L.A. Opera gets onboard with Pacific Standard Time by David Ng

Los Angeles Opera is teaming up with the Getty this month for Pacific Standard Time, the region-wide festival focusing on the development of Southern California's art scene during the twenti…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:45pm on January 9, 2012☆⚑

NBC to promote youth theater, just in time for 'Smash' by David Ng

Corporate philanthropy meets mid-season ratings grab in a new musical-theater initiative from NBC that will target 20 underserved schools around the country.Corporate philanthropy meets mid-…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:28pm on January 6, 2012☆⚑

NBC to promote youth theater, just in time for 'Smash' by David Ng

A new musical-theater initiative from NBC that will target 20 underserved schools around the country. The program, which was announced Friday, coincides with the Feb. 6 debut of NBC's new se…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:06pm on January 6, 2012☆⚑

Pasadena Symphony musicians negotiate contract, 5% raise by David Ng

The Pasadena Symphony and Pops said Thursday that it has negotiated a new five-year contract with its musicans that will see their base wages rise by 5% over the course of the contract term.…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:30pm on January 5, 2012☆⚑

Jessica Chastain heading to Broadway in 'The Heiress' by David Ng

The 30-year-old actress is set to make her Broadway debut in a revival of "The Heiress" that is scheduled for sometime in the fall, organizers announced Thursday.The 30-year-old actress is s…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:43pm on January 5, 2012☆⚑

Jessica Chastain heading to Broadway in 'The Heiress' by David Ng

"The Help" star Jessica Chastain is set to make her Broadway debut in a revival of "The Heiress" that is scheduled for sometime in the fall this year,

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:06pm on January 5, 2012☆⚑

Hugh Jackman teaming up with Aaron Sorkin on 'Houdini' musical by David Ng

Hugh Jackman, Aaron Sorkin and Stephen Schwartz are collaborating on a new Broadway-bound musical titled "Houdini," set for the 2013-14 season.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 2:30pm on January 4, 2012☆⚑

Chat with actress Kathleen Turner on Jan. 11 by David Ng

Kathleen Turner -- the sultry voiced actress of such films as "Body Heat," "Romancing the Stone," "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "The War of the Roses" -- will be taking questions during a live…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 1:32pm on January 4, 2012☆⚑

Monster Mash: Taylor Swift eyes 'Les Miz'; Aretha Franklin, opera by David Ng

Taylor Swift and Amanda Seyfried have been offered roles in the film version of the stage musical "Les Miserables." Aretha Franklin is hosting a competition to find the next great opera sing…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:31am on January 4, 2012☆⚑

2011 year in review: Notable deaths in theater and comedy by David Ng

Notable 2011 deaths in drama and comedy included those of Arthur Laurents, Gil Cates, Vaclav Havel and Patrice O'Neal.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:39pm on December 30, 2011☆⚑

Monster Mash: Hugh Jackman, 'Les Miz'; George Washington painting by David Ng

Hugh Jackman said filming of the movie musical "Les Miserables" is set to begin in March, with rehearsals at the end of January. A new painting depicting George Washington's crossing of the …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:39am on December 28, 2011☆⚑

Monster Mash: New Shroud of Turin theory; 'Rent' protest in Idaho by David Ng

Italian researchers are reviving the idea that the Shroud of Turin's image of a Christlike figure could only have been created by a powerful flash of light. A regional production of the mus…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:46am on December 23, 2011☆⚑

Hollywood Bowl to get improved restrooms for $3 million by David Ng

The restrooms at the Hollywood Bowl will be getting a $3-million face-lift thanks to a new measure approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 7:19pm on December 21, 2011☆⚑

2011 year in review: Top arts and culture stories by David Ng

In the name of numeric symmetry, here are 11 of the most important stories we covered in 2011 (plus some runners-up). In the name of numeric symmetry, here are 11 of the most important stori…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:23pm on December 21, 2011☆⚑

2011 year in review: Top arts and culture stories by David Ng

"Art in the Streets" at L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Sept. 11 Memorial were among the top arts stories of 2011.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:00pm on December 21, 2011☆⚑

Vaclav Havel, a playwright with political passion by David Ng

Vaclav Havel, the former Czech president who died Saturday at 75, was the perfect example of an increasingly rare specimen -- the politically engaged playwright.Vaclav Havel, the former Czec…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:26pm on December 20, 2011☆⚑

Vaclav Havel, a playwright with political passion by David Ng

Vaclav Havel, the former Czech president who died Saturday at 75, was the perfect example of an increasingly rare specimen -- the politically engaged playwright. In today's theatrical climat…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 3:07pm on December 20, 2011☆⚑

'Carnage' writer Yasmina Reza discusses her life in the theater by David Ng

Roman Polanski's "Carnage" recently opened in New York and Los Angeles. The movie is based on Yasmina Reza's play "God of Carnage." Reza recently sat down to discuss her theater career and t…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 1:01pm on December 19, 2011☆⚑

Robert Wilson, Lucinda Childs production of 'Patio' postponed by David Ng

A planned collaboration between famed theater director Robert Wilson and choreographer Lucinda Childs at the Pacific Standard Time festival has been postponed indefinitely, organizers said o…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 4:39pm on December 16, 2011☆⚑

Monster Mash: Elizabeth Taylor portrait sells; 'War Horse' author by David Ng

An Andy Warhol painting of Elizabeth Taylor has sold for more than $662,000 at auction in New York. Michael Morpurgo, the author of "War Horse," is making a hidden cameo appearance in the Br…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:50am on December 15, 2011☆⚑

Monster Mash: Getty Museum exit; Nicole Scherzinger and 'Phantom' by David Ng

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger will perform selections from "The Phantom of the Opera" on a 25th anniversary celebratory telecast honoring the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:30am on December 14, 2011☆⚑

An early look at 'Rock of Ages,' with Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise by David Ng

The new movie based on the hit Broadway musical promises a blast of '80s nostalgia in the form of hair-metal band favorites by such acts as Journey, Pat Benatar, Styx, Twisted Sister and Bon…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:21am on December 14, 2011☆⚑

An early look at 'Rock of Ages,' with Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise by David Ng

"Rock of Ages," the new movie based on the hit Broadway musical, promises a blast of 80s nostalgia in the form of hair-metal band favorites by Journey, Pat Benatar, Styx, Twisted Sister, Bon…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 9:00am on December 14, 2011☆⚑

George Clooney joins L.A. cast of Prop. 8 play by David Ng

George Clooney is throwing his considerable star power behind the fight against Prop. 8 by signing on to appear in a reading of the play "8" in Los Angeles. The play, by Oscar-winning scree…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 8:00am on December 14, 2011☆⚑

'Leap of Faith' adds Christopher Ashley as director for Broadway by David Ng

Organizers announced Tuesday that Christopher Ashley had been hired to direct "Leap of Faith" when it arrives on Broadway some time in the fall of 2012. Organizers announced Tuesday that Chr…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 5:29pm on December 13, 2011☆⚑