Michele StuevenThe UCLA Film & Television Archive, a unit of the UCLA Library, is pulling out some unique gems that will screen for free at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum in Westwood. Take in an early dinner at Lulu in the courtyard and check out some of the highlights:
- Jan. 16–March 22 – Echoes From Spring Street: The World of Sing Lee and Chinese-Language Cinema in L.A. A five-night cinematic showcase featuring the first public screening of Archive-restored 35mm prints of rare Chinese-language genre films from Los Angeles’ historic Sing Lee Theatre (1965–2001).
- Jan. 25–March 20 – From John Doe to Lonesome Rhodes: Antifascism From the Archive A six-night series of films that reflect the rise of fascism in the mid-20th century and demonstrate the use of cinema as a tool for resistance.
- Jan 24–March 8 – Archive Television Treasures Special screenings of rarely seen television, including Rod Serling’s existential TV western “The Loner;” author Wakako Yamauchi’s adaptation of her award-winning play, And the Soul Shall Dance, for KCET’s Hollywood Television Theatre, originally staged by the East West Players; and a tribute to Gene Hackman, CBS Playhouse’s My Father and My Mother.
- Feb. 7 – Numbskull Revolution World premiere of Jon Moritsugu’s first film in a decade, Numbskull Revolution. The filmmaker, widely regarded as the godfather of punk cinema, will present a special lecture on punk filmmaking at the UCLA Library before the screening.
- March 13–14 – Debra Granik Presents: Conbody vs Everybody Director Debra Granik presents her new cut of Conbody vs Everybody, a five-part docuseries following former inmate Coss Marte’s mission to empower formerly incarcerated individuals through his unique fitness program.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me (Courtesy UCLA Film & Television Archive)
Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin will be performing at the Joshua Tree Cultural Center on Saturday, Feb. 28, bringing his jazz project, the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, to the high desert for a rare, intimate performance.
Often described as one of the most powerful drummers in rock, Chamberlin’s work helped define songs like “1979,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” and “Tonight, Tonight.” With bandmates Billy Mohler (bass) and Chris Speed (sax), the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex explores a darker, cinematic jazz sound, offering a striking contrast to his arena-rock legacy.
The Vegas Theatre Company presents the premiere of The Guardian, an original stage play by National Endowment for the Arts award-winning playwright and performance artist Ernest Hemmings, opening Friday, Jan 23.
Blending dark humor with moody theatrical imagery, The Guardian examines what it means to grow old in a world increasingly shaped by profit, control, and disposability. The play uses comedy and horror to interrogate how value is assigned to bodies, labor, and legacy under modern systems of power.
The Guardian runs through Thursday, Feb. 5, with tickets, starting at $32.24, available here. Additional performance dates will be announced soon. For more information, visit tstmrkt.com or theatre.vegas.
The Guardian (Courtesy Vegas Theatre Company)
Dance at The Wallis will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles Ballet from Thursday, Jan. 29, through Saturday, Jan. 31.
The evening includes George Balanchine’s jazz-infused production, Rubies, an energetic reprise from the ballet’s first season. Hans Van Manen’s Frank Bridge Variations pairs Benjamin Britten’s score with an abstract expression of sensuality and, at times, explosive emotion. It is a powerful blend of classicism, spirited wit, and modern intensity.
Then, from Thursday, Feb. 19, through Saturday, Feb. 21, the Wallis will feature Compagnie Hervé Koubi: Sol Invictus, a breathtaking baroque dreamscape. Muscular and sublime, the dancers move through light and shadow, echoing the chiaroscuro of Caravaggio and the raw physicality of street dance.
Koubi is known for his fusion of classical dance, capoeira, hip-hop, and martial arts. He draws on these influences and his French-Algerian roots to gather a collective of dancers from across the Mediterranean, united to explore resilience.
Named for the ancient Roman “Unconquered Sun” deity, Sol Invictus is a call for unity. “Here,” says Koubi, “sun and dance will emerge victorious.” The show’s power comes from movement and a driving score from Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, minimalist composer Steve Reich, and digital composer Maxime Bodson.