Good morning, and welcome to the U-T Arts & Culture Newsletter.
I’m David L. Coddon, and here’s your guide to all things essential in San Diego’s arts and culture this week.
Fourth of July Weekend in Southern California all but mandates outdoor activities. But when the sun goes down and the family gathers indoors, there’s always time for streaming.
In thinking about America and Americana as seems fitting I chose to revisit one classic film on Netflix. It speaks to a simpler time, a truly American era of hot rods, drive-in burger ts and sock hops.
“Where were you in ’62?” was the promotional tagline for “American Graffiti,” the 1973 movie directed by a young, pre-“Star Wars” George Lucas. The action takes place on a single fun-, hijinks-filled night in Modesto, Calif. Teenagers Steve (Ron Howard, the future director) and Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) are to go away to college the next day. This is their last blast.
Divided into intersecting vignettes, “American Graffiti” featured a cast of mostly unknowns at the time, some of whom became big film or TV stars later, like Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams and Suzanne Somers. Its soundtrack is driven by the unique radio voice of the immortal Wolfman Jack, who also makes a memorable appearance toward the end.
The enduring charm of “American Graffiti” may be that it never descends into the broader comedy of the “Happy Days” series it inspired nor the self-consciousness of the Brat Pack movies a decade later. The time period of “American Graffiti” was not my own, but I can see myself somewhere in its characters. We all know the feelings that preoccupy us in that inscrutable, sometimes scary/sometimes wonderful time in between adolescence and adulthood.
Today the drive-in burger ts are scarce and the sock hops gone. Yet America, just clinging to what remains of its innocence, has the reminder that is “American Graffiti.”
Visual arts/film
Going back eons further than the era of “American Graffiti,” a new documentary titled “T. Rex” practically brings to life again the king of all dinosaurs, the tyrannosaurus rex that roamed the Earth some 70 million years ago.
The film narrated by actor Sam Neill (he of the “Jurassic Park” movies) is screening at The Nat (the San Diego Natural History Museum) in Balboa Park. What kid, young or grownup, doesn’t love dinosaurs? Including this one.
Here’s a story about the family finding the dinosaur fossil and details on how to see it at The Nat.
Pop music
Speaking of kids, New Kids on the Block recently released the onetime boy band’s first album in 11 years, and now the group is touring in of “Still Kids.” That tour arrives in San Diego on Sunday for a gig at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre.
If you’re keeping score, all of the “boys” — Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan and Jordan Knight, and Danny Wood — are now in their 50s. Also on the bill are a couple of familiar names with both music and acting resumes: Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
More music
Harry Connick Jr. has enjoyed a lengthy career as a singer and an actor. If Harry’s your guy, you’ve got an opportunity to experience him in both mediums this month.
On Saturday, Connick will perform at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park downtown. I don’t have to tell you that it’s one of the coolest places to spend a summer night. Then, on July 19 on Netflix, a new Harry Connick film “Find Me Falling” becomes available for streaming. It’s set on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which I haven’t visited but am fairly certain is another cool place to spend a summer night
Theater
Some folks love Shakespeare. Some folks love zombies. For those who love both, there’s a clever mash-up of the two onstage at the City Heights Performance Annex: “Twelfth Night of the Living Dead (Or What You Kill)” from Loud Fridge Theatre Group.
This highly entertaining production of a script written by local playwright A.J. Schaar winds up its engagement this weekend. It’s got all the familiar trappings — and most of the lines — from The Bard’s “Twelfth Night,” but the zombies steal the show.
Here’s Union-Tribune Arts Editor Pam Kragen’s take on the show: Review: Loud Fridge’s zombie Shakespeare comedy is clever, funny and free.
Did I mention that ission to “Twelfth Night of the Living Dead” is free? It is, though donations to Loud Fridge are welcomed and tickets should be ordered online at https://www.loudfridge.com/shows.
U-T arts and entertainment stories you may have missed
San Diego’s best burgers? U-T readers offer their own picks
Concert review: blink-182 performs act of magic at Petco Park San Diego homecoming show
For CCAE’s ‘Every Brilliant Thing,’ the audience is part of the story
Cygnet Theatre set to light the fuse for ‘tick, tick … BOOM!’
The iconic Caesar salad turns 100. Do you know its local origin story?
Is 1974 the third-best year ever for great albums? From Bob Marley to Joni Mitchell, you tell us!
The Dish: Le Coq opens and Handel’s introduces 3 Oceanside ice cream flavors
Theater review: Backyard’s ‘Beauty Queen’ play a dark and engrossing journey
Theater review: Coronado Playhouse’s ‘Nine’ musical is lavish and well-sung
Concert Review: San Diego Symphony summer opener a crowd-pleaser with conductor Gemma New
UCTV
University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff
“A Conversation with Amor Towles”
Amor Towles s Writer’s Symposium by the Sea host Dean Nelson for a lively chat at Point Loma Nazarene University. Towles talks about his new book “Table for Two” as well as his popular novels “Rules of Civility,” “A Gentleman in Moscow” and “The Lincoln Highway.” He shares fascinating insights into his writing process, from building vivid worlds to creating memorable characters. Towles also discusses the historical contexts and personal experiences that inspire his stories, offering a deeper understanding of his creative journey. With entertaining anecdotes about his career and the meticulous research behind his stories, you’ll get a delightful and insightful peek into the mind of a master storyteller.
“Precision Pediatrics: The Case for Genomic Sequencing in Newborn Screening”
Almost every child born in the United States undergoes state-mandated newborn screening within the first 48 hours of life. This screening, using blood collected from a “heel stick,” tests for 80 different serious but treatable disorders. These conditions can be genetic (inherited) or congenital (present at birth). But what if we could take it a step further and sequence a newborn’s entire genetic makeup? Pediatric geneticist Ingrid Holm explores this intriguing possibility, discussing the potential risks, benefits, costs, and ethical considerations of genomic sequencing in newborns. Holm’s insights provide a thoughtful look at how this advanced technology could revolutionize early detection and treatment of genetic conditions.
“Discussion of the Film ‘Last Things’”
Director Deborah Stratman chats with Alex Lilburn (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) about her fascinating film “Last Things.” Stratman shares the diverse inspirations behind the film, from nature and geology to literature and cinema, all while encouraging us to think beyond our usual human-centered time scales. They discuss how the film’s unique structure uses voiceover and excerpts to tell its story, making complex scientific concepts like plate tectonics and evolution engaging and accessible. Stratman also highlights the extensive research that went into creating this thought-provoking documentary, inviting viewers to explore the Earth’s history in a whole new way.
And finally, top weekend events
The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: July 5-7
David L. Coddon is a freelance writer.
