LA Weeklyfri 6/14
Art
The Truth Is Relational
Human Resources is a safe space for boundary-blasting visual and especially performance art, with all material experimentations and paradigm-smashing modalities welcome. This weekend, HRLA welcomes the cross-platform project Stalgia Grigg: is a weapon and we, the first U.S. solo show for this artist, and by the looks of it maybe his first in this time-space dimension. With a witty, quirky and slightly ominous sensibility, the artists activities bore into the arcane structural roots of societal political discourse and frustration, positing a kind of futuristic counterfactual history in which access to the fractal vagaries of digital logic promise to break the cognitive wheel of Left/Right polemics and cultural crossfire. The need is urgent; the results are unpredictable. Human Resources Los Angeles, 410 Cottage Home St., Elysian Park; opening reception: Fri., June 14, 7-10 p.m.; Sat., June 15 -Tue., June 18, noon-6 p.m.; free. humanresourcesla.com. —Shana Nys Dambrot
Mark Morris Dance Project in Pepperland (Gareth Jones)
DANCE
British Invasion
Commissioned in 2017 for Liverpool, England’s 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ groundbreaking (and mind-bending) recording, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Mark Morris Dance Project’s Pepperland finally arrives here. Known for his deep musicality, his terrific dancers and his always eye-catching moves, expect this inventive choreographer to bring humor and a 21st-century take on the album’s iconic songs, including “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Within You Without You,” “Penny Lane,” “A Day in the Life,” “When I’m Sixty-Four,” the title track and several new compositions inspired by the original. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa; Fri., June 14, 7:30 p.m., Sat., June 15, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; $29-$119. scfta.org/events/2019/pepperland-mark-morris. —Ann Haskins
Heather Lockie’s Song to Be Performed in a Tunnel in Your Town (Arlene Ziordia)
MUSIC
Tunes in a Tunnel
The Dog Star Orchestra not only presents some of the most interesting chamber-music experiments in the city, the collective tends to stage them in unusual locations. On Friday at Automata, Dog Star hosts a concert of “text and graphic scores that directly engage with nature and natural environments,” with works by such composers as Christian Wolff, Katherine Koopman, Heather Lockie and Jack Langdon. On Saturday, Lockie, Carolyn Chen, Laura Steenberge, Stephanie Aston and Argenta Walther lurk in the pedestrian tunnel at the Southwest Museum to intone new pieces for voice and objects. A related earlier subterranean piece by Lockie, Song to Be Performed in a Tunnel in Your Town, was a mesmerizing weave of vocal exhalations that resonated eerily through time and space at a 2018 Dog Star performance. Automata, 504 Chung King Court, Chinatown; Fri., June 14, 8 p.m.; $15. (213) 819-6855. Southwest Museum, 234 Museum Drive, Mount Washington; Sat., June 15, 8 p.m.; $15. (323) 221-2164, dogstarorchestra.com. —Falling James
Paris Diamond (Courtesy of Deconstruccion: A Drag Show)
sat 6/15
CULTURE/LGBT
Latino Pride
The Museum of Latin American Art’s latest exhibit, “Chiachio & Giannone: Celebrating Diversity,” features textile art by Argentinian artist-couple Leo Chiachio and Daniel Giannone, as well as rainbow flags designed with the help of the Long Beach community. In conjunction with the display, the museum hosts Deconstruccón: A Drag Show, emceed by Xotica Erotica, with performances by former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Jessica Wild, Melissa Befierce and Paris Diamond, a DJ, food and craft vendors, and booths manned by local organizations, including the Arts Council for Long Beach and the Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The event’s other highlight is a screening of Transvisible: Bamby Salcedo’s Story, director Dante Alencastre’s 2013 documentary on the life and career of the transgender Latina activist, who founded the L.A.-based TransLatin@ Coalition. Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach; Sat., June 15, 6-10 p.m.; $40. (562) 437-1689, molaa.org. —Siran Babyan
OPERA/ACTIVISM
Examining Injustice
Amid the anti-crime hysteria of New York City in 1989, five African-American and Latino teenagers were arrested and later convicted for assaulting a jogger in Central Park — and, tragically, they ended up serving time for a crime that it turns out they didn’t commit. People of color continue to be falsely accused and punished by the legal system today, which makes Long Beach Opera’s world premiere of composer Anthony Davis and librettist Richard Wesley’s new opera, The Central Park Five, a potentially compelling artistic examination of our collective souls and social responsibilities. Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro; Sat., June 15 & 22, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 23, 2:30 p.m.; $49-$150. (310) 548-7672, longbeachopera.org. —Falling James
ART/FILM
Father of Monsters
In conjunction with Kaiju vs Heroes, an in-depth exhibition (on view through July 7) celebrating the legacy of kaiju (monster) master Mark Nagato, JANM is hosting the day-long Kaiju-Con. As the dazzling exhibition traces the explosive cultural history and modern obsessions of the monster genre in art and cinema — and of course, toys, toys, toys — so today’s all day confab combines screenings of vintage Godzilla, with hands-on illustration and toy workshops, conversations, vendors, exhibition tours and a higher than usual tolerance for folks showing up in costume. The day’s events are ticketed and include exhibition admission; the outdoor screening of the 1964 kitsch-tastic masterpiece Mothra vs. Godzilla is free. Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., Little Tokyo; Sat., June 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; $20-$30. janm.org. —Shana Nys Dambrot
(Courtesy of CIACLA)
ART/CULTURE
Irish Spring
The newest art house in Los Angeles is the CIACLA, the Contemporary Irish Arts Center, opening this weekend at Bergamot Station. Its debut program centers on a site-specific environmental sculptural installation by Amanda Coogan, The Ladder Is Always There, which will be periodically activated through July 5 with performance art stagings. In a second gallery at the site, a series of performance art events and conversations, Care.Complicity. Critique., invites both Irish and Los Angeles-based practitioners like Thinh Ngyuen, whose work is on display in the gallery as well, to present their works in an international context — including Bloomsday. Opening weekend includes a design and literature symposium, and the fully stocked calendar goes on to include drawing workshops, a conversation on sustainable art practices, music, cinema, poetry, dance, comedy, social hours and more art. One thing CIACLA seems set to prove is that contemporary Irish culture is a robust and eclectic world full of beauty, edge and plentiful surprises. CIACLA, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Suite B1, Santa Monica; opening reception: Sat., June 15, 6-9 p.m.; Wed.-Sun., 1-6 p.m.; free. ciacla.com. —Shana Nys Dambrot
sun 6/16
Father’s Day
Fears and Fun
Mother’s Day is about flowery fawning but Father’s Day is looser. In general, most daddies don’t take it as seriously, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something special or different. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group (known for its creepy Halloween theater shows) are definitely doing something uh, different. DAD: A Paternal Immersive Experience, is a dramatic, interactive show in which “courageous participants” see what it’s like to be a papa in all it’s gritty, gory glory. Child rearing from various facets are explored with a wild cast of characters, all coming of age at different stages, providing a funny, freaky holiday happening you probably won’t soon forget. Directed by Brandon Slezak and produced by Zombie Joe, this 18+ performance should be a hoot for (most) dads and quite possibly serve as a scared straight-like experience for non-dads. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood; Sun.-Mon., June 16-17, June 23-24 and Mon., July 1, 8:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 9:45 p.m. & 10:15 p.m. $15. zombiejoes.tix.com. —Lina Lecaro
(Courtesy of Black Dog & Leventhal)
mon 6/17
Art/LGBT
The History of Pride Art
Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag (originally with eight colors, now six) in San Francisco in 1978 as a visual representation of gay pride. Like McDonald’s, Nike, Starbucks and Apple, Baker’s creation has gone on to become one of the most iconic and enduring images of all time. Andy Campbell’s new book, Queer X Design: 50 Years of Signs, Symbols, Banners, Logos, and Graphic Art of LGBTQ, which he signs tonight, traces the modern LGBTQ movement’s artistic milestones across five decades, from the 1970s to the 2000s, preceded by the pre-gay liberation of the ’50s and ’60s. Campbell, an assistant professor of critical studies at USC, breaks down the history and social and political impact of the Pink Triangle, AIDS Quilt, ACT UP’s Silence=Death and Ribbon Project, as well as imagery associated with some of today’s millennial brands and causes, including NOH8 and Grindr. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; Mon., June 17, 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110, booksoup.com. —Siran Babayan
tue 6/18
THEATER
Trailblazing Casting
Andrew Lloyd Webber fans rejoice! His most famous and arguably best piece of work, the Phantom of the Opera, has returned to Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre. It’s one of our most iconic musicals, but for those who’ve never seen it, the show brilliantly combines some great sets and theatrics (that chandelier!) with an incredible soundtrack that has so many hits it almost feels more like a concert than a musical. In this production, the title role is played by Derrick Davis, who previously appeared on Broadway in Carousel and created the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in I Dream at Opera Carolina’s Knight Theater (he’s played the Phantom before too). This shouldn’t have to be said, but it’s always great to see talented actors of color playing titular roles that have historically gone to white actors for no reason that’s required in the story. The role of Christine is played by Eva Tavares, who trained at UBC Opera Program and the Banff/Citadel Theatre. She calls playing Christine “a lifelong dream.” Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; tickets, dates, times and more info, hollywoodpantages.com/events/detail/thephantomoftheopera. —Michael Cooper
La Traviata (Ken Howard)
wed 6/19
OPERA/LBGT
A Night Out on the Town
L.A. Opera’s latest revival of Marta Domingo’s presentation of Giuseppe Verdi’s classic opera La Traviata, in which the director/designer relocates the action to the Roaring ’20s, should make for a suitably glittery and glamorous setting for the civil-rights organization Equality California’s “Night OUT at the Opera” as the opera company celebrates the local LGBTQ community. After a special performance of the opera, which stars Romanian soprano Adela Zaharia as Violetta, participants can hang out in the BoardRoom Lounge for a reception with cocktails and a DJ. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown; Wed., June 19, 7:30 p.m.; $126-$284. (213) 972-0777, laopera.org. —Falling James
thu 6/20
PHOTOGRAPHY/LGBT
Highlighting Our History
Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown’s Instagram account, @lgbt_history, is incredibly popular for a reason. They always seem to post the most inspiring, visually appealing and meaningful images, stuff that evokes the long-going fight for gay rights, but also provides historical context and celebrates people making a difference whether it be via activism or simply being true to one’s self by rejecting gender norms or showing affection to whomever they chose. The photography is always eye-catching too. The pair have collected their best images for a new book, We Are Everywhere, visual narrative that seeks to represent the LGBTQ Liberation Movement by showing that, indeed, gay people are ubiquitous, and their contributions to our world are as meaningful and culturally significant as those of straight people. Riemer and Brown will discuss the inspiration behind their IG account and the book that came out of it, and they’ll sign it too at a Pride-themed reception inside the Beverly Center (which is offering Pride-related events all month). Bloomingdale’s, by the way, is donating 10 percent of sales to the ONE Archives Foundation, who co-hosts the event. ONE supports LGBTQ people, history and culture through archiving, exhibits, education, community outreach and more. Bloomingdale’s Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove; Thu., June 20, 7-9 p.m.; free. eventbrite.com/e/we-are-everywhere-book-launch-hosted-by-one-archives-foundation-tickets-61525451281. —Lina Lecaro
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