Last week’s opening night of Green Day’s “American Idiot” at the Mark Taper Forum was met with a lively audience. Three distinct groups could be observed among the attendees: dedicated fans of the iconic ’90s skate-punk band (dressed in black shirts and red ties in tribute to lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong); enthusiastic members of the Deaf community, eagerly experiencing this pioneering partnership between Deaf West Theatre and Center Theatre Group; and lifelong supporters of CTG, excited by the much-anticipated reopening of the Taper following nearly a year of unexpected closure that raised concerns about CTG’s future.
CTG’s new artistic director, Snehal Desai, who directed this production, addressed the audience onstage alongside Deaf West artistic director DJ Kurs. The two men expressed their enthusiasm for the show, with Desai announcing a $1 million grant that CTG recently received from the S. Mark Taper Foundation for the beloved venue. Kurs engaged the audience by teaching them to sign “American Idiot,” while Desai humorously noted that the sign for “idiot” proves particularly useful in Los Angeles traffic.
As the lights dimmed, the performance commenced with a dynamic rendition of the musical’s title song in American Sign Language and spoken English, accompanied by projected lyrics in bold text. The audience responded with fervent applause and excitement. Following the performance, guests enjoyed flatbread pizza and sparkling wine in the Music Center Plaza in front of the Taper.
The next day, CTG announced an extension of the show for six additional performances, now concluding on November 16. CTG reports that “American Idiot” is already shaping up to be one of the greatest successes in the history of the Taper, on track to become the venue’s third highest-grossing show of all time.
In contrast, Times theater critic Charles McNulty was less complimentary about the show. Despite expressing excitement for returning to the Taper, McNulty remarked, “This new ‘American Idiot’ appears to be at cross-purposes with itself. The staging lacks both synergy and focus.”
I am Jessica Gelt, a writer focused on arts and culture, and I am pleased to report this largely positive development in the arts community. My colleague Ashley Lee and I have more insightful updates to share.
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Christina Ramberg, “Waiting Lady,” 1972, acrylic on hardboard, 57.8 × 82 cm (22 3/4 × 32 1/4 in.), Anstiss and Ronald Krueck Collection.
(Hammer Museum)
‘Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective’ This exhibition is the first comprehensive survey of the American artist’s work in 30 years, focusing on the female form while questioning idealized body types and gender presentation. Organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was previously displayed, the exhibition features approximately 100 works across various media, including paintings, quilts, sketchbooks, and 35mm slides, along with pieces from both public and private collections that have never been shown before. It is open through January 5 at the UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. hammer.ucla.edu
Fulcrum Festival Renamed from the AxS Festival, this year’s collection of events and exhibitions, titled Waves Upon Waves, delves into all things vibrations — musical, gravitational, seismic, optical, and sensory. Highlights include performances and a panel discussion featuring William Basinski and Bethan Kellough (Thursday, UCLA Nimoy Theater), as well as Ellen Fullman and Theresa Wong’s presentation of “Soundless” (Friday and Saturday, WAREHOUSE at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA). The free Torrance Art Museum exhibition “In Medias Res: Expanded” showcases L.A.’s feminist and post-cyberfeminist artists (on view through December 7). The festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday. fulcrumfestival.org
The national touring company of “Kimberly Akimbo.”
(Joan Marcus)
‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, this Tony-winning musical revolves around a teenager with an accelerated aging condition. “Her story, unfolding like a dark fairy tale, is as whimsical as it is poignant,” noted Times theater critic Charles McNulty. “The effect is powerfully life-affirming, reminding audiences of the preciousness of time. Filled with quirky humor and pointed satire on adult immaturity, it will leave you both smiling and deeply moved.” Performances run from October 15 through November 3 at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. broadwayinhollywood.com; also showing January 21-February 2 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. scfta.org
— Ashley Lee
The Week Ahead: A Curated Calendar
Rita Moreno, left, and Natalie Wood in the 1961 film version of “West Side Story,” screening Thursday at the Academy Museum.
(United Artists)
TUESDAY “Paper and Light” An exhibition exploring the innovative ways these two mediums have been combined in art, featuring works from the Getty’s extensive collection, including pieces by Delacroix, Manet, Seurat, and Tiepolo, as well as contemporary artists like Vija Celmins. Through January 19. The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A.getty.edu
Charli XCX and Troye Sivan The two pop artists were established cult favorites when they announced this joint arena tour back in April. Now, Charli has gained authentic stardom with the Brat Summer phenomenon following her latest LP. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Kia Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood.thekiaforum.com
WEDNESDAY “Murder on the Links” Playwright Steven Dietz’s comic adaptation of Agatha Christie’s whodunit features Hercule Poirot tackling a case at a private golf club in Merlinville-sur-Mer. Through November 3. International City Theatre, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach.ictlongbeach.org
“Indivisible: The Glory of Lincoln’s Musical Soul” MUSE/IQUE’s season finale presents popular songs from the 19th century that President Abraham Lincoln cherished for comfort throughout his life. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino; 3 and 7:30 p.m. on October 20. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.muse-ique.com
THURSDAY “Ancient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology” Artists Ken Goldberg and Tiffany Shlain celebrate the beauty and significance of trees with tree-ring sculptures — two of which bear inscriptions of milestones in L.A. history. Through March 2. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.skirball.org
“Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson” The late Band member, who passed away in August 2023, will be honored by friends and inheritors including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bob Weir, Noah Kahan, Elvis Costello, Eric Church, Taj Mahal, Margo Price, Lucinda Williams, Jamey Johnson, and Trey Anastasio. 7 p.m. Thursday. Kia Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood.thekiaforum.com
“West Side Story” A conversation featuring EGOT winner Rita Moreno precedes a 70mm screening of the 1961 film adaptation of the Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim musical, for which Moreno won an Oscar. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd.academymuseum.org
Dispatch: Charles McNulty on the Current Broadway Season
“Reports of the demise of the straight play on Broadway are greatly exaggerated, at least based on the current fall theater season that has debuted with numerous high-profile dramas,” writes Times theater critic Charles McNulty from New York City. He provides a thorough review of all he has experienced, and what it signifies for theater this year.
During his trip, McNulty also attended a performance of Jez Butterworth’s “The Hills of California,” at the Broadhurst Theatre. Directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes and starring Laura Donnelly, the show tells the story of a widowed mother of four daughters with aspirations in show business, coupled with a traumatic encounter with an American music producer. “What I appreciated most about ‘The Hills of California,’ which intermittently erupts in nostalgic song, is that it allows the audience to form their own interpretations of the characters,” McNulty reflects.
Culture News and the SoCal Scene
Soprano Julia Bullock performed Olivier Messiaen’s “Harawi” at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on October 1, 2024.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
According to Times classical music critic Mark Swed, two leading voices of their generation have performed in Los Angeles recently: Julia Bullock at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, and Davóne Tines at the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall. Swed noted, “Bullock and Tines make an excellent pairing. Both are of the same generation, Juilliard-trained, and they were nurtured early on by director Peter Sellars, who provided them their first significant exposure, particularly during his tenure as music director for the 2016 Ojai Music Festival.”
Robert Fitzpatrick, the former president of the California Institute of the Arts, who also oversaw L.A.’s 1984 Olympic Arts Festival, has passed away at the age of 84. In 1975, Fitzpatrick was named the second president of CalArts and played a significant role in organizing a 10-week-long arts festival that greatly elevated the city’s global cultural standing. Staff writer Tracy Brown penned Fitzpatrick’s obituary.
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A view of LACMA’s gift shop inside the Resnick Pavilion.
(Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)
The holiday shopping season is approaching (does the Prime Day hangover still linger?), and L.A. museums are participating with Museum Store Sunday on December 1, aiming to highlight local artisans and small businesses. A total of 28 museum stores across L.A. will take part, including the Getty, Autry, Broad, Heritage Square Museum, Japanese American National Museum, Museum of Tolerance, and Hammer.
The 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse has announced it is the recipient of the Perenchio Foundation’s2024 General Operating Support Grant, a $450,000 award, marking the largest sum the organization has ever received. “This transformative grant is essential for establishing a sustainable infrastructure, enabling us to enhance our capacity to serve the community with a projected 162 performances next year,” stated Matthew Cook, artistic and executive director of the Sierra Madre Playhouse.
The acclaimed Tony Award-winning musical “Come From Away” will visit Long Beach for a single performance as part of the Broadway at the Beach series at the Long Beach Terrace Theater on November 19 at 7:30 p.m. This marks the first Broadway series at the Terrace.
And Last But Not Least
Reflecting on Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, here’s a nostalgic perspective: In high school during the 1990s, I was an avid Green Day fan. The audacious band would perform at a dive venue called the DPC in Tucson’s warehouse district. Clad in my flannel, Doc Martens, and oversized Planet Earth pants, I would sit on stage among a group of peers, witnessing their performances. Armstrong gained the audience’s attention with his antics, such as catching loogies in his mouth after spitting them onto the stage ceiling. Had someone told my 15-year-old self that this emblem of youthful defiance, with chipped teeth and a rebellious spirit, would eventually be one of the biggest rock stars globally, with his own Broadway show, I would have laughed uncontrollably.
Tre Cool, left, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt of Green Day backstage at Madison Square Garden in 1994 in New York City.
(Catherine McGann / Getty Images)
Italian Translation:
La serata di apertura di “American Idiot” dei Green Day al Mark Taper Forum della scorsa settimana ha visto un pubblico vivace e partecipe. Tra i presenti si potevano notare tre gruppi distinti: ferventi fan della storica band skate-punk degli anni '90 (vestiti con magliette nere e cravatte rosse in omaggio al frontman Billie Joe Armstrong); membri entusiasti della comunità sorda, emozionati di poter assistere a questa collaborazione innovativa tra Deaf West Theatre e Center Theatre Group; e devoti sostenitori della CTG, elettrizzati per la tanto attesa riapertura del Taper dopo quasi un anno di chiusura inaspettata che aveva sollevato preoccupazioni sul futuro della CTG.
Il nuovo direttore artistico della CTG, Snehal Desai, che ha anche diretto questa produzione, si è rivolto al pubblico sul palco insieme al direttore artistico di Deaf West DJ Kurs. I due uomini hanno espresso il loro entusiasmo per lo spettacolo, mentre Desai ha annunciato una sovvenzione di 1 milione di dollari ricevuta da CTG dalla S. Mark Taper Foundation per il rinomato luogo. Kurs ha coinvolto il pubblico insegnando loro a firmare “American Idiot”, mentre Desai ha scherzato sul fatto che il segno per “idiota” sia particolarmente utile per il traffico di Los Angeles.
Quando le luci si sono abbassate, lo spettacolo è iniziato con una performance energica del numero che dà titolo al musical in Lingua dei Segni Americana e in inglese parlato, con le liriche proiettate in caratteri grassetto sulle pareti e sul set sullo sfondo. Il pubblico ha reagito con applausi entusiasti e gridando. Dopo la performance, gli ospiti hanno potuto gustare pizza flatbread e vino frizzante nella Music Center Plaza di fronte al Taper.
Il giorno successivo, la CTG ha annunciato un’estensione dello spettacolo per sei ulteriori performance, che ora si concluderà il 16 novembre. La CTG riporta che “American Idiot” è già destinato a diventare uno dei più grandi successi della storia del Taper, sulla buona strada per diventare lo spettacolo con il terzo incasso più alto di sempre del luogo.
Al contrario, il critico teatrale del Times Charles McNulty non è stato altrettanto entusiasta dello spettacolo. Nonostante abbia espresso gioia nel tornare al Taper, McNulty ha osservato: “Questo nuovo ‘American Idiot’ sembra essere in contraddizione con se stesso. La messa in scena manca sia di sinergia che di focalizzazione.”
Sono Jessica Gelt, scrittrice nel campo delle arti e della cultura, e sono felice di riportare questo sviluppa nella comunità artistica. La mia collega Ashley Lee e io abbiamo altre notizie interessanti da condividere.
Migliori scommesse: Cosa tenere d'occhio questa settimana
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Christina Ramberg, “Waiting Lady,” 1972, acrilico su multistrato, 57.8 × 82 cm (22 3/4 × 32 1/4 in.), Collezione Anstiss e Ronald Krueck.
(Hammer Museum)
‘Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective’ Questa esposizione è la prima grande retrospettiva dedicata all’opera dell’artista americana dopo 30 anni, ponendo l'accento sulla forma femminile interrogando gli archetipi corporei idealizzati e la presentazione di genere. Organizzata dall'Art Institute of Chicago, dove è stata precedentemente esposta, la mostra presenta circa 100 opere attraverso vari mezzi, inclusi dipinti, arazzi, taccuini e diapositive, oltre a pezzi di collezioni pubbliche e private che non sono mai state esposte prima. È aperta fino al 5 gennaio presso il UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. hammer.ucla.edu
Fulcrum Festival Ridenominato dal AxS Festival, la collezione di eventi e mostre di quest'anno, intitolata Waves Upon Waves, si immerge in tutto ciò che riguarda le vibrazioni — musicali, gravitazionali, sismiche, ottiche e sensoriali. Tra i punti salienti: il concerto e la discussione sul pannello di William Basinski e Bethan Kellough (giovedì, UCLA Nimoy Theater), nonché la presentazione di Ellen Fullman e Theresa Wong di “Soundless” (venerdì e sabato, WAREHOUSE at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA). La gratuita esposizione del Torrance Art Museum, “In Medias Res: Expanded”, presenta gli artisti femministi e post-cyberfemministi di L.A. (visitabile fino al 7 dicembre). Il festival si svolge da mercoledì a domenica. fulcrumfestival.org
