What to do in SoCal Arts and Culture This Week (August 17 – 23)
This week’s events mostly focus on lifting up marginalized voices in our Southern California communities. The Latino Theater Company begins a virtual season. Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries talks about what he’s learned by working with former gang members for three decades. Outfest 2020 brings stories of LGBTQ communities to the big and small screen. A Zócalo/NHMLA event commemorates the 19th amendment’s centennial. And the Fowler presents a Thai food cooking lesson online.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m.
The Latino Theater Company’s Fall 2020 Virtual Season
The Latino Theater Company (LTC) Fall 2020 season moves online this season, featuring a combination of archival footage of past, fully staged productions and livestreamed readings of the plays set for onstage production when the pandemic ends. LTC’s special events include live online conversations with company members and readings from the “Unmasking New Works” series. The season opens Tuesday, Aug. 18 with a video presentation of the Latino Theater Company’s 2014 production of "Premeditation" a dark romantic comedy written by resident company playwright, Evelina Fernández, and directed by LTC artistic director, José Luis Valenzuela. All events are available to watch on www.thelatc.org. Free.
Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. PDT
Virtual Gathering: Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries
The Berggruen Institute, an independent think tank based in L.A., presents its latest virtual gathering with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. In the event "The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness," Boyle shares what he’s learned in three decades working with marginalized populations: Love is the answer, community is the context and tenderness is the connective tissue. Free with RSVP.
Thursday, Aug. 20 - Sunday, Aug. 30
Outfest 2020
L.A.’s annual LGBTQ film festival, Outfest 2020, screens more than 160 films — including 35 world premieres — online at www.outfestla2020.com and at a drive-in venue at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. Drive-in screenings will launch with the L.A. premiere of the 2020 film, "The Nowhere Inn," starring musicians Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein in a “reality-bending send-up” of Clark’s musical alter ego, St. Vincent. A mix of pre-recorded and live virtual Q&As are expected with casts and crews of many films throughout the festival. All-access passes start at $59.99; Individual program packages start at $20.
Thursday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.
How Have Women’s Protests Changed History?
Zócalo Public Square and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) team up to present a three-part When Women Vote series to commemorate the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote in 1920. The first event, which will be livestreamed, examines the history of women in protest, from a women’s march on Versailles in 1789 to the women-founded Black Lives Matter movement. Subsequent events are scheduled for later this fall. The discussion series also coincides with the launch of NHM’s initiative and online exhibition, "Rise Up L.A.: A Century of Votes for Women." Free with RSVP.
Friday, Aug. 21 from 4 - 5 p.m. PDT
Global Cuisine Cooking Class with Jitlada Thai Restaurant
The Fowler Museum at UCLA continues its "WorldArts, LocalLives" series with an online cooking lesson featuring Chef Jazz and Chef Sugar Sungkamee from L.A.’s venerated southern Thai restaurant, Jitlada. Learn how to make their famous chili basil stir-fry with tofu and fried rice. Ingredients list and Zoom link will be sent upon RSVP. Free.
Top Image: Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein wrote and star in the mockumentary, "The Nowhere Inn." | Film still: Courtesy of Outfest.
