October 27, 2006
By Hamp Simmons
Special to the Daily Press
It’s the weekend before Halloween. Witches and ghouls everywhere are busy crafting frightening costumes, erecting horrifying haunted houses, robbing fresh graves and stopping by Trader Joe’s for that great deal they’ve got on eye of newt. Around Santa Monica, along with jack-o-lanterns and spider webs, you’ll be seeing altars laden with gifts of sweets and other food and graves decorated with marigolds in preparation for Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 — los Dias de los Muertos (“the Days of the Dead”). In the meantime, we’ve got plenty of things to keep you entertained, stimulated, provoked and occupied while the spirits prepare for their big day.
The Track 16 Gallery presents a new collection of work by artist/activist Robbie Conal opening at Bergamot. In this new exhibition, Conal combines historical references from wartime Europe with allusions to America’s favorite pastime — baseball — resulting in a biting critique of current political and social attitudes. Those of us accustomed to viewing Conal’s posters as we zip past telephone poles and call boxes will be thrilled to see his work up close in this setting and get an idea of how accomplished the activist is as an artist.
Robbie Conal: Apocalypso Facto
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Track 16 Gallery
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Avenue
(310) 264-4678
The Morgan-Wixson Theatre will be presenting a new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book,” opening this Saturday and playing through Nov. 12. With a script by local playwright Callan Stout, the story will be told using masks, live music, puppets and dance. We all have at least one person in our lives who was apparently raised by wolves. You can bring that person with you to meet Mowgli, the original wolf-child, and after the show, maybe you can feed them to Shere Khan, the tiger!
“The Jungle Book” is a production of YES (Youth Education/Entertainment Series) of the Santa Monica Theatre Guild (a non-profit theatre company since 1946) and made possible in part by the City of Santa Monica Community Arts Grant Program, a project of the Santa Monica Arts Commission.
Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m.
Oct. 28 through Nov. 12.
Morgan-Wixson Theatre
2627 Pico Blvd.
(310) 828-7519
Playbox Theatre’s “The White Album”
There’s a very special event you don’t want to miss that’s happening on Friday night. The Santa Monica Playhouse is hosting their sister theatre, Playbox, and presenting the U.S. premiere of “The White Album,” a love story inspired by myths, legends and fantasies surrounding the making of the Beatles’ album and the very tragic consequences of Charlie Manson’s misinterpretation of the Lennon/McCartney lyrics. It’s a one-night-only extravaganza, with no one under 14 admitted due to mature themes and language.
Playbox Theater of the UK is one of Europe’s leading theatre operations for children and young people. Currently celebrating its 20th year, Playbox’s mission is to develop theatre and performance with young people through multi-disciplinary techniques. Playbox artists range in age from 2 to 25. Its partnership with Santa Monica Playhouse dates back to 1990, and this tour marks their eighth International exchange and performance tour to Santa Monica.
Friday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 Fourth Street
(310) 394-9779 x1
And getting a head start on Day of the Dead festivities, Edison Language Academy will be the locale for the largest Day of the Dead altar exhibit on the Westside. On Saturday afternoon, the school will sponsor a free festival featuring live music by Jesus “Chuy” Perez and his six-piece salsa band, along with children’s entertainment, authentic Mexican food, a costume parade, haunted house, and arts and craft activities. I hear the tamales and pozole are most excellent.
Saturday, Oct. 28
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Edison Language Academy
2425 Kansas Ave.
Did you know ...
• That 89 percent of residents believe that Santa Monica’s arts and culture scene makes the city a better place to raise their children?
• That 86 percent think having creative businesses in the community is important?
• That 83 percent have visited a museum or art gallery in the last year?
Learn more about how important the arts are to the Santa Monica Community at the Creative Capital community workshop and town hall meeting on Nov. 8, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Santa Monica Main Library. We’ll be presenting the first draft of the new cultural plan that will map the future of the arts and culture in our city.
At 4 p.m., people are invited to drop by, read the recommendations posted on the walls and talk to the planners, arts commissioners and city staff about specific items. At 6 p.m., the planners will make a formal presentation of the entire plan, followed by an Arts Commission meeting at 7 p.m.
Comments or suggestions for the Palette? Write to artpalette.mailbox@smgov.net.