ARTS & EVENTS

Ukrainian Voices

City Garage Theatre reads war-time works by playwrights in Ukraine

By Bridgette M. Redman

While Ukrainian playwright Andrii Bondarenko says the primary help that Ukraine needs are heavy weapons, there are other things that people in Los Angeles can do to help Ukrainians in their resistance against the Russian invasion. John Freedman, an American journalist who worked for many years in Moscow as an arts writer, is now organizing Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings that showcase the work of contemporary Ukrainian playwrights—all plays that have been written since Feb. 24 of this year when the invasion began. They promote the work of playwrights who are speaking out against the war. There will be more than 100 readings of 68 plays being read in 18 different countries by more than 50 theater companies. The first local reading took place at the Ghost Road Theater Company on April 27 and the next one is at City Garage Theatre at 4 p.m., May 15 at their space in Bergamot Station. City Garage’s artistic director, Frédérique Michel, and executive director, Charles A. Duncombe, wanted to find a way to help the Ukrainian people. Since the pandemic started, they’ve produced “Animal Farm,” a podcast in which Steven Leigh Morris discusses theater and politics with guests. In a recent episode, he hosted Freedman, who had written for the Moscow Times and whose wife is a Russian actress. The week before that he hosted Bondarenko. “John Freedman’s translated a great many of the plays,” Duncombe said. “There’s some 68 plays, I think, at this point. He’s pretty much spearheaded the project.” The six plays being read on May 15 are: • “A Dictionary of Emotions in War Time” by Elena Astaseva, translated from the Russian by Freedman • “The Russian Soldier” by Ihor Bilyts, translated by Freedman • “Survivor’s Syndrome Bondarenko,” translated from the Ukrainian by Freedman with Natalia Bratus • “Call Them by Their Names” by Tetyana Kitsenko, translated from the Ukrainian by Freedman with Bratus • “Relocation” by Maksym Kurochkin, translated from the Russian by Freedman • “My Tara” by Liudmyla Tymoshenko, translated from the Ukrainian by Freedman Freedman helped City Garage select the plays. Bondarenko has written multiple plays, including a different one that was read at the Ghost Road readings. “Andrii Bondarenko is one of

On May 15 at 4 p.m., City Garage Theatre will present an afternoon of readings as part of the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings project, which is using the work of Ukrainian playwrights to raise humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine.

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Ukraine’s major playwrights,” Duncombe said. “So, we were particularly interested in doing one of Andrii’s plays. All of the writers are still (in Ukraine). Some of them are in occupied cities, others are in Kyiv or Lyiv, but they’re right in the midst of it. You seldom get such a ferocious artistic response in the moment. We feel gratified that we have the opportunity to share these voices with people here.” The plays encompass different themes and a range of wartime experience. They include such things as a Russian war widow coping with the ghost of her dead husband, a poetic exploration of the emotions that come with survival, the fear of what is happening to people being deported into Russia or escaping the country as refugees. “The thing that unites them is this sense of bafflement,” Duncombe said. “Why has this happened in this unprovoked attack, the sort of outrage of the inhumanity of it. Then this sense of the humanitarian tragedy of something like this happening in our time.” Michel has a company of around 45 actors. She reached out to see who would be available to perform these plays and was able to cast eight of them—four men and four women, including one who is part Russian and part Ukrainian. The performers are Simon Adams, Angela Beyer, Brandon Lill, Devin Davis-Lorton, Schyuler Girion, Nastasia Koulich, Anthony Sannazzaro and Jake Soss. One of the stipulations Freedman made in making these plays available was that the events had to be fundraisers that directly benefited Ukrainian organizations. The three organizations who will benefit from the event are Ukrainian Emergency Performing Arts Fund, Children’s Stories, and Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine. Everyone attending the event is encouraged to make a minimum donation of $25, all of which will be divided evenly among the three organizations. “We feel kind of honored to be able to help support these playwrights and to raise money for causes within Ukraine,” Duncombe said. While the event will be live There will be more than 100 readings of 68 plays in 18 different countries by more than 50 local theater companies.

and in person, they will record the readings. Freedman is posting recordings so that they can be shared globally. City Garage will also post the recording on their website. “We just hope that people can come out and experience it,” Duncombe said. “We’re asking for a minimum $25 donation, but it’s going to a wonderful cause. It’s some small way to help in a terrible situation.”

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Premier Entertainment

BeachLife Festival pairs fine dining, music

By Alex Gallagher

Allen Sanford dreaded having to sit through traffic and meander his way through Downtown Los Angeles to see a show at The Greek or The Hollywood Bowl He was also fed up with concert promoters scheduling shows west of Interstate 405, away from, what he called, the mecca of culture and taste making. “I selfishly thought that if I could figure out how to throw an event that I didn’t have to drive to and could skateboard to it, that would be pretty rad,” Sanford said. As a restaurateur with a portfolio spanning 14 eateries, Sanford wanted to offer a festival coupled with a culinary experience.

“I was talking to some friends when I started this and we talked about how cool it would be to have a restaurant on the side of the stage,” he said. Sanford then considered locations, like Redondo Beach, where he often surfs, swims and spends time with his daughter. This plans came to fruition in 2019 when BeachLife Festival was born. He wanted to keep the party going, but the great COVID-19 interrupter buried the festival in 2020 leaving Sanford feeling uncertain about 2021. BeachLife Festival returned last year, and the 2022 iteration is Friday, May 13, and Sunday, May 15, in Redondo Beach. This year’s line-up includes Weezer, Black Pumas, 311, Cold War Kids, The Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, Capital Cities, Phantom Planet and Sheryl Crow. “This is the third year we’ve done this and last year we were one of the first festivals back from the pandemic,” Sanford said. “Everything ended up turning out like something out of a storybook. Attendance was great. People wanted to have a good time and smile. We were overly cautious with our COVID-19 protocols and the artistry that we put together overdelivered on the day.” Heading into this year’s festival, Sanford aimed to curate a diverse lineup. “What we’re trying to do is book according to the emotion that you have at a festival rather than book a bunch of good bands,” Sanford said. “Friday is when you’re usually amped and have a ton of energy. Our Friday night is high-level, raging party music. Saturday is like a day off from work, hanging out with friends and having a good time with enjoyable music. Sunday is more of the music lovers day,

PHOTO CREDIT: JP CORDERO

Restaurateur Allen Sanford is the co-founder of BeachLife Festival, which takes place May 13 to 15.

where it’s maybe a little more musically advanced or nostalgic as you round out the weekend.” With headline acts ranging classic rock to reggae to pop, each day offers a blend of sounds and experiences. “It’s already enough fun going to the beach with your friends on the weekend but when you add on these bands, it goes to the next level,” Sanford said. BeachLife will host three stages—two for headliners, and one for smaller acts. The fourth space pays homage to one of California’s most celebrated genres. “The fourth stage is the speakeasy stage where we’re displaying our punk rock roots through acoustic sets to where we can focus more on the artist’s songwriting chops rather than the loud distorted guitars,” Sanford said. In addition to offering a stacked lineup on the stage, BeachLife will offer an experience that sets it apart from other festivals. “The dining part is key to the whole puzzle,” Sanford said. “Dining is one of those things that goes hand in hand with live music. Imagine having a five-course dinner from a Michelin Star chef while you’re 20 feet from Billy Corgan sipping on amazing wine on the beach at night. That’s about as cool as it gets.” Michelin Star chefs will feel like rock stars, too. “I just like that whole creativity that goes along with the culinary arts and the musical arts and putting those things together,” Sanford said. He hopes the event will be memorable for everyone involved. “If anybody from around the country comes and has this experience, I would think that it becomes one of their treasured memories or one of their moments in time that they’re going to share for the next 30 years,” he said.

BeachLife Festival

WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday, May 13, and 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15 WHERE: Redondo Beach, 137 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach COST: Tickets start at $159 for single-day general admission tickets INFO: beachlifefestival.com for set times

Timeless Music

Everclear’s Art Alexakis to perform at BeachLife Festival

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

Adversity has played a role in the success of Everclear’s Art Alexakis. The 60-year-old singer battled drug problems and a rocky relationship with his father. Lately, he’s battled multiple sclerosis and spinal problems. He looks back on Everclear’s 30 years and understands what made the “Santa Monica” band successful. “My adversity helped me,” said Alexakis, who’s been gluten free for a decade. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without that adversity. I needed it to get the fire in my belly.” Alexakis will cover Everclear’s three-decade career and his solo material during a stop at BeachLife Festival, set for Friday, May 13, to Sunday, May 15. He will perform at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14, on the SpeakEasy Stage presented by Jack Daniel’s. Later in the summer, Everclear will embark on an East Coast jaunt in support of its anniversary. The support acts are The Nixons and Fastball. “I’m going to play the hits and fan favorites at BeachLife,” he said. “Anyone who wants to request a certain song can hit me up on Twitter. If I can do it, I’ll do it. It’s about an hour-long set. I might break out one or two from my solo record that I put out a couple years ago.” In celebration of Everclear’s 30 years, fans will see a humorous video that shows Santa Monica. It’s a teaser for a Matt Pinfield-hosted retrospective video with photos and clips. “You’ll see all the bad hairstyles I’ve had over the years and my horrible choices in clothing,” he said. “It’s pretty stunning.” Also in honor of Everclear’s career is the reissue of its debut, “World of Noise,” which the band made for $400 in 1992. “I was living in Portland (Oregon) with the mother of my eldest daughter,” he said. “She became my second wife. We lived in San Francisco together. When she got pregnant, we moved to Portland. We had family there. “We were poor on welfare and playing in Everclear at night in little clubs. I was digging a garden for a friend of hers for an extra $100, which was a big deal at the time.” Alexakis saw a “hipster-looking dude going in and out of the garage.” Assuming he was a drug dealer, Alexakis flagged him over. “He said, ‘Aren’t you in that band Everclear?’” Alexakis recalled. “I have a studio that you can use for $10 an hour. I jumped the fence to go over and look at it.” Alexakis traded $400 in equipment, like effects pedals he wasn’t using, for studio time. “World of Noise” was born. His love of music has carried on to his children. Alexakis and Everclear pride themselves on releasing timeless music. His daughter enjoys that type of music, especially Led Zeppelin. “I remember for my daughter’s 12th or 13th birthday, I bought her a turntable,” he said. “She liked my friend’s turntable. I bought her ‘Led Zeppelin II.’ “She puts it on and cranks it up. She listens to ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and says, ‘This is awesome.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is. It’s timeless.’ When that riff starts — to this day — my blood pumps. It’s intrinsic. I don’t want to sound like a hippy, but drums go back thousands of years. That tribal, pulsing beat and rhythm is amazing. For someone to say my music is timeless, I’m very grateful. I just never cared about sounding like the next guy.” Alexakis now lives with his family in Pasadena, after deciding he wanted to reside somewhere warm. He said he never thought he would love the quaint homes and shops of Pasadena. “We wanted to move somewhere warm, after living in Portland for 21 years,” he said. His wife, Vanessa, is a Tucson native, but the two couldn’t move there as Alexakis can’t tolerate the Arizona heat. “With my MS, it’s too hot for me,” he said. “I can’t be that hot. It gets in the 90s now. This whole global warming thing that the kids are talking about, they might have something there.”

PHOTO CREDIT: ASHLEY OSBORN

Everclear singer Art Alexakis will cover the band’s three-decade career and his solo material during a stop at BeachLife Festival.

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