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LAEMMLE LIVE presents ACADEMY PHILHARMONIC May 6

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LAEMMLE LIVE proudly presents the Academy Philharmonic, Sunday, May 6, 2018. Middle school students from the woodwind and brass sections of Elemental Music perform chamber music from different genres. Sunday’s program will include Fire Dance by David Shaffer, March (from Second Suite in F) by Gustav Holst, arr. Scott Stanton, Amparito Roca by Jaime Texidor, arr. James Curnow, and additional selections announced from the stage.

Academy Philharmonic is a program of Elemental Music, created to inspire, train, and nurture young musicians in Santa Monica. The organization began in 2004 by a SMMUSD music teacher who wanted to create an opportunity for elementary students to play in an orchestra throughout the school year, make new friends, and get excited about music. Since then, more than 1,000 students have participated in Elemental Music. Initially serving only 25 elementary school students, programs now serve nearly 300 elementary and middle school students in seven different programs this season.

Academy Philharmonic is one of Elemental Music’s newest programs. Comprised of six, seventh, and eighth graders, Academy Philharmonic provides new opportunities for middle schoolers in Santa Monica to experience the thrill of playing in a full orchestra, learning how to listen and blend with new instrument groups, and rehearsing and performing exciting new repertoire selections – all while being coached by some of the best teachers on the westside! Our students work with expert teaching artists to polish their technical skills and dig into the joys of music-making, all in a social setting. We offer many opportunities for student performances throughout the year at three different Elemental Music concerts plus various public events in the Santa Monica community. Elemental Music’s young musicians blossom in their own ways, both socially and musically. This vibrant program inspires a love of music in the hearts of some of the westside’s youngest artists.

Event Details
Sunday, May 6, 2018
11:00 am
Monica Film Center

This is a Free Event
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I LOVE YOU, ALICE B. TOKLAS! 50th Anniversary Screening with Actress Leigh Taylor-Young In Person

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Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a 50th anniversary screening of the hit Peter Sellers comedy from 1968, I LOVE YOU, ALICE B. TOKLAS! The Establishment meets the counterculture in this topical and often uproarious satire that poked fun at many of the conflicts dividing the country during the tumultuous 1960s.

Sellers plays an uptight Los Angeles lawyer whose life unravels when he meets a young hippie, played by Leigh Taylor-Young in her feature film debut.

Hy Averback directed the first screenplay written by Paul Mazursky and Larry Tucker, and the picture’s success allowed Mazursky to make his directorial debut one year later on another swinging sixties comedy, ‘Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.’

The supporting cast includes Oscar winner Jo Van Fleet as Sellers’ intrusive mother, Joyce Van Patten as his befuddled fiancée, along with Herb Edelman, Grady Sutton, Salem Ludwig, and David Arkin.

One of the film’s memorable set pieces revolves around a supply of marijuana brownies that come from a recipe in cultural icon Alice B. Toklas’s famous cookbook. With marijuana now legal in California and in several other states, the film takes on renewed timeliness and may well give happy viewers a contact high.

Back in 1968, Variety declared, “Film blasts off into orbit via top-notch acting and direction.” Pauline Kael, who had recently begun her regular stint reviewing for The New Yorker, called the picture “A giddy, slapdash, entertainingly inconsequential comedy…the picture makes you laugh surprisingly often.” And Leonard Maltin praised this “excellent comedy about the freaking out of mild-mannered L.A. lawyer. Sellers has never been better.” Indeed the film represents one of the highlights of Sellers’ vibrant and diverse list of achievements during the 60s.

Actress Leigh Taylor-Young first came to prominence on the popular ‘Peyton Place’ TV series of the 1960s. Her other films include ‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight,’ which marked one of the first screen roles for Robert De Niro; John Frankenheimer’s ‘The Horsemen,’ co-starring Omar Sharif; the prophetic sci-fi movie, ‘Soylent Green;’ and the suspense thriller ‘Jagged Edge.’ She has worked in the theater and costarred in several popular TV series, including ‘Picket Fences,’ for which she won an Emmy, ‘Dallas,’ and ‘Passions.’ In recent years she has also been active in humanitarian and spiritual activities for the United Nations and other organizations.

I LOVE YOU, ALICE B. TOKLAS! followed by Q&A with Actress Leigh Taylor-Young screens Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 PM at the Royal Theatre in West L.A. Click here for tickets.

Format: DVD

THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS 50th Anniversary Screening on Wednesday, April 18 in Encino, Pasadena, and West LA

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Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present the latest in our Anniversary Classics Abroad program, a 50th anniversary screening of Gillo Pontecorvo’s memorable and still timely political drama, THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS.

The film was an Oscar nominee for best foreign language film of 1966, but it was not released in the United States until 1968, when it received additional nominations for best director and for best original screenplay by Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas. The film was considered so inflammatory that it was not shown in France until 1971.

The picture, filmed in black-and-white to approximate the look of a newsreel, dramatizes Algeria’s war of independence against France. It focuses on the years from 1954 to 1957, when the National Liberation Front began to organize in the Casbah of Algiers to carry out terrorist attacks on civilians as well as the French army. This led to a fierce and brutal counter-insurgency by the French, which meant the battles dragged on for years.

To insure authenticity, Pontecorvo cast the film mainly with non-professional actors recruited in Algeria. The film’s one professional actor, Jean Martin, gave a vivid performance as the complex, intelligent French officer who understands the grievances of the Algerians even as he fights ruthlessly to defeat them. The film’s urgency was heightened by the score of Ennio Morricone.

The film’s influence extended well beyond the cinema. It became a sort of handbook of revolutionary techniques that was studied by many radical groups over the years. Yet in 2003, after the invasion of Iraq, the Pentagon also screened the movie in order to better understand the civil war unleashed in that country.

Many prominent filmmakers–including Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone–all testified to influence of Pontecorvo’s movie on their own work. Critic David Elliott of the San Diego Union Tribune called The Battle of Algiers “perhaps the finest political film of the 1960s.” The LA Weekly’s Ella Taylor agreed that it was “a classic of politically engaged filmmaking.”

Our 50th anniversary screening of THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1968) screens Wednesday, April 18 at 7pm in Encino, Pasadena, and West LA. Click here for tickets.

Format: DCP

Filmmaker Russ Harbaugh and Star Chris O’Dowd Q&A’s for Their Acclaimed LOVE AFTER LOVE Opening Weekend at the Royal.

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LOVE AFTER LOVE filmmaker Russ Harbaugh and actor Chris O’Dowd will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:45 PM screenings at the Royal on Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDSyhfI8C-w

Fred Astaire Double Feature: THE BAND WAGON and EASTER PARADE on April 3 in NoHo, Pasadena, and West LA

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Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present two Fred Astaire musicals in the popular Twofer Tuesday program this Easter holiday season, the 65th anniversary of THE BAND WAGON (1953) paired with, appropriately, the 70th anniversary of EASTER PARADE (1948). Astaire is considered the most influential actor-dancer in the history of motion pictures and television, and both films showcase his bountiful talent and artistry from the Golden Age of the movie musical.

Astaire was coaxed out of retirement to replace an injured Gene Kelly as the lead in Easter Parade, co-starring Judy Garland, who plays a chorus girl he grooms for stardom to take the place of his former dancing partner (Ann Miller in her MGM debut). The period musical comedy, set in 1912, features the Irving Berlin songbook, including such joyful tunes as “Shaking the Blues Away,” “Stepping Out with My Baby,” “A Couple of Swells,” and the title song.

Directed by Charles Walters (Lili), written by Sidney Sheldon and the husband and wife team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett (The Thin Man, Father of the Bride). Also starring Peter Lawford and Jules Munshin. Produced by Arthur Freed (Meet Me in St. Louis, An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain, Gigi). Oscar winner for Best Score of a Musical. Dance legend Gene Kelly later asserted, “the history of dance on film begins with Astaire.”

Astaire missed out on working with Cyd Charisse when she bowed out of Easter Parade, and was replaced by Ann Miller. But Astaire and Charisse got a second chance in 1953 with The Band Wagon, in which Astaire plays a “washed-up” movie star who pairs with a temperamental ballerina (Charisse) in creating a Broadway show. Producer Arthur Freed followed up his paean to the movies, Singin’ in the Rain, with that film’s writers Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who teamed this time with Broadway lyricist Alan Jay Lerner to concoct a sophisticated backstage musical confection. Nanette Fabray and Oscar Levant play characters based on Comden and Green, and are comically supported by Jack Buchanan as a maniacal director.

The memorable score showcases the songs of Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, which include “By Myself,” “Shine on Your Shoes,” Dancing in the Dark,” and the show business anthem, “That’s Entertainment.” Deftly directed by Vincent Minnelli (An American in Paris, Gigi). Bosley Crowther, reviewing the film in The New York Times, praised all the assembled talent, “this witty and literate combination delivers a show that respectfully bids for recognition as one of the best musicals ever made.” Added to the National Film Registry in 1995. The Band Wagon, according to Leonard Maltin, “improves with each viewing.”

Here is a chance to see it back on the big screen in our Twofer Tuesday (two for the price of one) double bill with Easter Parade. Both films will play one day only, April 3, at Laemmle Theatres in NoHo, Pasadena, and West L.A.

For tickets to the 4:45pm EASTER PARADE and the 7pm THE BAND WAGON, click here.

For tickets to the 7pm THE BAND WAGON and 9:15pm EASTER PARADE, click here.

Format: DCP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcyByIPdW18

THE LAST MOVIE STAR Filmmakers Q&A the Royal this Weekend.

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THE LAST MOVIE STAR director Adam Rifkin and producer Neil Mandt will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:10 and 9:40 PM screenings at the Royal on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_lN0-gtWF4

Sebastien Chabot Q&A’s His Gorgeous New Documentary THE GARDENER.

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THE GARDENER filmmaker Sebastien Chabot will participate in a Q&A at the Royal following the 7:30 PM screening on Thursday, March 29.

https://vimeo.com/240237260

LAEMMLE LIVE presents LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC MUSICIANS: UP CLOSE April 8

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LAEMMLE LIVE proudly presents Los Angeles Philharmonic Musicians: Up Close. An ensemble from the Philharmonic performs Mozart Quintet in A major for Clarinet, 2 violins, viola and cello K. 581.  Guest Host: KUSC Announcer Rich Capparela. David Howard, clarinet, Mitchell Newman and Rebecca Reale, violins, Ingrid Hutman, viola, Timothy Loo, cello.

Violinist Mitchell Newman is a native of Los Angeles and joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1987. After studies with Philharmonic violist David Stockhammer, he attended the Curtis Institute of Music, studying with David Cerone, Yumi Ninomya and Aaron Rosand. Newman is a regular participant in the LA Phil’s Chamber Music Society and Green Umbrella series and has had the opportunity to play the Mendelssohn Octet with Joshua Bell, and Thomas Ades’ Piano Quintet with the composer playing piano. He has also recorded the music of Eric Zeisl for Harmonia Mundi, and Stories from My Favorite Planet by Los Angeles composer Russell Steinberg. Currently, Newman teaches privately and coaches orchestra repertoire at the Colburn School. Each year he produces, performs, and narrates a concert in English and Spanish for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at St. Thomas Church. Also yearly, he produces and plays a fundraising chamber music concert for Mental Health America Long Beach and was recognized as a Mental Health Hero by the California State Senate. In the summer of 2010, Newman opened Hilltop Boot Camp: Orchestra Audition Preparation for Strings (playdonjuan.com). He also travels to Ensenada, Mexico to work with the students of the Benning Academy, a program that provides instruments and lessons to children of all economic backgrounds. Newman is President of the Board of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra.

Rebecca Reale born in upstate New York, began studying the violin when she was just two and a half years old. Her passion for music led her to Boston at an early age to attend boarding school for the arts. While she was there, she studied with Muir Quartet member and Boston University professor Peter Zazofsky. She received her Bachelors Degree from Rice University as a full scholarship student, where she studied with Kathleen Winkler. Ms. Reale was a fellow with the New World Symphony for their 2015-2016 season. During her time there, she won the concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major with the orchestra on a subscription concert. Rebecca was the associate principal second violin of the Houston Symphony, and served as acting principal second for the 2016-2017 season.

Violist Ingrid Hutman was born in Los Angeles and earned her Bachelor of Music degree at California State University Northridge, where she studied with Louis Kievman and Heiichiro Ohyama, the Philharmonic’s former Principal Violist. Hutman continued her studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of the Cleveland Orchestra’s Principal Violist, Robert Vernon; she also participated in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute during the 1987 and 1988 seasons.Since she joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1991, Hutman has performed regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Society and the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group. She joined the faculty of the Colburn School of Performing Arts in 1997.

Clarinetist David Howard has been a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1981, when, at age 25, he was hired by then Music Director Carlo Maria Giulini. Over the last few seasons, he has performed and given master classes at international festivals in Tel Aviv, Vancouver, Helsinki, Beijing, London, Stockholm, and Caracas. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, Howard performed as soloist in John Harbison’s Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings under the direction of the composer; he was also the bass clarinet soloist in Iannis Xenakis’ Échange, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. In February 2015 Howard was featured as soloist in the role of the Caterpillar in Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland. Previously, Howard was principal clarinetist with the New Jersey Symphony and the New Haven Symphony. A Los Angeles native, Howard received a B.A. in Russian Literature from Yale University, graduating magna cum laude. Since 1986, he has served on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

Cellist Timothy Loo joined the Lyris Quartet in 2008. A passionate chamber musician, he founded his first quartet, the Denali Quartet, in 1999 while pursuing his Advanced Studies in Cello with Ronald Leonard at the University of Southern California. As a member of the Denali quartet, he participated in masterclasses with the Julliard, Vermeer, and Takacs Quartets. In 1999, Mr. Loo co-founded Mladi, Los Angeles’ conductorless chamber orchestra. He performed with this group until 2008. Mr. Loo has performed in the masterclasses for Yo-Yo Ma, Ronald Leonard, David Geringas, Natalia Gutman, Franz Helmerson, and Bernhard Greenhouse. Mr. Loo has won positions in both Philharmonie der Nationen in Hamburg, Germany, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and New West Symphony. He has also performed with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, New West Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale and is currently the principal cellist of the Long Beach Opera Orchestra, and filled in for cellist Robert de Maine and soloed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in early 2018.

Event Details
Sunday, April 8, 2018
11:00 am
Monica Film Center

WE ARE SOLD OUT
Email sheryl@laemmle.com
For wait-list information

This is a Free Event
RSVP on Eventbrite