The Pastel Society of Southern California is hosting its seventh annual members’ exhibition at the South Bay Lexus Service Center, 24777 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. The show features nearly 100 paintings. Through April 29. Pictured, “1955 Chevy Nomad,” by Morgan Kari. (310) 374-8309 or go to pastelsocal.com.
Hotdogging * Arts Calendar 3/10-17
Thursday, March 10
Listen and look
Tunes at TAM presents the Promenade String Quartet, performing from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Torrance Art Museum, 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The group features cellist Vardan Gasparyan,
violinists Ray Reinebach and Ambroise Aubrun, and violist Evan Antes. Suggested donation, $20. Call (310) 376-5577.
They’ll sign you up
The 19-piece Jazz Ambassadors, the official touring big band of the United States Army, performs at 7 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. It’s free! (310) 781-7171.
Probably the butler, right?
“Sleuth,” by Anthony Shaffer, won the 1971 Tony Award for Best Play, and now it’s being presented by Little Fish Theatre, 777 Centre St., San Pedro, with performances Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. through March 31. A Sunday matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 13, after which the creative team will engage the audience in a discussion no one, and that means you, will want to miss. For tickets or information call (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
Friday, March 11
A beastly show
Redondo Union High School’s Theatre Arts presents the musical “Beauty and the Beast” at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday as well as next, plus Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 now and $15 at the door, with all shows being held in the RHUS auditorium, 631 Vincent Park, Redondo Beach. More at ruhsdrama.com.
Decadence in Germany
The Peninsula High School Drama Department is gearing up for “Cabaret,” about the last days of the Weimar Republic before politics took a fatal wrong turn (which could happen here, who knows). It’s being performed Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through Saturday, March 26. Directed by Seth Cohen. For tickets, call (310) 377-4888, ext. 830, or go to peninsuladrama.com.
Soul men!
The Blues Brothers Revue takes place Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty star as Jake and Elwood Blues, officially chosen by Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi to perform the roles. The live concert production includes song like “Soul Man” and “Gimme Some Lovin.’” Tickets, $48 to $58 general, with a $10 discount for children 12 and under. (310) 544-0403, ex. 221, or go to palosverdesperformingarts.com.
A dark and foggy night
“The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” screens at 8:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. It’s the follow-up to “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Chasing windmills
Kentwood Players present “Man of La Mancha,” the multiple Tony Award winner, opening tonight with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through April 16 in the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Tickets, $25, less $2 for seniors and students. (310) 645-5156 or go to kentwoodplayers.org.
What happened in Iraq?
Presented by the always-innovative Long Beach Opera, “Fallujah,” the world premiere opera by composer Tobin Stokes and librettist Heather Raffo, opens at 8 p.m. for seven performances at the Long Beach National Guard Armory, 854 E. Seventh St., Long Beach.
Tickets, $67 to $137. Call (562) 432-5934 or go to LBOpera.org.
With the voice alone
Pop-jazz vocal group M-Pact performs at 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. The vocal group has the smooth soul sound of Stevie Wonder, the percussive power of “Stomp,” the funk and drive of Earth, Wind, and Fire… well, you get the picture. Tickets, $20 to $30. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to torrancearts.org.
Time for a change
“Metamorphoses,” the Tony Award-winning play by Mary Zimmerman, is being performed Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., plus next Friday and Saturday as well as Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m., in the University Theatre at California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson. Tickets, $15 general; $10 students and seniors. (310) 243-3589 or go to csudh.edu/theatre/tickets.
Exquisite performers
Presented by the South Bay Chamber Music Society, the Thies-Shulman Duo performs at 8 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Music Department at L.A. Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. The concert is to be repeated at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Pacific Unitarian Church, 5621 Montemalaga, Rancho Palos Verdes. Free. More at palosverdes.com/sbcms/.
All your buds will be there
The King Harbor Brewing Company is hosting a night of local food, craft beer, and free live music, with the brewery featuring their latest release, the St. Jameson Stout. Nick Shattuck performs indie folk/soul. Where? 2907 182nd St., Redondo Beach. Doors at 4 and music at 7 p.m. 21 and over. (310) 542-8658 or go to kingharborbrewing.com.
Help them to the Big Apple
266 student musicians from Mira Costa High School are headed to Carnegie Hall in May, and in order to raise bus money the groups are presenting An Evening of Eclectic
Ensembles, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at 1401 Artesia Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Peter Park is the orchestra director. Advance tickets $20, or $25 at the door. More at tinyurl.com/ensemble-evening.
Saturday, March 12
Sleight of hand, with laughs
“Shenanigans: Comedy, Magic, and Mischief” is a family-oriented variety show and it’s set for 2 and 8 p.m. in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Featuring magician Eric Buss. Tickets, $30 to $20. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to TorranceArts.org.
Slurp it up
Save your appetite. The Torrance Firefighters Association presents its 44th annual spaghetti dinner from 4:30 to 8 p.m. in the Ken Miller Auditorium, 3341 Torrance Blvd., Torrance. Tickets, $6 adults and $4 children under age eight. Proceeds to benefit summer camp for burn victims. Tickets at the door. Information, (310) 781-7000.
Sunday, March 13
Women behind the camera
Lunafest, the fundraising film festival that promotes awareness about women’s issues, returns to the South Bay with short films by, for, and about women. It’s all taking place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Tickets, $35 now and $40 at the door. Guest filmmaker Anna Schumacher will be on hand. Go to lunafest.org/redondobeach0313.
They’ll be swinging today
The South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club meets from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 214 Avenue I, in Redondo Beach. The featured band is Nanette’s Hotsy Totsy Boys, so bring your dancing shoes. Admission, $7 members and $9 non-members; free for visiting musicians who come to play in additional “sets.” (310) 376-2591.
Step back a few centuries
La Mer Consort presents a Renaissance concert, “Mostly Music from the Renaissance”, featuring William Byrd (“Mass for Four Voices”), Telemann (“Tafelmusik”) and Madrigals at 4 p.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church, Eleventh and Rowell, Manhattan Beach. The ensemble performs on authentic instruments and in costume. Directed by Brenda Bittner. Free-will offering. (310) 378-8750.
Reaching for the heavens
Trio Céleste, with pianist Kevin Kwan Loucks, violinist Iryna Krechkovsky, and cellist Ross Gasworth, performs at 2 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Rolling Hills Estates. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
Carlisle Floyd’s opera on film
The San Francisco Opera Series continues with “Susannah,” broadcast at 2 p.m. in the James Armstrong theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Patricia Racette sings the title role. Not quite like being there, but it’s a landmark piece of American opera. Tickets, $17.50. Call (310) 781-7171 or go to TorranceArts.org. ER
