A Los Angeles police officer who was shot during a confrontation with a suspect in Boyle Heights was released from the hospital on Saturday, police said.
Members of the LAPD’s gang unit were on patrol when they approached the suspect near Malabar and North Fickett streets shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, police said. The man pulled out a weapon and fired on the officers.
One of the officers was shot in the arm and taken to the hospital.
“Last night was a sobering reminder of the dangers police officers face when they put on the uniform — but they never shy away from protecting and serving their communities,” the LAPD tweeted Saturday in announcing the officer’s release from the hospital.
The suspect, who was not injured, was arrested and a gun was recovered at the scene, according to police.
Los Angeles County’s annual service for the unclaimed dead will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Los Angeles County Crematory and Cemetery on 3301 E. 1st St. in Boyle Heights.
The ceremony will remember 1,457 individuals cremated in 2016 whose remains have stayed in the county’s possession for the past three years, according to Estela Inouye, manager of decedent affairs at the county morgue, crematory, and cemetery. There are many reasons why the remains go unclaimed: the deceased had no next of kin, they lost touch with their families, their families cannot pay to reimburse the cremation fee.
An interfaith service held by the county provides “a solemn service to recognize that these were human beings, had their own stories, their own families,” said Father Chris Ponnet, director of spiritual care at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, who has been organizing the service for about 15 years.
Faith leaders from different religious backgrounds, including Ponnet, will preside over the ceremony in a variety of languages. In past years, people have paid their respects through readings of poetry and religious texts, including Psalm 23 in Hebrew and in English. One woman sang a Native American song facing each cardinal point.
“We try to represent as diverse a group that could be represented in this group that has died,” Ponnet said. “It’s a reminder of the dignity of each person.”
Information on finding a decedent is available online.
To claim someone, call the Office of Decedent Affairs at (323) 409-7161 or email Estela Inouye at [email protected].
Over the last decade, more than 50 people have died by suicide while admitted to psychiatric facilities in California. The figure paints a bleak picture of the options available for people in the midst of a mental health crisis.
So for families whose loved ones are suffering from suicidal thoughts, is there hope? Can hospitals actually stop people from dying by suicide?
The short answer, experts say, is yes.
Suicide rates have risen in nearly every state in America over the last 20 years. Nationwide, suicide is an epidemic, now the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 35.
Psychiatric hospitals are often seen as a last resort for people who are suicidal. But a Times analysis found that over the last decade, nearly 100 people died while admitted to these facilities in California, mostly due to suicide. A study released last year found that nationwide 49 to 65 people die by suicide annually while in the hospital.
But there is wide variation in suicide rates from hospital to hospital, suggesting some places are keeping patients safer than others. One of the high-performing systems, the Department of Veterans Affairs, offers some clues as to what might work.
In 2007, VA hospitals nationwide adopted a 134-question checklist designed to reduce suicide risks for patients.
Staff members must ensure that pillows and mattresses are free of vinyl or plastic, which could be used for strangulation; that there are no privacy curtains, which can be used for hanging; that all exits and entrances to the building are within the line of sight of the nurses’ station, so patients are easily monitored.
Since the checklist was implemented, suicides in mental health units have decreased dramatically. The suicide rate fell from 4.2 suicides per 100,000 admissions to 0.74 suicides per 100,000 admissions, according to a 2016 paper.
“The trend suggests that the rate of suicide continues to decline since implementation of the checklist,” the paper found.
But outside the VA system, there’s been little progress, experts say.
The Joint Commission, a nonprofit that accredits most of the nation’s psychiatric hospitals, has been trying to reduce suicide rates nationwide for the last decade, to no avail, , said Dr. David Baker, the agency’s executive vice president for healthcare quality evaluation.
Part of the problem is that reliable data weren’t available on the number of suicides in hospitals and how they were taking place. The agency commissioned a study that found that among the roughly 50 suicides per year in hospitals nationwide, 70% were via hanging. Half were in the bathroom and a third in the bedroom, the study found.
In response to the findings, an expert panel made recommendations on how to limit these deaths, including the best way to monitor suicidal patients.
At many hospitals, patients deemed suicidal are put on 15-minute watch, but that isn’t very effective because it doesn’t take long to complete suicide, experts say.
“It’s certainly not the best way to monitor for suicidal ideation,” said Dr. Tyler Jones, clinical associate psychiatry professor at Oregon Health and Science University. “The opportunity can happen pretty quickly.”
The better, though more resource-intensive, option is one-to-one observation, in which a staff member is within arm’s-reach of a patient at all times.
This year, the Joint Commission released new national standards effective July 1 aimed at reducing suicide rates. The requirements mandate widespread suicide screening among psychiatric patients as well as minimizing any anchor points, door hinges or hooks that can be used for hanging.
“I think some people come away thinking that hospitals have not been paying attention to this and I think part of that is due to the lack of clarity,” Baker said. “I think it’s much more clear what they should be doing now.”
For some patients, the hospital can provide a needed respite from their suicidal thoughts — and potentially save their lives, experts say.
When someone wants to die by suicide, they are typically focused on one mode, whether it be jumping off a bridge or overdosing, said Johns Hopkins University psychiatry professor Dr. Paul Nestadt. Without that option, the desire to complete suicide drops dramatically.
In a 1978 study, researchers followed 515 people who attempted to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco but survived. The study found that only 5% of them eventually died by suicide.
The research points to the importance of reducing suicide risk at places where people often kill themselves, such as installing a suicide net under the Golden Gate Bridge. When convenient means of dying are taken away, people become much less likely to attempt suicide, Nestadt said.
“There are people who just keep trying and die, but they are the minority,” Nestadt said. “That contextualizes the role of the hospital … the hospital is there to keep someone from having access to that gun or that bridge or that train so they can be treated and the feeling can pass.”
Here is a list of theater openings, Critics’ Choices, etc., for Dec. 1-8. Capsule reviews are by Charles McNulty (C.M.), Philip Brandes (P.B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.) and Daryl H. Miller (D.H.M.).
Openings
Church Discipline: Christmas It’s Santa vs. Krampus in a holiday edition of this comedy show; for ages 16 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group. 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Sun., next Sun., 8:30 p.m. $16. (818) 202-4120. ZombieJoes.com
Julius Caesar Warriors for Peace Theatre stages Shakespeare’s tragedy about the ill-fated Roman ruler. Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $15, $25. warriorsforpeacetheatre.com
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas The musical group’s annual holiday celebration returns. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., 7 p.m. $59 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Classic musical based on the beloved fairy tale. Rose Center Theater, 14140 All American Way, Westminster. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $20-$27. (714) 793-1150. rosecentertheater.com
Safe Harbor Three woman caught up in the shadowy world of sex trafficking strive to make better futures for themselves in Tira Palmquist’s new drama. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., L.A. Sun., next Sun., 3 and 7 p.m.; Mon., Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $20, $29. (951) 566-6413. eventbrite.com
An Unforgettable Nat King Cole Christmas Evan Tyrone Martin pays tribute to the legendary entertainer. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Sun., 3 p.m. $15-$47. (562) 944-9801. lamiradatheatre.com
The Living Room Series Staged reading of Chelsea Dutton’s “Falling Sad Slanted & Crazy.” The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Mon., 8 p.m. $15 suggested donation. (323) 661-9827. theblank.com
Turning Limitations into Opportunities: An Evening with Ali Stroker The Tony winner (“Oklahoma”) and wheelchair user shares her story. USC’s Bovard Auditorium, 3551 Trousdale Parkway, L.A. Mon., 7 p.m. Free; reservations required. visionsandvoices.usc.edu
From Gershwin to Gaga — A Holiday Special: Celebrating the Legendary Tony Bennett Chris Mann salutes the beloved crooner in this cabaret show. Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Tue., 8:30 p.m. $25-$60; food and drink minimums apply. (866) 466-2210. catalinajazzclub.com
Independent Writers Lab Readings of four new plays. Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., L.A. Tue., 7 p.m.; Wed., 7 and 9 p.m.; Thu., 7 p.m.; Free. Reservations at [email protected]
A Christmas Carol David Mynne plays all the roles in this solo adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Lovelace Studio Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Wed.-Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 7 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m. $25. (310) 746-4000. TheWallis.org
Dark Dark Ride Ride: Holiday Edition All-new holiday horror attraction; for ages 18 and up. Zombie Zoe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Wed.-Sat., 8 to 11:45 p.m., with entry every 15 minutes; ends Dec. 21. $35 (up to two people per ticket). (818) 202-4120. ZombieJoes.com
Dixie’s Tupperware Party Southern belle turned saleswoman Dixie Longate returns in Kris Andersson’s interactive solo comedy. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat. 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. $39 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Enceladus Theatre Company presents this adaptation of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday fable starring James Stewart. Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, 6760 Painter Ave., Whittier. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $15, $20. (562) 907-4203. shannoncenter.org
The K-Tel All-Stars: Super Hits of the 70s Musical revue celebrates classic AM radio tunes. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $22-$27. (805) 583-7900. simi-arts.org
Little Black Dress: The Musical BFFs share life’s ups and downs in this mix of comedy, drama, music and improv; contains strong language and adult themes. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Wed.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $25 and up. (213) 628-2772. LittleBlackDressTheMusical.com
Risk! Live Storytelling series returns with a holiday edition and a new location; David Crabb hosts. The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Wed., 8 p.m. $12, $15. (323) 660-4540. nightout.com
A Christmas Carol With Charles Dickens Independent Shakespeare Co.’s David Melville re-creates a performance of the holiday favorite by the author himself; for ages 8 and up. Independent Studio, 3191 Casitas Ave., #130, Atwater Village. Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $25-$45. (818) 710-6306. www.iscla.org
Peter Pan and Tinkerbell: A Pirates’ Christmas Family-friendly musical comedy/adventure tale based on characters created by J.M. Barrie and performed in the style of a traditional British holiday panto; with John O’Hurley. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Thu.-Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat.-next Sun., noon and 4 p.m.; ends Dec. 29. $41-$76. (949) 497-2787. lagunaplayhouse.com
Sugar Plum Fairy Writer-performer Sandra Tsing Loh returns in her autobiographical holiday comedy about a young girl who dreams of dancing a lead role in “The Nutcracker”; Bart De Lorenzo directs. East West Players, David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $25-$50; opening night only, $80-$90. (213) 625-7000. eastwestplayers.org
Crimson Cabaret The Unmarked Door presents this immersive, interactive mystery drama/variety show. Secret location, address provided to ticket holders, Glendale. Thu.-next Sun., 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 29. $95-$145. theunmarkeddoor.com
Things to do
A Christmas Carol: The One-Man Play Gus Krieger plays multiple roles in his stage adaptation of Dickens’ fable; presented by the Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company. The Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center,11006 W. Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $15-$30. (818) 325-2055. portersofhellsgate.com
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some!) A company of actors tries to pull together the mother of all holiday shows in this family-friendly comedy. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 29. $25-$45. (626) 355-4318. sierramadreplayhouse.org
Frozen A young woman and her companions go on a quest to break the wintry spell of her big sister, the Snow Queen, in this stage adaptation of Disney’s hit 2013 animated musical featuring music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Hollywood Pantages, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; ends Feb. 2. $39 and up. (800) 982-2787. .hollywoodpantages.com
The Fruit Cake Follies 2019 This send-up of 1970s-era holiday TV specials returns. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat.-next Sun., 1, 4 and 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $35, $40. (800) 838-3006. brownpapertickets.com
Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn Musical Theatre West stages this tune-filled Broadway show based on the 1942 Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire movie. Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 1 and 7 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $20 and up. (562) 856-1999. musical.org
La Virgen De Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin The Latino Theater Company presents this annual site-specific reenactment of the Virgin Mary’s visitations with peasant Juan Diego in 16th-century Mexico; in Spanish with English supertitles. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. Free; reserved seating, $45. (866) 811-4111. thelatc.org
The Man Who Came to Dinner An injury forces a radio host to overstay his welcome at a local factory-owner’s home in Moss Hart- George S. Kaufman’s classic farce; for ages 7 and up. The Group Rep, Lonny Chapman Theatre, Main Stage, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Jan. 12. $20, $25. (818) 763-5990. thegrouprep.com
Miracle on Anaheim Street Held2gether performs improv, sketches and musical numbers in this annual benefit. Long Beach Playhouse, Studio Theatre, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fri., 8 p.m. $20. (562) 494-1014. lbplayhouse.org
Anne of Green Gables Musical based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic children’s novel about a red-haired orphan living on Prince Edward Island. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Dec. 29. $25-$49; discounts available. (888) 455-4212. ChanceTheater.com
A Christmas Carol Dickens’ classic holiday fable about a miser shown the error of his ways. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $14-$27. (562) 494-1014. lbplayhouse.org
A Christmas Carol Hal Landon Jr. takes his 40th and final turn as Ebenezer Scrooge when South Coast Rep’s annual presentation of the Dickens classic returns; children under 6 not admitted. South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sat., 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., noon and 4 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $38 and up. (714) 708-5555. scr.org
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Ensemble Theatre Company presents this adaptation of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday fable starring James Stewart. The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 27. $25-$77. (805) 965-5400. etcsb.org
Levi Kreis: Home for the Holidays The Tony winner (“Million Dollar Quartet”) performs seasonal favorites in this cabaret show. L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m. $35, $40. (323) 860-7300. lalgbtcenter.org
The Magic of Christmas starring the Young Americans The multimedia-enhanced, family-friendly musical revue returns. La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $23, $65. (562) 944-9801. lamiradatheatre.com
North Pole Now Online Pasadena Civic Ballet’s Showtime Theater Ensemble presents this family-friendly holiday tale. AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center, 2495 E. Mountain St., Pasadena. Sat., 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 4:30 p.m. $15, $25. agbupac.org
Room by the Sea Coin & Ghost Theatre Company presents a staged reading of John Guerra’s drama inspired by the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Sat., 7:30 p.m. $10-$20. (626) 356-3121. anoisewithin.org
Santasia — A Holiday Comedy This variety show featuring musical parodies, stop-motion animated movies and more is back for a 20th year. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Fri.-next Sun., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 28. $30, $40. santasia.com
Scissorhands: A Musical Inspired by the Film Reimagining of Tim Burton’s 1990 fable starring Johnny Depp. Rockwell Table & Stage, 1714 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. Sat., 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 12:30 p.m. $25-$45. (323) 669-1550. rockwell-la.com
The Tony Martini Variety Hour The Vegas-style music-and-comedy show returns. Three Clubs Cocktail Lounge, 1123 Vine St., Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m. $20. (323) 866-9994. tonymartinihour.com
Story Pirates Musical sketch comedy show for ages 5 and up. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Promenade Terrace, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Next Sun., 11 a.m. Free. (310) 746-4000. TheWallis.org
Critics’ Choices
Andy Warhol’s Tomato In this deftly staged debut, Vince Melocchi’s two-hander imagines an encounter in 1946 Pittsburgh between 18-year old Warhol (only an aspiring commercial artist at that point) and a blue-collar barkeep harboring secret dreams of becoming a writer. Carefully researched factual accuracy notwithstanding, the play isn’t so much a biographical portrait as a touching exploration of cultural division bridged by a fundamental human need to create. (P.B.) Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd., Venice. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $25-$34. (310) 822-8392. pacificresidenttheatre.com
Bob’s Holiday Office Party This long-running yuletide parody of small town eccentricity thrives on the qualities that has made it a staple of the L.A. theater scene for over two decades — it’s irreverent, crude, and devastatingly funny. (P.B.) Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $25, $35. (800) 838-3006. bobsofficeparty.com
A Christmas Carol Amid many worthy area stagings of Charles Dickens’ immortal classic, this deftly performed, meta-theatrical edition stands out for fidelity to text, witty stagecraft and heartfelt embrace of message. There are fleeting oddities, but only a die-hard humbug could remain unmoved by so charming a Yuletide treat. God bless us everyone. (David C. Nichols). A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $25 and up; student rush, $20. (626) 356-3100. anoisewithin.org
Department of Dreams Preeminent Kosovar playwright Jeton Neziraj’s dystopian fable concerns a repressive system in which citizens are forced to “deposit” their dreams at a monolithic government agency in an ongoing campaign of intimidation and terror. The fact that the play is a world premiere represents a real coup for director Frédérique Michel and designer Charles A. Duncombe, the movers and shakers behind City Garage for almost 35 years now. They do full service to Neziraj’s surreal vision, an Orwellian portrait of a mad world in which all individuality is suppressed by a totalitarian state. Sometimes abstruse to the point of the incomprehensible, this is not an easy play. But is in an important play by a world-class playwright who challenges our complacency at every twist and turn. (F.K.F.) City Garage, Bergamot Station, building T1, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Sun., next Sun., 3 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 8. $20, $25; Sundays: pay what you want, at the door only. (310) 453-9939. citygarage.org
Eight Nights Sharply written, expertly performed and staged with breathtaking emotional impact, Jennifer Maisel’s new play explores the refugee experience and its repercussions through the deeply personal story of a concentration camp survivor and her descendants. (P.B.) Antaeus Theatre Company, Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Broadway, Glendale. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 16. $35. (818) 506-1983. Antaeus.org
Elijah Set in a Texas TGI Fridays during raging hurricane Elijah, Judith Leora’s play commences on a deceptively polemical note, as the pro-and-anti death penalty activists who had gathered at a nearby prison for the execution of a notorious serial slayer are forced to shelter in place for the duration. In this case, patience is a virtue. Leora’s initial didacticism deepens into a beautifully realized, classically structured drama that subtly illustrates what can occur when individuals are forced out of their ideologically ossified “tribes” to seek a common humanity. Never striking a false note, director Maria Gobetti takes us on a journey that accelerates to a shattering emotional whirlwind. Among the superlative performers, Molly Gray particularly stands out in her raw portrayal of a woman coping with a sad and shocking legacy that will forever define her. (F.K.F.) The Big Victory Theatre, 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank. Sun., next Sun., 4 p.m.; Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $28-$40. (818) 841-5421. thevictorytheatrecenter.org
The Great Leap BD Wong, who starred in two previous productions of Lauren Yee’s exhilarating, witty, heartbreaking play about Chinese-American relations seen through the lens of basketball, directs its L.A. premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse. Unbeknownst to many Americans, basketball is huge in China, and Yee uses this shared affinity between our otherwise clashing cultures as a mutual way in. This lavish coproduction with East West Players features four dazzling performers, including James Eckhouse (of “Beverly Hills 90210”) as you’ve never seen him before. (M.G.) Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Ends Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. $25 and up. (626) 356-7529. PasadenaPlayhouse.org
JitneyRuben Santiago-Hudson’s Tony-winning revival of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” a triumphant melding of acting and drama, puts the audience in the unique position of eavesdroppers on the colloquial music of life. This early Wilson play, the first to be written in his 10-play cycle exploring the 20th century African American experience, takes place in the 1970s at a gypsy cab station threatened by the city’s urban renewal program. Wilson takes us inside the drivers’ lives to reveal the way history has challenged and changed their destinies. What was once dismissed as a minor Wilson drama is now considered major. And it’s not because our standards have plummeted. Rather, it’s that the play, when fully realized by a company of actors working in communal concord, satisfies our growing hunger for complex and compassionate character truth. (C.M.) Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m., Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 29. $25-$110. (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org
Key Largo A stage version of John Huston’s 1948 classic film noir starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Edward G. Robinson, is asking for trouble. To begin with, who can compete with the soul-weary charisma of Bogie and Bacall? But this world premiere adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher and actor Andy Garcia, sensationally directed by Doug Hughes, takes a different route to success. Garcia’s high-voltage portrayal of mobster Johnny Rocco infuses the play with crackling vitality. Taking on the role that Robinson played with his imitable tough-guy swagger, Garcia paints a gangster portrait more along the lines of those created over the years by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Garcia’s performance, a strong supporting cast and a topnotch design team allow “Key Largo” to live anew. (C.M.) Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. Sun., next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 10. $30-$145. (310) 208-5454. geffenplayhouse.org
Here is a list of classical music performances in L.A. for Dec. 1-8:
Camerata Pacifica Bach’s “A Musical Offering” and Beethoven’s String Quartet in C-sharp Minor. Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. Sun., 3 p.m. Also at The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Tue., 7:30 p.m.; Zipper Hall, The Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Thu., 8 p.m.; and Music Academy of the West, Hahn Hall, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $58. (805) 884-8410. cameratapacifica.org
Dudamel Conducts Rachmaninoff & Stravinsky Gustavo Dudamel leads the LA Phil in Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Seong-Jin Cho. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sun., 2 p.m. $90-$255. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
LACMA’s Sundays Live Harpist Cristina Montes Mateo and friends play works by Haydn, Saint-Saëns, Florent Schmitt and Jean Cras. St. James’ in the City, 3903 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sun., 6 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6234. lacma.org
The Magic Flute Performers interact with projected animations as LA Opera reprises it staging of Barrie Kosky’s take on Mozart’s fantastical romantic fable; sung in German with English subtitles. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 15. $19 and up. (213) 972.8001. LAOpera.org
Messiah Sing-along Audience participation is encouraged in this 10th-annual presentation of Handel’s oratorio. St. Cross Episcopal Church, 1818 Monterey Blvd., Hermosa Beach. Sun., 3 p.m. By donation. stcross.org
Brentano String Quartet Pieces by Beethoven and Martin Bresnick. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tue., 8 p.m. $29 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org
Sheku Kanneh-Mason The young British cellist performs works by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, et al., accompanied by his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Tue., 8 p.m. $95, $130. (213) 622-7001. laco.org
Glendale Noon Concerts Violinist Nancy Roth and pianist Lorenzo Sanchez perform Bartok’s Violin Sonata No. 1. Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale. Wed., 12:10 p.m. Free. (818) 244-7241. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Solstice: Illuminating the Light Within The National Children’s Chorus performs works by Lauridsen, Whitacre, et al. Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Westwood. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $46 and up. (800) 745-3000. nationalchildrenschorus.com
Beethoven’s Seventh Carl St.Clair leads Pacific Symphony in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, the world premiere of Elliot Goldenthal’s “October Light” (Adagio for Orchestra), and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with pianist Vadym Kholodenko. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m. $25 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org
Kaleidescope Chamber Orchestra Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” plus works by Viet Cuong and Jessie Montgomery. Beckman Auditorium at Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. Thu., 10 a.m. Also at Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. Sat., 11 a.m.; Music Academy of the West, Hahn Hall, 1070 Fairway Road, Santa Barbara. Sat., 7 p.m.; and First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. Next Sun., 2 p.m. Free; suggested donation, $40. kco.la
Beethoven’s “Eroica” Principal guest conductor Susanna Mälkki leads the LA Phil in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 plus Oliver Knussen’s Violin Concerto with violinist Leila Josefowicz. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., next Sun., 2 p.m. $20-$200. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
Colburn Community Chorale The ensemble is joined by special guests for its annual holiday concert. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. Free. (213) 621-2200. colburnschool.edu
Dawson City: Frozen Time Live! L.A.-based contemporary ensemble Wild Up and Tonality’s women’s choir perform Alex Somers’ score to accompany a screening of filmmaker Bill Morrison’s documentary, consisting of silent-era found footage, about a Gold Rush town in the Yukon. The Theatre at Ace Hotel DTLA, 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. $28 and up. (310) 825-2101. cap.ucla.edu
First Fridays at First! Organist Namhee Han performs. First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. Fri., 12:15 p.m. (310) 316-5574. palosverdes.com
Joy! ’Tis the Season The Village Voices Chorale is joined by the Covenant Ringers Handbell Choir for holiday favorites. Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 p.m. $27. (800) 745-3000. ticketmaster.com
La bohème: AKA “The Hipsters” Pacific Opera Project reprises its update of Puccini’s tragedy, transposing the tale of struggling artists from 19th-century Paris to present-day downtown L.A.; sung in Italian with projected English titles. The Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 S. Avenue 57, Highland Park. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Dec. 14. $15-$30; tables, $60, $180. (323) 739-6122. pacificoperaproject.com
South Bay Chamber Music Society The New Hollywood String Quartet performs an all-Beethoven program. Los Angeles Harbor College, Music Department Recital Hall, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. Fri., 8 p.m. Also at Pacific Unitarian Church, 5621 Montemalaga Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes. Next Sun., 3 p.m. Free. sbcms.net
St. Matthew’s Music Guild Holiday concert features Baroque-era works including William Boyce’s Symphony No. 4 and the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. Fri., 8 p.m. $10, $35. (310) 573-7422. MusicGuildOnline.org
Things to do
Behzod Abduraimov The pianist plays Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” plus pieces by Debussy and Chopin. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo. Sat., 8 p.m. $45-$75. (949) 480-4278. soka.edu
Angel City Chorale: Starry Starry Night Holiday Concert & Sing-Along The ensemble performs film-score selections, classic songs and seasonal favorites backed by a live orchestra. Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sat.-next Sun., 7:30 p.m. $35-$90. (310) 943-9231. angelcitychorale.org
Festival of Carols Composer Eric Whitacre conducts the Los Angeles Master Chorale in sacred and secular favorites, plus the world premiere of “The Gift of the Magi,” Whitacre’s setting of O. Henry’s classic tale. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; also Sat., Dec. 14, 2 p.m. $29-$139; children under 6 not admitted. (213) 972-7282. lamasterchorale.org
Gideon’s Suitcase: 100th Birthday Jacaranda salutes Gideon Klein, the Czech composer-pianist known for organizing concerts at the Terezin concentration camp during WWII, with a program featuring pianist David Kaplan, Lyris Quartet and Jacaranda Winds and works by Klein, Mozart, Schoenberg and Janacek. First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. Sat., 8 p.m. $25, $45. jacarandamusic.org
Kontrapunktus Baroque Ensemble: Stylus Fantasticus Rare chamber-music works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Dieterich Buxtehude and Girolamo Frescobaldi. Culver City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11828 W. Washington Blvd., L.A. Sat., 7:30 p.m. Also at Trinity Lutheran Church, 997 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. Next Sun., 2 p.m. Free. kontrapunktus.com
Handel’s Messiah Orange County-based vocal ensemble Meistersingers performs with a period-instrument ensemble. Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont. Sat., 4 p.m. Also at Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Blvd., Anaheim. Next Sun., 3 p.m. $15, $25. meistersingers.net
The Many Actual Moods of Christmas: Holidays for the Slightly Harried The Orange County Women’s Chorus opens its season with works by Eleanor Daley, Joan Szymko and more. Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive, Newport Beach. Sat., 7 p.m. Also at St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, 18631 Chapel Lane, Huntington Beach. Next Sun., 3 p.m. (949) 451-8590. $15-$30. (949) 451-8590. ocwomenschorus.org
Symphonies for Youth: The Rite of Spring The LA Phil presents a kid-friendly exploration of the Stravinsky classic. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sat., 11 a.m.; also Dec. 14. $25, $29. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com
The Choir of Saint James: An Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols The ensemble performs works ranging from Gregorian chant to the present day. St. James Episcopal Church, 3903 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Next Sun., 4:30 p.m. Free. stjla.org
A Christmas Celebration The Los Angeles Concert Orchestra, the Chancel Choir and the Mark Twain Bell Ringers perform. First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St., Santa Monica. Next Sun., 7:30 p.m. Recommended donation, $10-$20. (310) 393-8258. santamonicaumc.org
Handel’s Glorious Messiah Guest conductor Robert Istad leads Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and guest soloists in the holiday favorite. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Next Sun., 3 p.m. $25 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org
Handel’s Messiah The Dream Orchestra, the Cathedral Choir, the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles and guest vocalists perform. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., L.A. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $20-$40. dreamorchestra.org
Holiday Concert The American Youth Symphony Chamber Ensemble performs. Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. Next Sun., 4 p.m. Free. schoolofmusic.ucla.edu
Holiday Lights Santa Clarita Master Chorale performs Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” and more. College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. Next Sun., 4 p.m. $11-$29. scmasterchorale.org
A Joyful Noise! Los Robles Master Chorale sings holiday favorites. Carpenter Family Theater, Westlake High School, 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. Next Sun., 4 p.m. $5-$35. (805) 526-7464. losroblesmasterchorale.org
La Cenerentola The Opera Buffs present a concert performance of Rossini’s comic take on the Cinderella story. Zipper Hall, the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Next Sun., 2 p.m. $15-$65. (323) 356-0047. operabuffs.org
Le Salon de Musiques The intimate chamber-music series presents “Passionate Romances,” a program of works for voice, strings and piano by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Robert Kahn. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 5th Floor Salon, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 4 p.m. $45, $95. (310) 498-0257. lesalondemusiques.com
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus: A Ceremony of Carols The ensemble performs the Britten classic interspersed with works by Lauridsen, Brahms, et al., plus traditional songs and more. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $17-$45. (626) 793-4231. lachildrenschorus.org
Unto Us a Child Is Born The St. James Chancel Choir, the Kirk Singers and the St. James Early Music and Jazz Ensemble perform works by Respighi, Mendelssohn, et al., plus holiday carols. St. James Presbyterian Church, 19414 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. Next Sun., 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. (818) 345-2057. stjamespres.org
Here is a list of dance concerts in L.A. for Dec. 1-8:
The Nutcracker Inland Pacific Ballet presents its locally touring production of the holiday favorite. Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 8. $39 and up; discounts available. ipballet.org (Also in Riverside, Dec. 14-15; and Claremont, Dec. 21-22)
The Nutcracker Los Angeles Ballet’s annual locally touring production sets the holiday tale in the City of Angels circa 1912. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. Sun., 1 p.m. Also at Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Sat., 6 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $34-$109; 10% discount for students, children, seniors and military. (310) 998-7782. losangelesballet.org (Also in Westwood, Dec. 13-15; Hollywood, Dec. 20-24; and Redondo Beach, Dec. 28-29)
The Nutcracker Westside Ballet of Santa Monica performs the holiday favorite with a live orchestra and special guests including New York City Ballet soloist Savannah Lowery. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. Sun., next Sun., 1 and 5 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 1 and 5 p.m.; ends Dec. 8. $45. (800) 595-4849. westsideballet.tix.com
The Nutcracker Suite American Contemporary Ballet puts its own spin on the holiday favorite in this intimate and immersive show. Metropolis Los Angeles, Upper Level, 877 S. Francisco St., downtown Los Angeles. Sun., next Sun., 2 and 5 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 5 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $55-$137. acbdances.com
So You Think You Can Dance Live! 2019 Finalists from the TV dance competition perform. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Sun., 7:30 p.m. $44-$74. (805) 449-2787. civicartsplaza.com
Great Russian Nutcracker Moscow Ballet’s touring company performs the Tchaikovsky favorite. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Wed., 7 p.m. $29-$109. (800) 745-3000. nutcracker.com (Also in L.A., Dec. 21-22)
Debbie Allen’s Hot Chocolate Nutcracker The Debbie Allen Dance Academy is joined by Raven-Symone, Tichina Arnold and others for Allen’s update of the holiday favorite. Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 E. Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. Thu.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 1 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $40-$110. thehotchocolatenutcracker.com
CalArts Winter Dance: Repertory Right Now! Works by Wayne McGregor, Danielle Agami and others. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m. $18, $22. (213) 237-2800. redcat.org
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake The British choreographer’s acclaimed reimagining of the Tchaikovsky dance fable returns. Ahmanson Theater, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 7 p.m.; ends Jan. 5. $35-$145. (213) 972-4400. CenterTheatreGroup.org
Merry-Achi Christmas Holiday show with Sol de México de José Hernández, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Danzarts Sabor Mexico Dance Company. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 7 p.m. $35-$86. (562) 916-8500. cerritoscenter.com
Solo Fete Dancers from Pasadena Civic Ballet perform. AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center, 2495 E. Mountain St., Pasadena. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 5 p.m.; next Sun., 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. $15. agbupac.org
The Nutcracker Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is joined by Encino’s Los Angeles Youth Ballet and guest dancers from around the world for the holiday favorite. Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m. $49 and up. (818) 677-3000. thesoraya.org
The Nutcracker Festival Ballet Theatre performs with guest dancers from San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West and Joffrey Ballet. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sat., 7 p.m.; next Sun., 1 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $45-$90. (949) 854-4646. thebarclay.org
The Nutcracker Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre performs. The Luckman Theatre, Cal State LA, 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; next Sun., 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. $42-$64. (800) 838-3006. maratdaukayev.com
Nutcracker for Kids Pacific Symphony and Festival Ballet Theatre present a 45-minute version of the holiday favorite for ages 5-11. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sat., 10 and 11:30 a.m. $50 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org
Iron Women Donna Sternberg & Dancers present this site-specific work inspired by the exhibit “The Medea Insurrection: Radical Women Artists Behind the Iron Curtain.” The Wende Museum, 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Next Sun., 3 p.m. Free. (310) 260-1198. dsdancers.com
Noche de Triana Lakshmi “La Chimi” Basile, Misuda Cohen, Timo Nuñez and Bianca Rodriguez are the featured dancers in this Forever Flamenco presentation. The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 8 p.m. $30-$50. (323) 663-1525. fountaintheatre.com
Here is a list of classic movies, film festivals, etc. in L.A. for Dec. 1-8:
The Biggest Little Farm The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy screens this 2018 documentary about a local couple who left the city to try to create a sustainable farm outside Los Angeles. Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro. Sun., 5 p.m. $10; children, free. pvplc.org
City Lights / The Circus Double bill pairs Charlie Chaplin’s 1931 comedic fable/tearjerker with his 1928 slapstick romp. American Cinematheque, Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. Sun., 7:30 p.m. $12. americancinematheque.com
Happy Birthday Chick Strand! A salute to the filmmaker and teacher who died 10 years ago includes selections from her four-decade career. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown L.A. Mon., 8:30 p.m. $9, $12. (213) 237-2800. redcat.org
The Night of the Hunter Robert Mitchum terrifies as a murderous self-styled preacher in Charles Laughton’s masterful 1955 black-and-white thriller. With Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Mon., 2 p.m. $6. thenewbev.com
Under the Same Moon A boy in Mexico journeys north in hopes of reuniting with his immigrant mother in the U.S. in Patricia Riggen’s 2008 drama. With Kate del Castillo. In English and Spanish with English subtitles. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Tue., 1:30 p.m. Free. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org
An Evening With Chevy Chase The star takes part in an audience Q&A after a screening of his 1989 comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Microsoft Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Court, downtown L.A. Thu., 7:30 p.m. $44.50-$99.50. (877) 234-8425. microsofttheater.com
Skid Row Marathon Los Angeles Poverty Department’s Movie Nights at the Museum screens this 2017 documentary about a Los Angeles judge who started a running club for residents of DTLA’s Skid Row. Skid Row History Museum and Archive, 250 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. Fri., 6:30 p.m. Free. lapovertydept.org
Make My Day: Movie Culture in the Age of Reagan Two-night, four-film series kicks off with Sylvester Stallone as Vietnam vet John Rambo in the 1982 action drama “First Blood” followed by Roddy Piper in John Carpenter’s satirical 1988 sci-fi tale “They Live.” UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theatre, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $8-$10. cinema.ucla.edu
Things to do
DocuSlate Daylong showcase includes six separate programs featuring full-length and short documentaries, plus audience Q&As. NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, 1139 S Hill St., downtown L.A. Sat., 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. $10 per program. newfilmmakersla.com
Die Hard Rooftop screening of the 1988 action thriller starring Bruce Willis as an NYPD cop battling terrorists in an L.A. skyscraper. With Alan Rickman. The Montalbán, rooftop, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m. $18; two-person love seat, $50. themontalban.com
Magnolia Paul Thomas Anderson’s atmospheric 1999 ensemble drama set in the San Fernando Valley; with Tom Cruise, John C. Reilly, Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall, Ricky Jay, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina. American Cinematheque, Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Sat., 7:30 p.m. $12. americancinematheque.com
They Shall Not Grow Old Peter Jackson’s acclaimed 2018 film uses previously unseen, digitally restored and colorized footage to document the lives of British soldiers on the battlefields of Europe during WWI; presented in 2D and 3D. Various theaters. Sat., 4 and 7 p.m.; also Dec. 17-18. $14, 17. fathomevents.com
Meet Me in St. Louis 75th anniversary screenings of this tune-filled 1944 Technicolor romance, set in the run-up to the 1904 World’s Fair, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Judy Garland. Various theaters. Next Sun., 1 and 4 p.m.; also Wed., Dec. 11, 4 and 7 p.m. $12.50. fathomevents.com
The road up the mountain was empty and rough. It seemed impossible that one of Peru’s most exclusive restaurants, perched next to an eerie, lesser-known Inca ruin, would appear at the end of the red dirt path.
To get there, our driver navigated a wooden bridge barely wide enough for his car and honked his horn before every bend. We bumped along past mud brick houses and girls with bowl-shaped baskets tied to their heads as we climbed so high that the snow-capped peaks in the distance reached our eye level.
We were headed in February to Mil, a restaurant a 90-minute drive from Cuzco opened last year by Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez. It aims to celebrate the centuries-old cuisine of the Andes with an avant-garde twist.
The establishment overlooks Moray, an ancient formation of concentric circles made into stone-lined terraces that sink deeper and deeper into the earth. The Incas are thought to have used the site as a food laboratory, a fitting neighbor for a restaurant that experiments with smoked lettuce infusions and dehydrated cacao fruit.
Most tourists in Peru go straight from Cuzco to Machu Picchu without stopping. They miss what’s in between: quiet pockets of the Sacred Valley, like this one, where chefs highlight the region’s purple corn, local herbs and 4,000 varieties of potato. Here, the earthy flavors are wholly different from ceviche, the coastal food for which Peru is globally known.
The lack of oxygen at Mil’s elevation, 11,000 feet above sea level, hit me with a dull headache I thought I had shed after several days in the Andes. My husband, Jesse, glancing at me in a moment of altitude-induced discomfort, felt it too.
My wooziness was somehow appropriate. Mil had a spa-like feel — pristine, sparse and scarily intoxicating. The small dining room served only lunch. The servers, some of whom had left the high-dining scene of Lima to commit themselves to life in isolated villages near the restaurant, seemed almost part of a religious order. We lost track of time, missing our planned rendezvous with our driver by hours.
Our first bite was of coca bread topped with oozing, bloody-red elderberry butter. We ate a cake of pork belly served with tarwi seed, avocado and rocoto sauce made of red peppers. One of the most memorable dishes was called Extreme Altitude, featuring duck, black quinoa, dehydrated leaves and cushuro, cyanobacteria in the form of translucent green balls that are harvested from the surface of alpine lakes.
The flavors were rich and surprising, and as we dined facing a window that framed the green hillside, we kept thinking, “Where are we?”
Each of the eight courses — referred to by the staff as “moments” — was paired with a narrative from the waiters and a drink, such as mata cuy, a punishing liquor made of local botanicals. The name, borrowing from the Spanish matar and the Quechua word for guinea pig, means, well, guinea-pig killer.
Lunch ended with a hot chocolate for me and a coffee for my husband, the latter prepared by a young man who poured the beverage in a spiraling motion. His sole mission seemed to be to get that part of the meal right.
Staffers at Mil said they work hard to integrate the restaurant into the surrounding community by inviting locals to events and working with women’s groups on small-business development. An anthropologist who helped develop Mil’s culinary plan lived at the site for two years studying local ingredients before the restaurant opened.
It was hard to picture, though, how a restaurant that charges $200 per person could relate to nearby villagers. A man holding a list of approved names guarded the road leading to the establishment. When we asked our driver, a local, whether the restaurant is seen as an inviting part of the community, he smirked.
Cooked in the earth
Perhaps that’s why it was refreshing to slip a more casual Andean cooking experience into our trip.
My husband and I ventured through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, a historic town of cobblestone streets that sits at a more sensible 9,000 feet elevation. We stayed at El Albergue, a hotel whose doors open onto the city’s train platform.
Few travelers would know that the restaurant wedged feet from the tracks, is part of a serene hotel with bursting gardens that is one of the most charming and reasonably priced in all of Peru.
We chose to stay at El Albergue not just because of its wide second-floor porches with mountain views or its greenery that felt oddly tropical or its ideal location as a jumping-off point for the Machu Picchu trek, but because it offers an earth-oven cooking experience on its sprawling organic farm.
We were here to taste pachamanca, a dish thought to date to the Incan empire as far back as the 12th century, involving alpaca, guinea pig and beef as well as local vegetables cooked in the ground. In Quechua, pacha means “earth” and manca means “oven” or “pot.”
Our host, Giselle, was an experienced restaurant server who had found refuge in recent years in the laid-back culinary scene of Peru’s mountains. She led us past fields of flowers and fruit trees to a small shade structure where a crater had been dug.
We watched as workers handled rocks that had been heating for more than an hour, rising to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. They layered the stones at the bottom of the 3-foot-wide hole, placing whole potatoes directly on top of them. Then more hot stones were piled on, followed by lamb, chicken and pork that had been marinating in garlic, salt, cumin and Andean mint known as chincho.
After a final layer of scalding rocks, leafy herbs and fava beans were placed on top, followed by wet muslin and shovelfuls of dirt for insulation. The process allowed the meat to sear on the rocks, while fat and juices dripped onto the potatoes. The herbs become charred, developing a smoky taste.
While we waited, Giselle took us a few steps to the distillery, where she gave us sips of cañazo, a liquor made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice. At the roastery next door, we sniffed freshly roasted coffee beans the hotel cafe would serve its guests.
Soon it was time to eat; the food was done in just 15 minutes because the earth oven was so hot and pressurized.
The result was a feast spread on a communal table in a small field framed by the green slopes of the valley. We drank fresh chicha morada, the deep-hued juice of purple corn. The meal was deliciously uncomplicated and satisfying.
The next morning, we didn’t feel rushed like the hundreds of other tourists crowding the train platform outside our hotel. They zoomed around, disoriented and hungry, on their way to hike the Inca trail or return to Cuzco, unaware of the world we had just experienced tucked behind the station.
We preferred it that way, nestled in a booth by the windows at El Albergue, coffee in hand, watching everyone whiz by.
If you go THE BEST WAY TO CUZCO, PERU
From LAX, LATAM, American and Avianca offer connecting service (change of planes) to Cuzco. Restricted round-trip airfare from $662, including taxes and fees..
Once in Cuzco, train companies such as PeruRail and IncaRail offer rail and bus service to Ollantaytambo. Private taxis from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo can also be arranged through hotels, including El Albergue, or tourist services, for about $50.
Hire a taxi to reach Mil, a third of a mile north of the Moray Archaeological Complex. A round trip should be about $75 from Cuzco or Ollantaytambo.
WHERE TO STAY
El Albergue, Train Station, 1 Av. Ferrocarril, Ollantaytambo, Peru, (011) 51- 084-204-014, elalbergue.com. Doubles from $129 a night.
Sol y Luna, Fundo Huincho Lote A5, Urubamba, Peru; (011) 51-084-606-200, hotelsolyluna.com. Doubles from $220 a night.
Numerous well-appointed homes on Airbnb can be found in Cuzco, Ollantaytambo, Urubamba and throughout the Sacred Valley, starting at $50 a night.
WHERE TO EAT
Mil, (011) 51-926-948-088. One-third of a mile north of the Moray Archaeological Complex, about 90 minutes by car from Cuzco. From $159 per person; additional $81 per person for drink pairings.
El Albergue Organic Farm, Train Station, 1 Av. Ferrocarril, Ollantaytambo, Peru; (011) 51-084-204-014. Pachamanca lunch from $40 per person; reservation recommended.
WHAT TO DO
Machu Picchu, accessible from the town of Aguas Calientes. Entrance fee $65. Train from Ollantaytambo available on PeruRail and IncaRail from $126 round trip. Trains and buses also available from Cuzco.
Archaeological Complex of Moray. Ruins of Incan food laboratory.Entrance fee from $25. Also accessible with the Cuzco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turistica del Cusco) from $40, which allows entrance to multiple sites.
Ollantaytambo ruins. Ancient Inca temple and fortress. Accessible with the Cuzco Tourist Ticket, from $40, which allows entrance to multiple sites.
The United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler reached a tentative agreement Saturday on a new four-year contract that includes a total of $9 billion in investments but still needs final approval from workers.
Both sides declined to offer details on the deal, but it includes a $9,000 signing bonus, a promise not to close any factories for the next four years and a commitment to keep making vehicles at a plant in Belvidere, Ill., according to a person briefed on the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential.
The UAW-FCA national council will meet Wednesday to go over the details of the tentative deal. If adopted, it would go to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ 47,000 union workers, and a vote by hourly and salary workers could begin on Friday.
Fiat Chrysler is the last company to settle on a new contract with the union. GM settled Oct. 31 after a bitter 40-day strike that paralyzed the company’s U.S. factories, but Ford reached a deal quickly and settled in mid-November.
Talks have focused on Fiat Chrysler for almost two weeks, and the two sides negotiated into the early morning hours earlier this week before taking a break for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Illinois factory west of Chicago now makes the Jeep Cherokee small SUV and employs about 3,700 union workers on two shifts.
The $9,000 signing bonus isn’t as much as the $11,000 that GM workers got, but it’s equal to the money paid to Ford workers. Both companies gave workers a mix of pay raises and lump-sum payments, signing bonuses, an end to a two-tier pay scale for full-time workers and a clear path for temporary workers to go full-time.
The union also got commitments for new vehicles to be built at several GM and Ford factories.
Even if union leaders approve the deal, ratification isn’t guaranteed. In 2015, workers voted down the first deal reached with Fiat Chrysler but approved a second one.
Fiat Chrysler apparently is agreeing to the same “pattern” of term as GM and Ford, even though the company’s chief executive said earlier this month that all of the companies are in different labor circumstances. Following the same deal would cost Fiat Chrysler more because the makeup of its workforce is different. FCA has more temporary workers than either GM or Ford, and it also has more so-called second tier, workers hired after 2007, who now make less than workers with more service.
The deal with Ford and GM gives pay raises to workers hired after 2007 so they reach top UAW production wages of more than $32 per hour within four years. It also gives temporary workers a path to full-time jobs within three years.
Ford has about 18,500 workers hired after 2007 who will get big pay raises with the new contract, compared with GM’s 17,000. Fiat Chrysler has over 20,000 union employees hired after 2007.
In addition, about 11% of Fiat Chrysler’s UAW workforce is temporary, while Ford has a cap at 8% and GM is around 7%.
Fiat Chrysler in past years has enjoyed a labor-cost advantage compared with Ford and GM. FCA’s labor costs, including wages and benefits, amounted to $55 per hour going into the contract talks, while they were $61 at Ford and $63 at GM, according to the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank. That compares with an average of $50 per hour at U.S. plants owned by foreign-based automakers.
General Motors last week filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against FCA, alleging that the company bribed UAW officials to get more favorable contract terms than GM. Fiat Chrysler has called the lawsuit “meritless.”
While overall sales for new cars in California dipped in the third quarter, the combined market share for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the Golden State has continued to grow. But is the increase moving at a quick enough pace to reach the goal set by state policymakers for 5 million zero-carbon emission vehicles on California’s roads by 2030?
Overall registrations for light duty vehicles (cars, pickup trucks and SUVs) dropped 5.1% in California through the first nine months of the year compared to the first three quarters of 2018. But electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid sales increased to 7.9% in combined market share during that time frame.
Hybrids without a plug-in are not considered zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, and do not count toward the state’s target of 5 million but if their 5.5% of market share is added, the combined percentage of electric vehicles and all hybrids comes to 13.4% for the third quarter, an all-time high.
“These numbers pretty much track with what we’ve been seeing, and are a continuing sign that there’s a healthy ZEV market developing in California and that the state’s ZEV goals are achievable,” said Dave Clegern, public information officer for the California Air Resources Board, the state agency in charge of improving air quality.
As of Oct. 7, there were 655,088 ZEVs in the state. To reach the 5 million mark, that figure would have to increase almost eightfold in less than 11 years.
The number of ZEVs in California rose 30% from October 2017 to October 2018 (from 377,480 to 491,000) and increased 33.4% between October 2018 and October 2019 (491,000 to 655,088).
“I think the jury is still out” on whether the target can be reached, said Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Assn., the group that released the quarterly numbers.
“You’ve got a lot of models now that have 200-mile range [between charges] and some are even higher than that,” Maas said. “I think for most consumers to make a ZEV their primary car, they have to feel confident they can get it charged wherever they need to.”
There are about 21,000 charging stations statewide and the Air Resources Board has budgeted $1.087 billion in electric vehicle initiatives, with a large share going to building charging stations. The California Public Utilities Commission has set aside almost as much — $1.048 billion, according to a review conducted earlier this year by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Air Resources Board says the transportation sector accounts for the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in California at 41%. The figure is even higher in the city of San Diego — 55%.
In addition to improved range, another potential reason for the uptick in ZEV sales may be higher gasoline prices in California that cracked the $4 per gallon mark at the end of the third quarter.
The Tesla Model 3 has set the pace for ZEV sales. Elon Musk’s more affordable offering has accounted for nearly 50,000 registrations so far this year, making it the third-hottest selling vehicle in California. Only the Honda Civic and the Toyota Camry sold more units through September.
Overall vehicle sales are on a pace to finish the year at 1.91 million registrations, which will break a four-year streak in which sales in California topped the 2 million mark.
“I think a part of it is, a lot of people who had pent-up demand during the Great Recession went out and bought cars,” Maas said, but now demand has petered out.
In addition, the average price for a new car has reached $37,000. That’s roughly a 10% increase in the past three years, which may account for used-car sales going up.
Light trucks drove the increase in sales of used vehicles, 3.8% higher through September than at this time last year.
For years, car sales outpaced those of pickup trucks and SUVs, especially in California. But consumer preferences for roomy vehicles that offer better fuel efficiency than in years past has led to a role reversal.
The decline in sales of new light trucks through September was negligible — off by 0.3%. But new-car registrations in California were down 10.8%.
Nationally, car sales were down 9.8% through September, but light truck sales were up 3.5%.
Nikolewski writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.