN. 25
Celebrating John Williams
Walt Disney Concert Hall -- 111. S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
Gustavo Dudamel conducts an entire program dedicated to the works of the movie music maestro. Listen to a sampling of Williams' compositions from Schindler's List, Harry Potter, Jaws, Indiana Jones, Memoirs of a Geisha and, of course, Star Wars.
COST: $118 - $251; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
THURSDAY, JAN. 24; 7:30 p.m..
Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World
Skylight Books -- 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
This memoir focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of life as the son of a famous Beat artist. Berman's early years featured a who's who of counterculture from Marcel Duchamp, William S. Burroughs and Dennis Hopper to the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and Toni Basil. Berman will be in conversation with his friend, actor Jason Schwartzman.
COST:FREE; MORE INFO
How are you spending your week? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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