‘Aladdin’ hits the mark in its performance of the classic Disney film

Sing-along song titles, moving sets and a flying magic carpet – what more could you wish for? “Aladdin” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre ignited the stage with an energy-packed spectacle. Although not much of a departure from the original story, the production provided a captivating piece of surface entertainment, complete with soaring musical numbers and […]

Movie review: ‘The Commuter’

“The Commuter” feels like a familiar face you would see every day on a bus ride home. Starring Liam Neeson, the film marks the actor’s fourth collaboration with director Jaume Collet-Serra, and echoes their last transit-based thriller, “Non-Stop.” In both films, Neeson’s character receives instructions via his cell phone that threaten the safety of other […]

Dance allows student to embrace identity, find support from community

The concrete floors and booming music of parking lot dance practices are major sources of stress relief for Justine Banal. The fourth-year Asian American studies student, who has danced competitively since high school, said her rehearsals are a therapeutic outlet for her depression. At UCLA, Banal began dancing with NSU Modern, before co-founding an exhibition […]

James Franco accused of sexually exploitative behavior by five women

This article was updated Jan. 11 at 11:50 a.m. Five women have accused actor and UCLA lecturer James Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitive behavior, according to the Los Angeles Times. Two of the accusers were students of Franco’s classes at Playhouse West in North Hollywood. Franco began teaching at UCLA in 2012 and has taught […]

‘Never Leave Me’ shines sepia-tinted light on emotional abuse

Elon Zlotnik tries to portray the dangers of emotionally abusive relationships in just three minutes. The third-year film and television student wrote, directed, produced, filmed and edited his three-minute-long silent film on a 16 mm film camera as a fall class project for Film and Television 52: “Cinematography.” The class required him to use a […]

LA acting ensemble performs theatrical rendition of its members’ group therapy

Poor Dog Group will participate in therapy on stage as part of their latest show, “Group Therapy.” The contemporary LA-based theater ensemble will premiere its latest show Thursday at UCLA’s Little Theater until Jan. 13. The show features the ensemble members re-enacting moments from 16 hours worth of group therapy sessions, which they underwent due […]