What’s so enjoyable about this production is that each set is very different and interesting.

They range from a support group for normal people, to the funny and realistic frustration of a wife over her husband’s snoring. In this scenario, she winds up taking matters into her own hands to fix the problem when the cops are called. It is cleverly written by Steve Korber and stars a very talented trio. Continuing down the list for the evening were two more acts worth mentioning. I’m Next, highlights the angst of two female actors played by Kelly Goodman and Suzanne Mayes. When they meet up for the same audition, the rivalry is on. Verbal jabs, singing stints, and physicality highlight the competition between them. Both of these women are excellent and Mr. Rasmussen does a great job of allowing this act to build. Here the actors showcase their talents without mucking it up with overdone sets and anxious directions. Another story to appreciate is Han Goes Solo. For all of us who remember the original Star Wars before Jar Jar Binks got involved, it was just Hans Solo, Chewy, Princess Leia and Yoda. Here in a great parody of their characters, Hans and the princess sit down with a divorce mediator. This is so very clever and the funny keeps rolling.

Tony Nunes appears to be multi-talented. Not only a good actor (he plays Hans), but a talented writer as well.

The second part of the evening did not stand out as much as the first. However, Mrs. California pageant is amusing. The behind the scenes of such things make us laugh, cringe and smile all the way to the end. The last act of the evening has two young men trying to get a free apartment in exchange for some personal services with the female building manager.

This is a theme done before, but here it appears fresh with a twist.

The difficulty in showcasing 32 actors on stage in an impractical pace before a packed house is not easy. Yet, the producer, Jake O’Flaherty pulls it off with the clever staged direction of Bryan Rasmussen. No over complicated settings, just smart and simple moving of the furniture with a wonderful large screen in the background that sets the tone for each of these one act plays.

The Whitefire has always encouraged development of original themes presented in an unusual and entertaining way. Twelve one act plays might have been too much for one sitting, perhaps nine was plenty. But despite the length of the evening, it did not feel overdone. Most of the acts were clever and humorous.

The monumental task of putting a show of this magnitude together needs to be appreciated.

Please join this huge cast on Tuesday evenings at 8PM at the Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks. It is only scheduled through August 4, 2015. whitefiretheater.com or (818)990-2324 for tickets.

Artists will be selected to exhibit and sell their work along the lawns of historic Beverly Gardens, in the center of Beverly Hills, from Rodeo to Rexford Drives. It is one of the largest outdoor shows on the west coast, attracting artists from all over the country.

As always, excellent artists working in all genres and many media are welcome to apply!

Media categories include: Painting, Drawing, Traditional Printmaking, Sculpture, Two-Dimensional Mixed Media, Three-Dimensional Mixed Media, Photography, Computer-Generated Art, Ceramics, and Glass.

The show is particularly seeking artists who work with the subject of weather, especially the dramatic kind, for a special feature within the overall event, to be entitled: Weather in Art: Drenched, Dehydrated, or Driven by Wind. So if heavy weather’s your strength, artistically, we’d love to see your application!

The show attracts 40,000 spectators and shoppers from the immediate area, and from throughout Southern California.

The many local hotels encourage their national and international visitors to attend, and the City conducts an extensive, targeted advertising campaign, reminding art enthusiasts to mark their calendars.

The deadline to apply is July 20th, and the late deadline (there’s a higher fee to apply!) is July 27th. For more information about the show, please visit beverlyhills.org/artshow or call 310.285.6836. For the specifics about how to apply, visit beverlyhills.org/artshowapp.

Currently, she supervises and teaches as Costume Manager at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (LA) while contracting for theater, dance, opera, and film industry mainstays. In the past three years alone, Tammie has designed and wardrobed over 40 dance productions. It is from this proficient involvement with dance that NoHoArtsDistrict .com asks Tammie to kindly share her experience and perspective as a collaborator.

While many dance productions require their choreographers and teachers to also serve as costumer, the best scenario is to have collaborations between professionals working within their field of expertise. When you work with your designer or design team, you’ll have insight into their needs.

Urban Animal, 2011, photo by: Stephanie Delani

KC: Delineate the specific demands of costuming dance and the performing arts.

TM: Designing costumes for dance and theater is a highly specialized field and as a designer you have to work closely with the choreographer/director, technical designers and performers/dancers. Your overall concept of the work, body movement and/or blocking, the demands of the choreography of a particular work and the effects of different fabric in motion all have to be taken into consideration. It’s a similar process I go through when I design for musical theater, but it’s a little more relaxed while designing costumes for contemporary performances.

As You Like It" AADA 2014 photo by: Katherine Barcsay

KC: What is the checklist of critical information you need from the choreographer, in relation to concept and design?

TM: I usually compose a list of questions to present to a director/choreographer during the first chain of preliminary design/concept meetings. I would ask them the following questions: what is the mood of this piece? Is it important to see the shape and musculature of the body? How many dancers? Do you want the costumes to match? What kind of energy does the piece have? Is it bold, lyrical, a combination? What is the style or genre of dance? What is the story you are telling with this dance? Is there floor work, are there lifts, and are there inverted movements or other aspects of the choreography that require special consideration for mobility or visibility? Once I get all the information that I need, I then request a copy of the music for that choreography and create a mood board with a color scheme, pictures, rough sketches, and fabric swatches.

Ancestors, TZDI 2014 photo by Ben Lecira

KC: At what point in the collaboration should you and the choreographer/director discuss the time line and logistics of accomplishing your designs?

TM: Once the final renderings are approved by the choreographer/director which is a 1-2 week time frame. After the final renderings are approved, I set a time to go over a time line and budget. Off that meeting, I decide what needs to be constructed, pulled, rented or purchased. It also depends on the time frame you are given and most of the time I am given a 3-6 week turnaround.

AADA Costume Shop photo by: Katherine Barcsay

KC: Why is it important that you be in conversation with the other designers on the production?

TM: The Costume Designer has to work closely with the Set and Lighting Designers so that the colors, fabrics, textures, and other costume elements work harmoniously within the final production. You have to make sure that the set designer is not going to paint the set the same color you have your dancers costumed in and that the lighting designer is able to light the fabric you selected to construct the costumes.

Paquita, TZDI 2014 photo by Ben Lecira

For example, a year ago, I was designing costumes for a small conservatory here in Los Angeles and our set designer would always be in and out of our production meetings. I would email him my color swatches (that were already approved by the director) and I still wouldn’t get any response. Finally, he showed up to our final design meeting with paint swatches and 3D model set. Everything looked great; however, the walls of his model were painted in the same burgundy color as the costume I designed for the lead actress. It would’ve have been a tragedy to have our lead blend in with the set walls! Fortunately, the set designer and the director agreed on another color to paint the walls while keeping the director’s vision of our lead precise.

Belles, TZDI 2013 photo by Helen Mendoza

KC: Fittings and rehearsals in the costumes are key to the production process. What can you share about the key phases of your progression? What do you look for?

TM: My key phase during my costume fittings is to make sure that the performer or dancer is comfortable in their costume and, more importantly, if they can move more freely without any restrictions. It’s also important to have the choreographer/director a part of the fittings since their feedback is very important during the process. I will do a course of 3-4 fittings followed by a full and final dress rehearsal. I begin with first fittings where I fit the performers in a stock costume (a costume pulled from a company stock) or a mock-up fitting (a fitting of a costume that was draped or patterned and constructed using muslin fabric). Then we schedule the second and final fittings to finalize any alterations and final construction of the finished costume. The choreographer and I will schedule a time to do a full and final dress to make sure that the costumes move and correlate with the dancers’ movement and choreography.

Les Sylphides, TZDI 2015 photo by Anne Slattrry

KC: Is it typical to expect the costume designer to also design the hair and makeup looks?

TM: It depends on the type of theater and Production Company. I know that non-profits, conservatories, and community theaters expect their costume designers to design hair & make-up (with no additional pay) mainly to cut cost by not hiring another designer or simply because they do not have enough budget. But, regional theaters, opera houses and production companies usually have their own hair and makeup designer. Some of us costume designers do have hair and make-up experience and most M.F.A Costume Design programs have hair and make-up design as part of the curriculum.

"The Abdication" AADA 2015 photo by: Katherine Barcsay

I’ve acted as costume and hair/make-up designer for both theater and smaller film productions because I enjoyed working in both departments. I was never interested in limiting myself to one platform only. There are a lot of designers out there who are like these Swiss Army Knives with an array of special skills in the industry, and you have to be in order to get more work, especially, in Los Angeles.

Thank you for your time and talent, Tammie!
For more about this wonderful artist, visit www.tammiemerheb.com

Happy dancing!

The NoHo Arts District can be called the NoHo Arts Collaboration because the amount of work our neighborhood produces is a collaborative effort. That doesn’t stop with our students either. Our pals at the International Film Festival North Hollywood have teamed up with graphic design students at the Art Institute of California’s North Hollywood campus to design a new look and logo for the non-profit organization as they prepare for their inaugural event, scheduled for April 2016. The students spent 12 weeks creating and refining their designs to produce an official logo, poster, t-shirt, business cards and letterhead. Instructor Mandy Green guided the class in “a real-word experience" designing materials for a film festival, she said, for which the students receive college credit.

“The work was exceptional. Many designs were on par with professional graphic designers I have worked with on logos,” said Nicholas Goodman, Festival Director. “This is a great example of how we are working with private and public groups to make the film festival an interactive community event.”

The festival will unveil the new look and a complete marketing package in the fall with a gala party and celebration.

The 1st Annual International Film Festival North Hollywood will take place April 28 - May 1, 2016 in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood, California.



Standing: Robby Zumaya, Nataliya Naumova, Jacky Monrroy, Sarai Hernandez, Emily Somarriba, Carley Hodgson, Terrence Ellsworth, Navarre Abramson, Mandy Green (Instructor). Seated: Jay Johnson, Nicholas Goodman & Hortencia Goodman (Festival Directors)

About International Film Festival North Hollywood
The International Film Festival North Hollywood (IFFNoHo), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrates the art of filmmaking, helps support a community of artists and showcases North Hollywood as an entertainment and travel destination. Our goal is to collaborate with community partners to build social cohesiveness, philanthropy and volunteerism using film as the catalyst.

Learn more at http://www.iffnoho.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/northhollywoodfilmfestival



**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

Warren’s irreverent musical farce is snarky, gay, zany, outrageous, relevant and extremely funny.

Contemporary references pooled with the biblical story of Adam and Eve is a perfect recipe for a tasty dish of fun entertainment.

When the Devil meddles in God’s plan for Adam to meet, mate and procreate with Eve, all heck breaks loose. Lonely Adam was promised an Eve by God. Before Eve is born, the mischievous Devil changed a chromosome from X to Y and Eve became Yves (his name was later changed to Steve). Adam and Steve, having much in common, got along marvelously! Ultimately God sent Eve, who is ready to consummate God’s directive! Confused and conflicted Adam finds it challenging to choose between his bromance with Steve and his newly developing relationship with Eve. The threesome, Adam & Eve and Steve, become entangled. While struggling to unwind, they discover that love can manifest in many and varied ways.

Wow, this is a superb cast. Beginning with devilishly charming Beelzebub “The Devil” (Weston Nathanson) who opens the show with sparkle and charisma, an attribute the best snake oil salesman aspire to. Performing “It’s all about me” he reels in the audience and puts them in his pocket with his likeability. A consummate song and dance troubadour with appealing warmth, this little devil is played flawlessly.

Weston Nathanson is the devil you love.

Confused, adorable, and naïve Adam (Michael Spaziani) sings, dances, plays and pouts. Adam is so every guy. It’s no wonder Eve and Steve fight over him. He’s like a cute loveable pup that everybody wants who is torn between two loving masters fighting for his affection. Michael plays Adam’s conflict with humorous honestly.

With all the panache and spirit of a Gay Pride Parade Steve (Jotape Lockwood) explodes on stage unabashedly gay. Hysterically clever, stereotypical clichés saturate Steve’s every sound and movement. Jotape is a scrumptious, irresistibly talented performer, who is relatable on every level. Jotape is a gem.

Eve (Kelly Dorney) is a frickin’ rock star! Innocently and sweetly Kelly sings like a Disney Princess. Once Eve eats an apple from the tree of life and gains knowledge she morphs into a sensual, independent, strong woman fighting to get what she wants. Kelly provides electrifying performances with range and attitude.

God’s (William Knight) voice resonates robust wise and human as an entity.

God reveals himself in a mortal form. Reminiscent of great vaudeville teams, God and Devil perform a song and soft shoe duet that brings the house down with applause. William is a consummate performer. When he’s on stage it is impossible to take your eyes off of him.

Director, Ronnie Marmo is a magician!! Transforming a sparse set, and using only a keyboard for musical accompaniment, “Adam & Eve and Steve” is made to come vibrantly alive. Brilliantly executed, perfectly timed, and wonderfully entertaining from the opening through the final bow. Mr. Marmo is masterful.

Noteworthy is Executive Producer Scott E. Lambert who brought this talented team together. Thank you.

In order to provide an honest review, I am compelled to point out a small problem. The audience laughter can be infectious and deafening. You’ve been warned.

This is what original theatre is all about. This is why we attend independent theatre! This is all that one can hope for when going to see an original piece. Discover Adam & Eve and Steve. Be one of the first to say you saw it before it became the mega hit it is destined to be.

I RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND, “ADAM & EVE AND STEVE.”

Get your tickets now: www.theatre68.com

July 10th – August 30th
Thursday – Saturday: 8 pm Sunday: 7 pm

Noho Arts Center at Theatre 68
11136 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Tickets: $30 https://www.plays411.net/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=4331

This post is all about one of the dishes I ate and made at the end of May. It’s a throwback kind of post, but the true star is a cheesey side dish that you will want to replicate. It was actually one of many dishes I prepared for the weekend, and it was definitely a favorite.

Despite taco trucks and grilled burgers, it was a queso dip that stole a few hearts.

When you’re making food for an event, is it ever possible to snag a photo? It’s very difficult, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, as soon as I pulled the hot cast iron pan out of the oven, there were only a few minutes to snatch a chip from the bag and hoist my phone in the area for a couple of photos. Just about every bit of this creamy, cheesey queso was eaten with crunchy chips. A few people even topped burgers and tater tots with it. It’s very so spicy from Mexican chorizo and serrano peppers, but a heavy helping of milk, cream cheese and sour cream definitely cut a bit of the heat. It’s the manchego cheese–young manchego, that is–that is the prime player, although cotija is also a big reason the dip is so good. Try this dip recipe the next time you need a little something indulgent in your life.

Manchego, Cotija and Chorizo Queso

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
¾ cup diced red onion
9 ounces Mexican pork chorizo
1 garlic clove, minced or grated
2 teaspoons minced serrano pepper
1 tablespoon minced Fresno chili pepper
10 ounces canned diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained
¼ cup flour*
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2½ cups whole milk, at room temperature
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
⅓ cup sour cream, at room temperature
10 ounces shredded young Spanish or Mexican manchego**, at room temperature
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
4 ounces shredded cotija cheese, at room temperature

Instructions
Pour the oil into a 12" cast iron pan over a medium flame. Once hot, add the onions, cooking for about 5 minutes, or until they have softened slightly and begun to turn translucent.

Push the onions out towards the outer edges of the pan, and add the chorizo to the center of the pan. Turn the flame up to medium-high, and cook for about 5-7 minutes. Break up the chorizo into smaller chunks as it starts to cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the meat from sticking.

Add the garlic, serrano pepper, Fresno chili peppers and diced tomatoes and green chiles to the pan, and stir everything together. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for another 5-7 minutes, stirring as necessary. Remove from heat, and set aside. At this point, turn the oven broiler to high.

Place the flour and butter into a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts, whisk to combine the ingredients, forming the a light, pasty roux at the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes, then drizzle the milk into the pan in small increments. Continue whisking as you pour until all of the milk has been added. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken and lightly coat the back of a spoon. Whisk to prevent clumps from forming at the bottom of the pan.

Whisk in the cream cheese and sour cream until smooth, then add the shredded manchego and salt. Once the cheese has melted and the sauce is velvety and smooth, remove from heat.

Evenly disperse the chorizo, onions and pepper over the bottom of the cast iron pan. Pour the cheese sauce over the meat mixture. ***Sprinkle the cotija cheese on top, and slide the cast iron pan into the broiler for 1-2 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and the top just begins to brown. Allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes out of the oven as the queso will be extremely hot.

Notes
*I used gluten-free, all-purpose flour for this specific recipe.
**Spanish manchego cheese is available young or aged, depending on your market or cheesemonger's selection. Be sure to avoid aged cheese for this recipe.
***This recipe can also be made ahead of time--anywhere from 4 to 24 hours prior to serving. Pour the cheese sauce over the meat, then sprinkle with cotija. Rest until just about room temperature, cover lightly, and store in the fridge. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 425 degrees F, or until bubbly, then broil lightly in the oven to color the top.

La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (LA Plaza) is the first of its kind.

LAPCA.org is the nation’s premiere center of Mexican American culture. Its mission is to “celebrate and cultivate an appreciation for the enduring influence of Mexican-American culture...” Located near Olvera Street and La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora Reina de Los Angeles in the Los Angeles Historic Plaza District (aka El Pueblo), LA Plaza is a heavy hitter in Historic L.A.. LA Plaza is a Los Angeles County project and Smithsonian affiliate, 501(c)3, nurtured by Gloria Molina. Its Board of Trustees boasts the likes of Honorable Nury Martinez, Eva Longoria, and Dr. Cynthia Telles, to name a few of the powerhouses nestled among the many others.

In being the one and only of its kind, its very nature is political. What better lense to have politics through than art, and what better lense to have art through than politics? The two are so intimately connected, and LA Plaza challenges you a cada paso.

Somos Braceros

L.A. starts here! The story of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles was the phrase that lead me through LAPCA.org, LA Plaza’s website. I first tore through the website (which is a work of art on its own) because I was bummed I missed Mariachi Under the Stars back in May, and was looking to find another event. I wasn’t disappointed, in fact, I was overwhelmed. LA Plaza hosts so many movies, free concert series, events, free family workshops, and DJ performances that I decided it best to start with a visit to their brick and mortar center downtown at 501 N. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90012.

The Many Faces of Anthony Quinn

Anthony Quinn, born Antonio Rudolfo Oaxaca Quinn of Chihuahua, has played such acclaimed roles as Quasimodo in the Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Barabbas in Barabbas. But his roles demonstrate not just his range as an actor, but the range of portrayals he was chosen for. Anthony Quinn’s casting gamut ran from the aforementioned through Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia, Crazy Horse in They Died with Their Boots On, Kimo, A Hawiian in Waikiki, Chang Tai, a Chinese undercover agent in The Island of Lost Men, Alexis Zorba in Zorba the Greek, and Eufemio Zapata in Viva Zapata. The dizzying amount, and type of roles, is highlighted by the way LA Plaza showcases Quinn in the makeup and garb of each role. He hardly looks like himself in some of the photos, but thenagain, he hardly would look like some of the characters without his drastic prosthetics, makeup, and facial hair changes.

Shows both the incredible range of an actor, and the appalling short sided stereotyping that existed for “ethnic” individuals perceived to be not meant for leads in the eyes of the casting directors. While I’d like to think we’ve come farther, the sad truth is that many leads today are still doled out under the same principles, even if the principle guidelines have become a bit more grey...or tan I should say. The even sadder truth is that many are missing out on role models by this lack of lead roles; there really is something to be said for having a heroine or hero who talks or looks like you, to show you that you too can excel in such strides. This exhibition really challenges you to confront realities of progression, past and present.

While this article features the temporary exhibition The Many Faces of Anthony Quinn, it’s not meant to do an injustice to the other exhibitions on display. LA Plaza is so exciting, and there’s as much for you to look at and talk about as there is candy in a candy store, or Mariachis in a Mariachi band, or tourists on Hollywood Boulevard…look, you get my point. There’s more to see than one day will permit.

Somos Pachucos

Does your ethnic identity influence your political beliefs?
The challenge was scrolled across the wood floor at one of the exhibitions.

Precluding The Many Faces of Anthony Quinn is a historical crash course in Mexican American segregation, crash course history of extreme discrimination even in the face of invaluable contributions by Mexican Americans. And the only education I remember formally receiving on the topics in school was on the Bracero program. Even then, it was something glazed over by AP U.S. History. Understandably, political power is to leave something out of history. Where Mexican American representation has been found absent at appropriate length in many formal textbooks, LA Plaza provides a clear education.

Somos Chicanos

Certainly Los Angeles is no infant to ethnic clashes and race repression. Many times, L.A. has been the instigator, and many times L.A. has been the victim. I think all Angelenos can’t help but have either a little Mexican blood in them, or on historical hands we need to keep cleaning. While LA Plaza certainly doesn’t steer from the horrific, it certainly steers towards the hopeful. And if there’s any triumphant spirit that idea is representative of, it’s the Mexican-American spirit.

Culturally, I think L.A. has become such a unique home to us all that we no longer feel the need to extricate one anothers’ cultures from our collective identity. In order to really understand that mosaic, however, we need to educate ourselves about what’s under each piece, and where each piece of us came from. Education has long been the best solvent, and art the most effective medium of transmission.

LA Plaza not only educates, but celebrates each painful and prideful step. La Plaza de Cultura y Artes is the first of its kind; though it may be the only one sitting at the table, it has provided the whole feast.

Somos Americanos

La Plaza de Cultura y Artes; 501 N. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90012.

"Astronaut Wives" is a fresh and intriguing take on the time honored 1960’s American space race.

Seven astronauts and seven wives are all competing to make history by being the first one to space and the moon. While the husbands are off training and galavanting with mistresses, the wives hold down their families as well as start a PR campaign for NASA to help sell the American public on the race to space. A reporter for Life magazine documents the journey of this group of women trying to navigate competition-based friendship and forced comradery. Ultimately they must band together and discover what it means to trust and depend on one another in the face of mounting national pressure.

The cast is led by Dominique McElligott (Hell on Wheels) who plays the stoic and reluctant Louise Shepherd.

Louise spends most of her time holding her marriage together and pushing away the other astronaut wives who happen to understand what she’s going through the most. Outstanding actresses such as Erin Cummings (Made In Jersey), Odette Annable (Brothers & Sisters) and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) help lead this large ensemble of supporting cast memebers. These ladies are not mere housewives though, they have dreams and ambitions of their own which might seem to go without saying, except for the fact we’re in the 60’s here, a time where women were just beginning to assert themselves in the workplace and claim their place in society. But don’t get it confused, these astronaut wives throw shade just as good as any of Bravo’s “Real Housewives” and it’s that kind of subtle and insulting banter which gives this show its wings.

In many ways “Astronaut Wives” is an intimate look into an America long gone.

It's an America plagued by rampant gender inequality and tremendous social pressure on women. It's a time when American duty and civility outweighed American freedom and individuality yet still an America that was more united by common vision. “Astronaut Wives” is an epic ode to that era of our history, a more classic American era to be exact, drawing you in with 60’s nostalgia, you instantly feel part of its story, a story which, in my opinion, is completely worth watching.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what's going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here's a glimpse at what's going on in North Hollywood...ENJOY NOHO!



**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.  

The NoHo Arts District dot Com team thinks that sometimes a story is best told by the one who experienced it. Meet John Posey, the author and creator of the production "Father, Son & Holy Coach," a show about a father-son relationship, and yes, sports. But it could also apply to mothers and daughters because it's about dreams, family and growing up….things of which everyone ultimately shares a part. Here's his take on the development and background of "Father, Son & Holy Coach" running July 23 - August 30 at the Whitefire Theatre.



Once upon a time I was asked to write a monologue in preparation for a very important network meeting in New York. At the time I was living and performing in Atlanta. For some reason, what came out quite quickly was this little father, son piece that worked very well. The network loved it, offered me the lead role in a new much anticipated TV series and we were off to the races.

Two months later came the call every actor dreads. “You’ve been replaced.”

No fault of my own. Just one of those things. “Different creative direction,” is what came down from the top, which can mean a dozen different things.

That show was FULL HOUSE, a program that still airs globally 30 years later.

It knocked the wind out of me, but I dealt with it, shook it off as best I could and went back to the East Coast – this time NYC – to study, work and ponder my career.

While in New York, the little monologue, which I had entitled FATHER, SON & HOLY COACH, prior to ever writing a single word, began to gnaw at me. There was something much heavier than just a monologue at play here.

A conflicted relationship with my own father had informed and shaped much about me and apparently there was a little exploration that needed attending to.

So I sat and wrote, and I wrote; much of it during the summer rain storms in the big city.



The conflict the two of us had, much like many fathers and sons, was centered on what we viewed as life’s successes and failures. My father was quite good at what he did, yet seemed to focus on what he considered personal failures, rather than achievements.

What an irony. I, myself, had just been dumped from something that no doubt would have changed my life dramatically in many ways, not the least of which was financial security. Yet here I was in NYC, working again, enjoying life and writing something quite profound and personal to me: how we handle life, when life seems to get in the way, or how you handle life, when you are thrown a curve you didn’t see coming.

What I wrote became a long-running solo theatrical production. FATHER, SON & HOLY COACH premiered here in Los Angeles and later toured the country, over a period of a dozen years or so. The film rights were sold – several times. It also led to a writing career that, thus far, has resulted in numerous sold or optioned screenplays and one produced film – LEGENDARY.

I also remain a busy actor to this day with a long and varied career in TV, film and stage. I have also raised two boys – Tyler and Jesse - both of whom have chosen the same career. Tyler currently heads the cast of the global hit TV series TEEN WOLF on MTV.

First and foremost, FATHER, SON & HOLY COACH is a comedy, more accurately, a comedy of errors. It is the mostly hysterical, yet poignant study of the fragile psyche of the overprotective, aggressive father, whose objective is to prevent his child from experiencing or duplicating what he perceived to be life’s failures. It is about the father who lives his life vicariously through his child, and how that child, whose own ideals are quite different, must choose to break the chain to forge his own identity.

From an era where fathers were certain they had all the answers and mothers, who did have all the answers, had to knit them as needlepoints in order to be heard.

Welcome to Tupelo County Georgia, where the local Easter Egg hunt takes on legendary, Super Bowl proportions and where a certain father might pay the local egg hunt organizing committee under the table to secure his son’s entry into the event.

Meet that father – Ed Sanford – who has his own ideas as to why Humpty fell off the wall. (“He wasn’t mentally prepared.”)

You will meet much of the town of Tupelo County, all brought to life by a single actor…. Me.

Why have I chosen to stage this again these so many years later? Well in the last year, I lost both my dad and my wife, so life has thrown another curve and this is how Jesse, Tyler and I would like to respond to it.  

Father, Son & Holy Coach is a comedy that centers on a father-son relationship. The dad wants a “do-over”: he thinks he’s failed in life (he hasn’t) and he pushes his son to excel, somewhat living his life vicariously through his son, who has some goals not connected to those of his father. The show is also to some degree a physical comedy, touching on sports (as the title implies).

In Tupelo County, Georgia, football is a religion. People seem to spend every moment of their waking lives thinking or talking about it. They play football, think football, eat football, pray football.

Ed Sanford has big dreams for his son. Those dreams revolve around (surprise!) football. The lad, John, displays some promise as a wrestler and a football player. But John has some dreams of his own, some involving his school sweetheart, Lori Lynne. John loves and respects his father. Will John, however, be able to become his own man without disappointing Ed?

Father, Son & Holy Coach is about sports. It is also about fathers and sons. It could also conceivably apply to mothers and daughters, and the dreams that any parent has for their offspring. It’s about dreams and family and growing up….things of which everyone ultimately shares a part.

John Posey is the writer and performer. An actor in the fourth decade of his career, He’s appeared on over three dozen television shows, hundreds of commercials and eight feature films. Also a screenwriter, he’s written for the TV series Doc; the feature film Legendary (starring Patricia Clarkson and John Cena); and a new film biography of 1950s wrestling legend Gorgeous George.

Michael Laskin directs. The recipient of a Master’s degree from University of Minnesota, he’s acted with The Guthrie Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Seattle Repertory, Mixed Blood Theatre Company and many others. He produced Jeffrey Tambor’s Performing Your Life. Tyler Posey produces. He’s best known as the star of the current MTV hit series Teen Wolf (five seasons and still going strong). He was also a series regular on Doc, and had recurring roles on Brothers and Sisters and Lincoln Heights. He’s also appeared in a number of films, and has been a TV host for MTV (Teen Choice Awards, other projects) and hosts a YouTube series, Music for Your Ears to Bleed By. He’s John Posey’s son. Father, Son & Holy Coach debuted locally in 1993 and has been performed since then throughout the country. Whether interested in athletics or not, Father, Son & Holy Coach resonates with parents and their children, growing or grown-up.

"Wonderful…Posey slips into each character effortlessly.”---Variety

“A serious, thoughtful and important play. Don’t Miss It.”---The Good Life

“Some real pearls of wisdom, some great memories and a poignant end.”---Rocky Mountain News

“Posey scores TD”---The Outlook

“Posey hits pay dirt….Moments that range from laugh-out-loud funny to movingly sad.”---Denver Post

“Endearing….Posey gently holds his audience throughout the show with his winning stage presence.”---Florida Today

Playing at the Whitefire Theater
July 23 – August 30, Fridays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1796006

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

 
The Archway Studio/Theatre is a bustling center of artistic activity and entertainment options. Located where the NoHo Arts District meets the Burbank Studio District on Burbank Blvd., the freshest new member of the NoHo Arts District offers a full schedule of performances, classes, and events. Though the Archway is primarily a black box theatre, it is also a thriving yoga studio and artistic community with a resident company of theatre artists who pride themselves on producing edgy and exciting work.

“Our mission has always been to create and maintain a thriving environment that provides great entertainment experiences while fostering creative expression, artistic growth, educational opportunities, and cultural development,” says Steven Sabel, producing artistic director.

“Though the “mission” may be rather lofty, the overall goal is to offer fun experiences for performers, students, and audiences,” Sabel says.

Transplanted from their original home in Downtown Los Angeles where they operated for three seasons, the Archway is known for producing creative adaptations of major classical works, unique contemporary theatre experiences, original works, and rare classics seldom seen on the stage. A typical main stage season includes a sampling of everything from Shakespeare, Moliere, and Greek tragedy to original comedies, avant garde dramas, and bloody Grand Guignol.

“We maintain an eclectic mix of actors, designers, and directors in our company who each have their specific artistic cravings and specialties, and we believe that captivating entertainment is created best under those passionate circumstances,” Sabel explains.



The Archway’s current offering is a ramped up 1980s style production of “Macbeth.” Set in Dunsinane Asylum, the production explores the Shakespeare’s text as a commentary on pathological killers and diseases of the mind. In August the theatre will open with a classical production of “Much Ado About Nothing” set in Renaissance Italy, followed by an original adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” and then “Holiday Hijinks,” a burlesque holiday show that is billed as the antithesis to Santa and his elves.

“In a world where everyone is constantly living second-hand through their friends via social media, we are creating the type of first-hand experiences that our audiences are posting about so that others can live through them,” Sabel says.

Second Stage

The Archway Second Stage Series features another variety of entertainment options outside of main stage season productions. From burlesque dance troops and stand-up comedy shows, to magic acts, music events, and sketch comedy satires, the Second Stage Series is a collection of up-and-coming performers, new works, and entertainment options that are “outside the black box,” says Sabel.

The premiere caburlesque troop, Cherry Poppins, regularly debuts new works on the Archway stage. Renowned comedy host Aubree Sweeney brings the best new comedic talent to the stage once per month, beginning July 31. The Second Stage Series presents Danse du Ventre: The Caravan August 23, featuring a journey into the exotic and mystical realm of gypsy and tribal dance culture and music.

Future events will include an acoustic music festival of singer/songwriters, the magic of Professor Tango, a one-act play festival, and a few pieces created by Archway company members. “Currently we have company members working on a 90s pop rendition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Airplane! The Musical,” and comic satire called “Macwalken,” reveals Sabel.

Also in the works is a future Monologue Slam, wherein actors enter their best monologue in competition against each other in an effort to win cash and prizes.

Yoga Classes and More

The Archway also doubles as a yoga studio and workshop center. The location offers a full schedule of classes in hatha, vinyasa and restorative styles of yoga, as well as periodic workshops in yoga practice, audition technique, Shakespeare intensives, character development, and more.

“Yoga is the perfect exercise for performers and nonperformers alike. It is low impact, body strengthening, breath focused, and develops concentration. Everyone can do it at their own pace and level of practice, and it also helps build community among students as well,” says Sabel.

The Archway Studio features warm colors, a raised teaching platform, wood floors, and space for up to 15 students per class. Class packages offer yoga for as low as $11 per class, and Archway teachers specialize in providing classes structured to develop beginners, while challenging experienced students.

Sabel teaches the theatre and acting workshops. He has produced and/or directed more than 100 live theatre productions, with a special emphasis in Shakespeare and classical theatre. He has witnessed thousands of auditions, and has worked with nearly 1,000 actors during his career as a producer/director.

“I am always amazed at how many actors are out there floundering through this industry and squandering opportunities because they simply just don’t know how to audition well, or they haven’t taken the right classes to improve their craft in significant ways” Sabel says.

Under Sabel’s direction, the Archway Studio/Theatre produces eight to ten main stage productions per year, at least one Second Stage Series performance each month, 8-10 yoga classes per week, and various workshops.

“We built this space to be used, and all are welcome to our place of endless creation,” says Sabel.

 

For additional information, season schedules, and workshop details visit: www.archwayla.com or call (818) 980-7529.

Archway Studio/Theatre
10509 Burbank Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601

Let's give a big North Hollywood welcome to Archway Studio/Theatre!

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

I have made a lot of short films. Sixty or so in fact, at last count.

A lot of them I have written, produced and directed myself, which is good.

But I have not worked on any feature length films…until now.

I was hired as production manager on a very low budget indie film shooting in New Mexico.

If you google production manager, like I did when I was offered the job, wikipedia describes the job as “ the person responsible for the administration of a feature film,” which sounds very, very vague.

While I have been in charge of everything all at the same time, it was a first for me to be in charge of just one part of film production and not every part…. and honestly it was sometimes very difficult to balance what I wanted to get involved with with what I was tasked to be involved with.

I’m not a megalomaniac, at least I don't think I am, and my husband may well have a very different take on that particular subject. But letting go and standing back and not making endless suggestions was a more difficult task than I had anticipated and lesson well learned!

I suppose what I am trying to point out is that we cant always been in charge of everything, surprising as that may seem, and just because we are only responsible for one part of the process does not necessarily mean that everything will fall apart, much as we might like that to be the case if we are really truly honest.

The larger the production the more people there must be involved to make it work.

Which means that the roles become more specific.

So I began the production basically bringing in crew and some cast, and utilizing my experience working on location with a small budget. I was also given the responsibility of payroll, probably because no one else would do it, and by the end of the production I was sorting out catering too. Just like any other low budget film, you take on multiple roles if you want get the film finished and also if you want things done correctly, or sometimes at all. Stepping in when you can see things are not working out is part of the process and should be part of the expectations on your part and on the part of the producer. However, there is a skill in jumping in without stepping on toes…and one well worth learning, or your well-intentioned ‘help’ can easily blow up in your face.

In the end the film takes on its own individual life, and you watch out for it. Not just because it’s your paycheck, but also because you want to take care of it, you want the best for it, and you will find out very quickly who amongst you feels the same way and who couldn't give a ****.

We were mostly very lucky regarding the ‘respect’ for this film. There was some mischief, I suppose there always will be, which is a shame. But people are people, and some are ridiculous. This will never change, and you can never figure out why some people do what they do and I have learnt over the years that it’s best not to try. You just do what you need to to get things done and move one. Those who are difficult are best left to their own devises, and that’s one less person on your Christmas card list or your list of “who I will work with again,” which for me is one in the same.

I think what I learnt most keenly on this project was that I was capable of much more than I had anticipated and to not sell myself short. Whether a film has a $50 budget or a $200,000 budget or a $200 million budget, it's all the same in the wash and after this experience I can certainly be sure that I could produce at any level without feeling out of my depth at all. The bigger the budget the more stuff costs basically, but its the same recipe, story, actors, crew, location.

I think those of us who work with tiny budget films think these big budget monsters are just that, monsters and we wouldn't know how to deal with them. But I think that’s completely wrong and undervalues the skills we create working with no money, and the more I work with other people and, particularly on other people's projects, the more sure I am of my own skills and my own value.

And there’s the thing I think, the ‘value’ thing…and what is value anyway?

Value used to mean money, but the older I get the more I see value in very different terms.

The value of something can be based on many things: Its importance in your life, its history, its future, its impact on your life… none of these things change if something costs more, or less.

So value yourself, your skills and your experience. I really do value myself and my skills far more highly after making somebody else’s movie in the New Mexico desert.

Nobody knows anything really, they are all just faking it…and sometimes that can work to your advantage.

The NoHo Arts District dot Com team is proud of our strong and growing theatre district. We are grateful that the talented Road Theatre Company calls two NoHo theatre venues home and continues to produce new works for the stage. Did you know that The Road Theatre is entering its 24th season? Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, remain committed to their mission to produce and develop new work for the stage. The Road Theatre opens the sixth annual Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF6) Sunday, July 26 through Sunday, August 2, 2015. What is the Summer Playrights Festival SPF6? Well, it’s eight days of readings of 31 selected works, all new to Los Angeles, live music, nightly Receptions, talk backs with the playwrights, and this year’s festival will include 50/50 mix of male and female playwrights.

Artistic Directors Taylor Gilbert and Sam Anderson on the importance of the festival to the theatre, “The Road's Summer Playwrights Festival offers a wonderfully compressed period of new works and voices from established and emerging playwrights brought to life by the Road ensemble and guest artists who interact in lively discussions with our audiences, different live bands each evening, great food and drink and a tremendous sense of community between artists and theatregoers. An unforgettable event.”

WHAT: Summer Playwrights Festival (SPF6)
WHEN: Sunday, July 26 through Sunday, August 2, 2015.
are Monday-Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday at 11am, 2pm and 8pm at the Road on Lankershim AND
Tuesday-Thursday at 8pm at the Road on Magnolia. WHERE: THE ROAD ON LANKERSHIM (The Historic Lankershim Arts Center)
5108 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91602 AND
THE ROAD ON MAGNOLIA (The NoHo Senior Arts Colony)
10747 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood

TICKETS: Tickets are a suggested donation of $15: www.roadtheatre.org
WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL PASS available for $50. Good for any reading any and all days.

This year’s festival features all new works to Los Angeles and has attracted playwrights from around the country, including Wendy Macleod (The House of Yes, nominated for 6 LADCC for The Water Children, Juvenalia), Vince Melocchi (Ovation Award nominated Lions, LA Weekly Best Play nomination Julia) Julie Marie Myatt (The Happy Ones, LADCC Ted Schmidt Award for Outstanding New Play, Boats on a River, Finalist Susan Smith Blackburn Prize). Lucille Lichtblau (The English Bride, winner the Susan Glaspell Prize and Israel Baran Award. The Hemings Diary, finalist Inkwell/Woolly Mammoth Competition, Weissberger Award finalist. Four-time winner of PATV’s Annual New Play Competition. First receipient of Yale’s first MCA Fellowship in Playwriting). Robert Edward Lunney (Boardwalk Empire, Broadway-Born Yesterday, Deuce, Streetcar Named Desire, The Graduate. His Play For Nina was a 2007 O’Neill Playwright’s Conference semi-finalist), Laurence Klaven (2 Obie Awards, 2 Barrymore awards and 7 Drama Desk nominations and an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Bed and Sofa), Paden Fallis (award winning The Play About the Coach), Stephanie Walker (The Art of Disappearing- O’Neill Playwright’s Conference semi-finalist, Princess Grace award), Kat Ramsburg (Playwright of the Year The Bridge Initiative: Women in Arizona Theatre), Steven Young (The Resurrectionists 2 Joseph Jefferson citations, The Wal*Mart-ians Jerome Fellowship Finalist, The Night We Bombed Lincoln Towing Finalist 2012 Stage West New Play Competition), Jennie Webb (co-founder LA Women’s Playwrights Initiative), Steven Simoncic (Once Upon a Time in Detroit 2013 O’Neill Playwright’s Conference semi-finalist, Emmy winner, Woodward/Newman Finalist Broken Fences.) Lorenzo Destefano (Winner Los Zafiros :Music From the Edge of Time Winner Grand Festival Award Berkeley Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival Gold Hugo nomination, Talmage Farlow), Jon Kern (2012 Laurents/Hatcher Award Modern Terrorism) Richard Manley (Matches, Winner Oglebay Institute Towngate Prize 2013), Carmen Milito (nominated for 2 Ovation Awards).



Road Company members are also highlighted with plays by: Anna Carini, Deana Barone (Peabody Award winner). Bettina Zacar, Lisa Kenner, Shanti Reinhardt. This year’s festival features noted directors such as, Taylor Nichols (Barcelona, NAACP Award All My Sons, LA Drama Critics Circle Award), April Webster (Emmy Award Winner-3 nominations, 4 time CSA winner. 11 nominations), Keith Stevenson (Ovation Award, Out There on Fried Meat Ridge Road) and many Road company members and members of the Los Angeles theater community. This year’s Collegiate Playwriting Competition winner is Will Arbery (Northwestern University), and his play, The Mongoose which will be performed Sunday August 2 at 11am. Most of the playwrights whose work is featured will be attending and will participate in a post-show discussion with the audience and cast.

Guest actors include Butch Klein (Grace and Frankie, 24) and Matthew Glave (The Wedding Singer, Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce, Argo) and many other guest actors.

LIVE MUSIC!

One popular feature of the festival last summer was the live music that was featured during each reading reception in our gallery space. This year’s festival will feature the bands and musicians Mleo, Stage 11, Engine of Survival, End of Ever, Theo’s Dream, and Irish band sensation, Whiskey Sunday. The reception will be held in our backyard patio-Bettina’s Cantina-and will feature wines from Paso Robles Wineries and delicious appetizers and desserts.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY

Located in the heart of the NoHo Arts district-the fastest growing arts district in Los Angeles County-the company has called the Historic Lankershim Arts Center home for the past 19 seasons. Now on the verge of their Silver Anniversary 25th season of bringing new works to Los Angeles, the company is coming off a very successful 24th season featuring the hit plays Mud Blue Sky by Marisa Wegrzyn (SPF5 Official Selection) and (Melissa Arctic by Craig Wright (SPF1 Official Selection) Things Being What They Are by Wendy MacLeod, The Other Place by Sharr White and The English Bride by Lucille Lichtblau.

Fiercely committed to that most dangerous of theater missions-the dedication to new works-the Road Theatre Company led by founding artistic director Taylor Gilbert and artistic director Sam Anderson, is a multi-award winning theater that has been named one of the top ten intimate theater companies in Los Angeles (LA Weekly). It is home to over 100 theater artists devoted to the creation of the highest level of work. This festival is our way of sharing the process of play development with our community and allows participants playwrights the chance to hear their plays in a professional setting of talent and artistry. The festival is also a fundraising event for the theater to help us launch our Silver Anniversary 25th season, which begins with the SPF5 festival pick Homefree by Lisa Loomer.

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

The deal is everyone around the world is supposed to chant PEACEANDLOVE at noon their time on July 7 and not just the birthday revelers at Capitol Records.

STARR has been a TM (transcendental meditation) practitioner since 1968 as a BEATLE studying with the Guru MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI and it is a safe bet that STARR has reached his nirvana in his PEACEANDLOVE chant.

Longtime friend DAVID LYNCH was among the star studded attendees at this function and was very articulate in validating STARR'S desire to spread PEACEANDLOVE through chanting the words. LYNCH, also a student of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, has a foundation that is currently working with inner city youth that are damaged by a life of crime and street life and teaching them TM. It is slow going STARR told the audinece, but it is helping. LYNCH is volunteering his time on this endeavor. For those of you that don’t understand the function of an OHM chant, it is supposed to create a harmonic vibration with the universe and flow. After the chant, STARR threw out white PEACE & LOVE bracelets with 3 stars on them to participants and handed out PEACE cookies.

As for myself, I was reminded that answering fan mail for the original KNACK was my first industry “job” and it was at Capitol Records which struck a cool chord in my vibration. While hanging out there I met a very cool Street Artist who shared his many projects and friends and quizzed me on my “Street" knowledge and asked me if I knew who LORD JIM was…"of course" I answered "I have a piece of his work.” Turns out I was mistaken about that one, it was Lord Tim I was thinking of who was a DJ at KFWB during the Sixties. Lord Tim traveled with the BEATLES at that time and I have one of his photos of the BEATLES. The new friend also queried if I knew who Teacher or Banksy were. Fodder for my next book methinks.

###

It appears that I owe WADDY WACHTEL a huge shout out for his quitar work in “All Is By My Side”. Don’t know how it managed to slip by me when I was crafting my review of the movie in November 2014, but it did. All of those notes in the movie were Waddy’s signature stylings and I am told that WADDY composed some of the music and was the acting music producer. Funny thing is that a friend of WADDY came up to me at STARR'S birthday function and started telling me about it. Nice to know that musicians are paying attention.

###
Unless my readers were living under a rock at the time, most of you know about my adventures in Paris with the ghost of JIM MORRISON. I even wrote a story about it for the LA Free Press’s music page and sent a copy to the company that manages The DOORS and JIM MORRISON. Funny thing how life works out, because friend STEVE HOFFMAN, a studio tech wizard, recently mixed a new CD from original masters titled “THE BEST OF THE DOORS”. It’s an audiophile Hybrid Multichannel SACD recording in a numbered, limited release. Only 5,000 were made so if you want one go to your nearest audiophile store and pick one up. It is a bit pricy, but worth every penny in terms of quality of sound. Songs such as “Who Do You Love “ are included and when “Soul Kitchen” comes twanging in it’s …whew, I’m back in Paris wandering by a cafe called “Soul Kitchen.”

Another new release is THE SINGULARITY which has “404 NOT FOUND” as their new offering. Slick, sleek and precise the whole CD is ear candy and is sure to please BOWIE fans that enjoy this genre. Hard Boiled recomends “Wetter" as their #1 song, but for me it was hard to pick one.

###
I’m going to close out this column with a quote about the need for music in our schools.

“ Whoever has skill in music is of good temperment and fitted for all things. We MUST teach music in schools.” Martin Luther

Yes. The NoHo Arts District dot Com team was and still is a huge fan of Amy Winehouse. Her album "Back to Black" won five 2008 Grammy Awards, and made her the first British female to win five Grammys, including three of the general field "Big Four" awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. You should listened to her debut album "Frank," because it gives you even more of an appreciation for her range and talent...and even more sadness that she is gone.

Amy died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011 at age 27. Every year on the anniversary of her death we salute her and think positive thoughts for those struggling with any type of addiction. We hope to not lose any more talented artists.

Get to know more about Amy Winehouse in the new documentary: "AMY."

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Although we have handfuls of favorite Amy Winehouse songs, "Valerie" is special.

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The Bruno Mars "Valerie" tribute brings down the house.

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R.I.P. Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse Drawing by Live4ArtInLA

**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

While picking up a pizza at the local pizzeria, I noticed a well-dressed young woman in her 20’s wearing a new Louis Vuitton handbag struggling to pay the $12 pizza order.

She used her debit card, credit card and $2 in cash to pay for it. She drove off in a white sporty BMW. At first I felt sorry for her and I could not understand how someone who looked like she had money could barely pay for pizza. How many people do we know that spend money on “looking rich” yet don’t have enough saved up to make ends meet? The issue is---are we so bent on keeping up with the rich that it is making us poor? It comes down to choices and lifestyle…so if the “posers” want to continue the charade going broke, let them. Meanwhile the “real” wealthier people are managing their finances, have goals to accumulate money and spending it according to their lifestyle---not pressured into it.

If you're ready to start saving or ramp up your current investment initiatives but there just doesn't seem to be enough money left over at the end of the month, don't give up.

The following strategies could help you manage your money better and free up resources for your financial goals.

• Start budgeting. While most of us know what a budget is, how many of us actually use one? A budget can help you chart your cash flow by recording all of your sources of income and your fixed and variable monthly expenses. Once you determine where your money is going using a budget, you can prioritize your needs and potentially identify expenses that could be eliminated.
  
  
• Cut down on credit card expenses. Avoid using credit cards whenever possible, but if you can't, at least work to pay off your debt. Consider transferring your balances to a card with a lower-interest rate, and try to pay at least twice the minimum monthly payment.
  
  
• Watch transportation costs. Do you really need a brand new car right now? You could save thousands by purchasing one that's just a year or two old and yet still has a warranty. If you purchase a car -- new or used -- carefully consider whether to finance or lease it. The decision could dramatically affect your monthly expenses.
  
  
• Put your extra cash to work. Did this year's tax refund, raise, or bonus burn a hole in your pocket? The next one doesn't have to. Make plans now to invest it.
  
  
• Cut down on "luxury" spending. If you only go snow boarding or skiing twice a year, it might make more sense to rent equipment instead of buying the latest model and watching it collect dust the rest of the year. Renting movies instead of paying $8 or more to see the latest release and bringing lunch to work are other ways you can watch your bottom line without cramping your own style.

It may be difficult at first, but once you start you'll see that a little bit of discipline can make a big difference when it comes to finding the money to pursue your financial objectives.

Required Attribution

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Wealth Management Systems Inc. or its sources, neither Wealth Management Systems Inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall Wealth Management Systems Inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber's or others' use of the content.

© 2015 Wealth Management Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

Every Thursday we send out our NoHo e-News. Do you get it? It takes 30 seconds. Make sure you sign up, it’s FREE. Sign up HERE>>

This issue of NoHo e-News is about what's going on in North Hollywood and a selection of some theatre shows. But we have a ton of them. Did you know that the NoHo Arts District has the highest concentration of theatres outside of New York City? Just check out the NoHo Arts District Theatre Guide>>

Here's a glimpse at what's going on in North Hollywood...ENJOY NOHO!




**** For information on Los Angeles theatre, tickets to theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, theatre reviews, the NoHo Event Calendar, restaurants, news and local businesses in NoHo, or anything and everything about the NoHo Arts Community, bookmark nohoartsdistrict.com. Follow us on Twitter @OfficialNoHo.

Keeping fit and making an effort in your appearance says you care about yourself and how you come across. That’s attractive.

Being “attractive” means being ‘appealing, inviting, tempting, sexually alluring’.

How attractive are you these days………?

Gentlemen, how you dress on a first date matters. Most likely, your date has blown out her hair, bought a cute dress, done her nails and then some.

So please iron your shirt, trim your a**neck and don’t wear open-toed sandals, flip flops or tevas. Ever. Don’t be lazy. Even though “it’s LA” or you live on the Westside, you’re not too cool to purposefully look like you made an effort to look good. Having a clear sense of style is hot and will differentiate you from the masses who think Lululemon or Birkenstocks are fashion statements.

Ladies, try to wear something that shows you’re female.

Men enjoy looking at women because we remind them of everything they’re not. Anything too corporate or “crunchy” gives the opposite effect.

Here’s what we’ve heard from some of our clients: “it looked like she was wearing a sack” or “She looked like a busy mom who just threw on lipstick” or “he looked way too casual for a first date” or “it looked like he literally rolled out of bed”.  Some of you may be thinking “I don’t care, this is who I am; take it or leave it” That’s fine if you’re okay being single for awhile.

If you won’t go the extra mile to make a good first impression for your potential future mate, when will you?

I’m willing to bet you make sure you look good for the important presentation at work or when you’re going out with clients.

Meeting the person with whom you’ll possibly spend the rest of your life is hands down even more important. Sure, we know that people get tired and jaded after too many unfruitful first dates, but that should never turn into apathy.

If you’re giving half-a**, you’re going to get half-a**.

We firmly believe there’s someone for everyone BUT the more you’re holding onto those extra pounds, your 20yr old hair style, your parachute pants or “this is who I am; deal with it” attitude, the smaller pool of candidates you will get to choose from. Everybody is special and deserves to be loved and adored. You must give someone a reason to explore your specialness. Like it or not, your presentation is the first step in enticing someone to discover you further.

If you’ve never been to the Federal Bar in NoHo for a night of music, you're missing out. They bring a variety of genres, styles and artists for a variety of musical tastes. For the Federal Bar’s parent, Knitting Factory Entertainment, music is what they do. Their motto is "curators of music, food and style since 1987." Knitting Factory Entertainment oversees four Knitting Factory live music venues, a record label, a management company, and the four restaurants—two in the NoHo Arts District. At its core, the company is dedicated to creating a variety of high-quality, innovating musical programming across all platforms and that tradition continues within their hospitality brands. That is to say, The Federal Bar is a bar and restaurant but KFE is committed to ensuring it has top quality music and music concepts for its guests plus for its purpose built performance space upstairs.


Next up at The Federal Bar North Hollywood will be Chali 2na & The House of Vibe with Mexican Dubwiser and DJ Expo. The show is 21+. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased HERE.

The crowd can expect a high-energy performance from the Jurassic 5/ Ozomatli member. Known for his baritone voice and unique flow, Chali 2na will bring audiences to their feet.

New Music Nation praises the solo artist, saying "his unmistakable, smooth-flowing, deep baritone is one of the most satisfying voices in hip-hop."

WHEN: Tuesday, July 28 at 9:00pm (8pm Doors)
WHERE: The Federal Bar
5303 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 980-2555

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Originally from Chicago, Chali 2na is a rapper and hip-hop artist who moved to South Central Los Angeles to further pursue his music career. While performing bars and cafes, he collaborated with six of his good friends to form a group called Unity Committee. Later combining with another crew who would perform at the same open mic nights, Rebels of Rhythm, they came together to create the alternative hip-hop group Jurassic 5. Although thriving for 14 years, the group officially split up in 2007. Since the group’s separation, Chali 2na has worked independently on different mix tapes and collaborations with artists such as Linkin Park, Ozomatli, and Galactic. Releasing his first solo album Fish Outta Water in 2009, Chali 2na has further developed his solo career and has continued by also producing two mixtapes, Fishmarket and Fishmarket Part 2.

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Fringe Theatre Company & Extra Dry Martini Productions
Directed by Stacy Ann Raposa
Written by Cast

You can always guarantee that any play presented at The Actors Workout Studio is going to be interesting. Interesting, funny, relevant, well written and usually really thought provoking.

Bare Naked Angels: Angels Unabated is certainly all of the above but it has something extra, it has soul. Bare naked soul…

The Director Stacy Ann Raposa has taken seven actors, and worked with them over several months to create something unique. Each actor tells a story from their own lives, and because these actors are all so different and their choices so varied in tone, what is presented to us is a wonderful and inspirational blend of life. The monologues they created are individually, carefully broken up in to pieces and then all artfully woven back together to create something else…something that it is far more than the sum of its parts.

Sarah Kelly David Caprita Thea Grabiec, Sharon Munfus. Photo Lemon Melon Photography

Each of these stories is performed as a monologue by each of the actors, with all of them remaining on stage the entire performance.

They listen to these monumental moments in each others’ lives as if hearing them for the first time. Sometimes watching quietly, sometimes more involved and sometimes even taking part in a scene from one an other’s story. This seamless and continual stream of performance storytelling is incredibly captivating. I found myself completely mesmerized by these actors, held transfixed by their honesty, their bravery and their total commitment to this performance.

This is an awful lot of information, 100 minutes of people standing, sometimes sitting, but being there, on stage, waiting patiently for each other to speak and I can tell you it’s quite the most astonishing and moving thing I have witnessed on stage in a long time. I was riveted and the time flew by, in fact I was sorry when it ended, which is really something. I wanted more, I wanted to know what happened next, how they were now, and where they were going.

Michelle Lambert Phil Talsky. Photo Lemon Melon Photography

I was truly moved by these amazing actors and stunned by the writing, it was artful and eloquent and compelling. I cried, I laughed, and I completely ‘got it’.

It was almost like watching therapy, if that doesn't sound totally dull, someone else’s therapy, and not the Jerry Springer kind of tell all rubbish, no, this was a group of total strangers being thrown together and really being honest, painfully honest in ways that so connect you to them that you know if you never meet again you will remember them for the rest of your life…it was that good.

The excellent cast includes the talents of David Caprita, Joe Capucini, Thea Grabiec, Sarah Kelly, Michelle Lambert, Sharon Munfus and Phil Talsky.

Bare Naked Angels: Angels Unabated was performed and written by members of the Fringe Theatre Company. The show runs from July 17th through August 9th, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm. Tickets are $20 www.fringetheatreco.com

Actors Workout Studio
4735 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood
CA 91602

barenakedangels.com