Latino Theater Company will be streaming for free a recording of their holiday pageant “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin” starring proud Pasadenan and renowned mezzo soprano Suzanna Guzman. The pageant usually takes place annually since 2002 at Downtown L.A.’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. In addition to Guzman, Sal Lopez plays Juan Diego and the production features over 100 actors, singers and indigenous Aztec dancers along with children and seniors from the community.
Join the tens of thousands who have become transfixed by the story of Juan Diego, a simple peasant to whom the Virgin Mary appeared on four occasions in the mountains of Tepeyac near Mexico City in 1531. Adapted for the stage by Evelina Fernández from the mid-16th century text The Nican Mopohua and performed in Spanish with English subtitles. Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. thru Sunday, Dec. 20 at 11:59 p.m. at www.thelatc.org/ (Note: Dec. 12 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.)
This holiday season, the Emmy Award-winning interdisciplinary performance collective, Manual Cinema, returns to The Soraya with the world premiere of a visually and musically inventive adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, Christmas Carol. In signature Manual Cinema fashion, hundreds of paper puppets, miniatures, silhouettes, and an original live score will come together to tell an imaginative re-invention of this cherished holiday tale. The story is told by Aunt Trudy, an avowed holiday skeptic. On Christmas Eve, during quarantine, she has been recruited to entertain her family with a puppet show on a Zoom call. The puppets soon take on a life of their own, and the family’s call transforms into a stunning cinematic adaptation of the classic ghost story.
Each show of Christmas Carol will be performed live in Manual Cinema’s Chicago studio in a socially distanced manner and will be live-streamed to audiences of The Soraya via Marquee TV. For tickets and information please visit thesoraya.org or Marqueetv.com. A pass for the show is $20.00; performances are Friday, December 11 at 5PM & 7PM; Saturday, December 12 at 1PM & 5PM; and Sunday, December 13 at 1PM & 4PM.
Barack Obama on presenting Arturo Sandoval the Presidential Medal of Freedom: “Born into poverty in Cuba and held back by his government, he risked everything to share his gifts with the world. In the decades since, this astonishing trumpeter, pianist and composer has inspired audiences in every corner of the world and awakened a new generation of great performers. He remains one of the best ever to play.” In this upbeat and melodious concert “Arturo Sandoval Live from The Broad Stage,” Sandoval and his exemplary band perform 60 minutes of original compositions and inspired covers that will get audiences on their feet and swaying to the beat. He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Oscars, at the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. Sandoval has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country,” which starred Andy Garcia as Arturo. The program features Will Brahm (guitar), Ricardo Pasillas (percussion), Johnny Friday (drums), John Belazaguy (bass), Max Haymer (piano). It is available on-demand for one week only December 5 to 13 for $10 and free to Broad Stage Members via thebroadstage.org.
Don’t forget to get your tickets for Young Stars Theatre’s LIVE via Zoom performances of A Christmas Carol. Tickets are available now for YST’s own original adaptation which will be performed live December 11, 12 & 13. For tickets and info on more ways you can support our youth community theatre at Fremont Centre Theatre visit their website at YoungStarsTheatre.org
Blue Guitar is coming at you with episode #32 of Wine and Song featuring Shawn Colvin, John Schmitt, CoolHouse, Chauncey Bowers, Jen Starsinic, Michael McNevin, and Rosa Pullman. Pour a glass, turn on the Christmas lights and tune in at BlueGuitar.club
Those hep cats of The Jazz Cartel, Jonathan “Fizzo” Frias on string bass, Shaun Valentine on drums, Kyle O’Donnell on tenor sax and the vocal stylings of Curtis Perry are waiting for you at Jones Coffee Roasters every Wednesday evening from 5:30-8:30. Grab a scarf, jacket and BYOC (bring your own chair), maybe even some roasted chestnuts, and enjoy! The guys are an amiable crew who take requests…maybe some holiday tunes? I do believe I heard Mele Kalikimaka last week! Be there or be square: 1006 Mission Street in South Pasadena. Don’t forget to tip on Venmo @thejazzcartel
This week The Metropolitan Opera presents operas in English each night, available for 24 hours. On Monday Dec. 7, composer Thomas Ades conducts the Met premiere of his powerful opera based on Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest, in Robert Lepage’s brilliant, inventive production. Simon Keenlyside is the magician Prospero, who conjures the storm that shipwrecks his enemies and sets in motion the course of events. Rising Met stars Isabel Leonard and Alek Shrader are the young lovers, Miranda and Ferdinand, Alan Oke sings the sinister Caliban, and Audrey Luna gives a memorable performance as the sprite Ariel. Tune in at MetOpera.org
The Shows Must Go On YouTube Channel presents Bonnie Langford as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, filmed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London in 2018. The homage to the world of musical theatre is directed by Mark Bramble and Randy Skinner choreographs. The production features the largest cast in the West End, with over 50 actors. The cast is led by Tom Lister as Julian Marsh, Bonnie Langford as Dorothy Brock, Clare Halse as Peggy Sawyer, and Ashley Day as Billy Lawlor. December 4–6
The post Arts Are Essential! What’s Happening in The Arts This Week first appeared on The South Pasadenan | South Pasadena News.
