Headlines : A Prolific and Award-winning Lighting Designer Offers Some 'Sayeg' Advice    |   Writer, Director Matt Ritchey Talks Mr. Malcolm's Music Factory    |   California Arts Council Arts Grants Deadline Extended A Week    |   Hollywood Fringe Show Highlight "The Annie Sprinkle Project"    |   Garry Marshall Theatre’s 5th Annual New Works Festival Submissions Open March 1    |   Interview with Deborah Robin on LOVE, LINDA: THE LIFE OF MRS. COLE PORTER    |   Interview with Vanessa White of Classic Thriller WAIT UNTIL DARK at Theatre Palisades    |   Leela Dance Collective presents ReSound, a 5-day celebration of kathak dance    |   NOISES OFF Returns and Proves Whatever Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong!    |   The Troubies Return and Present LIZASTRATA Outdoors at The Getty Villa in Malibu    |   Interview: Rachel Parker on her World Premiere of ‘The Wolfe & The Bird’    |   Ashton's Audio Interview: Willow Geer (Laurie from Law & Order: LA)    |   Ashton's Audio Interview: Jackie Nicole    |   

Writer: Joan Alperin

(41) reviews (64) posts
Joan was born in Brooklyn and spent many years working as an actress in New York City. Even though she traveled extensively, Joan couldn't imagine living anywhere else.. Well one day, she met someone at a party who regaled her with stories about living in L. A. specifically Topanga Canyon. A few weeks later she found herself on an airplane bound for Los Angeles. Joan immediately fell in love with the town and has been living here for the last twenty years and yes, she even made it to Topanga Canyon, where she now resides, surrounded by nature, deer, owls and all kinds of extraordinary alien creatures.. Joan continued acting, but for the last several years (besides reviewing plays and film) she has been writing screenplays. Joan was married to a filmmaker who created the cult classic films, (way before she knew him) Faces of Death.

JOAN OF ART: A House is definitely a Home, Let’s Go Surfing, A Delicious Feast, and Comedy is Back at the Hudson

I know staying home and watching the news can make some of us feel that it is dangerous out there, but I promise with the help of some hand sanitizer, you’ll all be fine. Plus the events this week are certainly worth the trek away from your house. And speaking of home that’s exactly what … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: A House is definitely a Home, Let’s Go Surfing, A Delicious Feast, and Comedy is Back at the Hudson


JOAN OF ART: The Mormons are Back, A Musical that’s Worth a Trip, A Visit to the Iconic Grand Central Market, and Get Ready to Dance, Dance, Dance

There’s a lot of super fun things going on this weekend and I’m going to try my best to be at every one of them. First up THE BOOK OF MORMON is opening at the Ahmanson Theatre at 135 North Grand Avenue downtown. I’ve seen this musical (are you ready?) four times over the last … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: The Mormons are Back, A Musical that’s Worth a Trip, A Visit to the Iconic Grand Central Market, and Get Ready to Dance, Dance, Dance


JOAN OF ART: The L.A. Art Show, A Poignant and Important Musical, Sneakers Everyone and The Constitution

There are a lot of super fun things happening this weekend in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas starting with the L.A. Art Show. The L.A. Art Show continues to lead the way with innovative and one of a kind experiences for an expanding audience. The show is the unparalleled international art experience with over … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: The L.A. Art Show, A Poignant and Important Musical, Sneakers Everyone and The Constitution


JOAN OF ART: A Magnificent Dance Company, photo l.a., an Iconic Rock Group and Guy Ritchie at His Best

Even though most people will have their minds on Super Bowl Sunday, there are still a lot of other fun things to do this upcoming weekend starting with seeing The Lula Washington Dance Theatre. I’ve seen them many times in the past and they never cease to blow me away. They are that good! Lula … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: A Magnificent Dance Company, photo l.a., an Iconic Rock Group and Guy Ritchie at His Best


JOAN OF ART: Lots of Laughs in Long Beach, Dance at The Odyssey, 90’s Beer Festival and One GroundBreaking Play

Even though the holidays are over there are still plenty of fun things to do, starting with the LONG BEACH COMIC FESTIVAL held at the Long Beach Convention Center. This is a celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators, and creators of all types of … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: Lots of Laughs in Long Beach, Dance at The Odyssey, 90’s Beer Festival and One GroundBreaking Play


JOAN OF ART: THE END OF A CINEMATIC SAGA, MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE, AND THE JELLICLES ARE BACK (MEOW)

Well first I have to say, besides reviewing films, I’m in the Writers Guild so this is the time of year I’ve seen so many films that they are all starting to blend together except for a few outstanding ones, which I’ve mentioned in my columns in the past. To remind you: FORD VS. FERRARI, … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: THE END OF A CINEMATIC SAGA, MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE, AND THE JELLICLES ARE BACK (MEOW)


JOAN OF ART: ‘A Christmas Carole King’, A Powerful ControversIal Film, Mesmerica -A Visual Music Journey, and Christmas On the Seas

It’s the most BEAUTIFUL time of the year and for their 18th annual holiday offering, the ridiculously talented TROUBIES, who I’ve seen more times than I can remember, is presenting A CHRISTMAS CAROLE KING. The show adapted and directed by Matt Walker has combined the soulful sounds of songstress Carole King with one of the … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: ‘A Christmas Carole King’, A Powerful ControversIal Film, Mesmerica -A Visual Music Journey, and Christmas On the Seas


JOAN OF ART: An Immersive Nutcracker, Bob’s Annual Holiday Office Party, and Santasia – A Holiday Comedy

It’s that time of month where most of the events coming up have a holiday theme that has absolutely nothing at all to do with shopping which for me is a good thing. I am so burnt out from hearing about all the sales going on. So if you would like another way to spend … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: An Immersive Nutcracker, Bob’s Annual Holiday Office Party, and Santasia – A Holiday Comedy


JOAN OF ART – A Musical About Love, Winter Fun in Downtown LA, A Thousand Lights at Union Station and A Poignant, Raw, Beautifully Written, Directed, and Acted Film

After you have stuffed yourselves with delicious food, and visited friends and family, here are some fun things you might want to do that does not include eating or shopping. First up is the return of LOVE ACTUALLY LIVE at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. This is their biggest, record-breaking hit of … Continue reading JOAN OF ART – A Musical About Love, Winter Fun in Downtown LA, A Thousand Lights at Union Station and A Poignant, Raw, Beautifully Written, Directed, and Acted Film


JOAN OF ART: A Film About Two Great Men With a Dream, A Rocking Rocker From The Past, A Beautiful Garden of Lights, and A Night of Comedy

As everyone gets ready for Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) and shops for sales online and the old fashion way (in retail stores), there are many fun things to do this upcoming weekend to relieve the stress of it all. First, one of my favorite films of the year (yes I’ve said that before, but the … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: A Film About Two Great Men With a Dream, A Rocking Rocker From The Past, A Beautiful Garden of Lights, and A Night of Comedy


JOAN OF ART – A Concert to Celebrate, Remember and Honor All The Animals We Have Loved & Lost, Gravity and Other Myths, and a Musical Legend

As you probably know from my previous event recommendations, I absolutely love animals. In fact, I have to pet every dog I meet on the street so needless to say, I can’t wait to see RACHEL FULLER’S ANIMAL REQUIEM, a concert to celebrate animals. The concert presented by CAP UCLA in collaboration with Harvey Goldsmith … Continue reading JOAN OF ART – A Concert to Celebrate, Remember and Honor All The Animals We Have Loved & Lost, Gravity and Other Myths, and a Musical Legend


JOAN OF ART: An Iconic Musical, A Three Weekend Celebration of Food, Music & Beer, Halloween Scares & Another Kind Of Culinary Food Festival

Fall is upon us which means the start of a long holiday season, but before we get to that, there’s one of my favorite musicals opening on October 18th at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, THE MUSIC MAN. This beloved Meredith Wilson musical, which I personally have seen many times throughout the years, including the … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: An Iconic Musical, A Three Weekend Celebration of Food, Music & Beer, Halloween Scares & Another Kind Of Culinary Food Festival


JOAN OF ART – Chills & Scares, An Iconic Singer, Songwriter and Poet, A Rock Group That’s Still Rocking & More Halloween Fun For The Whole Family

For the past five years, every Halloween, I find myself having the intense need to be scared and the place that fulfills that desire is found on the Queen Mary where they put on one of the most creative and terrifying Halloween event entitled DARK HARBOR. This is the ultimate SCREAM festival. You walk through … Continue reading JOAN OF ART – Chills & Scares, An Iconic Singer, Songwriter and Poet, A Rock Group That’s Still Rocking & More Halloween Fun For The Whole Family


A Dark, Disturbing but Relevant Film, A Classic Play, Music That Will Have You Up On Your Feet and Get Ready To Laugh

To quote the Joker, ‘What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash?’ ‘You get what you f-ing deserve.’ That about sums up the brilliant, dark, disturbing, profound film JOKER directed by Todd Phillips who also wrote it along with Scott Silver. … Continue reading A Dark, Disturbing but Relevant Film, A Classic Play, Music That Will Have You Up On Your Feet and Get Ready To Laugh


JOAN OF ART: Never Is Now – A Powerful Play, A Must See Film About A True Legend and a Night of Magic

What makes a play memorable? For me it’s one that moves me emotionally and one that makes me think. NEVER IS NOW is just such a play. There are some events in history that are very hard to visit, but at the same time, it’s so important that we do just that, which brings me … Continue reading JOAN OF ART: Never Is Now – A Powerful Play, A Must See Film About A True Legend and a Night of Magic

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