Not since the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival in Los Angeles has the
American theater scene been fortunate enough to host the
world-renowned Italian company Piccolo Teatro di Milano.

After nearly 18 months and $17 million in renovations,
Westwood’s beloved Geffen Playhouse is almost ready to reopen
its doors to the public. Now boasting a houseful of top-of-the-line
seats, optimal sight lines, acoustic reflective panels and an
entirely new second stage, the Audrey Skirball-Kenis Theater, the
Geffen is at last fully equipped to host a more inclusive
repertoire of performances, ranging from grand theatrics to
intimate one-man shows.

From hit titles such as “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” to
famous faces such as John Goodman, this year’s lineup for
Westwood’s Geffen Playhouse is sure to attract attention from
all types of Los Angeles theatergoers.

For many theater students, finding that “big break”
into the professional world is life’s most difficult task.
But for MFA alumnus Giovanni Jose Ortega, his red carpet is slowly
being rolled out right before his eyes.

Sunday night, former UCLA theater student Michael Stuhlbarg
attended the Tony Awards in New York with his sister. Nominated for
his portrayal of Michael in the new Broadway hit “The
Pillowman,” the good-natured former Bruin was brimming with
excitement about viewing the ceremony not from a television screen,
but up close and personal.

For those members of the UCLA community who do not know that the
Disney film “Aladdin” originated within a frame story
about a virgin trying to avoid execution, the English
department’s annual Marathon Reading will be an enlightening
experience.

The statistics are accessible to anyone these days.
Numerous female college students will be victims of completed or
attempted rape during the academic year. Up to nine out of 10
offenders will be known to the victims, usually boyfriends,
ex-boyfriends, classmates, friends, acquaintances or co-workers.

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books typically connotes the
idea of a gathering of book lovers in a celebration of literature.
A highlighted date in the calendars of bibliophiles all over Los
Angeles County, the festival often boasts a carnival atmosphere of
booths and entertainment for children and panels for adults, all
while celebrating the splendor of the written word.

Upon walking into the Fowler Museum of Cultural History’s
innovative exhibit titled “UCLA Collects! Bodies of
Knowledge,” one will be greeted by a full-size paper mache
skeleton from Mexico standing proudly next to an intricate Japanese
chart pinpointing correct placement for acupuncture.

While most stand-up comedians sport lighthearted routines that
actually flow, Dylan Moran takes a more schizophrenic style. His
wandering mouth covers a spontaneously discovered range of topics,
from the inherent stupidity of children to a tirade about religion,
as he all the while sips on a large glass of wine and drags on a
cigarette.