Second Take: Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin spurs casting controversy

Disney’s turbulent casting process for the live-action remake of the 1992 animated classic “Aladdin” has finally come to an end. However, after a four-months-long international search for the perfect lead actors, the company now faces backlash from fans in the form of accusations of whitewashing and cultural misrepresentation. Following the reportedly difficult casting process, a […]

Theater review: ‘Constellations’

Quantum physics collides with beekeeping in the Geffen Playhouse’s latest show. The stellar 2017 rendition of Nick Payne’s “Constellations” runs from June 6 to July 23. The production takes its audience across the universe, through multiple timelines that each represent a different outcome for the relationship between a playful cosmologist, Marianne (Ginnifer Goodwin), and a […]

Spring Sing 2017: Committee discusses selection process of final 17 performances

Spring Sing 2017 saw more applicants than any other year of the talent show’s 72-year history. The 15 members of the Spring Sing Committee narrowed down this year’s around 100 applicants to the final 17 performers that will appear onstage Friday. Among the committee members are Executive Director Paige Allenspach and talent directors Angela Navas, […]

Los Robles Master Chorale to perform three UCLA student compositions

The Los Robles Master Chorale’s Saturday performance will feature the world premieres of three UCLA student compositions. The pieces “America,” “E Novem Punctis Unum” and “Loam” by students Nicholas Carlozzi, Vittorio Russo and William Cabison, respectively, were commissioned in fall 2016 by Lesley Leighton, the artistic director of the Los Robles Master Chorale and a […]

Former lecturer brings identity, diverse team to ‘Dear White People’

Stephanie Allain worked as a studio executive at Columbia Pictures for seven years. But when she entered the conference room at work, people asked her to bring them coffee as if she were an assistant. Though Allain, who previously taught producing in the entertainment studies department at UCLA Extension, no longer works at Columbia Pictures […]