Coco Blignaut (left) and Tsulan Cooper in 'God's Gypsy,' now playing at the Lillian Theater. In the new film “Saving Mr. Banks,” Walt Disney devotes 20 years to trying to persuade P.L. Travers to let him make a movie of her classic children’s book “Mary Poppins.” She finally does, but with the condition that she work with the... Read more →

SMO — City Hall has allowed an artist to rent a significant piece of public property at a discount, passing up $4 million to $6 million in revenue over 10 years, in hopes that he would in turn provide creative space to other artists at a reduced rate. Converted from an old City Hall-owned hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica... Read more →

Writer and director Paul Sand shows off the view from the Santa Monica Pier. (David Mark Simpson) SM PIER — At first glance, “The Cuttlefish Hotel,” a dark, bloody cabaret opening on Friday, seems an odd fit for the sunny Santa Monica Pier, surrounded by happy tourists and multi-million dollar hotels. But writer and director,... Read more →

DOWNTOWN — Los Angeles has a lot of black box theatre. The kind where all 99 members of the audience can hear the soundboard changing cues and view all $10 of the theatre company’s production budget onstage. Los Angeles has a lot of cringe-worthy theatre. Stefhen Bryan as a young boy in Jamaica. (Photos courtesy dooduboy.com) But... Read more →

If you were lucky enough to host a Thanksgiving dinner, chances are there is a fridge full of leftovers. Right about now those leftovers are hitting their peak, which means it is time to act. Freeing up fridge space could come from a multitude of methods like soups, salads and casseroles. But nothing utilizes your treasured leftovers while... Read more →

I first met Dave Heiser when I was in seventh grade. He was a P.E. teacher at John Adams Jr. High. He was an amazing athlete, and an inspiration to us kids. Among other things, he was a tremendous gymnast. On occasion he would perform on the high bars in our auditorium as we watched breathlessly. A lifeguard in the summers, he would also... Read more →

DUDE IN RED: Santa Claus will be on Pico Boulevard Saturday to spread some holiday cheer at the annual Winter Holiday Art Walk. (Photo courtesy Pico Improvement Organization) PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — This Saturday, Nov. 30, Pico Boulevard celebrates two events, Small Business Saturday and the Pico Holiday Art Walk. Shop small while... Read more →

BLOODY MESS: Spirits of mediums, serial killers and charlatans are conjured up in 'Play Dead.’ (Photo courtesy Michael Lamont/Geffen Playhouse) It might seem somewhat macabre to write about death and evil at this celebratory time of year. But there’s a terrific show, “Play Dead,” onstage at The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood that... Read more →

THE CAST AT WORK: Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in 'Philomena.' (Photo courtesy BBC Films; Pathe Productions Limited) Judi Dench is quite a dame. As one of Great Britain’s greatest gifts to theater, films, and television, she has portrayed most of Shakespeare’s heroines, from Juliet to Lady Macbeth, Queen Victoria and Queen... Read more →

Come see the best directors of tomorrow — today. The Ninth Annual Santa Monica Teen Film Festival, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, 2014, is now accepting submissions. The festival accepts any film made by kids 12-18, from anywhere in the world, in any genre between 30 seconds to 30 minutes in length. Submission is free.... Read more →