Actors perform alongside Japanese-inspired puppets in drama about family, memory

“The Long Christmas Ride Home” cast members did wall sits and pushups in preparation for their latest role: puppeteering. Students from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television will perform in playwright-in-residence Paula Vogel’s “The Long Christmas Ride Home” on Wednesday. The play tells the story of three children on a road trip with their […]

Tangibility of artist’s work helps to wake public to environmental issues

The Hillman Photography Initiative chose Andrea Polli for a project-based partnership, even though she is not a photographer. Polli, an artist and professor of art and ecology at the University of New Mexico, creates technology-based art pieces to bring attention to how people use and manifest energy. She will speak Tuesday at UCLA’s Art|Sci Center […]

Theater review: ‘Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol’ strikes fear into heart, then defrosts it with holiday warmth

An ornate coffin that stands open upon a stage is the impressive opening image of “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.” An eerie haze dances under sapphire lighting, signaling the wintry tale that will ensue. Shortly after, an unnamed narrator lights a candle and begins telling the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge to audience members unnerved by […]

New play explores, humanizes experiences of wealthy, poor people

“Desert Rats” places a group of often underrepresented people on the stage. The play, staged at the Los Angeles Theatre Center through Nov. 18, follows brothers Frank and Jesse as they kidnap Amber, the daughter of a wealthy man, in an attempt to escape their economically precarious situation. However, Jesse and Amber begin to bond […]

CAP presents live dance performance carefully captured on film in ‘Kreatur’

Some of the dancers featured in “Kreatur” come from backgrounds like Cirque du Soleil, while others have performed together for the past 20 years. “Kreatur,” a dance production captured on film over the period of four live performances, made its American debut in The Theatre at Ace Hotel on Monday. Presented by the Center for […]

Q&A: Alum talks role as musical director of mythical creatures in ‘Shrek the Musical’

In case anyone was wondering, Far Far Away isn’t actually that far away. It’s about an hour’s drive from campus, located in Thousand Oaks, California, to be specific. Presented by 5-Star Theatricals as their season’s opening show, “Shrek the Musical” has been running at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza since Oct. 19, and will […]

UCLA obtains historic theater with donations from Susan Bay Nimoy, unnamed donor

UCLA recently acquired a historic theater in Westwood. The UCLA School for the Arts and its performing arts program, the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, announced its acquisition of the Crest Theater in Westwood on Thursday. The Crest will be renamed to the UCLA Nimoy Theater, in honor of the late actor […]