BY KAREN YOUNG
The Music Center celebrates Alvin Ailey and his iconic dance masterpiece, “Revelations,” at the RockaYourSoul event for all ages at Grand Park this weekend.
RockaYourSoul: American Dance Theater and The Music Center are joining together for LA’s Celebration of Gospel, Dance and Alvin Ailey — a free, multi-dimensional cultural experience which will embrace visitors of all ages to engage directly with dance, music and the arts. The first-of-its-kind festival takes place on Saturday, April 6 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles (Grand Avenue to Hill Street). Learn from Ailey teaching artists and join a grand participatory public celebration of Ailey’s “Revelations,” on the park’s Event Lawn. There will also be a range of other activities, including musical performances by some of Los Angeles’ renown gospel choirs, storytelling as well as visual arts and singing workshops — and food trucks for good eats. While the festival is free, guests must register to participate in both the quilt and fan-making workshops by visiting http://www.musiccenter.org/rocka. No experience necessary and no registration required for the dance and singing workshops.
Puppet Festival at the Skirball: Celebrate the art of puppetry on Sunday, April 7 from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.of performances, puppet making, and storytelling with art making, close-up puppet “happenings,” and a host of puppet performances for all ages. This daylong event will bring together some of Southern California’s most talented puppeteers and artists—working in a wide range of cultural and artistic styles—to entertain, inspire, and amaze. 2701 North Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Admission: $10 General; $7 Seniors, Full-Time Students, & Children over 12; $5 Children 2-12; Free to Skirball Members and Children under 2.
4GOOD: Join this one of a kind event where families from all over Los Angeles can join together to volunteer on the same afternoon, under one roof with the goal of “giving back.” It’s all happening this Sunday, April 7 from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at Bridges Academy in Studio City. The day will be packed with loads of hands-on, kid-friendly activities: Create cards for service men and women overseas with Operation Gratitude; Craft a friendship bracelet sponsored by our friends at the Zimmer Children’s Museum for Children’s Hospital LA; Decorate placemats and lunch bags for seniors with Meals on Wheels sponsored by Sunnyside Preschool; Make a fleece blanket for sick and needy children with Binky Patrol; Assemble a pull toy for homeless animals with Animal Rescue Group ARME; Sew a sweet animal pillow to be donated to abused children; Make your very own Change-4-Change donation Box. The more activities the kids do, the bigger the reward. Each child will have the opportunity to earn a free face painting or 4GOOD give-away.There will also be a myriad of opportunities for families to bring and donate items from their homes, such as: Loose change to donate to some great causes;Gently-used stuffed animals to donate to SAFE; Gently-used plastic kids toys to donate to Second Chance Toys; Canned food and new toiletries for SOVA Food Bank; Gently-used teen formal wear -prom dresses and suits and everything in between- donated to A Place Called Home for under-served youth. Food will be available from Taqueria Los Altenos, Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizzeria in Studio City, Menchies Sherman Oaks, and Porch Pies. Entertainment from local schools and Education Through Music – Los Angeles. Informational booths for non-profit organizations (such as Heal the Bay, Tree People & Zimmer Children’s Museum) and more. Click here to RSVP.
Citizen Twain: Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of another legendary American figure: Mark Twain. Exploring the famed author’s wry humor — from politics to death, love, money, watermelons, God, racism and cats — Kilmer channels the wit and wisdom of the man considered to be the world’s greatest storyteller and the first stand-up comedian. Every performance of Citizen Twain concludes with an audience talk-back while the actor has his extensive make-up removed in full view, and select tickets include a post-show meet and greet with the actor. One night only: Saturday, April 6 at Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330; $25-$150; 818-677-8800.
Billy & Ray at the Falcon Theatre: This exciting Hollywood story is written by Mike Bencivenga, an Emmy-winning producer whose plays and films include Happy Hour and Single Bullet Theory, and is directed by the Falcon’s own Garry Marshall. The world premiere of Billy & Ray tells the incredible true story of how Billy Wilder (Kevin Blake) and Raymond Chandler (Shaun O’Hagan) wrote the screenplay for Double Indemnity, invented film noir and nearly killed each other in the process. Set in Hollywood in the 1940’s, Paramount producer Joe Sistrom (Anthony Starke) and secretary par excellence Helen Hernandez (Ali Spuck) join the hilarious journey through a war of creativity between two brilliant writers who battled the censors, and each other, to create a motion picture classic. For tickets and additional information please call the Falcon Theatre Box Office at (818) 955-8101.
Natural History Museum First Fridays: Party with the Dinosaurs the first Friday of each month at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park when the museum stays open until 10 p.m. and features live music, scientific discussion, and custom curatorial tours. Designed for young and adult audiences. Discussions begin promptly at 6:30pm. Arrive early and enjoy a custom gallery tour by an NHM curator at 5:30pm. DJs play music throughout the evening with live musical performances starting at 8 p.m. Science and musical performances by Dan Deacon, Japanther, and DJs Anthony Valdez and Kisses.Dinner and drinks are served all night beginning at 5pm. Museum admission plus tickets to the concert are sold separately.
What are you doing this weekend? Tell us in the comments below!