Born to be bad Although it inherits its name from the French, film noir has become a quintessentially American genre. From Wilder to Tarantino, the Nuart ‘Pulp Noir’ series delves into the world of murder, mayhem and moral myopia … By Bernie Cook and Lael Loewenstein Special to The Bruin "Born to Kill! Read more...

Tour brings fables to Freud Playhouse Children’s Theatre Company presents classic tales with alternative twists By Jeanna Blackman "The moral of the story is …" These words are familiar to young and old alike as the ending to many of Aesop’s Fables. Read more...

Love in time of strife This week, Los Angeles’ Ahmanson debuts Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s production of ‘Miss Saigon.’ In the classic vein of ill-fated love stories like ‘Casablanca,’ ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘A Farewell to Arms,’ its stellar quality simply stuns. Read more...

Jamming ‘Jelly’ pushes tapping, non-stop fun to hilt Wolf’s acclaimed, astounding musical stops in Los Angeles for limited engagement By Jennifer Richmond Daily Bruin Staff The members of The Jungle Inn are patiently waiting for their newest member, Jelly Roll Morton (Maurice Hines) to make his grand entrance in "Jelly’s Last Jam." But what appears to be just another ’20s speakeasy, actually turns out to be a sort of courtroom "somewheres ‘tween heaven ‘n hell." Jelly, a jazz legend in his own mind, is about to be put on trial by other-worldly spirits ­ and the verdict will either get him life in heaven or hell. Read more...

Comedy keeps vice away in ‘Miami Rhapsody’ Sarah Jessica Parker runs the show in latest film By Mike Horowitz Daily Bruin Senior Staff Sarah Jessica Parker has been doing fun character work for a while, but she’s never really been given a movie to carry on her own. Read more...

Artists blend mainstream with humor to create visual ‘erotica’ Latest Kerckhoff Gallery exhibition highlights political and social satire By Barbara E. Hernandez Daily Bruin Staff What could possibly be funny about digging graves or car bombs? Read more...

Retrospective honors ‘Hollywood Ten’ member Melnitz series displays films directed by controversial figure, Edward Dmytryk By Lael Loewenstein Daily Bruin Staff Few directors have crossed as many boundaries in their work and in their politics as Edward Dmytryk. Read more...