Advertisement

Notables

Share via

UCLA

Established: 1919

Living alumni: More than 339,000

Living celebrity alumni (but not necessarily graduates): Jack Black, Carol Burnett, Francis Ford Coppola, Randy Newman, Michael Ovitz, Rob Reiner, Tim Robbins and George Takei

Deceased celebrity alumni: Lloyd Bridges, James Dean, Jim Morrison

Famed jazz program leader: Kenny Burrell

Famed English department prof: Mona Simpson

On-campus film credits: “Erin Brockovich,” “Old School” and “The Graduate”

Surprise on-campus pop cultural find: Original Walter Lantz murals featuring Woody Woodpecker in waiting area of Doris Stein Eye Institute

Surprise on-campus noncultural find: $12 bikini waxing at salon Campus Cuts

---

USC

Established: 1880

Living alumni: More than 180,000

Living celebrity alumni (but not necessarily graduates): Herb Alpert, Will Ferrell, Frank Gehry, Marilyn Horne, Ron Howard, Mark McGrath, Robert Zemeckis and ... let’s not go there

Advertisement

Deceased celebrity alumni: Michael Landon, Sam Peckinpah, John Wayne

Famed jazz program leader: Terence Blanchard

Famed English department prof: T.C. Boyle

On-campus film credits: “Forrest Gump,” “City Slickers II” and, yes, “The Graduate”

Surprise on-campus pop cultural find: Frank Sinatra’s Oscars, Grammys and gold records in lobby of Norris Theatre

Surprise on-campus noncultural find: $14 pitcher of Samuel Adams at pub Traditions

---

Book it

Although the two universities are getting ready for winter break, there are a variety of performing arts events in the coming month.

A sampling:

Advertisement

UCLA

Today

“Poetry Said, Poetry Sung”: Lucinda Williams performs with her father, poet Miller Williams. Royce Hall. 8 p.m.

Today-Dec. 10

“Mabou Mines DollHouse”: A reinterpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic. Freud Playhouse. 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Friday

“A John Waters Christmas”: The filmmaker puts on a holiday show. Royce Hall. 8 p.m.

Saturday

“Kenny Burrell’s All-Star 75th Birthday Tribute”: Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Pat Metheny and many more celebrate the jazzman. Royce Hall. 8 p.m.

Advertisement

Wednesday

Shostakovich 100th anniversary celebration: Piano students in the department of music and guests mark the composer’s centennial. Schoenberg Hall. 8 p.m. Free.

“Handmade”: New student choreography and multimedia performances, presented by the department of world arts and cultures. Glorya Kaufman Hall Studio, Room 208. 6 p.m. Free.

Dec. 9

UCLA Chorale, Chamber Singers, University Chorus and UCLA Philharmonia: The program includes Puccini’s “Messe de Gloria” and holiday music. Royce Hall. 8 p.m.

Dec. 16

Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band make a stop. Royce Hall. 8 p.m.

More at www.calendar.ucla.edu and uclalive.org.

USC

Today

USC Thornton Classical Guitar: departmental recital. Alfred Newman Recital Hall. 8 p.m. Free.

Today-Friday

“Peter Pan: Dancing Through Neverland”: The USC Repertory Dance Company puts a contemporary spin on the story. Bing Theater. 7 p.m.

Friday

USC Thornton Baroque Sinfonia: An evening of works on period instruments. Alfred Newman Recital Hall. 8 p.m. Free.

Advertisement

Friday

Chamber Blitz Overflow: USC Thornton students perform in a continuation of Monday-through-

Wednesday’s chamber music marathon. 9:30 a.m. Free.

Friday

Violinist Midori and three of her students from USC Thornton perform Mozart’s String Quartet in C (“The Dissonance”). Doheny Memorial Library. 6 p.m. Free.

Tuesday

“A Bolivian-Jesuit Christmas”: Juan Araujo, Manuel Mesa y Carrizo and Sebastian Duron deliver songs by colonial Spanish composers from the 18th century. Harris Hall. 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 31

The Flaming Lips and Gnarls Barkley: The pop groups perform at the new Galen Center. 8 p.m.

More at www.usc.edu, click on Arts and Events Calendar.

Advertisement