February 14 – March 3, 2013
A compilation of songs drawn from Kander and Ebb musicals such as Cabaret, Chicago, Funny Lady, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and New York, New York.
8:00 p.m. performances: February 14, 15, 16, 22, & 23
2:30 p.m. performances: February 17 & 24
8:00 p.m. performances: March 1 & 2
2:30 p.m. performance: March 3
ticket prices $35/$30
Downey Civic Theatres January 26, 2013 8:00 PM
Mozart: Divertimento k. 138
Neruda: Concerto for trumpet and Orchestra Conrad Jones, Trumpet
Copland: Quet City Conrad Jones, Trumpet Catherine Del Russo, English Horn
Britten: Simple symphony Op. 4
Downey Civic Theatre
8535 Firestone Blvd.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-7230
December’s Art on the Vine features the artworks of Colin Clarke, Polaris Castillo, and Brian Temporary at Mari’s Wine Bar on Saturday, December 1st. from 7:00 PM to midnight. Along with the art, come out to enjoy music, food, wine, and raffles of works to take home.
Downey Arts Coalition and the Stay Gallery presents a world premiere staged reading of two new plays by Daniel Houston Davila, our local playwright and expert on the Carmelas barrio that was located in Norwalk, CA through the 60’s. The DAC presented two other plays from the series “Borderland: The Carmelas Cycle of Barrio Plays.” back in May, with “La Vida Lucky (1971)” and “El Bobo Bruto.” Alistair Hunter, founding DAC artist, directs the readings.
“PENNEY’S FROM HEAVEN” (1961)
a one-act play by DANIEL HOUSTON DAVILA
directed by ALISTAIR HUNTER
MIXER ~ THEATRE ~ DRINKS ~ COOKIES ~ Q&A
Live Music Performance by THE BLACK PAGES
FREE ADMISSION
Please RSVP, either on Facebook (click here) or email rsvp@www.downeyarts.org. Thank you!
Also presenting an early work-in-progress reading of
PRICE TAGS (1966)
Part of “Borderland: The Carmelas Cycle of Barrio Plays,” set in historical Norwalk, CA, the rural outskirts of Los Angeles.
Cast: Leila Almas, Daniel Houston Davila, Claudia Duran, Linda Lopez, Mario Martinez, Marina Palmier, Jaime Zevallos.
Graphic Designer: William Rademaker
Penney’s From Heaven (1961) follows Nadia Valdez and her desperate hours waiting for her husband to come home whom she believes is gambling away their last hope for Christmas presents for the kids.
Price Tags (1966) finds Sammy Gallardo, a struggling freshman at Cerritos college caught in a dilemma: protect his hemophiliac friend Remi from recklessly damaging his fragile body on a roller coaster at the Pike, or allow him to enjoy his life even if there are consequences.
DAC presented Davila’s other plays in the cycle, La Vida Lucky, and El Bobo Bruto to a packed house at Granata’s this past May.
DAC works to bring plays by local writers here to audiences in Downey to experience a slice of their own community and celebrate our shared experiences.
Downey Arts Coalition and Urban Theatre Movement is sponsoring a benefit comedy & improv show at the Epic Lounge, brought to you by Ivy League Improv, with special guests Cherry Spitz Comedy and more: “Laughing Around the Christmas Tree.”
Sunday afternoon, December 9th, 3PM. This is an all-ages show, so bring the family. The cover charge is a new, unwrapped Toy ($10 minimum) to donate to the Downey Exchange Club Family Resource Center, which has worked here for 20 years to support families in need and prevent child abuse.
Epic Lounge is hosting the event, located at 8239 2nd Street, next to LA Buns and the Bumblebee “Slices” mural.
The Downey Arts Coalition is proud to be involved in the Whittier Cultural Arts Foundation’s annual art exhibit, November 16th and 17th at Parnell Park in Whittier.
The Downey Civic Theatre is on its second season of it’s new management, and has put together a wide variety of entertainment options for is 2012-2013 season. So far we have seen the National Circus of the People’s Republic of China, as well as a concert by rock legend Eddie Money.
Here are the shows on the horizon (from their press release):
On Friday November 30, 2012 at 8 p.m. the Downey Civic Theatre presents an evening of music with legendary Latin Jazz musician Arturo Sandoval. A protégé of the one and only Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval has garnered numerous Grammy awards for his albums and his work in television and film. As well as playing trumpet, he is also a classically trained pianist who has performed with the most respected orchestras in the world. Arturo Sandoval is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time.
“A Peter White Christmas” featuring Rick Braun & Mindi Abair is coming to the Downey Theatre on Wednesday, December 19th2012 at 8:00pm. Smooth jazz lovers eagerly await this annual concert featuring Peter White, an extraordinary and fluent acoustic guitarist whose skills are world-renowned. Mindi Abair is a double-edged talent with her fluid saxophone and emotive vocals. Rick Braun is a masterful trumpet/flugelhorn player whose warm tones transform the simplest melody into a work of art. They have each separately sold millions of records and their combined fans will appreciate this special performance of Christmas music.
Los Lonely Boys, the rock power trio, will be live in concert on Wednesday, February 27th 2013 at 8:00pm. After proving themselves one of the most stunning and wonderful musical success stories of the last decade, Los Lonely Boys are now carving out their legend with their fourth studio album Rockpango. They soar with previous hits “Fly Away,” rip it up to percolating Latin beats on “Love In My Veins” and “Baby Girl,” and their debut single “Heaven” was a number one hit on the Billboard adult contemporary chart and reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Dance Brazil” has thrilled audiences with its dazzling artistry for over thirty years, across the United States and throughout the world, and they will perform at the Downey Civic Theatre on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 8 p.m. Dance Brazil uses contemporary dance and Capoeira, the traditional dance/martial arts form that has its origins in Africa and evolved in colonial Brazil. The dancers and musicians of Dance Brazil never fail to enthrall audiences with the company’s unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement.
An American vocal quartet whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes, The Four Tops appear on Saturday May 18, 2013. This Hall of Fame group is a towering testament to the enduring legacy of the Motown Sound they helped define for many decades with dozens of hit songs including “Baby I Need Your Loving”, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”.
Tickets are on sale now. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and one hour before show time. For upcoming events or information call the box office at (562) 861-8211 or online at www.DowneyTheatre.com.
The Downey Civic Theatre also offers the Marquee Club, an exclusive membership that allows members to take “ownership” of the seat of their choice, including the right to purchase tickets prior to the on-sale date to the general public. Members also receive advance notification of added shows throughout the season. To become a member or for more information call the box office at (562) 861-8211 or stop by during normal box office hours.
Also, the Downey Civic Theatre has a wonderful volunteer program for those seeking to support the theatre with their time. Find out how you can volunteer and support the arts by calling (562) 861-8211.
Third Thursdays poetry returns November 15th with a featured reading by poet Daniel McGinn, and an open mic hosted by curator Lorine Parks.
Daniel McGinn, one of Southern California’s most esteemed poets, has been a part of the Greater Los Angeles poetry scene since 1995. “Old school,” “skinless honesty” “frequently surreal”, his poems appear in his newest collection, ONE THOUSAND BLACK UMBRELLAS. He co-authored The Shape of Her Back with Paul Suntup. Married to poet Lori McGinn, he has co-authored a book with her, Chemistry Set.
my prayers follow me around like a bread crumb trail
my prayers end abruptly
my prayers are swallowed by birds
from “Stand me up”
7:45 PM at Mari’s Wine Bar, 8222 Firestone Blvd. Downey, CA 90241
Downey is home to one of the top rehabilitation facilities in the country, Rancho Los Amigos Hospital off of Imperial and Rives. Their extensive use of the visual and performing arts as a tool of healing has had a powerful impact on the lives of its patients over the years. The Downey Arts Coalition this year featured the work of a founder of the show, Steve Clay, who himself was an artist that lost his physical ability only to have it come storming back through his treatment at Rancho Los Amigos.
The annual “Art of Rancho” exhibit is coming November 7th 6PM to 9PM. To RSVP for the opening reception, call 562-401-7651 before November 1st (12 & over please, dress is business attire). The exhibit is held in the Rancho Support Services Annex, and features the works of 40 Rancho “graduate” artists.
To view samples of the work from 2011, visit the Rancho Los Amigos website events page.
