The dance troupe Ailey II, which includes dancers Caroline Theodora Dartey and Carl Ponce Cubero, above, performs at Pepperdine this week. (Photo courtesy Kyle Froman)
Our June member drive is live: protect this resource!
Right now, we need your help during our short June member drive to keep the local news you read here every day going. This has been a challenging year, but with your help, we can get one step closer to closing our budget gap. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership.
Want lolz this week? Comedian Hannah Gadsby workshops new material while The Comedy Bureau celebrates eight-ish years. Or catch concerts by Mazzy Star, Darlingside and Seun Kuti. Two renowned dance troupes -- Martha Graham Dance Company and Ailey II -- have SoCal shows. Plus, Dan Savage's amateur porn film fest begins its L.A. run.
MONDAY, FEB. 25; 7 p.m. Dinner Party with Alex Winston Checker Hall -- 104 N. Ave 56, Highland Park The Wild Honey Pie dinner series presents an evening with Winston, a classically trained opera vocalist and indie pop singer/songwriter. Enjoy a three-course Mediterranean meal, beer or alcoholic kombucha, plus a set by the musician. Ages 21+ only. COST: $50; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26 - WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27; 8 p.m. Mazzy Star The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church -- 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown The alt-pop outfit, led by Hope Sandoval and her wondrous voice, plays a couple of rare hometown shows. The band released their latest EP, Still, last year -- their first recording in five years. COST: $59.50 - $92.50; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26 - SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Hannah Gadsby Dynasty Typewriter -- 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake The Australian comedian and writer, best known for her Netflix stand-up special Nanette, performs 11 shows to test out new material. Ages 18+. Just go! COST: $25 - $30; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26; 8 p.m. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 The Regent Theater -- 448 S. Main St., downtown L.A. Since his show earlier this month was cancelled because of weather, the Afrobeat great brings his band indoors for a rescheduled night of righteous funk and dancing. This show is 18+. COST: $30 - $35; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26 - SUNDAY, JULY 14 Mapping Space: Recent Acquisitions in Focus Paul Getty Museum -- 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood See works by five artists, all of which are on view at the Getty for the first time. Robert Kinmont, Wang Jinsong, Richard Long, Mark Ruwedel and Uta Barth tap various influences in their photography, from the medium's documentary tradition to conceptual art, developing unique approaches to landscapes and site-specific spaces. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26; 7 p.m. The Wild Bunch Laemmle Playhouse 7 -- 673 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena Vroman's Bookstore and the Laemmle team up to present W.K. Stratton in conversation with Stephen Farber, discussing and signing Stratton's new book, The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film. Peckinpah's 1969 western, starring William Holden and Ernest Borgnine, screens beforehand. COST: $12 - $15; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, FEB. 26; 8 p.m. Ailey II Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre -- 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu The 12-member dance ensemble performs new commissions by acclaimed choreographers on its 28-city international tour. The junior company will perform three pieces for its Pepperdine show: Tracks, Where There Are Tongues and Breaking Point. COST: $20, $10 for Pepperdine students; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27; 9 p.m. The Very Belated 8th Anniversary of The Comedy Bureau Echoes on Pico -- 5025 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-Wilshire The comedy agency's actual anniversary was on Oct. 25th but now it's finally ready to celebrate. The terrific lineup promises laughs from Jackie Kashian, Byron Bowers, Jetzo, Laurie Kilmartin, DeMorge Brown, Dress Up Gang, Improv from Sister (Joey Greer & Mike Castle) and Bureau founder Jake Kroeger. Hosted by Simon Gibson. COST: $10; MORE INFO
The Martha Graham Dance Company performs in Irvine, and features Leslie Andrea Williams in Graham's 'Chronicle.' (Photo: Hibbard Nash Photography)
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27; 8 p.m. Martha Graham Dance Company Irvine Barclay Theatre -- 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine Graham was a modern dancer and choreographer who changed the world of dance. Her company continues today under the artistic direction of Janet Eilber. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, the Eve Project features works by female choreographers, including Graham. COST: $58 - $68; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27; 7 p.m. An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth The Paley Center for Media -- 465 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills The Emmy and Tony award-winning singer and actress takes part in a special event accompanied by clips from her TV performances including Pushing Daisies, The West Wing, Glee, Disney's Descendants, Hairspray Live!, American Gods and Trial & Error. She'll be in conversation with Bryan Fuller, executive producer of several TV series including Pushing Daisies, Hannibal and American Gods. Tickets to the main theater are sold out; a second viewing space available. COST: $25, $15 for Paley members; MORE INFO
The Arboretum presents a digital arts show in which technology intersects with nature. (Image: by Nami Yamamoto)
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27 - SUNDAY, MARCH 3 Digital Nature 2019 Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden -- 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia Contemporary artists project their works onto the gardens at night, exploring the intersection of nature and technology. Among the 19 participating artists are John Carpenter and Justin Shrake, Adam Donnelly and David Janesko, Tim Durfee and Mia Feuer. COST: $10 - $18; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, FEB. 28; 7:30 p.m. Kishi Bashi String Quartet Live! Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University -- One University Drive, Orange Singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi (Jupiter One, Of Montreal) performs with a string quartet. He reimagines classical and contemporary works, including Dvořák's American String Quarte, Japanese folk songs, Talking Heads covers and his own tunes. COST: $25-$45; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, FEB. 28; 8 p.m. All About Adam The Other Space at the Actors Company -- 916A North Formosa Ave., West Hollywood The production is a modern take on the classic film All About Eve, which stars Bette Davis as an aging actress and Anne Baxter as her ruthless ingenue. In this version, written by and starring queer Cubano playwright Martin Matamoros, an actor takes a liking to a fish-out-of-water fan and hires him as his personal assistant. COST: $20; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, FEB. 28; 8:30 p.m. Darlingside El Rey Theatre -- 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire The alt-folk quartet brings its beautiful harmonies to this all-ages show. They're currently touring in support of their latest album Extralife. Asheville, North Carolina-based band River Whyless opens. COST: $25; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, FEB. 28 - SATURDAY, MARCH 9 Dan Savage's HUMP! Film Festival Downtown Independent -- 251 S. Main St., downtown L.A. The amateur porn festival features short dirty movies with a total running time of five minutes and under. The "carefully curated program is a cornucopia of body types, shapes, ages, colors, sexualities, genders, kinks, and fetishes--all united by a shared spirit of sex-positivity." COST: $25 per screening; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, FEB. 28; 6 - 10 p.m. Taste of St. Joseph Center Playa Studios -- 11260 Playa Ct., Culver City Taste delectable foods and sip on cocktails while raising funds for St. Joseph's culinary program, which trains low-income individuals for food industry careers. More than a dozen eateries, including Ashland Hill, Blue Plate Oysterette and Sunny Spot, are participating. Drinks will be provided by Guayakí Yerba Mate, Pali Wines and Angel City. The night also honors chefs Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts (Hudson House, Playa Provisions) for their service and dedication to the community. COST: $99 - $150 (with open bar); MORE INFO
The Nat Geo Live series returns to The Broad Stage in Santa Monica with guest Hilaree Nelson. (Photo: Adam Clark / National Geographic)
THURSDAY, FEB. 28 - FRIDAY, MARCH 1; 7:30 p.m. National Geographic Live: Point of No Return The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage -- 1310 11th St., Santa Monica The science and nature lecture series continues with Hilaree Nelson, a mountaineer and all-around badass who ascended Myanmar's Hkakabo Razi with a Nat Geo team to determine its exact height. She is also the first woman to have climbed both Everest and its neighbor, Lhotse, in a single 24-hour period. The event includes a post-show Q&A with Nelson. COST: Tickets start at $55; MORE INFO
Every two years, Desert X presents site-specific outdoor installations throughout the Coachella Valley. Two Los Angeles artists have new work on display.
