Cirque du Soleil OVO: A Smashing Success in Santa Monica

January 23, 2012

Cirque du Soleil is known for its artistic, visual and acrobatic extravaganzas, and its latest tent show, called “OVO,” adds a vivid new entry to the repertoire of the Québec-based performing arts company.

Opening night on January 20 under the yellow and blue big tent, or Grand Chapiteau, at the Santa Monica Pier was star-studded. Josh Brolin, Diane Lane, Hilary Swank, Heather Graham, Neil Patrick Harris and Ali Landry were among the audience of 2,600, eagerly awaiting the opening act as the lights came up to reveal a spectacular circular stage populated with unique, costumed characters.

Ovo means “egg” in Portugese, and a giant egg is the centerpiece of a vibrant world of insects that populate the production, which has already been seen in 15 North American cities by more than two million people. Santa Monica is its sole Southern California stop.

Grasshoppers, spiders, butterflies, ants—this show is about a troupe of bugs, centered around three lead characters: a ladybug, a buzzing fly and the wise elder of the entire crew, known as Master Flippo.

Their colorful ecosystem teems with activity as the characters crawl, flutter, play, fight, work, eat – and look for love.

When the mysterious egg appears in their midst, they are intensely curious and awestruck about what it represents, which is the cycles of their lives.

As the insects work to accept this mysterious intrusion into their lives, Cirque’s trademark acrobatic acts take the show to new heights. One of the highlights is the stunning flying trapeze act, where six performers fly 40 feet into the air. Another features 20 performers running, ricocheting off the trampoline floor and leaping up a 24 foot vertical wall.

 

But on the ground, the hardest-working insects in the community are the bright red ants, who perform synchronized dances with what appeared to be giant slices of kiwi and corn on the cob. It’s an entrancing way of playing with food.

 

And then there are the yellow and red fleas, whose agility allows them to fling themselves through the air and then come together in precise, structural formations.

 

The balletic butterflies were a revelation. A romantic male and female couple, they perform an awe-inspiring pas de deux on a rope that allows them to soar in perfect unison.

 

In another stunning aerial act, a group of scarabs soars high above the stage from both edges and then meticulously land on a high platform in the middle.

 

A dragonfly takes center stage with a graceful balancing act that takes inordinate control to switch off balancing his weight from one hand to the other while maintaining equilibrium–all while upside down on a piece of foliage.

 

Just when you think the acrobatics couldn’t get any more daring, a spider gives a tour de force performance that defies gravity, as he traverses a tightrope upside down on a unicycle.

 

The show has one intermission, and opening night featured trays filled with brightly colorful cupcakes with antennas that complemented the costumes and naturally, champagne to celebrate the premiere.

 

Ovo’s creative team includes Artistic Guides Guy Laliberte and Gilles Ste-Croix; Writer, Director, and Choreographer Deborah Colker, the first female director in Cirque history; Director of Creation, Chantal Tremblay; Sets and Props Designer, Gringo Cardia; Costume Designer Liz Vandal and Composer and Musical Director Berna Ceppas.

 

Show times are Tuesday thru Thursday at 8 pm, Friday and Saturday, 4 pm and 8 pm, Sunday1 pm and 5 pm. Ovo runs throughMarch 11, 2012. Tickets are $45 – $145, or $270 for a VIP experience that includes a private patio for intermission.

 

The Grand Chapiteau is located in the parking lot just north of the Santa Monica Pier, accessed by a staircase behind Bubba Gump Shrimp on the pier.

 

More information: (800) 450-1480,  www.cirquedusoleil.com/OVO

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ALAC–Art LA Contemporary–Lands at Barker Hangar

January 20, 2012

From the moment you approach Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport, something special is happening for the third edition of ALAC.

It’s called “Disappearing Environments,” an installation work by artist Judy Chicago, and it’s a huge crowd pleaser. It’s made of pyramids of dry ice that create shrouds of clouds that people are posing in for countless photos. It was lit up with a flare performance at dusk on opening night of the show Thursday, and will be in place until it all 25 tons disappear into nothingness. The show runs through Sunday.

Inside, you’ll find a stellar collection of nearly 60 galleries from places are far-flung as Seoul, with a strong representation from Los Angeles and New York, of course. There are also seven independent publishers amongs the exhibitors.

The aisles were packed Thursday night, and lines for the bar stretched way longer than they should, but didn’t seem to damper artistic spirits.

We were particularly taken with a coffee table made of a broken big screen TV mounted on orange Home Depot buckets by New York-based performance artists Rancourt/Yatsuk displayed at Kate Werble gallery, located in NYC’s SoHo. For $3,500, an amazing conversation piece. Talk about re-using and re-purposing, this was fantastic.

Another piece that really grabbed us was an installation called “Rape of the Mirror” by Samara Golden, displayed at Night Gallery, which is LA-based. Alas, the artwork–a bedroom suite with a large, cracked mirror across the bed had already been sold, for $3,500, according to the gallery.

Gallery owner Patrick Lee of Seoul’s One and J. Gallery was showing works of glossy color photography and said he and his business partner love being at the ALAC show. Mexico City’s Brett Schultz, director of Yautepec Gallery, was also jazzed about exhibiting at Barker.

More info: www.artlosangelesfair.com

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It’s the Battle of Los Angeles, Art Show Edition

January 19, 2012
Blue Cars by Johnny Taylor at Affordable Art Fair

It’s a big art lover’s weekend in Los Angeles as several art fairs hit town, from downtown to Santa Monica, and we got a chance to preview two of them.

 

The Affordable Art Fair is at the LA Live Event Deck downtown, featuring galleries from around the world showcasing contemporary art by almost 3,000 emerging and established artists. It’s the first edition of the show to be held in Los Angeles, and since its debut in 1999 in London, is now held in eleven cities around the globe.

 

While your definition of “affordable” might be different, event organizers say the works range from $140 to $10,000—with half under $5,000. We particularly were taken with colorful, graphic works in acrylic by Johnny Taylor, repped by Artspace Warehouse on Beverly Blvd.in LA, with many of his 18” x 18” canvases for sale at $625.

 

The opening night benefited Free Arts for Abused Children, with all of the proceeds donated to the organization, which helps about 30,000 kids in foster case and those who are homeless or at risk due to violence, poverty or substance abuse.

 

The fun and friendly environment was made even more so with a lively bar and food station with items from Wolfgang Puck.

It’s an ambitious undertaking, and organizers have supplemented the exhibits with a series of talks with artists and curators, including one with producer/director Morgan Spurlock on collecting.

More info: www.affordableartfair.us

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That’s the Jingle Bell Rock, Beverly Hills Style

December 21, 2011

The Marquesa Ballroom at the Montage Beverly Hills was the place to be for an elegant evening of classic holiday music, big band style, featuring former Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson and Rob Gonzalez—and benefiting a good cause.

 

Called “Home for the Holidays,” the event’s proceeds went to The Angeles Clinic Foundation, a non-profit organization which supports programs, services, education and advocacy to make a difference in the lives of people affected by cancer.

 

It was the organization’s first such event and was so successful that it’s sure to become an annual tradition.

 

The beautiful ballroom was decked out in floral centerpieces and candles, lending a festive air to the evening.

 

But it was the two-set musical performance that everyone was raving about. The charismatic Richardson, (who bears a striking resemblance to Christian Bale) accompanied by Gonzalez on piano and a full band with a horn section, channeled one of his idols, Dean Martin as he sang. And we felt Sinatra’s resonance in the room as the show progressed through a serious of tunes that got everyone in the Christmas spirit.

The crowd-pleasing holiday hits included “Let It Snow,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” “White Christmas,” “Santa Baby,” “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland.”

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Lighting Up the Drive in Style: Rodeo Gets Crystallized

November 22, 2011

It’s the Rodeo Drive version of decking the halls, decking out the street in a stunning “sculpture” designed by Swarovski Elements, just as the preeminent crystal company has done at Harrods department store in London.

It was unveiled last night in a glitzy ceremony and opening party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s BLVD, hosted by Jessica Alba and attended by several hundred revelers. The elegant bar, including the sidewalk patio was decorated with white flowers and Swarovski candleholders for the occasion.

Nearly 42,000 crystals comprise the DNA-like installation in the median of  Rodeo just north of the hotel, which will light up the area through January 3. In addition to the beautiful display of light, people from all over the world will be able to have their messages transmitted on the design by texting the word “sparkle” followed by their message to 877877. Those messages will be conveyed in a tickertape-like element.

Nearby retailers including La Perla, Missoni, Escade and Ferragamo have also created items using Swarovski Elements crystals to festoon the street. But there’s even more sparkle: more than 1,700 crystals will embellish Rodeo’s palm trees and about 10,000 crystals will deck holiday banners.

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Soho House Becomes The Home of the Future

November 22, 2011

 

If you’ve dreamed of having the high-tech home of the future, there was no better place to get a glimpse than at LA’s Soho House, where Time Warner Cable debuted its “Signature Home.”

Guests including Molly Sims and Rose McGowan along with hundreds of otherVIP attendees were able to get up close and personal with the new technologies at a cocktail bash that benefited Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.

People crowded around to get the experience of home 3-D television with special glasses that took you right onto the field of a football game that was being shown. The glasses are not the flimsy type you get at movie theaters. The feature an on/off switch that turns on the third dimension, although at this point in time, only a few channels– mainly sports–broadcast in 3-D.

 

The cable company also set up interactive displays of its new technology package, which included remote home security camera and system checks, 180 channels of video, an iPad™ app, digital phone, plus a bounty of additional added value items and what it calls “white-glove” customer service — seamlessly networking 3-D television, gaming and more.

“Signature Home” is now available in Southern California, but it doesn’t come cheap, running about $200 a month as an upgrade for Time Warner cable subscribers.

But you get a lot, including a personal services advisor who will make sure that your residence is wired up properly to take advantage of all the services, including being able to DVR up to four channels at a time.

There is also the ability to watch prime time shows up to 72 hours later, even if they are not previously recorded on a DVR, to ensure that you never miss your favorite shows.

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A Laugh Riot on La Brea: The LA Comedy Fest

November 14, 2011
Sketch comedy troupe Oh Theodora

 

From sketch comedy to shorts, the Los Angeles Comedy Festival is gearing up for a laugh-inducing conclusion to its 10th annual fest with three full nights of comedic short films, and a feature film, as well as an awards ceremony to cap things off.

 

The festival got under way last weekend with a mix of feature films, improv acts and sketch comedy bits, all taking place at the cozy Acme Theater onLa Brea Ave.

 

And here’s an added bonus. It’s conveniently located right next to Amalfi, a restaurant and bar where, with your ticket, you get a dollar discount off drinks that you are allowed to bring into the theater.

 

Last weekend, highlights included sketch comedy from two four-person acts, Oh Theodora and We the People. Both featured three guys and a girl in multiple skits, some of which could have easily transitioned to Saturday Night Live.

 

Oh Theodora’s highlight was a funny cater-waiter bit in which it turned out that every seasoning on the banquet food for a ritzy event was a drug, from black tar heroin to cocaine to pot– and everyone dies at the end. Trust me, you had to be there.

 

For We the People, big laughs came during itsEllis Islandimmigration sketch where immigrants are given Americanized names and promptly sent to a pimp around the corner from whom the clerk gets a kickback. It’s all good fun until a German immigrant bearing a strange resemblance to Adolf Hitler arrives and is christened Melvin, um….Gibson.

 

10th LA Comedy Festival, November 10-20, 2011, Acme Theater, 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, www.lacomedyfest.com , $12-$15

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Diving in to a Stylish Holiday Collection

October 19, 2011

Aimee Teegarden, Maurice Marciano and Cio Soler at Mr. C

There could not have been a more perfect night for Guess by Marciano to present its 2011 holiday collection in conjunction with fashion bible Vogue.

 

It was unseasonably warm as guests navigated their way from the mobbed valet parking and crowded into the pool area at the new Mr. C Beverly Hills, which is technically in Los Angeles, on the site of a formerly dumpy hotel at the corner of Pico and Beverwil, now gone upscale.

 

Flowing Perrier-Jouët and specialty cocktails? Check. Hot models? You betcha. A synchronized swimming troupe in sexy black one-piece suits, the Aqualillies? Over-the-top fun.

 

Aimee Teegarden, Carmen Electra, Shay Mitchell and Christian Serratos were among the guests looking stylish in Guess by Marciano as attention turned toward the pool and the show by the Aqualillies, alternating with sets of models sashaying from the poolside runway on stage to show off pieces from the new collection.

 

It is retro-inspired and ranges from high-glamour evening wear and versatile separates juxtaposed with effortlessly chic classic denim pieces.  Sequin and lace accents complemented the rich indigo blue, red,   black and winter white tones of the gowns and mid-length pencil dresses.

 

On-trend women will love the romantic sheer ruffled blouses and suit separates in earth tones that go day-into- evening when paired with cigarette-cut jeans and patent leather pumps.  Faux fur and sequin embellishments, animal prints and bold, asymmetrical cuts were other trends that dominated the poolside runway at the event.

Everything looked great, even if it got a little wet.

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A Day of Beauty Benefiting Breast Cancer Research

October 17, 2011

What could be more satisfying than a day of beauty to raise awareness for breast cancer? Some breast cancer survivors, television personalities and other guests took part in a special day at Gavert Atelier Salon inBeverly Hills for Joico’s Beauty For a Cure Campaign sponsored by Voli Light Vodka.

 

The salon was done up in pink decorations and guests could have their fill of the candy bar—and a spirits bar with specialty pink cocktails made with Voli Light, including the Pink Beauty.

 

Among those getting pampered with hair styling, nail services and makeup applications were Karina Smirnoff (DWTS), Kyle Richards (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), Lisa Vanderpump ( Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) and Ziah Colon (Footloose).

 

Smirnoff and Richards both lost their grandmothers to breast cancer.

 

From October 2010 through July 2011, Joico has raised $1.2 million for the Beauty for a Cure campaign for City ofHope Breast Cancer Research. Beauty for a Cure is a way to help fund significant cancer research that could save millions of lives. City ofHopeis a bio-medical research treatment and education center dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer as well as other life threatening diseases.

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Urban Brings it Closer to His Fans as He Wraps Up World Tour

October 12, 2011

Summer is technically over, but for Keith Urban, it’s been a long hot one—with his single “Long Hot Summer” just reaching number one on the country charts as his vaunted Get Closer 2011 World Tour closes out later this week in three Midwestern arenas.

 

For his fans, Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis will soon become Monkeyville as Urban and his band take the stage in those cities.

 

And if the shows are like his recent sell-out performance at LA’s Staples Center, they’ll be very happy.

 

For the really lucky ones, about 100 in each venue, they’ll be part of his Backstage Experience, getting an opportunity to have their picture taken with him and ask him some questions in a news conference-like setting with food and refreshments before the show.

Meeting Keith in LA for the first time, he was relaxed and down to earth. His parents from Australia were out for the show, but wife Nicole Kidman and their two girls weren’t able to attend.

 

Get Closer isn’t just a catchy tour name. Urban spends a lot of the two-hour show actually in the audience, using specially designed ramps from the semi-circular stage which is dressed in an amusement park theme—complete with a mini-roller coast and a huge oval-shaped video monitor.

 ”I love those ramps so much,” Urban told Billboard about the staging. “I liked the feeling of accessibility to the audience — there’s no fence, no barriers, no massive security people. So I thought I would take that a little further this time. The entire front of the stage is sloped down into the arena floor. To me it feels much more inviting from the audience standpoint. It just does away with all of the feeling of barriers. It feels like they can just wander up the ramps and come onto the stage if they want.”

And that they did, when he chose three people from the audience to perform their version of his song “I Wanna Kiss a Girl.” It was like a live version of “American Idol” as two women and a guy from Corona del Mar belted out the song, after Keith asked them if they knew the words. “Of course,” they all answered—and proved it. The audience pronounced the guy the winner.

Urban also took time to read fans’ signs all around the arena and called out each section, even the nosebleed seats at Staples. Later, he individually introduced each band member: Chris McHugh (drums), Brian Nutter (acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, accordion, keyboard), Jerry Flowers (bass and acoustic guitar) and Danny Radar (slide guitar) who did a brief performance center stage, to the crowd’s delight.

One of the many highlights, “Long Hot Summer,” which Urban co-wrote withRichard Marx, beginning it in Nashville and then finishing it on his tour bus while he was opening for the Eagles last year. Among his other well-received hits,  “I Told You So,” “You Can Love Me This Way” and “Raining on Sunday.”

 A big moment came when he brought out Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty for a blistering rendition of “Proud Mary.”

“Days Go By,” “Somebody Like You,” “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me” and “Stupid Boy” also had the crowd enraptured, and thrilled by his mean rock guitar solo during the conclusion of “Summer Comes Around.”

The LA set culminated with another surprise guest, the musically inclined and talented actor Jack Black.

And in another effort to involve his fans, Urban is promoting his new fragrance, PHOENIX by Keith Urban and inviting them create a 30-second commercial spot for it. He’ll choose the winner, whose spot will be broadcast on national network television after the conclusion of the promotion November 11th, with the winner to be announced November 14th. More information is at www.people.com/keith_urban.

 

 

 

 

 

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