‘Truths’ about Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s Oscar chances
Marianne Jean-Baptiste has gained serious momentum toward a lead actress Oscar nomination with her performance as a depressed, caustic Londoner in “Hard Truths,” her second…
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s New Year’s Eve show viewers call performance ‘breathless and awkward’ as they urge her to lip sync
THERE was a double dose of Sophie Ellis-Bextor on the box last night - but some Brit viewers branded her BBC performance as "awkward and…
L.A. County’s annual holiday celebration and a Velázquez masterpiece
Dear Essential Arts Readers,This has been a tough year for many of us. I don’t need to list the challenges we have faced as a…
20 essential music documentaries to stream right now
Over the last decade, the streaming revolution has triggered a documentary gold rush. Whatever your nonfiction area of interest happens to be — serial killers,…
Los Angeles welcomes New Year’s Eve at Disney Hall and Grand Park
If you’re reading this, thank you. Taking over the Essential Arts newsletter from our wonderful former colleague Carolina A. Miranda remains a daunting task, and…
Los Angeles arts events this weekend are Wabanaki basketry, flamenco
Sure, many of us have had Christmas covers on repeat lately, but I’ve also been playing the soundtrack and score of the still-brilliant 1994 movie…
Lorraine O’Grady, groundbreaking conceptual artist, dies at 90
Lorraine O’Grady, a one-of-a-kind conceptual artist who examined racism and sexism through a multitude of mediums, has died at age 90. The artist’s groundbreaking works…
Making theater fans for life starts with great shows for kids
I have an admission to make: I recently cried during a matinee of “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” at Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver…
Stephen Mulhern honours late father with emotional tribute after Royal Variety performance
Stephen Mulhern dedicated his emotional Royal Variety Performance act to his late father, following a tough few weeks after his passing earlier this year. The…
Royal Variety Performance halted as ITV show pays 'emotional' tribute to late stars
The Royal Variety Performance took place on Sunday night as His Majesty King Charles III was in the audience, but the show also paid tribute…
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend: art, music, theater
During The Times’ Actors Roundtable, Adrien Brody gorgeously shared how his mother has “guided me in my understanding of art and the yearning to leave…
Queer review: Daniel Craig puts in an excellent performance in this film but the laughs are zero
QUEER(18) 135mins★★☆☆☆SINCE hanging up his Bond tuxedo, Daniel Craig has certainly changed direction – and he is clearly distancing himself from the 007 brand.He couldn’t…
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt
WASHINGTON — “Not Fade Away” closed out the Kennedy Center Honors at this year’s ceremony, just as honorees the Grateful Dead had used Buddy Holly’s ode…
Power-packed Skoda Octavia vRS is perfect combo of performance & practicality… the engine is smoother than Ant & Dec
WE live in a world that only moves at 20mph.Roadworks. Crashes. Average speed cameras. Protest marches. Floods.3Power from the 2-litre petrol is up 20hp to…
Give the gift of homemade arts and crafts this holiday season
It’s December and the holidays are in full swing — as is the relentless consumerism, which always fills me with unease. The way I’m expected…
Nicole Scherzinger passionately kisses her Sunset Boulevard co-star Tom Francis during steamy performance
FORMER Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger put on a sensational performance as she kissed co-star Tom Francis during the latest run of Sunset Boulevard at St…
Besame Mucho Festival at Dodger Stadium is canceled
Organizers of the Besame Mucho Festival announced on Monday via an Instagram post that the 2024 edition of the event was canceled due to “circumstances…
Natural History Museum news; plus L.A. arts and culture this week
Exposition Park got a boost last week when the Natural History Museum opened its new 75,000-square-foot welcome center. NHM Commons, the new glass-walled entrance and…
‘Little Women Ballet’ and more Los Angeles arts events this weekend
Happy “Wicked” week, Essential Arts readers! The film adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical arrives in theaters this weekend. I’m staff writer Ashley Lee, who’s…
‘Waiting for Godot,’ ‘Star Wars’ in concert, Usher and more LA arts
The crowd was jubilant on the opening night of “Waiting for Godot” at the Geffen Playhouse last Thursday. Starring Aasif Mandvi and Rainn Wilson, Samuel…