By Susan JAMES Comedy walks a fine line between hilarity and hysteria, guffaws and gross-outs and in director Todd Phillips’ eagerly awaited sequel to the 2009 megahit “The Hangover,” hysteria and gross-outs win. What was fresh, outrageous and unexpected in the original, and side-splittingly funny as well, here is forced, predictable and increasingly desperate. Two […]
Photo by Ted AYALA By Ted AYALA When thinking about attending a performance of youth orchestras, one can’t help but groan inwardly. How to put up with it? Yes, you want to mean well and you understand that kids are kids, not fully professional musicians. But unless you’re the parent or family member of one […]
By Michael WORKMAN Rockstar Games titles are some of the most anticipated game releases and “L.A. Noire” is no exception. Though Rockstar Games are famous for the controversial “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, L.A. Noire takes a departure from the mindless mayhem and creates a game that is more story-driven and emphasizes puzzle solving. Set in […]
By Susan JAMES The Paley Center in Beverly Hills is offering a series of all-star panels focusing on popular television shows. Several, like “Bones” and “Fringe” (Fox) are just completing their seasons and are scheduled to return in the fall. Others like “Southland” (TNT) are currently on hiatus. The panels are open to the public […]
By Ted AYALA A veritable cornucopia of musical delights – spanning everything from classical and jazz to rock and bossa-nova – were served to the hungry audience attending the Glendale Pops Orchestra’s (GPO) “The Premiere” concert last Friday night, May 13. Matt Catingub, the GPO’s new artistic director, emceed the concert with a sly charm […]
By Ted AYALA The Santa Cecilia Orchestra (SCO), which finds its home in Occidental College’s Thorne Hall, closes out its 2010-2011 in a spectacular fashion on Sunday, May 22 at Occidental College’s Thorne Hall at 4 p.m. with a concert honoring two of Mexico’s – and the American continent’s – very greatest composers: Silvestre Revueltas […]
By Susan JAMES Actor/director Kenneth Branagh is generally known for his take on Shakespearian epics, “Henry V,” “Hamlet,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” so it is no wonder that when faced with directing the thunderous saga of comic book hero/god Thor he frames his epic as a quasi-Henry V. Like the rebel prince who defeated the […]
By Ted AYALA The fire and sparkle of Franz Liszt and the mellow sheen of Sergei Rachmaninoff swept over audiences last Saturday at Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium. The Pasadena Symphony Orchestra (PSO), under the baton of guest conductor Maximiano Valdes, was joined by pianist Chu-Fang Huang in a concert that programmed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 […]
By Ted AYALA The stars will be out on the night of Friday, May 13 at Glendale’s Alex Theatre (216 N. Brand Blvd.) as the newly formed Glendale Pops Orchestra (GPO) will be performing its inaugural concert accompanied by a host of musical guests. Matt Catingub, artistic director and conductor of the GPO, will be […]
By Ted AYALA The music of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Franz Liszt: two more sure-fire crowd pleasing composers could scarcely be found. Rachmaninoff’s luscious melodies and Liszt’s glittery virtuosity have been packing houses again and again since the lifetimes of both composers – and look certain to continue doing so well beyond our own lifetimes. No […]