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"NOHO SCENE"
All day celebration of the arts offers a true taste of unique NoHo arts district.
By Lucy Pollak
Get ready for the second annual "NoHo Scene." On Sunday, October 5 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., NoHo will host the biggest arts and culture party in the San Fernando Valley. Dozens of artists from NoHo's theater, music, dance and arts community are ready to introduce you to North Hollywood's unique and thriving city-designated arts district. The best part is that admission to all "NoHo Scene" events and activities is free.
"The 'NoHo Scene' is a wonderful festival that not only brings people together to enjoy their community, it emphasizes the arts," says Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. "The establishment of the arts district was the beginning of the revival of North Hollywood. I'm so proud to see the way this area has come back to life."
On October 5, you'll get to see free theater, dance, music and art - and shop till you drop. Tickets will be given away for free theater performances, including comedies, dramas and musicals, on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11:00 a.m. Get there early - tickets go fast. Hoping to see more than one play and worried about logistics? Double-decker buses will be available throughout the day to shuttle you to theaters not within walking distance.
Dance aficionados - get ready to party with special guest Shane Sparks, choreographer to chart topping recording artists like *NSYNC, Lindsay Lohan, Omarion, B2K and Marques Houston, as well as for the FOX TV show "So You Think You Can Dance." The star judge on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" will also judge a "NoHo Scene" dance contest that's open to all. Sign up at the Millennium Dance Complex booth on the day of the festival. Who knows? You may just be "NoHo's Favorite Dancer." Winner gets a free month of dance classes at Millennium.
The afternoon will heat up when the world-famous Carlos Gardel Tango Festival takes the stage. After their oh-so-hot performance, dancers Claudio & Elizabeth will offer free tango lessons to anyone who's game - right there in the streets of NoHo.
There will be something for everyone's musical taste on the Outdoor Concert Stage, from the urban sounds of hip-hop to the beat of rock 'n roll, from the rhythms of R&B to the Latin sounds of salsa. Unwind at the Food and Wine Garden while watching your favorite performer.
Visual artists will take over Lankershim Boulevard, creating an Artists Village. You'll be able to walk through a beautiful blend of art and experience how art is made - LIVE! - at the demonstration booth.
The Kids Scene Pavilion is the place where 7 to 14-year olds can check out the latest dance steps; learn how to sing or play an instrument; or take a free acting class.
Stroll through the "NoHo Scene" Marketplace where you will discover treasures and discounts from local merchants and one-of-a-kind boutiques. From wearable art to make up artistry and everything in between, there will be something to please every shopper.
So come on down the "NoHo Scene" on Sunday, October 5. The Orange and Red Lines take you right to NoHo. North Hollywood's Lankershim Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Magnolia and Hesby from 11 till 8. For more information, call 818-980-NoHo (818-980-6646) or go to www.nohoartsdistrict.com.
A Sampling of "NoHo Scene" Events (program subject to change):
FREE THEATER:
Actors Forum Theatre:
The Tony Award-winning The Belle of Amherst, playwright William Luce's stunning theatrical event based on the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, directed by Tony Sears and performed by Kate Randolph Burns. (Full-length matinee)
Actors Workout Studio
Musical numbers from the Whitefire Theatre's upcoming production of Willy Russell's long-running West End hit musical, Blood Brothers
Dina Morrone's solo show The Italian in Me, an accelerated full immersion Italian lesson about Cinema, Sex, Saints and Frederico Fellini
First Light Players present Doomsday, a play set in the "near future" about finding hope amidst chaos
Antaeus Theatre Company
Lovers, Gamblers and Fools, a full-length program of three classic one-acts: Infancy by Thornton Wilder; Hello Out There by William Saroyan; and Welcome Home, Bus Riley by William Inge. (Full-length matinee)
Avery Schreiber Theatre
Total Improv for Kids is a one of a kind school that uses the art of theatrical improvisation to offer kids a fun and exciting means of tapping into and expanding their imaginations. (Longform improv)
One Night Stands, the Sex Comedies is made up of eight vignettes hosted by an alcoholic Cupid who has given up making people fall in love. There is no nudity. 18+ only.
Sphere presents the first in a pair of comically tragic one acts collectively titled Little Black Lies. The Ointment by Steve Stajich is a new-fashioned morality play in which the bad guys just might not live happily ever after. (One act)
Deaf West Theatre
ASL Story Time - Professional deaf actors perform well-known children's stories in American Sign Language, with spoken English translation for hearing children and parents. Audiences learn new signs and how to change written words into living characters.
NeO-FiEd - a modern variety show with a fresh hip twist that will introduce NoHo Arts District to the next generation of top performers - twelve incredibly talented 14 to 17-year olds. An afternoon of singing, dancing, comedy sketches, hip-hop, pop and rock 'n roll.
El Portal Theatre
Carol Lawrence and Donna McKechnie will make an appearance on the Outdoor Stage, where Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge will present the two Broadway legends with a special award for their contribution to American Musical Theater. Later this month, they will perform together in the West Coast premiere of Girl's Room at NoHo's historic El Portal Theatre.
Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre
William Fairchild's mystery thriller for the whole family, The Sound of Murder. When a woman and her lover plan the perfect murder of her heartless husband... someone is going to die. (Full-length matinee)
NoHo Arts Center
Bush is Bad: The Alaskan Beauty Queen Edition - All gloves are off in this satiric, musical skewering of the present White House administration. The updated version includes musical parodies of the newly minted Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin.
It's for adults who like their politics raw and unedited. (Full-length matinee)
Move Tube is a family musical experience for all ages that gets audience members up and moving while delivering a message about the importance of health and exercise.
NoHo London Music Hall
The Crazy Gang, the true story of England's most successful comedy team of all time featuring the life stories "Gang" stars Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen. A fast moving show with a big cast full of variety, comedy, pathos, drama, girls, panto, song and dance.
The Raven Playhouse
The Giggle Gaggle Show: kids perform comedy, standup, improv and sketches
Detention Span: teen angst is transformed into comedy gold in a madcap, fun-filled hour of sketch, improv, impressions, singing, and more
The Sunday Funnies: - an improv comedy show performed by kids with full audience participation
The Road Theatre Company
The Friendly Hour by Tom Jacobson, directed by Mark Bringleson. Based on the actual minutes of a women's club formed in rural South Dakota in 1934, this poignant comedy charts 70 years of personal and national history - from skinning skunks and julebukking in the 30s to restoring the native prairie in the new millennium. (Full-length matinee)
Secret Rose Theatre
Resident company Theatre Neo presents O Solo Neo, selections from the many and varied one-person shows by the company. Also, scenes from the upcoming production of The Family of Mann by Theresa Rebeck.
Sherry Theatre
A performance of the interactive hit, Inside Private Lives (LA Weekly Pick of the Week, Los Angeles Times Recommended, Edinburgh Pick of the Fest) - audiences take a ride along the 20th Century timeline, interacting with controversial public figures of the past portrayed by actors.
E.P. McKnight's solo show I Question America about the life and legacy of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, who went from the cotton fields to the halls of Congress working for equal rights, voting rights, federal housing, equal schooling and recognition in the political system.
Theatre Tribe
Two encore performances of the well-received Directors' Lab Sunday Brunch featuring four original one-act plays directed by members of Theatre Tribe's Directors' Lab. These refreshing works-in-progress are highly entertaining and have been sold-out all summer!
Whitmore-Lindley Center
The Rising Son, Layon Gray's one-man show about a young man on the verge of suicide who reflects on his past and the choices he made in life that lead up to this horrific event.
Zombie Joe's Underground
Dynamite Kablammo's all-new hilarious, cutting-edge production about freakish happenings taking place in The San Fernando Valley. (Sketch Comedy)
OUTDOOR CONCERT STAGE: Dance and music performances will take place throughout the day (no tickets necessary) including Shane Sparks, the Carlos Gardel Tango Festival, BoomKat (trip-hop, urban soul and pop with recording artists Kellin and Taryn Manning), salsa sensation Chino Espinoza Y Los Dueños Del Son, R & B artist RAMY, rock 'n roll with Danielle Egnew and Whisky Road Show Band, and jazz guitar and vocals with Tim Moran and Scottie Austin, the Shirley Martin Dancers and a martial arts demonstration by former Blue Power Ranger and seven-time World Forms and Weapons Champion Mike Chat, known as the Tony Hawk of martial arts.
ARTISTS VILLAGE: Over 30 artists who will their work on Lankershim Blvd include Barbara Sophia Weinberger, Brooke Harker, Cella Gallery, Charlie Morey Fine Art Photography, Danz Art & Deb Ash, D.V.L. Productions, Fine Art Fire, Felicite Imam's Fine Art, Prints & Cards, Fritz Suter, H Gallery, H Studio, Harry Spitz Photography, Henry Lehn Photography, K. Randall Wilcox Fine Art, L.A. Artwork, Lunaset Photography & Design, Milenna, Nichole Waldron, NoHo Gallery LA, Ralph Berko, Randall's Art, RBS Gallery, Richard Herd, S. Chavez, S. Riley Design, Sarah Pavsner, Satsuma Gallery, Schilling Design, Stephanie Han Art & Design, Thom Bierdz, Trart Studio, Vera Arutyunyan and Vivian Killilea.
KIDS SCENE PAVILION: Free piano lesson provided by NoHo Piano Academy (11 am - noon); Improv games with professionals from The Acting Program at the Lankershim Arts Center (12:30 pm - 1:30 pm); Learn the latest dance steps- across the floor combos, coffee grinders, slides, cartwheels, grapevines, pivots & isolations - from Millennium Dance Complex choreographer Judy Cisneros (1:45 pm - 2:45 pm); Watch a world-class vocal instructor from the Hollywood Music Academy coach an impromptu singing lesson - audience participation required (3 pm - 3:45 pm); Intro to acting class - warm up, intro to emotional work, sense memory and comedy improv - with the Young Actors Studio (4 pm - 4:45 pm); Play theater games with Total Improv for Kids (5 pm - 6:pm); and kids can join in on hip hop, dance, voice, band and Shakespeare demos with Hands For Hope (6 pm - 7:30 pm).
MARKETPLACE: Discounts from local merchants include: Age of Innocence (10% off Non-Sale Items), Amsterdam Café (20% off all food and drink), Carl's Jr. on Vineland Ave. (Free small fries w/purchase of any burger, famous star or spicy chicken. Buy one get one western bacon burger free), Coley's Caribbean-American Cuisine (Free Tropical Punch w/Purchase of Lunch plus 15% off purchases), Eat (10% off entire check), Eat My Cupcake (Buy 2 get 1 free If you are a returning customer, give us your name and your 10th cupcake is free), HA HA Café Comedy Club (Free admission to comedy show on October 5th. Valid before show time. Must show festival program), Home Away From Home (Free cornbread 10% discount on any combo meal), The Kansas City BBQ Co. (20% off purchase), Magnolia Grille (20% off meal), Nosh Deli (With a $10 purchase receive a 9 ounce bottle of water), Philadelphia Sandwiches (20% off Food -Dine in only-Must bring festival program to receive discount), Salami Indian and Bangladesh Restaurant (20% off total check), Starbucks on Lankershim Blvd. (Free short coffee with any pastry purchase), Total Improv for Kids (2 for 1 improv class) Millennium Dance Complex (2 for 1 dance classes), MKM Cultural Center (2 for 1 dance classes), Hollywood Academy of Music (50% off first lesson), NoHo Piano Academy (Free Introductory Lesson), Blues Smoke Shop (20% off all merchandise), Boulevard Beauty Supply (15% off any $20 purchase), GNC (Free Product Samples and 20% off on all merchandise), Josie's Flowers (15% off purchase -except for deliveries-), Kathy E's Boutique (25% off purchase), Luggage for Less (10% off all merchandise), Magart (10% off all merchandise), Nigel's Beauty Emporium (10% to 35% off -some items excluded-), St. Anne's Thrift Store (25% off most items), Sky Flowers (Buy 1 dozen roses and get 6 roses free), Someone Else's (20% off merchandise), Tru Gallery & Clothing (10% off merchandise), A Different Vibe Hair Salon (10% off services), BodyImage Gym (Buy a single cycle class get your friend in free 1 day guest pass), Curves ($0 enrollment fee with membership), MEMO Salon (50% off single service), The Electric Pen Tattoo (Free t-shirt 10% off items), South Style Tattoo & Body Piercing (20% off tattoos), Urban Retreat International (20% off services & gift after minimum 30 min massage.)