Author Archives: David Chang

“The Shaggs” Powerhouse Theatre Company Right after delivering a rollicking, bells-and-whistles rendition of the song “Career Day,” actors in the play “The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World” promptly step out of their characters (at least temporarily), slap on their stagehand hats, and proceed to reconfigure the set in front of the audience. The double duty […]

Imagine if students could major in magic and enroll in courses taught by magicians. Unbeknownst to the general public, magic is similar to more recognizable forms of performance art such as theater, music and dance in that aspiring magicians often attend academies to learn from the masters and participate in competitions. The Magic Castle in […]

Driven to the ground. That is how Frank Manis, tour guide on the Haunted Hollywood Ghost Walk Tour, described the demise of the Haunted Hearse tour that preceded his current business. Manis is having a little fun with puns, of course, but it’s hard to tell. His deadpan delivery, all-white attire and beady eyes create […]

My Ralphs Senior Rewards Club Card is wasting away in my wallet. How I got my hands on a Senior Rewards Club Card that saves $1 for every $10 spent isn’t important. The fact is I can’t use my precious piece of plastic to raid Ralphs’ liqueur bins, thanks to the supermarket workers’ strike. Walking […]

Back right, forward left, side behind side behind, kick, step turn, heel click, and spin. Confused? That was just the warm-up. For the students already fumbling and bumbling during this John Travolta-style hustle warm-up, sessions of waltz, cha-cha, and swing were right around the corner. On Monday nights, the Ballroom Dance Club and the International […]

I know a friend of a friend of a friend who was utterly addicted to Friendster. However, this friend of a friend of a friend would not admit to her addiction. Thus, my friend, my friend’s friend, and I decided to have an intervention. For those of you who have a life, Friendster is a […]

Carlo Ginzburg is a great showman. The renowned UCLA history professor knows how to keep the audience guessing by limiting the details of his upcoming speech on replication. Revealing too much would simply be, according to Ginzburg, “a bad example of replication.” Carlo Ginzburg is also a great historian. In reaction to the looming possibility […]