Latest news with #RoxyTheatre
Los Angeles Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Baby raves?! There was just one in L.A. and it was weird and wild with glow sticks galore
Natalie Z. Briones is a concert veteran. She's been to heavy metal concerts and a punk music festival where she napped most of the time. On Sunday, she attended her first baby rave. Natalie is a few months shy of two. In the arms of her dad, Alvin Briones, 36, the pigtailed toddler squealed 'Hi!' to anyone passing by the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood where the Briones family was lined up to meet Lenny Pearce, the mastermind behind Natalie's favorite song, 'The Wheels on the Bus.' It's not the classic version most parents sing while slowly swaying and clapping — Pearce's rendition rages with enough bass to rattle rib cages. Natalie is here for it, and so is her mom, Alondra Briones, who plays the techno remix during her drives to work even without Natalie in the backseat. 'It's a pick-me-up,' said Alondra, 28, from Compton, before filing into the theater with other parents and caregivers for an afternoon rager with their kids. In Pearce's techno remixes of classic children's music, an unexpected subgenre is taking off — toddler techno — which melds the cloyingly sweet lyrics of songs like 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' with the edgy beat drops associated with music from gritty warehouse parties. The unlikely musical pairing creates a bridge between parents like Sandra Mikhail and her 6-year-old daughter, Mila. Both dressed in fuchsia at Pearce's dance party, the mother-daughter duo were there to celebrate Mila's promotion from kindergarten. In their Riverside home, Pearce's music is on heavy rotation. 'I can handle kids' music now,' said Sandra, 38. 'With the beat and [Pearce] adding that techno touch to it, it makes me able to tolerate listening to it all day long.' For the last year, Pearce has been hosting sold-out dance parties boldly called baby raves — first in his native Australia — then on the first leg of his U.S. tour, which culminated in a June 29 double-header at the Roxy. In the afternoon show timed for that sweet spot many parents know well — post-nap and right before the evening witching hours — Pearce pranced, high-fived kids and waved at babies being hoisted in the air. At 34, he's been an entertainer for most of his life. Over a decade ago, he was dancing in music videos as a member of the Australian boy band, Justice Crew. Now, he's firmly affixed in his dad era. His dance partner is now a large balloon spider named Incy Wincy. 'I'm just being a dad on stage,' said Pearce in a video interview from New York. 'I can make a clown of myself to entertain kids.' Pearce's journey into children's entertainment seemed preordained, if only because his identical twin brother is arguably the second most famous purple character on a children's TV show (behind Barney, of course). 'We're both in the toddler scene,' said John Pearce, the older twin by minutes, who in 2021 joined 'The Wiggles' cast as the Purple Wiggle. '[My brother's] stuck with it for a long time, and it's all paid off now.' At the Roxy, many parents and caregivers said they found Pearce through the Purple Wiggle. Others discovered him on social media: He has more than 2 million followers on TikTok and more than 1 million followers on Instagram. Before becoming children's entertainers, the Pearce brothers were members of Justice Crew, a dance troupe that won 'Australia's Got Talent' in 2010. For a few years, the boy band's future burned white hot with the aspiration to break through in the U.S. — a dream that never materialized. Most boy bands have a finite time in the spotlight, said Pearce. In 2016, he quit the Justice Crew to focus on DJing and music production, but the transition from boy band to toddler techno didn't happen overnight. For a time, he worked as a salesperson at an Australian electronic store. 'People were like, 'Aren't you from Justice Crew?'' he said. 'And I'm like, 'Yeah. Now, do you want this lens with that camera?'' In 2022, becoming a dad to his daughter Mila changed the course of his creativity. Pearce started remixing children's songs with 'ravey' music and filming himself dancing with her to the songs. Soon, other parents started sharing videos of their kids dancing to his songs, too. In this way, social media allows for ideas to be refined until something sticks. In March, Pearce released his first solo album aptly titled, 'Toddler Techno.' All along the way, he imagined playing these songs at mini raves. For this generation of kids and their millennial parents, it's not a stretch, said Pearce. Pretend DJ tables are just as commonly sold in toy aisles as construction trucks. In the fall, Pearce and his baby raves will return to the U.S. — and, yes, to L.A. — in a 30-city tour. As a solo artist, he's done what he couldn't do in a band — he's broken through to the U.S. and international audiences. 'It's funny, isn't it?' said Pearce. 'I always felt like I had something to say, but no one really listened.' The roots of techno — in Detroit or Berlin depending on whom you talk to — were always antiestablishment, said Ambrus Deak, program manager of music production at the Los Angeles Film School. 'It was exploratory,' said Deak, a longtime DJ who went by DJ AMB, about techno. Toddler techno plays with that contrast — an edgy genre made safe for kids. Deak would not attend a baby rave — 'It would be very cringe for me,' he said — but sees the appeal. 'I can definitely see a lot of people being into it,' said Deak, 48. Still, not everyone is sold on the idea of taking kids to a rave — even one held in the middle of the day with a face-painting station. In the comments of Pearce's social media posts, parents occasionally debate the appropriateness of exposing kids to drug-addled rave culture. 'I know that most people would say, 'Is this the image we want to teach our kids?'' said Pearce. 'What image are you imagining? Because if you think about it, they're just kids with light sticks, right?' He gets the concern, but kids don't know about the darker sides of raves unless they are taught. And that's not what his baby raves are about. In the right dose, some experts say techno music and baby raves can be beneficial for kids and parents. 'Parents' happiness and stress regulation also matter,' said Jenna Marcovitz, director of the UCLA Health Music Therapy program. 'Techno can promote oxytocin and boost endorphins. It can encourage joy and play and really support brain development, emotional regulation and really enhance the parent-child bond as well.' At the Roxy, one man vigorously pumped his fist to the beat of the music. 'Fist pump like this!' he shouted to the child on his shoulders. Both fists — little and big — jabbed the air. Everything — especially baby raves — should be enjoyed in moderation. The pulsating music, giant inflatables tossed into the crowd and sudden blasts of fog can overstimulate kids. For the roughly one-hour show, the music is loud. Typically set to 85 to 90 decibels, Pearce said. Having a sensory support plan is key, said Marcovitz, who recommends toddlers wear headphones with a noise reduction rating of 20 to 30 decibels or higher — like this one or this one. Practicing dance parties at home, so your child knows what to expect, is also helpful. At the rave, look for signs of overstimulation, which can present differently with each child — some might shut down while others might start shoving each other mosh pit-style. At the Roxy show, one toddler sat down, ate half a bag of Goldfish crackers and poured the rest on the floor. Another disappeared into the crowd for a few alarming moments before being returned by a good Samaritan. 'For any child, I would recommend breaks every 30 minutes,' said Marcovitz. 'Step outside.' Because techno hypes people up — even little kids — it's important to help a child regulate their nervous system back down after the show. 'Lots of cuddles, silence and hugs,' said Marcovitz. Pearce also starts the party late, so the dance party before the rave can tucker kids out before he takes the stage. Ashley and Todd Herles drove from Santa Clarita to the Roxy so their son, Oliver, 3, could meet Pearce before the show. They said they bought $120 VIP tickets, which included a meet and greet and table seats where Oliver got to high-five Kuma, Pearce's dancing sidekick in a turquoise monkey suit. For Pearce's November 23 show at the Novo in downtown Los Angeles, ticket prices currently range from $48 to $195, fees and taxes included. Overall, Oliver loved it — until he didn't. '[The] meltdown happened around 1:40 so we left then,' said Ashley, 40. They had big post-rave plans to refuel with french fries. But Oliver was tired. And, most importantly? 'Our backs hurt,' said Ashley.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourism Authority delays decision on Roxy Management
Tourism officials postponed Thursday a decision that could return management of the Roxy Theatre to the city of Muskogee. Muskogee Tourism Authority Trust members are concerned the amount of funds dedicated for repair and maintenance of the Roxy is insufficient for the task. 'I can't understand why the City Council has turned its back on this asset,' said Trustee Mike Gragg at Thursday's regular meeting. 'This is, to me and I'll have to check on it, almost a historical building for our city. I think it's a crying shame we have a Council and past city managers that weren't interested in maintaining this asset.' This is the second consecutive meeting where trustees delayed a decision to dissolve a management agreement with Oxford Productions, Inc. and 'negotiate and execute an agreement to return the Roxy Theater to the City of Muskogee.' Trustees postponed the decision Thursday after tabling it from last week's special call meeting saying they didn't have all the upkeep figures needed to make an informed decision. 'We asked them (the city) to get us some quotes, really to do a feasibility study,' said Trustee Traci McGee. 'That hasn't happened. I think what they're looking at, they're saying there's some issues but they don't have a figure for those estimations.' Trustees gave the executive committee of the trust permission to schedule a question and answer session with the City Council and city manager about the situation. 'They want to have a discussion with the City Council because the City Council will be the ones that has the answer,' McGee said. 'Since it's a city-owned building, (Council) will make the final vote and it may be also be with the city manager so that he'll know what's going on and he can bring it to the Council.' The trust receives $65,000 from the city and trustees say it's not enough. Oxford Productions owner Avery Frix told trustees Oxford has been in communication with the city on a regular basis. 'They're aware of the challenges,' Frix said. 'I don't think the issue is they aren't aware — they're certainly aware.' At last week's meeting Mayor Patrick Cale, a trustee, said there was no money available in this year's budget to spend on the building, a point that Tourism Authority Chief Operating Officer Marlon Coleman repeated Thursday. 'This week I've had several conversations with city councilors,' Coleman said. 'The sentiment is all the same … there's not going to be any new money for maintenance.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canton area entertainment. Divine Mercy Fest, KSU Tusc summer movies, Minerva comedy show
Repository entertainment writer Ed Balint runs down things to do in the Canton area while highlighting news in the local arts scene. Comedians Glen Tickle and Ricky Glore will perform May 16 at the Roxy Theatre in downtown Minerva. Krackpots Comedy Club of Massillon is presenting the show at 7:30 p.m. Tickle and Glore both have "Dry Bar Comedy" specials, and each has appeared on SiriusXM, a news release said. Glore also has appeared on "The Bob & Tom Show," and Tickle released a special on Amazon Prime and has appeared on NPR and PBS. Tickets ($27.75 general admission and $49.25 VIP) can be purchased at Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Roxy Theatre is at 114 N. Market St. "Newsies" opens May 16 at Players Guild Theatre on the campus of Kent State University at Stark in Jackson Township. May 16-17 shows are at 7:30 p.m. The May 18 performance is 2 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Performances are also May 23-25. To purchase tickets, $25 to $45, go to Performances will be at the Mary J. Timken Theatre on the KSU Stark campus, 6000 Frank Ave. NW. The Divine Mercy Parish Festival will be May 15-18 at 2813 Lincoln Way W in Massillon. The event features live music, rides, beer, food and raffles. Festival hours are 5-10 p.m. May 15; 5-11 p.m. May 16; 1-11 p.m. May 17; and 1-8 p.m. May 18. The band schedule is Billy Likes Soda at 7 p.m. May 15; Disco Inferno, 7 p.m. May 16; LaFlavour, 7 p.m. May 17; and Off the Charts, 3 p.m. May 18. Weather permitting, rides will be open 5 to 10 p.m. May 15; 5 to 11 p.m. May 16; 1 to 11 p.m. May 17; and 1 to 8 p.m. May 18. Canton Ballet dancers collectively earned more than $75,000 in scholarships at the recent Regional Dance America Northeast Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Giada Szekeres, a junior at Lake High School, received a $60,000 collegiate scholarship to the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Szekeres was selected through a competitive audition process, according to a news release from Canton Ballet. Szekeres will attend Ballet Arizona this summer. Freshman Kaitlyn Giltz and junior Ashlyn Wood, both students at Jackson High School, will be participating in an intensive summer program at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Joining them in securing competitive placements are Madison Fabek, a sophomore at Central Catholic High School, and Maria Carosello, a junior at GlenOak High School, both of whom have spots at the Miami City Ballet, the news release said. 'We are incredibly proud of our dancers' achievements at the Regional Dance America Festival and in securing these prestigious scholarships and summer intensive placements,' said Canton Ballet Director Jennifer Catazaro Hayward. 'Their success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the rigorous training and guidance they receive from our exceptional teaching faculty. These opportunities are vital stepping stones in their development as dancers.' The Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas plans a new summer movie series. Beginning June 24 with "Wicked," the venue in New Philadelphia will feature movie musicals on the Performing Arts Center's 43-x-24-foot screen. Movies will be shown weekly at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Attendees will receive free popcorn, with bottled water and candy available for purchase. Tickets cost $10 per movie, and a summer movie pass can be purchased for $60 (valid for eight admissions). Performing Arts Center members receive a discount of $5 per ticket. The movie schedule is: "Mamma Mia!," July 1; "La La Land," July 8; "Chicago," July 15; "Grease," July 22; "Moulin Rouge," July 29; "Waitress," Aug. 5; and "The Greatest Showman," Aug. 12. Tickets are on sale at the Performing Arts Center box office, which can be reached at 330-308-6400. Tickets also can be purchased at The box office is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the KSU Tuscarawas campus, 330 University Drive NE in New Philadelphia. The Wilderness Center will host a planetarium show, "Chronicle of a Journey to Earth," at 11 a.m. May 17. "Tour the solar system from the perspective of a visitor from another part of the galaxy," The Wilderness Center said. "... On Earth, we learn about lunar phases, lunar and solar eclipses, Earth's seasons and how they depend on Earth's axial tilt and its relationship to the sun. These concepts are woven together into a journey of exploration and discovery." The event is in the Astronomy Education Building at The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW in the Wilmot area. Tickets cost $4 for members and $6 for non-members. The show is for families and children age 8 and older. Pre-registering is suggested at Walk-ins are accepted but ticket payments must be in cash. A 'Tonight's Sky' program showing seasonal constellations and planets currently in the night sky will follow. Stark Parks will host a sunset hike at 8:30 p.m. May 16 on Hoover Trail, followed by a stargazing program with The Wilderness Center's Astronomy Club. The guided lantern hike will be one hour. Hoover Trail is at 1325 E. Maple St. in North Canton. Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@ Follow on Instagram at ed_balint This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton things to do. Divine Mercy Parish Fest, KSU Tusc summer movies
Calgary Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Darin Hagen among winners as Edmonton music, film, books and visual arts awarded $100,000
Article content The $100,000 annual Edmonton Arts Prizes have been awarded, showcasing an impressive range of local talent and vision! Article content Article content Longtime playwright, queer advocate and drag legend Darin Hagen has taken the City of Edmonton Film Prize for his documentary Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story, it was announced at a ceremony at Roxy Theatre Wednesday night, while alternative electro-pop artist margø has grabbed its Music Prize cousin for her debut album, who are you when you're alone? Article content Article content Novelist, bookseller and Afghanistan veteran Benjamin Hertwig, meanwhile, won the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize for his tender, battlefront debut novel Juiceboxers. Article content Article content Besides the honour of recognition by peers, each category winner is awarded $15,000, with $5,000 apiece going to everyone else on the short list. Article content The runners up in each category are Don Depoe/Dept. 9 Studios for Dark Match and Scott Portingale for Emergence for the film prize — the three movies playing NorthwestFilmFest Monday night at Metro Cinema starting at 7 p.m. with Q and As to follow. Article content Celeigh Cardinal's Boundless Possibilities and King Thief's self titled album scored the music prize's runners-up spots, meanwhile, while Gail Fraser's By Strength, We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples and Indian Residential Schooling in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and Marilyn Dumont's South Side of a Kinless River rounded up the books list. Article content Article content Finally, for visual arts, the runners up were Cheyenne Rain LeGrande for mi^kisak and Heather Shillinglaw's MNIDOONS GIIZIS OONHG – LITTLE SPIRIT MOON (NOVEMBER). Article content Article content Last year's winners were HAIDEE's album This Shouldn't Be Typical, Cody Lightning's film HEY, VIKTOR!, Kelsey Stepehnson for Currents — also at Art Gallery of St. Albert, PS — and essayist Jennifer Bowering Delisle for Micrographia. Article content The annual awards honouring 12 of our finest is shepherded by Edmonton Arts Council, in partnership with the City of Edmonton and community partners Alberta Media Production Industries Association, Alberta Music, Audreys Books, CARFAC Alberta, Edmonton Community Foundation and Writers' Guild of Alberta. Article content Deadlines for the 2026 awards are early December for books, late January for the other three prizes.
Edmonton Journal
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Darin Hagen among winners as Edmonton music, film, books and visual arts awarded $100,000
Article content The $100,000 annual Edmonton Arts Prizes have been awarded, showcasing an impressive range of local talent and vision! Article content Longtime playwright, queer advocate and drag legend Darin Hagen has taken the City of Edmonton Film Prize for his documentary Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story, it was announced at a ceremony at Roxy Theatre Wednesday night, while alternative electro-pop artist margø has grabbed its Music Prize cousin for her debut album, who are you when you're alone? Article content Novelist, bookseller and Afghanistan veteran Benjamin Hertwig, meanwhile, won the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize for his tender, battlefront debut novel Juiceboxers. Raneece Buddan's Art Gallery of St. Albert show Adorned in our Thread led to her Eldon and Anne Foote Visual Arts Prize win. Article content Besides the honour of recognition by peers, each category winner is awarded $15,000, with $5,000 apiece going to everyone else on the short list. The runners up in each category are Don Depoe/Dept. 9 Studios for Dark Match and Scott Portingale for Emergence for the film prize — the three movies playing NorthwestFilmFest Monday night at Metro Cinema starting at 7 p.m. with Q and As to follow. Celeigh Cardinal's Boundless Possibilities and King Thief's self titled album scored the music prize's runners-up spots, meanwhile, while Gail Fraser's By Strength, We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples and Indian Residential Schooling in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, and Marilyn Dumont's South Side of a Kinless River rounded up the books list. Article content Finally, for visual arts, the runners up were Cheyenne Rain LeGrande for mi^kisak and Heather Shillinglaw's MNIDOONS GIIZIS OONHG – LITTLE SPIRIT MOON (NOVEMBER). Last year's winners were HAIDEE's album This Shouldn't Be Typical, Cody Lightning's film HEY, VIKTOR!, Kelsey Stepehnson for Currents — also at Art Gallery of St. Albert, PS — and essayist Jennifer Bowering Delisle for Micrographia. The annual awards honouring 12 of our finest is shepherded by Edmonton Arts Council, in partnership with the City of Edmonton and community partners Alberta Media Production Industries Association, Alberta Music, Audreys Books, CARFAC Alberta, Edmonton Community Foundation and Writers' Guild of Alberta. Deadlines for the 2026 awards are early December for books, late January for the other three prizes. fgriwkowsky@ @ Latest National Stories
