By Shari Barrett
To celebrate Women’s History Month, The Ebell of Los Angeles is presenting The Everywhere of Her, a free community program at the Julian Dixon Library, 4975 Overland Avenue in Culver City this Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The imaginative and musical celebration centers on three remarkable women (Dolores del Rio, star of American/Mexican cinema, Katherine Sui Fun Cheung, first Chinese licensed female pilot; and Charlotta Bass, owner and publisher of the California Eagle), each of whom helped shape Los Angeles. After first meeting at an event celebrating Amelia Earhart, they discovered how much more in common they had; and though history books may try to erase their astonishing accomplishments, individually and together they helped shape our city and the world. More information: https://ebellofla.org/event/the-everywhere-of-her-culver-city-03-23-24/
The Ebell of Los Angeles is proud to offer these performances along with educational resource materials, lesson plans, and art-making activities to the public free of charge. This production has been made possible thanks to generous support from the California Arts Council, Artistic Scholarship Fund For Inner City Youth, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, Pasadena Showcase House for The Arts, The Rosenthal Family Foundation, and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. The Culver City performances are made possible in part by the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission, with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Last Call Theatre, an LA-based immersive theatre company that specializes in creating highly interactive and engaging worlds for audiences to explore, invites you to participate in their latest immersive production, Pirates Wanted, aboard the American Pride, the 130 ft, 3-masted tall ship operated by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute in San Pedro. Audience members will be able to explore this majestic vessel as if they were actual pirates while assuming the role of new pirate recruits, joining Captain Souvanna and her crew on a wild and wacky pirate adventure as they steal a ship from the British Royal Navy and then train these new recruits into actual seaworthy pirates.
As the Captain races to prove herself and her crew to the Great Pirate Council, the threat of sirens and their magic comes to light and rumors of mutiny begin stirring. Currents of danger, betrayal, magic, music, adventure, and love will rock the crew to its core, and it will be up to the audience to decide whether they will sink or swim as they navigate these unfamiliar waters.
Directed by Brit Baltazar, Pirates Wanted follows Last Call’s trademark style of quests and audience-driven narrative with over 50 quests, resulting in multiple potential endings and variable sword and fight combat scenes. Additionally, the show also features live, original music by composer/lyricist Ronen Rinzler and a variety of pirate training games. Audiences can delve into the world of the show and follow the storylines of various characters or spend the evening playing minigames with the crew.
Pirates Wanted performs 8 times, starting with a preview on March 30. The show then runs April 5-20 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m. aboard the American Pride, docked at the long deck next to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum at 84 Foot of 6th St Berthing, San Pedro 90731. Preview tickets are $40; general admission for April shows is $60. Tix and info at https://lastcalltheatre.ticketleap.com/pirateswanted/
Over the past year, I have thoroughly enjoyed attending live tribute and classic rock concerts produced by Sterling Venue Ventures at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. The venue is the perfect place to enjoy drinks with friends at two bars or dinner before the show at reserved tables, and then dance to great live music in a relaxed social atmosphere. In fact, it’s like stepping into a time machine (with much better lighting effects) remembering the music of our younger days with great fondness while being able to enjoy adult beverages and dance the night away!
Sterling Venue Ventures has just announced their upcoming line-up of 2024 shows at the Canyon Clubs in Agoura Hills and Montclair, the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, and the Libby Bowl in Ojai. Among those featured in Agoura Hills are The Nelsons on March 23, Tom Petty Tribute by So Petty on March 29, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone on March 31 (he puts on a fabulous show!), The Kingston Trio on April 7, Joan Osborne Acoustic Trio on April 12, Taylor Swift Tribute & Release Party with Blank Space on April 19, The Doors Tribute by Wild Child on April 20, Oingo Boingo Former Members on May 4, Steely Dan Tribute by Doctor Wu on May 11, The Beatles Tribute by Britain’s Finest on May 12 for Mother’s Day, The Young Dubliners on May 17, The Wailers on May 24, Boogie Nights on May 25, Phil Collins & Genesis Tribute by In The Air Tonight on May 31, The Bacon Brothers on June 28, and many more!
Some great upcoming concerts at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills include The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles: We Love Boy Bands! on March 23 and 24, Wayne Newton on March 29, Hawaii’s ukelele master Jake Shimabukuro on April 7, Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets on April 21, Michelle Collins of The View on April 25, Tamar Braxton on May 4, Todd Rundgren on June 20, and Engelbert Humperdinck on June 29.
Outdoor Summer concerts in Ojai at the Libby Bowl include Abba Tribute by Fabba on June 22, Todd Rundgren on June 23, Beatles-vs-Stones on July 5, Journey Tribute by DSB on July 6, Happy Together Tour on July 18, Fleetwood Mac Tribute by Mirage on July 20, Eagles Tribute by The Long Run on July 27, Bruce Hornsby on July 28, Los Lonely Boys on August 8, Don McLean on August 10, Led Zeppelin Tribute by Led Zepagain on August 30, with lots more in September including tributes to the Grateful Dead, Phish, The Doors, and Pink Floyd, as well as classic acts The Temptations, Judy Collins, and Dave Mason.
Many of the above-mentioned shows at all locations also take place at Sterling Venue Ventures clubs in Montclair and Oxnard this year, along with other acts specifically geared to those two venues. Please note, those under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult, and IDs are checked to allow purchasing adult beverages. For more information on 2024 show lineups, venues, and to purchase tickets for all Sterling Venue Ventures shows in Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Montclair, Ojai, and Oxnard, visit the official website at https://WhereMusicMeetsTheSoul.com/ For reservations, you can also call (888) 645-5006 or send an email to BoxOffice@WMMTS.com. But don’t wait as many shows do sell out in advance!
