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Pencil This In: NHM First Fridays, Pop Art Show Openings, a Film Noir Fest and Musical Theater Parodies
One of the pieces showing tonight at La Luz de Jesus is Julie Murphy's 'Undocumented Species 8.' (Photo: Courtesy of the gallery)
TGIF! Here’s what’s happening today in LA: The ever popular First Fridays at NHM proves that scientists know how to party; a new film noir series opens; musical parodies based on Little House on the Prairie and King of Kong; Red Bull’s national DJ compeition champion will be crowned tonight; and shows open at two of our favorite pop culture art galleres. Read on for all the details.
MUSICAL
King Of Kong: The Musical opens tonight at 11 pm at iO West Theatre. The two-person satirical musical, written and performed by Amber Ruffin and Lauren Van Kurin, is a loose adaptation of the documentary King of Kong. The film followed two men who challenged each other endlessly on 80’s arcade game Donkey Kong. Original songs include, “Failure Is Just A Success That You Failed To Succeed At,” “What Billy Mitchell Wants Billy Mitchell Gets” and “A Fistful Of Quarters Is A Fistful Of Dreams.” Tickets: $5. If you miss tonight, there’s a show tomorrow at Sacred Fools and one more at iO West on April 19.
NHM FIRST FRIDAYS
It’s that time of the month when music and science mash up at the Natural History Museum. NHM’s First Fridays begins tonight at 5:30 pm with tours with Dr. Eloise Gaillou of NHM's Mineral Sciences Department and Dr. Robert DeGroot of the Southern California Earthquake Center and a discussion at 6:30 pm on The Disappearing Spoon with author Sam Kean.
Live performances by Dan Deacon and Japanther. Anthony Valadez with Kisses in the DJ lounge. Advanced tickets are sold out for the concert hall access, but a limited number are available at the door starting at 5 pm. Adult museum admission (includes tours, discussions): $12, $18 with concert.
FILM
The American Cinematheque and the Film Noir Foundation present Noir City: Hollywood, 15th Annual Festival of Film Noir today through April 21 at both the Egyptian and the Aero theaters. Get ready for both rare and familiar films about gumshoes, shady dames and mobsters. Things kick off tonight at 7:30 pm at the Egyptian with the double feature Try and Get Me (1951) followed by 1957’s Hell Drivers, both directed by blacklisted Cy Endfield. Tickets: $11.
MUSIC
Red Bull’s Thr3estyle competition comes to a head tonight at 9 pm with the championship at Lure in Hollywood. Some of the country's best DJs battle it out to win the U.S. championship. They will each have a 15-minute set to win over the crowd and panel. Guest judges tonight include Jazzy Jeff, Z-Trip and A-Trak with a performance by Mark Ronson. 21+. Tickets: $20.
MUSICAL
Almond Grove, a new musical parody (that used to be named something else), opens tonight at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater. It’s a mashup of a certain beloved 1970s TV series about a family living on a prairie, set to karaoke hits of the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond live on stage. The cast features comedy and internet star Drew Droege and veteran musical performer Tom Lowe. Tunes include "Party in the U.S.A.," "Call Me Maybe," Sweet Caroline" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Tickets: $20-$25.
ART*
A few of our favorite pop art galleries are opening shows tonight. Gallery1988 (East)opens Dan Goodsell's Drawing Mr. Toast with a reception from 7-10 pm. The gallery has 500, 5x7 new drawings of Goodsell’s characters Mr. Toast and Friends. Over at La Luz de Jesus, the gallery opens two shows. Tony Fitzpatrick guest curates the group show The Bus: 29 Hooligans from Chitown featuring, yes, 29 artists from Chicago. J.A.W. Cooper's solo show Laid Bare explores the “struggle to let go of anxiety and fear and the constructive and destructive power of vulnerability.” Both shows are up through April 28.
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Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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