The Geffen Stayhouse has done it again!  They have created Bollywood Kitchen, a new virtual interactive streaming event. Past Stayhouse shows have focused on magic, illusions, and mystery…and they’ve all sold out.  This time the subject is Indian cooking and our host is Sri Rao, noted author, filmmaker and screenwriter, who takes us on a personal interactive culinary journey by pairing Bollywood musicals with homemade Indian recipes.

The fun part is you can choose your level of participation and a special box will be delivered to you in advance including ingredients and recipe cards you will need to prepare your dinner at home.   Chef’s Table ($175 per household), is the premier limited ticket that allows you to cook with Sri and ask questions via Zoom, receive an autographed cookbook, and the full Bollywood ingredient box.  A Hollywood Foodie ($95) receives a streaming only ticket and the Bollywood Box.  Lastly is Here for the Party ($40) includes a streaming only ticket and digital recipes (for those do it yourselfers).  Full details on the menu including Mumbai Mule, the house cocktail, box contents, show dates et al can be found on their website. Sri is an excellent chef and an even better storyteller. As you cook, he will engage you with stories of his parents immigrating to America, their culinary traditions and the joy and nourishment that Bollywood musicals brought to his whole family.

For all the details, click here.

If you are a lover of Broadway show tunes and lore, this one’s for you! This month, The Pasadena Playhouse’s PlayhouseLive online series is presenting You I Like: A Musical Celebration of Jerry Herman, a virtual revue honoring the legendary composer and lyricist. It features performances by Broadway favorites Ashley Blanchet (Frozen), Nick Christopher (Hamilton), Lesli Margherita (Matilda, The Musical), Andrea Ross (The Sound of Music), and Ryan Vona (Once). The production was conceived by Andy Einhorn, who also serves as musical director. Einhorn’s many Broadway credits include recently conducting the revival of Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler. Along with Dolly, Jerry Herman is responsible for some of the most beloved Broadway musicals of all time including Milk and Honey, Mame, Dear World, Mack & Mabel, The Grand Tour, and La Cage Aux Folles. He received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre in 2009. This opening night livestreamed event will include appearances by special guests Bernadette Peters and David Hyde Pierce. Also available on PlayhouseLive is In Development: Iceboy! starring Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Adam DeVine, and Laura Bell Bundy. This is a rare opportunity to get an insider’s look at an unproduced theatrical work from the co-creators of the Broadway hits The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Urinetown: The Musical as it is introduced to the world for the first time. Thank you PasadenaPlayhouseLive — this is musical theatre heaven! 

For more details, click here.

LA’s Antaeus Theatre Company is known for their remarkable presentation of classic plays.  Their current offering, The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles, is totally different, totally entertaining….and a homage to our city.  Each of the six original audio plays – written by a member of the Antaeus Playwright Lab is set in a different Los Angeles neighborhood:  90011 (South Central), 90012 (DTLA), 90024 (Westwood), 90403 (Santa Monica), 90272 (Pacific Palisades) and 91352 (Sun Valley).

Antaeus calls the dramas “theater in one’s ears” – giving the listener a chance to add one’s imagination and experience to each performance.  The plays hosted by Ramón de Ocampo were initially recorded in each actor’s home and then brilliantly edited to bring them all together in a seamless production with clever sound effects. The Los Angeles Times calls the series, “Delightful… like taking a whistle-stop tour of the weirder corners of our diverse metropolis.”

As an adjunct to the series, Antaeus has created a virtual, interactive touring experience matched to each play’s location.  Hosted by a member of the ATC, the tours offer fascinating historical, architectural and anecdotal commentary for the sites.  Now that we are homebound, it was so enjoyable to explore the city’s landmarks, small businesses and other places from the safety and comfort of my home.

“The Zip Code Plays” (podcast) and the virtual tour can be found here.

Calling all lovers of dance! The ongoing effort to bring entertainment to the masses while still incorporating social distancing in the age of Covid-19 continues into the new year as The Broad Stage in Santa Monica announces Dance Camera West at the Drive-In! Partnering up with the much-revered festival-maker Dance Camera West to present the very best dance films from around the world, shown in their full glory outdoors on a big screen, The Broad Stage is offering this must-see for all fans of dance, music, and cinematography. This stunning homage to movement composition transports viewers to remote landscapes, urban spaces, and dance studios! Since 2000, Dance Camera West has connected diverse cultures and environments through its exploration of dance on screen, bringing thousands of entertaining, challenging, and provocative films to Los Angeles from around the globe, effectively bridging the gap between the uniquely influential LA film community and the significant local dance populace.

The festival received more than 250 international entries from which this memorable curation of 16 finalists were chosen. Each film will be making its World, US and/or LA Premiere. There are two separate programs that include dance pieces from Spain, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, the UK, Australia, Argentina, and the United States. More detailed information about the programs is available on The Broad Stage website. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the energy, vitality, and passion of dance while enjoying the comforts of your car!

For more details, click here.