An Artsy Sampling of Summer Events

The following is a sampling of summer arts events suggested by critics and program directors for families. All performances are evenings unless otherwise stated. Please check specific performances and exhibits to be sure they’re appropriate for your family.

PERFORMING ARTS

Coronet Theater/Hollywood

(213) 659-6415, (213) 480-3232

“Bother!”--The readings of A. A. Milne’s children’s works.

Hollywood Bowl

(213) 850-2000

July, August and September--Preview concerts for families are “lighter and lower-priced.”

July 1--”From Russia With Pops” (Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov).

July 2--”The Great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concert.”

July 3--”American Holiday Marathon.” (The Los Angeles Philharmonic and L.A. Philharmonic Institute join for five hours of classic American music.)

July 4th--Family Fireworks concert.

Also for families--Sunday Sunset concerts (earlier performances and lower-priced tickets): Gershwin, “An Evening of Lerner and Loewe,” “Disneyland Spectacular” and “Great American” concert with fireworks.

Japan America Theater

(213) 628-2725

Aug. 14-16--The Great Leap dance troupe. Modern dance rooted in Japanese-American tradition.

The Joffrey Ballet

(213) 972-7642

(In addition to specific story ballets, a mixed bill--because of its variety--is a good way to introduce children to ballet. The repertory pieces that are particularly appropriate for youngsters are described.)

Oct. 2, 4, 7, 15 and 18 (2 p.m.)--Mixed bill: “The Dream” (takeoff of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” colorful costuming), “Monotones I and II” (very modern, simple), “Les Patineurs” (a Victorian skating party), “La Fille Mal Gardee” (a light, humorous, classic ballet with farm-yard scene, animals and a Maypole-type dance).

Oct. 10, 11 (2 p.m. and evening)--”La Fille Mal Gardee.”

Long Beach Civic Light Opera

(213) 435-7605

July 25-Aug. 9--”Anything Goes,” with Helen Reddy. (Typical 1930s musical comedy with “laughs and good tunes.”)

Los Angeles Civic Light Opera

(213) 469-8288

August--Bolshoi Ballet. World-renowned ballet troupe performs.

Mark Taper Forum

(213) 972-7211

Through June 21--”Roza” (musical about a retired Parisian madam who saves abandoned children; preteens and older).

Aug. 30, previews begin--”Babbitt: A Marriage” (based on Sinclair Lewis’ 1930s American classic; preteens and older).

Orange County Performing Arts Center

(Costa Mesa)

(714) 556-2787

June 5--The Irvine Symphony presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore.”

Aug. 21 and 22--Moon Festival Gala Cultural Celebration (Chinese songs, dances and musicians).

South Bay Center for the Arts

(at El Camino College in Torrance)

(213) 532-3670

May 30--Victor Borge’s “Carmen” (Borge’s humorous approach to the traditional opera, “Carmen”).

Sunday Concerts in the Park (Agoura)

(818) 706-8380

June 7, 2 p.m.--INCA (Peruvian musicians and dance troop).

July 5, 2 p.m.--Aman Folk Ensemble.

Aug. 2, 2 p.m.--Loretta Livingstone & Dancers.

UCLA Center for the Performing Arts

(213) 825-2953

May 31--American Youth Symphony performs Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Bartok.

June 13--Aman Folk Ensemble.

July 8 through Aug. 16--Musical Comedy L.A. (Annual program.) Plays recommended for families--”Boys From Syracuse” (based on Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors”) and “Leave It to Jane” (a bit of “The Music Man”). Both recommended for preteens and older.

VISUAL ARTS

California Afro-American Museum

(Exposition Park)

(213) 744-7432. Call for special family programs.

Now through September--”Allensworth: An Enduring Dream” (docent pretends to be resident of Allensworth as he takes tours through this recreated all-black California township).

Now through Aug. 14--”Portrayal of the Black Musician in American Art” (caricatures, cartoons and music From the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.)

Craft and Folk Art Museum (mid-Wilshire)

(213) 937-5544. Call for special family programs.

June 9-Aug.16--”Liberties With Liberty” (how women came to represent liberty in American folk art).

J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu)

(213) 459-7611. Call for special family programs.

The setting of the museum (a recreated Italian villa) adds to the presentation of pieces from antiquity. Gallery teachers think most exhibits are good for families. These include the Decorative Arts Collection, Paintings from the 12th Century to the early 20th Century, and the Antiquities Collection (artifacts from ancient life).

Junior Arts Center Gallery, (Barnsdall Park)

(213) 485-4474. Call for special family programs.

Through July 14--”International Children’s Art Collection” (3,500 works from 13-18-year-olds from 45 nations).

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (mid-Wilshire)

(213) 857-6134. Call for special family programs.

Now through July 19--”Contemporary Ceramics: From the Smits Collection” (many animals in collection).

Now through July 5--”Treasures of the Holy Land: Ancient Art From the Israel Museum” (Dead Sea Scrolls and 150 other world-famous antiquities).

Now through July 12--”Degas to Picasso: Modern Masters From the Smooke Collection” (colorful and dramatic).

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (Barnsdall Park)

(213) 485-4581

Now through June 21--”The Other Gods: Containers of Belief.” (A multimedia exhibit from a variety of cultures. Two special family days are June 7 and June 14.)

Museum of Contemporary Art and the Temporary

Contemporary (downtown)

(213) 626-6222

July 28-Sept. 20--”Elizabeth Murray: Paintings and Drawings” (shapes that suggest punctuation marks, lots of color).

Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)

(818) 449-6840

Master bronzes by Degas are recommended for all family members. Other family fare: Paul Klee exhibit, sculptures by Henry Moore and Rodin, and the Southeast Asia exhibit.

Southwest Museum (Highland Park)

(213) 221-2164

May 29-Sept. 6--”When the Rainbow Touches Down” (paintings from the tribes of the Southwest, 1920s through 1950s).

FAMILY AND YOUTH PROGRAMS

Junior Programs of California.

Started in the mid-1950s, Junior Programs are aimed at families with children ages 5 to 12, to encourage theater arts as a family form of entertainment. All programs are on weekends.

Seasons vary; most of the Junior Programs run from October through April. Check individual programs.

Culver City Junior Programs

(213) 837-4813

Junior Programs of Long Beach

(213) 431-0805

La Mirada Junior Programs

(213) 994-9801 and (714) 994-6310

Los Angeles Junior Programs

(213) 276-6402

San Gabriel Valley Junior Programs

(818) 963-9411

Santa Monica Junior Programs

(213) 393-8631

Hollywood Bowl Open House

(213) 850-2077

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Symphonies for Youth

(213) 972-7200

Symphonies for Youth is classical music geared for a younger audience. It is shorter than an adult concert--one hour instead of two and a half--and musical concepts are taught on-the-spot.

SCR Young Conservatory Players.

(714) 957-4033

Groups of 10-17-year-old children mount three shows during the South Coast Repertory season.

June 13--1, 3 p.m.; June 14--1, 3, 5 p.m.; June 20--1 and 3 p.m.; June 21--1, 3 5 p.m.--”Cinderella and Tizzie Twinkle” (a musical Cinderella for a young audience).

Both plays are performed in the Founder’s Hall of Orange County Performing Arts Center. Both are only 50 minutes.

Youth Theater Guild (at El Camino College)

(213) 532-3670

Professional and semi-professional companies perform classics and traditional children’s stories. Major productions have live orchestras. The guild offers at least one ethnic production each year. Season coincides with the school year. Call for program information.