American Masters Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance, premiering nationally Friday, December 28, 2012 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings), tells the story of the first quintessentially American dance company, the Joffrey Ballet. Founders Robert Joffrey (12/24/1930 – 3/25/1988) and Gerald Arpino (1/14/1923 – 10/29/2008) revolutionized American dance by combining modern with traditional ballet to create a new and daring art form. Narrated by Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), the 90-minute documentary is the first to chronicle the Joffrey Ballet’s pioneering dance philosophy. Award-winning filmmaker Bob Hercules traces the company’s struggles and triumphs: from its humble beginnings in 1956, touring the United States in a borrowed station wagon, to becoming one of the world’s most exciting and prominent ballet companies.  Read the rest of this entry »

Arts organization Create:Fixate (C:F) presents Magnetic on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Lot 613 in Downtown Los Angeles.  Beyond C:F’s signature blend of vibrant artwork and music produced by local talent, this exhibit will feature a gallery filled with illuminated and interactive art installations from kinetic art, interactive video, and light sculptures, to video mapping.  The excitement begins at 4:00pm with a three-hour gallery preview.  The main event starts at 7:00pm and closes at 2:00am.  Read the rest of this entry »

The performance space at Le Lycee Francais de Los Angeles, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz in partnership with the Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles is pleased to bring a Flamenco troupe from Madrid’s celebrated Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco Casa Patas to Los Angeles as part of its public performing arts series for a presentation of The DeMente Territor directed and choreographed by rising flamenco star Karen Lugo. The show will take place at the Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 on Thursday, November 8 and Friday, November 9, 2012 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost $40 and $60 ($25 for students) and are available at http://bit.ly/cMAzTT. To learn more about Theatre Raymond Kabbaz please visit http://www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com.   Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Differences is pleased to announce the Tuesday, November 6, 2012 release of Dinotasia, an animated feature film narrated by Werner Herzog, on DVD/Blu-ray and digital platforms in the U.S. and Canada through Flatiron Film Company, a label of Cinedigm Entertainment Group (NASDAQ: CIDM).  A marriage between classic visual storytelling and CGI dinosaurs, the film is an anthology of humorous prehistoric stories created in the cartoon-style of the Golden Age of animation.  The film is co-directed by long-time Herzog collaborator Erik Nelson and Disney character designer David Krentz.  The DVD/Blue-ray includes the 83-minute feature film plus an extended scene, a mating rites extra story, and a stunning hand-drawn version of the final story.

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The Theatre @ Boston Court presents O-Lan Jones: 20 Years of Theatre and Music, for one night only, on Saturday, October 20, 2012 in Pasadena, CA.  Nine songs by O-Lan Jones have been selected for the performance from the following five productions: After Stardrive, Katy Cruel, The Dybbuk, The Woman Who Forgot Her Sweater, and The Woman in the Wall.  Selections include Appalachian duets, operatic solos, and tribal pieces, which will be performed by recurring cast members from Overtone Industries, Jones’ experimental production company that creates original music theater and opera.  As a special treat, the evening will also feature the first public performance of Jones’ improvisational group, The Spontaneous Combustion Choir.

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Live Talks Los Angeles announces the upcoming guest speakers for its Live Talks Business Forums, a dynamic breakfast-hour series featuring leading business thought leaders and executives, for its 2012-2013 season.  Upcoming speakers include: Vice President of Forrester Research Harley Manning (10/4), Wired magazine editor and author of the Long Tail Chris Anderson (10/18), Founder & Managing Director of Clean Edge Ron Pernick (11/15), bestselling author of Drive and A Whole New Mind Daniel Pink (1/17), Whole Foods CEO John Mackey (1/25), former CEO of GM and AT&T Ed Whitacre (3/7), and Former CEO of Procter & Gamble A.G. Lafley (3/21).  The upcoming October-November 2012 Live Talks LA art and culture schedule includes events with Hollywood legend Penny Marshall in conversation with her brother Garry Marshall (10/3 – rescheduled from 9/26), gay activist Bishop Gene Robinson in conversation with Bradley Whitford (10/5), internationally-acclaimed author Sandra Cisneros in conversation with Hector Tobat, Los Angeles Times journalist and author (10/10), comedian Chris Elliott in conversation with Merrill Markoe (10/11), bestselling author-physician Oliver Sacks (11/14), and atheist magician Penn Jillette (11/15).

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In response to the impending Carmageddon II, a growing alliance of LA-based artists and arts organizations have united with community leaders to create ARTmageddon, a two-day citywide celebration of the prolific and inspiring art happening all over Los Angeles on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, 2012. ARTmageddon centers on a simple idea… Encourage all of Los Angeles to walk, bike and Metro to art in their neighborhoods!  In order to offer Los Angeles residents a user-friendly resource where they can discover all the great events happening on September 29th & 30th, the team behind ARTmageddon created www.ARTmageddonLA.com.

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Bootleg Theater announces the world premiere of Death of a Salesgirl, an absurdist tragicomedy with integrated media, about one woman’s struggle to free herself from her past, opening in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 13, 2012 and running through Saturday, November 17, 2012.  Written by Patricia Scanlon, Death of a Salesgirl is a dark and humorous parable of a salesgirl breaking in new territory.  This intensely creative interdisciplinary performance piece, directed by Matthew McCray, incorporates video projections, animation and a uniquely crafted set by the award-winning Francois-Pierre Couture.  Death of a Salesgirl stars Patricia Scanlon and Paul Dillon.
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Vox Femina Los Angeles, the eclectic women’s choral ensemble, opens its 16th season with No Ordinary Women, a concert featuring the music of Joan Szymko and Gwyneth Walker on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Zipper Concert Hall in the Colburn School of Music.  Vox Femina is thrilled to open its new season with works from these two extraordinary women composers, who have had a significant influence on the group.  The award-winning Mira Costa High School Advanced Women’s Chorale, an ensemble known for its mature tone, artistry and repertoire directed by Michael Hayden, will also be featured in a brief set.

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mud-luscious theatre ensemble, in association with Zee Productions and HolliVOX Entertainment, is thrilled to announce an exclusive production of Unwrap the Present: Life (coaching) is a Cabaret, a comical and poignant one-woman show, written and performed by actor, singer, comedienne, cynic and life coach Sonja Alarr, on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at The Peninsula in Beverly Hills.  The private, invitation-only performance chronicles Alarr’s personal journey from depressed housewife to resurrected artist through a mix of classic and contemporary songs woven together with an autobiographical monologue, humorous insights into the human condition, and handy self-help tips gained from her professional experience as a life coach.

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