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What to do in SoCal Arts and Culture This Week (August 10 - 16)

Nisei Week goes online this year. | Neon Tommy/Flickr/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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There’s something for everyone this week, with history, art, culture and theater taking center stage. Tune in to a book discussion about L.A. in the ’60s. Watch a comedy sendup of “Reversal of Fortune” or players from Towne Street create theater of the moment. At Self Help Graphics, artists talk about their practices during the pandemic, and Little Tokyo celebrates Nisei Week — virtually.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 from 7 - 8 p.m. 
Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties

Writers Bloc Presents a live streamed conversation between Mike Davis and Jon Wiener, authors of the book “Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties,” and Robin Kelley, the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA. Much more than a pretty face on camera, Los Angeles in the 1960s was a national center of activism and revolt. This Writers Bloc talk also takes place on the 55th anniversary of the start of the Watts Rebellion. The book is available at partner bookstore Eso Won Bookstore. Free.

Book cover of "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties." | Courtesy of Verso Books.
Book cover of "Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties." | Courtesy of Verso Books.

Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 7 - 8:15 p.m.
Artist Lab: In the Studio

Self Help Graphics’ Artist Lab: In the Studio is a monthly Facebook Live session taking audiences behind-the-scenes of art practices, aiming to bring the art community together during this time of social isolation. Artist Álvaro Márquez chats with artists Miyo Stevens-Gandara and Juan de Dios Mora about their work and how it’s been impacted by the pandemic. They’ll also share new works and their processes.

Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 - 6:30 p.m. PDT
When Sunny Went Blue” 

Dynasty Typewriter presents a live streamed camp comedy play by Justin Sayre. It’s a satirical take on the 1990 film “Reversal of Fortune” (with Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close) and the Sunny Von Bulow case that inspired it. “When Sunny Went Blue” opens on troubled socialite Sunny VonCliesdorf as she lies in a vegetative state. Her husband, Klaus VonCliesdorf, has been convicted of trying to kill his wife, but did he do it? Dun. Dun. Dun. Tickets: $15 - $20.

Saturday, Aug. 15 - Sunday, Aug. 16
Nisei Week Japanese Festival 

Nisei Week goes online this year. | Neon Tommy/Flickr/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Nisei Week goes online this year. | Neon Tommy/Flickr/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Little Tokyo’s annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival goes virtual this year, bringing Japanese culture to homes everywhere. The weekend of activities includes music, culinary demos, cultural presentations and programming from the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Watch sketch comedy by Cold Tofu, a special interview with the 2019 Nisei Week court, a kids’ cooking workshop with YouTuber Easy Peasy Jordan and an adult class with legendary chef, Akira Hirose. Finally, everyone can dance the Ondo together. Tune in via Facebook and YouTube. Free.

Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 16; 4 p.m.
“Corona and Other Maladies”

Towne Street Theatre presents six timely works in Corona and other Maladies. | Courtesy of Towne Street Theatre
Towne Street Theatre presents six timely works in Corona and other Maladies. | Courtesy of Towne Street Theatre

L.A.’s premiere African American theater company, Towne Street Theatre, presents “Corona and Other Maladies” live on Zoom. This collection of six short plays explores life in this weird year. The actors bring the words to life with costumes and sets from their own homes. This is a pay-what-you-can show, and the Zoom link will be emailed 12 hours before the show.

Top Image: Nisei Week goes online this year. | Neon Tommy/Flickr/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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