Seances lift ‘Spirit’ to comedic heights By Lawrence Sullivan Although written in five days during one of the darkest years of World War II, there is no darkening of manners among the pompous British upper-class characters of Noel Coward’s play, "Blithe Spirit." Poised against the mantelpiece, one hand in the double-breasted jacket pocket, the other gesturing with a dry martini, Don Shenk settles fastidiously but commendably into the smug role of London novelist Charles Condomine. Read more...

Sappy rhetoric loses ‘Paradise’ Depression-era play depicts life during hardship By Lawrence Sullivan During the Great Depression my grandfather sold mustard door to door in Chicago. Read more...

A cappella group finds key to future Black Voices to unleash talent at Wadsworth By Rodney Tanaka Black Voices was an accident waiting to happen. The all-female British group unleashes its a cappella harmonies with an African-inspired flavor at the Veterans Wadsworth Theater on Sunday. Read more...

Maniacal Natalie Merchant: ‘What is the matter here?’ By Michael Tatum No music figure I revile intrigues me more than Natalie Merchant, formerly of the pop group 10,000 Maniacs. Read more...

‘Mask’ screenwriter visits Melnitz Film success story Mike Werb returns to his alma mater By Michael Horowitz Daily Bruin Senior Staff "Every parking attendant in town is writing a screenplay," declares Mike Werb, who writes screenplays for a living and doesn’t park any cars except his own. Read more...

Philharmonic revives 1919 performance for 75th By John Mangum The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated its 75th birthday with a six-foot tall cake. It didn’t need candles because the orchestra was on fire. Read more...

‘Islands’ offers six hours revulsion, not ‘revolution’ Six-hour play seems more like fluff than social commentary By Jennifer Richmond Daily Bruin Staff "Revolution creates hell for all the people involved," Osvaldo (Shawn Elliott) says of the torment he’s endured throughout his life. Read more...