33RD  INTERNATIONAL URANIUM  FILM FESTIVAL,THE ATOMIC AGE CINEMA FEST IN LA plus

                                         KAT KRAMER'S FILMS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

                                                                          PRESENT

                                         UNFORGETTABLE MOVIES OF THE ATOMIC AGE

WHO:Nuclear Power Panelfor the Atomic Age Cinema Fest:

 Harvey Wasserman / Co-moderator

Kat Kramer / Co-moderator

Mimi Kennedy - actress/activist

Esai Morales - actor /activist

Libbe HaLevy- Producer and Host" of Nuclear Hotseat.  

WHO:  Maria Conchita Alonso, Grammy Award-nominated singer & actress  Ed Asner ("The Good Wife,""Up,""Mary Tyler Moore")​Dennis Watts,  NASA ScientistKristin Bauer, actress ("True Blood​,"​ "Once Upon a Time")Ed Begley Jr. ("Better Call Saul,""This is Spinal Tap")​Philippe​ B​enninkmeyer ("Guiding Light")​George Chakiris ("West Side Story")​Ken Davitian, ("Borat,""Ray Donovan,""The Artist")​Princess Francesca Drommi, recording artist  Sonia Été, President of the Academy of Couture ArtBeverly Findlay-Kaneko, Families for Safe Energy  Mimi Kennedy, Moms, Midnight in ParisLou Gossett Jr., ("Extant,""Roots,""An Officer and a Gentleman")  Evan Handler ("Californication,​"​ "Sex and the City"- Charlotte's husband​)​  Adam Horowitz, director ("Nuclear Savage")Michael von Hohenberg, director ("Final Picture")Kat Kramer and Karen-Sharpe Kramer   Jade Leboeuf, top French model (Louis Vuitton, L'Oreal), music videos (Jennifer Lopez, Johnny Halliday's „La Douceur De Vivre"​)​Bai Ling ("Assassin's Game,""The Crow")​Fareed Majari, Director of the Goethe InstituteBrandon Molale ("Gangster Squad,"" True Blood,""Collateral")​Tara Lynn Orr ("Watching the Detectives")​Esai Morales, The Brink, NYPD Blue, LaBamba   Dustin Quick, model/actress ("NCIS")​John Savage ​("The Deer Hunter,""The Thin Red Line,""White Squall")  Freda Sideroff, Director of Garifuna Film Festival Estella Sneider, radio host "LIVE Today,​"​ "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

WHAT:The Atomic Age Film Festival is dedicated to all films about nuclear power and the clear and present danger of terrorists threats with ISIL stating their next target could be nuclear. Fears are being revived of dirty bombs, and the very real risks of radioactivity contamination causing millions of deaths. Concerned are heightened with the safety and security of the 440 nuclear power plants in 31 countries. Recent terror events make it imperative that we become aware of the problem to resolve the problems.  Nuclear accidents like Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, or Fukushima should never be forgotten, nor repeated.  

We are part of the International Uranium Film Festival, a non-profit foundation founded in Rio de Janeiro, which has traveled to 33 cities, 7 countries and 5 continents. Most of the people attending the festival are concerned about the dangers of nuclear power. It is not a typical Hollywood film festival, it is more of a forum.

The Los Angeles edition of the 33^rd  Uranium Film Festival is titled the Atomic Age Film Festival. This annual festival has global reach. The festival has toured todozens of cities in Brazil, Germany, India, Portugal, Canada, Salvador, India, and the U.S.:  New York, SantaFe, Albuquerque, and Washington DC. The goal is to establish the Atomic AgeFilm Festival on all continents. 

Of all the films on this sensitive subject,internationally acclaimed  German Director Michael Von Hohenberg's Final Pictureand his alluring model/actress star Nadine Badewitzis, without doubt, the strongest one yet. From the first scene the audience swiftly lays waste to the oft-repeated saber-rattling threat statements by world leaders who intonate we will survive, our enemies will be vanquished.Final Picture is Stanley Kramer's  On The Beach for theNow Generation. " Unnerving and unforgettable, A must see. " Tag Hollywood.

TICKETS: complimentary, RSVP: ilenepr@sbcglobal.net 

WHERE: Raleigh Studios' Charlie Chaplin Theater.

                          5300 Melrose Avenue

Atomic Age Cinema Fest - Schedule   

12:00 pm    HOT WATER

2:00 pm    NUCLEAR SAVAGE: THE ISLANDS OF SECRET PROJECT 4.1

4:15 pm    FINAL PICTURE

6:30 pm   Red Carpet

7:30 pm     THE MAN WHO SAVED THE WORLD

9:20 pm    Nuclear Power Panel / Audience Q & A

10:00 pm    After-Party (with live entertainment)

The Panel will be held  from 9:20 pm - 10 pm (40 min.) on stage of the Charlie Chaplin Theater of Raleigh Studios.

The Panel takes place after the screening of the documentary, THE MAN WHO SAVED THE WORLD . 

It will be followed by an after party in the courtyard,

Another Kat Kramer's Films That Changethe World will take place in May 2016, with the screening THE CHINA SYNDROME.

A review by Rachel Flanagan.

Be nice, be polite, mind your P's and Q's, go to college, get a job and if you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all.  These are the things that most people are taught as children and children believe that they will grow up and live a fulfilling happy life and get to do whatever it is that they want to dream because no dream is too big to have in life. Courtney Abbiati's No, I Won't Take You To The Airport tells a completely true story of a girl (that girl being herself) who did everything she was supposed to do and ended up freezing behind a desk at a job she hates pretending to be anywhere else.  Courtney, with her theatrical enthusiasm tells her story with a colorful cast of characters that she brings to life on stage in a way that only her imagination could.

Courtney is the youngest of three from a New Jersey family where all she wanted was attention. She shares with the audience how she feels working in the freezing basement of a job she hates selling shirts and ties that are so expensive, no one wants to buy them. How she answers the phone in a way her boss took forever teaching her and how she often imagines she's belle, singing a song at her town library. In the only way that she knows how, No, I Won't Take You To The Airport, uses Abbiati's amazing dialectic skills, colorful imagination and instinctual desire to tell stories to make the audience laugh and feel connected to her as her story is so relatable to almost anyone with a pulse and a sense of humor.

No, I Won't Take You To The Airport, is a hilarious yet endearing one-woman show that not only provides a poignant and true insight into Courtney's personal experiences, but also provides a thoughtful self-reflective look at our own journey through life.  When your stomach is filled up but you are starving for conversation, Courtney Abbiati invites you to be a guest to her comical and entertaining feast of heartfelt stories that will fill you up with sidesplitting joy and genuine emotion.  Go see this show before Courtney takes the big time, because right now, she is sharing her story at the Hudson Theatres but pretty soon, she will be sharing her stories with a national audience once everyone catches wind of her talent.  You will not be disappointed.

No, I Won't Take You To The Airport
Wednesday, April 13 - Wed, June 8 at 8pm

www.noiwonttakeyoutotheairport.com

Hudson Mainstage Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd 
Hollywood, CA  90038 
(323) 960-7724

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS AT ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD STARTING MAY 6 FOR THOSE PEOPLE; BLING; THE OFFERING; BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING; SACRIFICE

            Those People. Directed by Joey Kuhn. Written by Kuhn and Grainne Belluomo. Produced by Kuhn, Kimberly Parker and Sarah Perlman Bremner. From Wolfe Releasing. Color, 2016, USA, 89 minutes, not rated. Romance. Starring Jonathan Gordon, Jason Ralph, Haaz Sleiman, Britt Lower, Meghann Fahy and Chris Conroy. On Manhattan's gilded Upper East Side, a young gay painter is torn between an obsession with his infamous best friend and a promising new romance with an older foreign pianist.

            Winner- Out On Film, Atlanta

            "Invigortaing....witnessing a filmmaker with as distinctive a voice as Kuhn come out of the gate with something so accomplished."---Moveable Fest

            Bling. Directed by Kyung Ho Lee and Wonjae Lee. Written by Kyung Ho Lee, Chris Denk and Hyunjoong Kim. Produced by Jongsoo Kim and Joshua Sohn. From Momentum Pictures. Color, 2016, South Korea/USA, 82 minutes, rated PG. Animation. Starring the voices of Taylor Kitsch, Jennette McCurdy, James Woods, Carla Gugino, Tom Green and Jon Heder. Lowly theme park mechanic Sam dreams about his childhood sweetheart Sue. With the mistaken belief that only a bling ring can win the girl of his dreams, Sam plans the most perfect night to propose to his one true love. But when super villain Oscar shows up with his own evil ring that could destroy the city, Sam's plans are thrown into utter disarray. Mistaking each other's rings for their own, Sam teams up with his robot super heroes to track down his engagement ring and save the city... learning that it's not about the size of the bling, but the size of your heart.

            "A sweet film."---Urban Cinefile

            The Offering. Written and directed by Kelvin Tong. Produced by Kat Goh, Peter Poon and Leon Tong. From Entertainment One. Color, 2016, Singapore/USA, 95 minutes, not rated. Horror/Mystery. Starring Matthew Settle, Elizabeth Rice, Pamelyn Chee, Jaymee Ong, Elizabeth Lazan and Adina Herz. When young and successful reporter Jamie finds out that her sister has died in mysterious circumstances, she travels to Singapore to uncover the truth. There, she discovers multiple deaths linked to her sister's and must join forces with her sister's husband in order to defeat a demonic entity that is using new technology to complete an ancient mission. 

            Beautiful Something. Written and directed by Joseph Graham. Produced by Leilani Goode. From Ariztical Entertainment. Color, 2016, USA, 97 minutes, not rated. Romance. Starring Brian Sheppard, Zack Ryan, Colman Domingo, John Lescault, David Melissaratos and Grant Lancaster. Four diverse gay men navigate art, sex and love in one sublime night.

            "Poetic and mesmerizing. It's something beautiful indeed."---YNOT at The Movies

            Sacrifice. Directed by Peter A. Dowling. Written by Dowling and S.J. Bolton. Produced by Peter Lewis, Tristan Lynch, Aolfe O'Sullivan and Arnold Rifkin. From IFC Midnight. Color, 2016, Ireland, not rated. Thriler. Starring Radha Mitchell, Rupert Graves, Ian McElhinney, David Robb, Liam Carney and Peter Vollebregt. Sacrifice is the story of consultant surgeon, Tora Hamilton, who moves with her husband, Duncan, to the remote Shetland Islands, 100 miles off the north-east coast of Scotland. Deep in the peat soil around her new home, Tora discovers the body of a young woman with rune marks carved into her skin and a gaping hole where her heart once beat. Ignoring warnings to leave well alone, Tora uncovers terrifying links to a legend that might never have been confined to the pages of the story-books.

            "Exciting car chases, lovely landscapes and competent performances."----Horror Freak News

            May 6- May 12, 2016. Contact venue for show times.  Admission: $12 each feature..  Information:  (323) 306-0676. Online ticketing:  http://arenascreen.com

            At Arena Cinema Hollywood, 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. Discounted parking is available with validation at lots adjacent to the venue and across the street. Arena Cinema is Hollywood's new home for independent films, powered by Voltaire Media.  Ranked among Top 5 Indie Movie Theatres in Los Angeles by CBS2.

            Starting the week of May 6, Arena Cinema Hollywood inaugurates a series for the summer of outdoor film screenings in its courtyard. For more information, go to http://arenascreen.com or call (323) 306-0676.

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A review by Suzanne Birrell.

Terra C. MacLeod as Velma Kelly and cast. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Chicago opened in Los Angeles last night for the beginning of a 6 day run. Buy your tickets now: you absolutely don't want to miss this star studded performance. Grammy Award-Winner Brandy Norwoodis a "Roxie Hart" as no other. Playing opposite is Terra C. MacLeod who plays cell mate "Velma Kelly with the moves and the grooves. Both ladies play off each other with impeccable comic timing that will simply plant a smile on your face and keep it there. 

NFL Legend & Heisman Trophy Winner Eddie George is smooth as silk as slick lawyer "Billy Flynn." Roz Ryan holds the audience in the palm of her hand as "Matron 'Mama' Morton." D. Ratell was over the top thru the highs and lows as reporter "Mary Sunshine.Enthusiastic Band Director Rob Bowman was a comic character in his own right. Tug Watson as "The jury" was hysterically funny without any lines or song. The entire cast was spot on.

The choreography was Bob Fosse brilliant by Ann Reinking ( who has an long and impressive list of credits and awards.) The costumes by William Ivey Long wonderfully reflect the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s. Even the newspaper props were terrific. I smiled start to finish. The only drawback for me were the number of audience members who had to be reprimanded by ushers for taking photos with their cell phones. (Please don't - just enjoy.)

Eddie George; Photo by Jeremy Daniel (Left)

I am a musician myself (Bassplayer-AFM47). Since I was very young, when the music is just right, I get goose bumps. Last night, I got goose bumps.Chicago is hot, it sizzles, it scintillates. Don't miss it

Los Angeles Filmforum at MOCA presents

Tacita Dean:Presences/Absences

Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7:00 pm

In Person: Tacita Dean

LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2016 -  Over the past 20 years, Berlin-based artist Tacita Dean has created a large and compelling body of film work alongside her numerous other practices.  Oftencharacterized by a patient, observational acuity and an eye for compositions of unexpected significance and suggestion, her 16mm films also reflect an intimate engagement with and understanding of the film medium.  Dean's commitment to this medium further extends to her conviction that the work be seen in its original and intended form, via 16mm projection, and only rarely in a cinematic space.  

Los Angeles Filmforum at MOCA is therefore very honored to present a thematic selection of Dean's short films spanning the past two decades, including the Los Angeles premiere of her newest 16mm film, Portraits (2016), a sustained, unadorned series of quietly expectant moments shared with artist David Hockney. Dean will be present to introduce and discuss her films.

What: Tacita Dean:Presences/Absences (featuring the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, Portraits(2016)) - Tacita Dean in person!

When: Thursday, May 12, 2016, 7:00 pm. Note the change from our usual day & time

Where: MOCA Grand Avenue, Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

INFO education@moca.org or 213.621.1745

TICKETS $12 general admission, $7 students with valid ID; FREE for Los Angeles Filmforum and MOCA members.  Tickets available in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258310

Screening:

(Subject to change)

Ztráta, 1991/2002

16mm, black and white, silent, 3.5 minutes

Bubble House, 1999

16mm color, sound, 7 minutes

Teignmouth Electron, 2000

16mm color, sound, 7 minutes

Section Cinema (Homage to Marcel Broodthaers), 2002

16mm, color, sound, 13 minutes

Palast, 2004

16mm, color, sound, 10 minutes

Human Treasure, 2006

16mm, color, sound, 15 minutes

Still Life, 2009

16mm, black and white, silent, 5.5 minutes

Portraits, 2016

16mm, color, sound, 16 minutes

Total Run Time: 77 minutes

Biography:

Tacita Dean was born in 1965 in Canterbury, UK. She studied at Falmouth School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art before moving to live and work in Berlin in 2000.

Her solo exhibitions include Tate Britain, London (2001), Schaulager, Basel (2006), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2007), Nicola Trussardi Foundation,Milan (2009) and MUMOK, Vienna (2011), New Museum, New York (2012), Instituto Moreira Salles, Rio de Janeiro (2013) and Fondación Botín, Santander (2013). Dean was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1998, and was awarded the Hugo Boss Prize in 2006 and the Kurt Schwitters Prize in 2009. In 2011, she made FILM as part of the Unilever Series of commissions in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, which marked the beginning of her campaign to protect the medium of photochemicalfilm (www.savefilm.org). Other recent group exhibitions include dOCUMENTA (13) (2012), Venice Biennale (2013), Berlin Biennale and Biennale of Sydney (2014). In 2014/15 she was artist in residence at The Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles.

Programmed by Mark Toscano

--------------------------

Acknowledgements:

Los Angeles Filmforum at MOCA is supported through both organizations by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Additional support of Filmforum's screening series comes from the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles. We also depend on our members, ticket buyers, and individual donors.

Los Angeles Filmforum at MOCA furthers MOCA's mission to question and adapt to the changing definitions of art and to care for the urgency of contemporary expression with bimonthly screenings of film and video organized and co-presented by Los Angeles Filmforum-the city's longest-running organization dedicated to weekly screenings of experimentalfilm, documentaries, video art, and experimental animation.

For more on Los Angeles Filmforum, visit lafilmforum.org, or email lafilmforum@yahoo.com.

For more information on The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, visit moca.org.

STAGE RAW

ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR

SECOND ANNUAL

"STAGE RAW" AWARDS!

April 25, 2016...Professional Los Angelesintimate theater companies and their friends sold out Los Angeles Theatre Center to support the second-ever STAGE RAW THEATRE AWARDS.  Picking up where the LA WEEKLY Awards left off, and hosted by the Independent Shakespeare Co. and Dr. Pinch and Pinchtones, the best of 99-seat theatre was celebrated in an exuberant and emotional evening that put a "Raw" spotlight on the year's best work.

For a career of promoting new plays in Los Angeles at his Skylight Theatre - not to mention his recent mediated discussions with Actors Equity Association, on behalf of the region's smaller theaters, STAGE RAW honored GARY GROSSMAN with its Career Achievement Award in one of the evening's most moving speeches and moments. Another highlight was this year's Queen of the Angels Award winner Highways' LEO GARCIA whose rousing speech and entrance were both memorable.

The award recipients for the 2015 STAGE RAW Awards are as follows:

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY

Edgar Landa - Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center

VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN

Anthony Backman and Jim Pierce - Astro Boy and the God of Comics- Sacred Fools Theater

SOUND DESIGN

Danny Echevarria - The Temptation of St. Anthony- Four Larks

LIGHTING DESIGN

Jared A. Sayeg - Picnic- The Antaeus Theatre Company

COSTUME DESIGN

Kimberly Freed - Entropy- Theatre of NOTE 

ORIGINAL MUSIC

Jake Broder - Miravel- Sacred Fools Theatre Company

QUEEN OF THE ANGELS

Leo Garcia

CHOREOGRAPHY

Angela Todaro - Jesus Christ Superstar- DOMA Theatre Co at the MET Theatre

MUSICAL DIRECTION (TIE)

Joe Lawrence - Sweeney Todd- Kelrik Productions at the El Portal Theatre

Chris Raymond - Jesus Christ Superstar- DOMA Theatre Co at the MET Theatre 

SET DESIGN

Wilson Chin - Anna Christie- Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

TWO PERSON PERFORMANCE

Ed F. Martin and Michelle Azar - My Barking Dog- The Theatre @ Boston Court

LEADING FEMALE PERFORMANCE

Zoe Perry - Anna Christie- Odyssey Theatre Ensemble 

SUPPORTING FEMALE PERFORMANCE

Ferrell Marshall - Enron- The Production Company at The Lex Theatre (T L Kolman and August Viverito)

\

SUPPORTING MALE PERFORMANCE

Robert Gossett - Watching O.J.- Ensemble Studio Theatre, Los Angeles

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT

Gary Grossman

LEADING MALE PERFORMANCE

Matthew Hancock - Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center 

MALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Michael Shepperd - Bootycandy- Celebration Theatre 

FEMALE COMEDY PERFORMANCE

Julanne Chidi Hill - Bootycandy - Celebration Theatre

SOLO PERFORMANCE

Erica Gimpel - Sister- MPE Productions, Sahara Vision, and The Bootleg Theater 

ADAPTATION

Stephen Sachs - Citizen: An American Lyric- The Fountain Theatre 

PLAYWRITING

David McMillan - Watching O.J.- Ensemble Studio Theatre, Los Angeles

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center 

COMEDY ENSEMBLE

Bootycandy- Celebration Theatre  

ENSEMBLE

Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center 

COMEDY DIRECTION

Jaime Robledo - Rio Hondo- Theatre of NOTE in association with Opiate of the Masses  

DIRECTION

Ken Sawyer - Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center 

MUSICAL OF THE YEAR

Sweeney Todd- Kelrik Productions at the El Portal Theatre 

REVIVAL PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR (of a 20th- or 21st-century work)

Anna Christie- Odyssey Theatre Ensemble

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR

Hit the Wall- Los Angeles LGBT Center

A review by Suzanne Birrell.

Thaddeus Shafer as Dr. Duchenne, Tyler Bremer (Bon-Bon), Alexis Jones (Fifi), Andrew Eldredge (Pepe) and The Machine

Photos courtesy of Andrew Eiden.

Four Clowns presentation of David Bridel's new play Lunatics & Actors now playing at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles is one of those performances you experience. I can't tell you too much or I will spoil it so this will have to be more of an impressionistic review. I'll start with WOW.

Thaddeus Shaferplays Dr. Duchenne and we the audience are there to witness his demonstrations on how he can control emotion. He asks for volunteers from the audience, specifically actors. He then interviews them and the comedy begins. (Kudos to the volunteers who definitely added to the show). He then chooses one of the actors to participate in a game of matching emotions.

Three "Lunatics" are then brought on stage and introduced. Tyler Bremer as Bon-Bon, Alexis Jones as Fifi, an Andrew Eldredge as Pepe are there to  interpret emotions in a match against the volunteer actor. The result is hysterically funny. The actors are spot on.

We the audience have our own emotions played with as we get sucked into the "demonstration." I was totally drawn into the story. There are moments that are very disturbing especially when you realize that
Lunatics & Actors is based on the real life obsessions of famed doctor, Duchenne du Boulogne who once engaged in this experimentation.

All parts of the production contribute to a brilliant whole. The set & properties designer Fred Kinney provided an intriguing backdrop. Even the audience sitting in comfortable chairs with ample leg room was necessary to the performance because action overflowed into the audience. In addition, the "machine" was terrifyingly real. The Costumes designed by Elena Flores were wonderfully period and complete with period strait jackets. The lighting designed by Azra King-Abadi provided an overall eeriness to the stage. Kate Fechtig provided a sound design that set the stage from the moment the we walked into the theatre.

Lunatics & Actorsis a performance to be experienced. A titillating story cleverly directed with unforgettable performances. Do not miss this one.

Los Angeles' premiere clown troupe, Four Clowns, presents a world premiere production of Lunatics & Actors by David Bridel and directed by Jeremy Aluma.

The production runs April 29th - May 28th, 2016 at The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles

(1238 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90026).

Tickets  at www.fourclowns.org.

WHEN: 12 PERFORMANCES ONLY

Friday, April 29 at 8pm

Saturday, April 30 at 8pm

Friday, May 6 at 8pm

Saturday, May 7 at 8pm

Friday, May 13 at 8pm

Saturday, May 14 at 8pm

Thursday, May 19 at 8pm

Friday, May 20 at 8pm

Saturday, May 21 at 8pm

Thursday, May 26 at 8pm

Friday, May 27 at 8pm

Saturday, May 28 at 8pm

Mini-Australian theater fest this June:
Australian Theatre Company's'Double Feature'of two
Australian plays plus 'Works by Women'free reading series
 

WHAT:
L.A.'s Australian Theatre Company offers a mini Australian theater festival, including a 'Double Feature' of two celebrated Australian plays that were made into movies and ATC's second annual free reading series - all over the course of 3-1/2 weeks.

• Speaking in Tongues by Andrew Bovell - A noir psychological thriller that is a theatrical jigsaw puzzle of parallel stories: two couples set out to betray their partners... a lover returns from the past... a husband doesn't answer the phone... and a neighbor is the prime suspect when a woman disappears. Winner of the Australian Writer's Guild's AWGIE Award for Best Stage Play.

• The U.S. premiere of Ruben Guthrie by Brendan Cowell - An affecting and darkly comic look at alcoholism and the impact of Australia's drinking culture. A heady cocktail of fizzy humor and touching revelation about a Sydney adman who spirals high, then crashes hard, it's the story not only of his battle with the bottle - but also of the city that won't let him put it down. Is it un-Australian to refuse a drink?

• Works by Women Free Reading Series- Five Australian plays written and directed by women over the course of four Wednesdays in June. Enjoy free admission and Australian refreshments.

WHEN:
Speaking in Tongues - June 6 - June 27:
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: June 6 (opening night), June 13, June 27
• Tuesday at 8 p.m.: June 21
• Thursday at 8 p.m.: June 16
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: June 10, June 24
• Saturday at 4 p.m.: June 18
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: June 11, June 25
• Sundays at 3 p.m.: June 12, June 26
• Sunday at 7 p.m.: June 19

Ruben Guthrie - June 7 - June 28:
• Monday at 8 p.m.: June 20
• Tuesdays at 8 p.m.: June 7 (opening night), June 14, June 28
• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: June 9, June 23
• Friday at 8 p.m.: June 17
• Saturdays at 4 p.m.: June 11, June 25
• Saturday at 8 p.m.: June 18
• Sunday at 3 p.m.: June 19
• Sundays at 7 p.m.: June 12, June 26

Works by Women Free Reading Series - June 8 - June 29:
• Wednesday, June 8 at 8 p.m.: Neighbourhood Watch byLally Katz (When an unlikely friendship forms between a lost twenty-something and a Hungarian octogenarian, lessons are learned about the tragedies of war, loss and resilience)
• Wednesday, June 15 at 8 p.m.:Jump for Jordan byDonna Abela (A Jordanian-Australian family struggles to find its way)
• Wednesday, June 22 at 8 p.m.: MedeabyKate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sark(An edgy, modern and clever Australian retelling of Euripides' tragedy) and Permission to Spin by Mary Rachel Brown(Absurd, funny and darkly thrilling - a kiddy pop star's work is being used to torture terrorists off shore)
• Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m.:AnacondabySarah Doyle (A disturbing, touching and a fascinating insight into the underground culture of boarding school abuse).

WHERE:
Matrix Theatre
7657 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(west of Stanley Ave., between Fairfax and La Brea)

TICKET PRICES:
• One play: $34.99
• Two plays ("Double Feature"): $50
• Works by Women reading series: FREE

HOW:
(323) 960-4443 or www.AustralianTheatreCompany.com
• Join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/aussietheatreco/

EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS AT ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD STARTING MAY 6 FOR THOSE PEOPLE; BLING; THE OFFERING; BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING; SACRIFICE

            Those People. Directed by Joey Kuhn. Written by Kuhn and Grainne Belluomo. Produced by Kuhn, Kimberly Parker and Sarah Perlman Bremner. From Wolfe Releasing. Color, 2016, USA, 89 minutes, not rated. Romance. Starring Jonathan Gordon, Jason Ralph, Haaz Sleiman, Britt Lower, Meghann Fahy and Chris Conroy. On Manhattan's gilded Upper East Side, a young gay painter is torn between an obsession with his infamous best friend and a promising new romance with an older foreign pianist.

            Winner- Out On Film, Atlanta

            "Invigortaing....witnessing a filmmaker with as distinctive a voice as Kuhn come out of the gate with something so accomplished."---Moveable Fest

IN PERSON: JAMES FRANCO MODERATES MAY 8 Q&A SCREENING OF  THOSE PEOPLE AT ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD

            James Franco will appear in person at Arena Cinema Hollywood to moderate a Q&A with  Those People writer-director Joey Kuhn, producer Kimberly Parker and film cast members Haaz Sleiman, Britt Lower  following the Sunday, May 8, 2016 at 7:20 p.m. screening.

            Bling. Directed by Kyung Ho Lee and Wonjae Lee. Written by Kyung Ho Lee, Chris Denk and Hyunjoong Kim. Produced by Jongsoo Kim and Joshua Sohn. From Momentum Pictures. Color, 2016, South Korea/USA, 82 minutes, rated PG. Animation. Starring the voices of Taylor Kitsch, Jennette McCurdy, James Woods, Carla Gugino, Tom Green and Jon Heder. Lowly theme park mechanic Sam dreams about his childhood sweetheart Sue. With the mistaken belief that only a bling ring can win the girl of his dreams, Sam plans the most perfect night to propose to his one true love. But when super villain Oscar shows up with his own evil ring that could destroy the city, Sam's plans are thrown into utter disarray. Mistaking each other's rings for their own, Sam teams up with his robot super heroes to track down his engagement ring and save the city... learning that it's not about the size of the bling, but the size of your heart.

            "A sweet film."---Urban Cinefile

            The Offering. Written and directed by Kelvin Tong. Produced by Kat Goh, Peter Poon and Leon Tong. From Entertainment One. Color, 2016, Singapore/USA, 95 minutes, not rated. Horror/Mystery. Starring Matthew Settle, Elizabeth Rice, Pamelyn Chee, Jaymee Ong, Elizabeth Lazan and Adina Herz. When young and successful reporter Jamie finds out that her sister has died in mysterious circumstances, she travels to Singapore to uncover the truth. There, she discovers multiple deaths linked to her sister's and must join forces with her sister's husband in order to defeat a demonic entity that is using new technology to complete an ancient mission. 

            Beautiful Something. Written and directed by Joseph Graham. Produced by Leilani Goode. From Ariztical Entertainment. Color, 2016, USA, 97 minutes, not rated. Romance. Starring Brian Sheppard, Zack Ryan, Colman Domingo, John Lescault, David Melissaratos and Grant Lancaster. Four diverse gay men navigate art, sex and love in one sublime night.

            "Poetic and mesmerizing. It's something beautiful indeed."---YNOT at The Movies

            Sacrifice. Directed by Peter A. Dowling. Written by Dowling and S.J. Bolton. Produced by Peter Lewis, Tristan Lynch, Aolfe O'Sullivan and Arnold Rifkin. From IFC Midnight. Color, 2016, Ireland, not rated. Thriler. Starring Radha Mitchell, Rupert Graves, Ian McElhinney, David Robb, Liam Carney and Peter Vollebregt. Sacrifice is the story of consultant surgeon, Tora Hamilton, who moves with her husband, Duncan, to the remote Shetland Islands, 100 miles off the north-east coast of Scotland. Deep in the peat soil around her new home, Tora discovers the body of a young woman with rune marks carved into her skin and a gaping hole where her heart once beat. Ignoring warnings to leave well alone, Tora uncovers terrifying links to a legend that might never have been confined to the pages of the story-books.

            "Exciting car chases, lovely landscapes and competent performances."----Horror Freak News

            May 6- May 12, 2016. Contact venue for show times.  Admission: $12 each feature..  Information:  (323) 306-0676. Online ticketing:  http://arenascreen.com

            At Arena Cinema Hollywood, 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. Discounted parking is available with validation at lots adjacent to the venue and across the street. Arena Cinema is Hollywood's new home for independent films, powered by Voltaire Media.  Ranked among Top 5 Indie Movie Theatres in Los Angeles by CBS2.

            Starting the week of May 6, Arena Cinema Hollywood inaugurates a series for the summer of outdoor film screenings in its courtyard. For more information, go to http://arenascreen.com or call (323) 306-0676.

Los Angeles Filmforum presents

The Birth Film

on Sunday May 8

LOS ANGELES, April 18 - In celebration of Mother's Day, Los Angeles Filmforum is thrilled to present a special selection of historical experimental films engaging with the subject of birth, from filmmakers Stan Brakhage, Marjorie Keller, and Maya Deren & Alexander Hammid.  

Cinematic records of childbirth date far back in the history of cinema, though for decades it was treated, unsurprisingly, as a subject of nearly abstract, purely medical interest.  The implicit taboo of filming childbirth for personal, artistic, symbolic, or otherwise creative purposes was a fierce one, making Stan and Jane Brakhage's decision to film the birth of their first daughter Myrrena in November of 1958 a remarkable one.

Since this groundbreaking film - the iconic Window Water Baby Moving (1959) - numerous other artists have considered the cinematic portrayal of birth, including Brakhage himself four more times.  As material for cinema, the subject matter has certainly become dramatically less taboo, but its depiction remains a singularly and disarmingly powerful experience, especially in the hands of a sensitive filmmaker.

This program features a modest selection of extraordinary birth films by some equally extraordinary artists.  Showing in a restored print from New York Public Library, Marjorie Keller's psychologically rich and complex experimental documentary Misconception (1977) is an acclaimed multi-part work in which "the birth is the crisis of the film and its center", in Keller's words.  Brakhage's ecstatic and kinetic Thigh Line Lyre Triangular (1961), depicting the birth of the Brakhages' third child, is a lesser-known and very different birth film that foregrounds the filmmaker's own subjective witness.  Gunvor Nelson's little-seen Kirsa Nicholina (1969) largely eschews superficial lyricism in favor of a very direct, documentary approach that nevertheless finds startling power and emotion in its subject.  Rounding out the program is a truly remarkable 1944 film from Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid on feline birth, demonstrating an uncannily human tenderness in both its subject and treatment.  This film , The Private Life of a Cat, normally shown in a shorter silentversion, will be featured in an extremely rare presentation of the film's original longer cut (courtesy of Anthology Film Archives), with its original release soundtrack featuring narration by Deren herself.

Program approximately 90 minutes.

What:The Birth Film  

When: Sunday, May 8, 7:30pm.

Where: At the Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90028

or at the door.

For more information: lafilmforum@yahoo.com or 323-377-7238.

---------------------------------

This program is supported by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; and Bloomberg Philanthropies. We also depend on our members, ticket buyers, and individual donors.

Los Angeles Filmforum is the city's longest-running organization screening experimental and avant-garde film and video art, documentaries, and experimental animation.  2016 is our 41st year.

WHAT WE BECOME, THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY, THE ASIAN CONNECTION, KILL ZONE 2 START EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS AT ARENA CINEMA HOLLYWOOD ON MAY 13

            What We Become. Written and directed by Bo Mikkelsen. Produced by Sara Namer. From IFC Midnight. Color, 2016, Denmark, 85 minutes, not rated. Horror/Thriller. Starring Mille Dinesen, Marie Hammer Boda, Troels Lyby, Mikael Birkkjaer, Ole Dupont and Benjamin Engell. A family of four is quarantined in their home as a virulent strand of the flu spreads into town and they are forced to the extreme to escape alive.

            "The acting is superb...This is definitely something they should be proud of."---Heaven of Horror

            TheCurse of Sleeping Beauty. Directed by Pearry Reginald Teo. Written by Teo, Josh Nadler and Everette Hartsoe. Produced by Teo and Ehud Bleiberg. From XLRator Media. Color, 2016, USA, 89 minutes, not rated. Fantasy/Mystery. Starring Ethan Peck, India Eisley, Bruce Davison, Natalie Hall, James Adam Lim and Scott Alan Smith. Thomas Kaiser inherits an ancestral mansion that has been in his family for generations - only to learn that he has also inherited an ancient curse stemming back to the Crusades. He struggles to awaken the beautiful Briar Rose, held captive in a terrifying netherworld.

            The Asian Connection. Directed by Daniel Zirilli. Written by Zirilli, D. Glase Leonard and Tom Sizemore. Produced by Damiano Tucci. From Momentum Pictures. Color, 2016, Thailand, 90 minutes, rated R. Action. Starring Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White, Pim Bubear, Damon Whitaker, Ron Smoorenburg and Sahajak Boonthanakit. Two American expatriates, Jack and Sam, unwittingly steal a drug lord's money when they rob a series of banks in Southeast Asia and become the target of the gang's vengeance. When Sam is killed, Jack turns to the love of his life, Pom, and the couple becomes a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde that takes the fight to the gang.

            Kill Zone 2. Directed by Pou-Soi Cheang. Written by Lai-Yin Leung and Ying Wong. Produced by Paco Wong and Wilson Yip. From Well Go USA Entertainment. Color, 2016, China/Hong Kong, 120 minutes, not rated. Action/Crime. Starring Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Simon Yam, Zhang Jin, Louis Koo and Ken Lo. Undercover cop Kit (Wu Jing) becomes a junkie in order to catch Mr Hung (Louis Koo), the mastermind behind a crime syndicate. The stage is set for a showdown...

                Winner- Hong Kong Film Awards; Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.

            "Its thunderous, blistering action will leave you breathless."---Kung Fu Kingdom

            May 13- May 19, 2016.  Contact venue for show times.  Admission: $12 each feature..  Information:  (323) 306-0676. Online ticketing:  http://arenascreen.com

            At Arena Cinema Hollywood, 1625 N. Las Palmas Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028. Discounted parking is available with validation at lots adjacent to the venue and across the street. Arena Cinema is Hollywood's new home for independent films, powered by Voltaire Media.  Ranked among Top 5 Indie Movie Theatres in Los Angeles by CBS2.

            Starting the week of May 6, Arena Cinema Hollywood inaugurates a series for the summer of outdoor film screenings in its courtyard. For more information, go to http://arenascreen.com or call  (323) 306-0676.

Los Angeles Filmforum presents

The Death Film

on Sunday May 15

LOS ANGELES, May 2 - As a companion/sequel to Los Angeles Filmforums May 8 program The Birth Film, The Death Film will feature a selection of American experimental films dealing in various modes and moods with the subject of death and dying, including films by Barbara Hammer, Martha Colburn, Stan Brakhage, Vanessa Renwick, Gus Van Sant, and more.

Perhaps the bottom-line absolute most unifying factor in our disparate lives, the subject of death has also been handled by countless artists in countless media since the dawn of humanity.  Death provokes such a radical multiplicity of feelings across contexts that a grouping of films on the subject should perhaps do the same.  The films in this program range from irreverent celebration to sober confrontation, from empathic projection to abstract rumination, and many points in between.  

Mike Henderson, Barbara Hammer, and Dorothy Wiley approach death with gestures of confusion and empathy, while Standish Lawder and Martha Colburn deliver playful yet ominous entries on the subject.  Vanessa Renwick and Gunvor Nelson confront death and dying head-on, with poetry and unflinching sobriety, Gus Van Sant and Robert Nelson pay loving and humorous tribute, and Stan Brakhage suggests a sad but sweet memorializing form of expression.

Program approximately 75 minutes.

What:The Death Film  

When: Sunday, May 15, 7:30pm.

Where: At the Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90028

or at the door.

A Film by The Laboratory Arts Collective
On The History-Making L.A. Exhibition
TWIN VISIONS
Joel-Peter Witkin & Jerome Witkin

 

The Laboratory Collective's Nigel Daly & Louise Salter with Jack Rutberg

The film centers around the historic first exhibition of two legendary artists. Featuring Joel-Peter Witkin, Jerome Witkin and Jack Rutberg.

Jerome Witkin and Joel-Peter Witkin have shocked and stirred the art world for decades. Joel-Peter Witkin's photography has famously influenced the worlds of glamour and music, inspiring important works by fashion designer Alexander McQueen and musician Marilyn Manson, to name a few.  He is perceived as an enfant terrible, creating controversy wherever he goes.  Of Jerome Witkin's paintings, Kenneth Baker once stated,  "Witkin's only peer is Lucien Freud."  Both men enjoy passionate cult followings, yet few in the art world had any idea they were related, let alone that they were identical twins who had been estranged for fifty years. Los Angeles curator and gallery owner Jack Rutberg convinced the twins to reunite and hold their first-ever joint exhibition Twin Visions. The documentary wryly captures this historic moment with snippets of overheard conversations and interviews. The brothers open up and offer insights into the darkness and light that fuels their astonishing bodies of work.
 
'Twin Visions' will be released in 2017.

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The Eastside Heartbeats, a new rock 'n roll musical opened to an enthusiastic crowd on Cinco De Mayo. The red carpet gala opening was attended by such notables as Chris Montez (Let's Dance)- for whom an up and coming band called  the Beatles opened for in 1963 - as well as Sal Rodriguez, Drummer, Percussionist and Vocalist for the band War,  Lawrence Perez, Guitar Player for The Premiers, Larry Rendon, Saxophone Player for Thee Midniters, Mike Rincon, Bass Guitar Player and Leader of The Blendells, Ersi Arvizu, Vocalist from the Eastside singing group, The Sisters, and many more musicians and singers who hailed from the East side

Eastside Heartbeatstells the fictional story of Jimmy Ramirez, leader of the four-man vocal group, the Eastside Heartbeats.  The group has conquered East L.A., but Jimmy and the others have bigger goals.  They aim to be #1 in the nation, Mexican-American superstars.  But first they have to make a record.  Eastside Heartbeats is inspired by the true story of Cannibal and the Headhunters, the musical group which opened for The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965.

That the Eastside Heartbeats features the raw garage band sound of the 60's is probably due to the fact that James Holvay, Composer & Lyricist for the musical was a prolific songwriter of the ere. He wrote "Kind of a Drag," which reached #1 for the Buckinghams in 1967; wrote the hit songs "Susan,""Don't You Care" and "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song);" as a teenager, Holvay wrote two sides for Dee Clark: "I Can't Run Away" and "She's My Baby;" Guitarist for the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars; on tours he performed with Rhythm and Blues stars as Wilson Pickett, The Supremes and The Four Tops

Eastside Heartbeats is more than a story of four young men who had a dream and persevered, it is also a story of family and tradition. Kenneth Lopez as Jimmy Ramirez, Marco Infante as Mario, Jesse Maldonado as Andy, and Matthew Ramos as Ronnie play the members of the singing group the Eastside Heartbeats. Each plays a distinct personality and all are believable in their roles. The show is anchored with their solid performances. The magic does not stop there. Gabriel Gonzalez playing Jimmy's father Carlos Ramirez almost stole the show with his performance of a Mexican father who wants doesn't want to encourage his son and is burdened by a secret. In "I Had My Say" and "What's Happening Here" he demonstrated real virtuosity with the well written material.

Jahmaul Bakare as friend Eddie Mitchell also wowed the audience with his performance. We all laughed with the song "Bad Dads" that he performed with Kenneth Lopez. The last song of the first act is where he really wowed us: "What's Happening Here," a great song, great performances all around with Jaymaul Bakare singing a descant over the rest of the cast. WOW.

In comparison, the second act opened rather weakly, but once passed the extraneous dialogue the song "We got Fans" brought us back into the swing of things. Diana Castillon playing Sonia Ramirez, the mother of Jimmy, was not given a lot of solo moments but when given the opportunity she shined.  Jordan Charles had great comic posturing as Hal Fisher, the promoter. "Thank-you Mr. Epstein" performed with Bernardita Nassar as his girlfriend Teresa Gomez was absolutely fun.

The static set design by César Retana-Holguin was perfect in function and design. The choreography by Urbanie Lucero was such that you wanted to see it all on a bigger stage.

Eastside Heartbeats is an unusual musical in that there is no romantic back story. The back story is in the family dynamics much like Fiddler on the Roof. Eastside Heartbeats does suffer from a script that could use a bit of trimming and a couple of songs which are not memorable but there is definitely enough magic to make it an entertaining and memorable evening. I recommend it. You'll leave singing "La-la-la."

Also be sure to check out the Photo Exhibit in the Gallery from the private collection of David Reyes and curated by Jimmy Centeno.

Ample parking in a lot just south of the theatre. The easiest way to get there is take Hollywood Blvd. which turns into Sunset which turns into Ceasar Chavez and turn right on St. Louis and take that to First Street.

Eastside Heartbeatswill be presented on CASA 0101 Theater's Main Stage located at 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street across the street from the Hollenbeck Police Station), Boyle Heights, CA  90033

Fridays at 8:00 p.m.,

Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and on

Sundays at 5:00 p.m.

through May 29, 2016.

Tickets are $30 per person for General Admission; $25 per person for Students, Seniors, Boyle Heights residents and Groups of 10 - 19, and $20 per person for groups of 20 or more.  This show is recommended for all ages.  Advance reservations are highly recommended.

For tickets, please call the CASA 0101 Theater Box Office at 323-263-7684, E-mail tickets@casa0101.org, or buy online at www.casa0101.org.  To view B-roll rehearsal footage of EASTSIDE HEARTBEATS, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GABTt7u8jxs.  The running time of the show is 141 minutes.

Anthony Battelle, Karen Ragan-George. Photos by Charlie Mount

Do not miss The Leather Apron Club written and directed by Charlie Mount. It is set to close May 15 so get your tickets now. An absolutely brilliant story based on an actual club formed by Benjamin Franklin, the action takes place a week after 9/11/2001.

(left Anthony Battelle, Karen Ragan-George.)

If you believe that the United States is actually an oligarchy run by a select few then this is the story for you. If you're fond of riveting thrillers with edge of your seat suspense, then The Leather Apron Club is for you. If you want an out of the box slam dunk home run in storytelling, then The Leather Apron Club is for you. An ensemble work, every actor occupied the skin of their character and delivered unforgettable performances. From start to finish - brilliant. (It could go from this stage to film) The set design, light design, sound design, costume design - all superb. Do not miss this one. I repeat -DO NOT MISS. 

(right Yancey Dunham (l.), Adam Conger.)

Listen to interviews with the actors: HERE.  Read more HERE.  

(Left Adam Conger, Alan Schack.)

THE LEATHER APRON CLUB

Written and Directed
by Charlie Mount

Produced  by Benjamin Scuglia

 Thru May 15, 2016
Fri and Sat at 8pm. Sunday at 2pm.
Call (323) 851-7977
Buy Tickets On Line

With a stellar cast:
Anthony Battelle • Adam Conger • Roger Kent Cruz • Yancey Dunham • Karen Ragan-George • Don Moss • Alan Schack • Ashley Taylor

Anthony Battelle, Karen Ragan-George. Photos by Charlie Mount

Do not miss The Leather Apron Club written and directed by Charlie Mount. It is set to close May 15 so get your tickets now. An absolutely brilliant story based on an actual club formed by Benjamin Franklin, the action takes place a week after 9/11/2001.

(left Anthony Battelle, Karen Ragan-George.)

If you believe that the United States is actually an oligarchy run by a select few then this is the story for you. If you're fond of riveting thrillers with edge of your seat suspense, then The Leather Apron Club is for you. If you want an out of the box slam dunk home run in storytelling, then The Leather Apron Club is for you. An ensemble work, every actor occupied the skin of their character and delivered unforgettable performances. From start to finish - brilliant. (It could go from this stage to film) The set design, light design, sound design, costume design - all superb. Do not miss this one. I repeat -DO NOT MISS. 

(right Yancey Dunham (l.), Adam Conger.)

Listen to interviews with the actors: HERE.  Read more HERE.  

(Left Adam Conger, Alan Schack.)

THE LEATHER APRON CLUB

Written and Directed
by Charlie Mount

Produced  by Benjamin Scuglia

 Thru May 15, 2016
Fri and Sat at 8pm. Sunday at 2pm.
Call (323) 851-7977
Buy Tickets On Line

With a stellar cast:
Anthony Battelle • Adam Conger • Roger Kent Cruz • Yancey Dunham • Karen Ragan-George • Don Moss • Alan Schack • Ashley Taylor