Latest news with #SeoulFestival
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
On eve of anti-Trump protests, downtown L.A. curfew turns nightlife hub into ghost town
On a game night in Los Angeles, 10-year-old Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District can host 500 fans just five minutes walking distance from the Dodger Stadium shuttle at Union Station. With the Dodgers hosting its archrival San Francisco Giants over the weekend, one might expect the cavernous brew hall with giant projection screens to be packed with revelers. But ever since Tuesday, the only long line was the stretch of unused parking meters that formed a perimeter around the brewery. That's because an indefinite 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew imposed on downtown Los Angeles following days of immigration enforcement demonstrations has turned this nightlife hub into a practical ghost town. Now, instead of customers belting out their favorite songs at Friday karaoke, the establishment is shuttered while city officials prepare for a day of widespread protests against Trump administration policies Saturday. The curfew covers most of Chinatown, Skid Row and the Fashion and Arts districts from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway, and from the 10 Freeway to where the 110 and 5 freeways merge. Along with area bars and restaurants, civic institutions and art organizations have also been affected. The Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival canceled its final performance on Tuesday and the Mark Taper Forum canceled productions of Hamlet on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Center Theatre Group released an update Wednesday saying they received an exemption from the mayor's office to continue its performances, not counting Saturday, which will be closed for the so-called "No Kings" demonstrations. Iconic Angels Flight, the over 100-year-old funicular cable car, is moving its final service from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. until the curfew ends. Inside Boomtown, marketing manager Nick Gingold was pleased to see a gathering of about 20 regulars who stopped by Wednesday at 6 p.m. The brewery became aware of the curfew via social media and Mayor Bass' televised announcement Tuesday, shortly after 4 p.m. 'I don't think we actually received an official notice from the city, as far as I know,' Gingold said. The mayor's office did not respond to questions about whether it provided curfew notices. The brewery amended its closing time to 7:30 p.m., meaning it shuttered two and a half hours early on Tuesday and Wednesday. That same early closing bell will cut the brewery operating time in half on Thursdays and leave only four and a half of the regularly-scheduled 11 hours for business on Fridays. Read more: Downtown L.A. is under curfew after protest turmoil: What to know Gingold said the closure would sting Boomtown but didn't want to speculate on revenue losses. Boomtown is not alone in changing its hours. Angel City Brewery, also located in the Arts District, has amended its normal 4 p.m. to midnight weeknight schedule. The brewery posted on Instagram that it was closing Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. though it opened at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Chinatown's Melody Lounge went one step further, announcing on Instagram that it was temporarily closing its doors throughout the curfew's duration. 'It's been a rough few years for Los Angeles with the pandemic, the shutdown, film industry strikes and now this,' Gingold said. 'Let me be clear, we support our Latino community throughout this time and stand with them.' Boomtown posted on Instagram on Tuesday that the store promised to stay open 'as long as it's safe to do so' to serve as a meeting place for the community. Read more: Bass enacts curfew in downtown L.A. to stem chaotic protests 'We celebrate diversity and reject divisiveness. We celebrate immigrants and reject hate and we support our neighbors,' one post noted. Chris Dombos, a special effects artist who lives in the Arts District, found his way into Boomtown, appreciative of the brewery's solidarity. 'This is a time of rising fascism where a city like Los Angeles, built by immigrants, is under attack and needs allies,' said Dombos, 44, who has observed some of the protests. Dombos, 44, described the curfew as a political stunt and called on the mayor's office to investigate the 'brutal tactics' by Los Angeles police officers. He said constant flyovers by authorities have been 'terrorizing' the neighborhood. Sarah Carmean, who enjoyed a light draft at Boomtown, lamented with service-industry employees missing tips or hours. 'These are the people who really lose out with the curfews,' she said. 'They are dependent on that money to pay bills." Chef Genevieve Gergis, owner of acclaimed restaurants Bestia and Bavel in the Arts District, called the curfew 'a broad and vague overreach' and criticized city leadership. Read more: Protests and curfew cancel L.A. Phil and 'Hamlet' as arts groups' losses mount She said neither of her restaurants were anywhere near protests and she only heard of the curfew from television. 'The lack of guidance for small businesses and those who work in the area are being swept up in this blanket policy with no explanation or details,' she wrote in an email. 'This sudden, unexplained action feels like it was enacted without any care or consideration.' Mina Park, co-owner and chef at Baroo, the Los Angeles Times 2024 Restaurant of the Year, said she closed her modern Korean eatery on Wednesday in the wake of the curfew and was still trying to plan out what to do. 'We have a lot of cancellations and concerns because of the protests and the curfew,' she said. 'It's hard to run a business with this uncertainty.' Park said she'll likely have to throw out some fresh food, but also didn't feel she could complain much. 'Having to close for a couple of days is nothing compared to what so many families are going through,' she said of the ICE raids. 'It's really hard to see what's happening with the community.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
On eve of anti-Trump protests, downtown L.A. curfew turns night-life hub into ghost town
On a game night in Los Angeles, 10-year-old Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District can host 500 fans just five minutes walking distance from the Dodger Stadium shuttle at Union Station. With the Dodgers hosting their archrival San Francisco Giants over the weekend, one might expect the cavernous brew hall with its giant projection screens to be packed with revelers. But ever since Tuesday, the only long line was the stretch of unused parking meters that formed a perimeter around the brewery. That's because an indefinite 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew imposed on downtown Los Angeles following days of immigration enforcement demonstrations has turned this nightlife hub into a practical ghost town. Now, instead of customers belting out their favorite songs at Friday Karaoke, the establishment is shuttered while city officials prepare for a day of widespread protests against Trump administration policies Saturday. The curfew covers most of Chinatown, Skid Row and the Fashion and Arts districts from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway and from the 10 Freeway to where the 110 and 5 freeways merge. Along with area bars and restuarants, civic institutions and art organizations have also been affected. The Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival canceled its final performance on Tuesday and the Mark Taper Forum canceled productions of Hamlet on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Center Theatre Group released an update Wednesday saying they received an exemption from the mayor's office to continue its performances, not counting Saturday, which will be closed for the so-called 'No Kings' demonstrations. Iconic Angels Flight, the over-100-year-old funicular cable car, is moving its final service from 10 p.m. to 8 until the curfew ends. Inside Boomtown, marketing manager Nick Gingold was pleased to see a gathering of about 20 regulars who stopped by Wednesday at 6 p.m. The brewery became aware of the curfew via social media and Mayor Bass' televised announcement Tuesday, shortly after 4 p.m. 'I don't think we actually received an official notice from the city, as far as I know,' Gingold said. The mayor's office did not respond to questions about whether it provided curfew notices. The brewery amended its closing time to 7:30 p.m., meaning it shuttered 2 1/2 hours early on Tuesday and Wednesday. That same early closing bell will cut the brewery operating time in half on Thursdays and leave only 4 1/2 of the regularly-scheduled 11 hours for business on Fridays. Gingold said the closure would sting Boomtown but didn't want to speculate on revenue losses. Boomtown is not alone in changing its hours. Angel City Brewery, also located in the Arts District, has amended its normal 4 p.m. to midnight weeknight schedule. The brewery posted on Instagram that it was closing Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. though it opened at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Chinatown's Melody Lounge went one step further, announcing on Instagram that it was temporarily closing its doors throughout the curfew's duration. 'It's been a rough few years for Los Angeles with the pandemic, the shutdown, film industry strikes and now this,' Gingold said. 'Let me be clear, we support our Latino community throughout this time and stand with them.' Boomtown posted on Instagram on Tuesday that the store promised to stay open 'as long as it's safe to do so' to serve as a meeting place for the community. 'We celebrate diversity and reject divisiveness. We celebrate immigrants and reject hate and we support our neighbors,' one post noted. Chris Dombos, a special effects artist who lives in the Arts District, found his way into Boomtown, appreciative of the brewery's solidarity. 'This is a time of rising fascism where a city like Los Angeles, built by immigrants, is under attack and needs allies,' said Dombos, 44, who has observed some of the protests. Dombos, 44, described the curfew as a political stunt and called on the mayor's office to investigate the 'brutal tactics' by Los Angeles police officers. He said constant flyovers by authorities have been 'terrorizing' the neighborhood. Sarah Carmean, who enjoyed a light draft at Boomtown, lamented with service-industry employees missing tips or hours. 'These are the people who really lose out with the curfews,' she said. 'They are dependent on that money to pay bills.' Chef Genevieve Gergis, owner of acclaimed restaurants Bestia and Bavel in the Arts District, called the curfew 'a broad and vague overreach' and criticized city leadership. She said neither of her restaurants were anywhere near protests and she only heard of the curfew from television. 'The lack of guidance for small businesses and those who work in the area are being swept up in this blanket policy with no explanation or details,' she wrote in an email. 'This sudden, unexplained action feels like it was enacted without any care or consideration.' Mina Park, co-owner and chef at Baroo, the Los Angeles Times 2024 Restaurant of the Year, said she closed her modern Korean eatery on Wednesday in the wake of the curfew and was still trying to plan out what to do. 'We have a lot of cancellations and concerns because of the protests and the curfew,' she said. 'It's hard to run a business with this uncertainty.' Park said she'll likely have to throw out some fresh food, but also didn't feel she could complain much. 'Having to close for a couple of days is nothing compared to what so many families are going through,' she said of the ICE raids. 'It's really hard to see what's happening with the community.'
Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Downtown L.A.'s arts scene grapples with curfews and cancellations: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
Center Theatre Group temporarily canceled 'Hamlet' at Mark Taper Forum; the Los Angeles Philharmonic scuttled the final night of its Seoul Festival at Walt Disney Concert Hall; the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles' Geffen Contemporary and the Broad museum are both closed through the weekend; and the Japanese American National Museum fenced off its pavilion to prevent further vandalism — these are just some of the immediate effects felt by downtown Los Angeles' many arts organizations as ICE protests, an ongoing curfew and the arrival of thousands of federal troops upend daily life in the city's civic core. (On Thursday, Los Angeles city officials carved out a curfew exemption for ticket holders of indoor events and performing arts venues downtown including the Music Center, paving the way for evening performances of Center Theatre Group's 'Hamlet' and Los Angeles Opera's 'Rigoletto.') The Trump administration says it will deploy 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to L.A. to protect immigration agents and federal buildings at a reported cost of $134 million. On Tuesday, the state of California requested a temporary restraining order blocking the deployments, so it's anyone's guess as to how this will ultimately unfold. The uncertainty, including how long Mayor Karen Bass' 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain in effect, has added to the pall over downtown L.A., where businesses and restaurants are also struggling with security issues and the many unknowns of the swiftly evolving crisis. On Wednesday, I reached out to many of downtown's arts leaders, and they all issued statements in support of Los Angeles and all of its inhabitants. 'As Los Angeles' largest theatre company, located in Downtown LA, we are heartbroken by the events unfolding around us and affecting so many in our beautiful and diverse city,' CTG said. 'Our mission is to be a home for everyone who calls themselves an Angeleno.' This is a sentiment that abounds throughout this proud city of immigrants, where many with friends or neighbors who are undocumented feel sorrow to see the violence and destruction. As losses mount for the arts in downtown L.A., it is worth noting that if you add the cost of President Trump's Saturday military parade in Washington, D.C. — estimated to be about $45 million — to the aforementioned price tag for sending troops to Southern California , the total is about $179 million. The National Endowment for the Arts, which Trump has proposed eliminating entirely, requested a $210.1 million budget for 2025, and millions in grants for arts groups have been clawed back this year under Elon Musk's DOGE. I'm arts and culture reporter Jessica Gelt, standing with my community in support of all its members. Here's this week's arts news. Academy screeningsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents two very different films this weekend. On Friday, the North American premiere of a new 4K restoration of 1975 best picture winner, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' starring Jack Nicholson, screens with supervising film editor Richard Chew and editor Lynzee Klingman joining screenwriter Larry Karaszewski to discuss the film. Then, the academy's Teen Movie Madness! series continues Saturday with a 25th anniversary screening of cheerleading cult fave 'Bring It On' in 35mm, preceded by a conversation with actor and artist Brandi Williams, who played Lafred in the film.'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' 7:30 p.m. Friday; 'Bring It On,' 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. CinderellaLos Angeles Ballet closes out its 2024-25 season with this fairy tale classic featuring choreography by Edwaard Liang set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev. This reimagined version adds a modern sensibility, new twists, fantasy and humor to the story of a young woman, mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, who is transformed for a date with a prince by a fairy godmother.7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood. Renée Fleming & FriendsBroadway and opera come together as vocalists Tituss Burgess, Lindsay Mendez and Jessie Mueller join the legendary soprano for a one-night-only concert presented by L.A. Opera. When Fleming appeared in the musical 'Light in the Piazza' at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 2019, Times theater critic Charles McNulty wrote that the singer 'delivers the goods in the show's climax … Sound and sense are at last joined, making the distinction between Broadway and opera irrelevant.' (The performance is still planned as originally scheduled. Please check with L.A. Opera for updates.)7:30 p.m. Friday. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Black Cowboys: An American StoryBeyoncé earned accolades (including her first best album Grammy) for 'Cowboy Carter,' bringing the iconography of the Black West to the mainstream. For those whose appetites have been whetted for more, this exhibition at the Autry Museum of the American West, conceived and organized by the Witte Museum in San Antonio, delivers a deep dive into that underreported slice of history. Tales of how Black men and women deployed their equestrian skills to great effect as they tamed and trained horses, tended livestock and embarked on cattle drives across the country come to life through historical and contemporary objects, photographs and personal recollections. The Autry's presentation also highlights Hollywood's influence on the Black cowboy image with movie memorabilia, including vintage film posters and the costumes used in the 2021 Netflix film 'The Harder They Fall.'Saturday through Jan. 4. Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. 'Broadway finally got its groove back. The 2024-25 season was the highest-grossing season on record and the second-highest in terms of attendance,' Times theater critic Charles McNulty writes in a column about last Sunday's Tony Awards. That resurgence could be attributed to the many high-powered film and television stars on New York stages including George Clooney, Kieran Culkin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Denzel Washington, Bob Odenkirk and Sarah Snook — but the real reason audiences flocked to live theater this season, McNulty concludes, was 'unadulterated theatrical fearlessness.' The Smithsonian Institution's standoff with President Trump took a new turn Monday evening when the Smithsonian issued a statement that could be read as a rejection of Trump's late-May firing of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet. The Smithsonian said the organization's secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch, 'has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian,' after a lengthy meeting by the board. This seems to imply that, for now, Sajet isn't going anywhere. On Wednesday, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., announced a major gift of modern and contemporary drawings from longtime museum supporters Lenore and Bernard Greenberg. The collection of more than 60 works of art includes pieces by Vija Celmins, Willem de Kooning, Alberto Giacometti, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Franz Kline, Brice Marden, Bruce Nauman, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Shahzia Sikander and Cy Twombly. 'Adrien Brody's art is horrendous. Why are some people pretending it isn't?' senior ARTnews editor Alex Greenberger argues in a pointed, sometimes hilarious takedown of the Oscar-winning star's paintings. 'Adrien Brody has received due attention for his acting abilities: his Oscar-winning performance in last year's film The Brutalist is the kind of work most actors would be lucky to pull off once in their lifetime. Last week, however, he started receiving undue attention for the hideous art he debuted in New York at Eden Gallery, which — based on its press coverage, anyway — is one of the most talked-about exhibitions of the summer,' the column begins. If you need a chuckle, it's worth reading in its entirety. Unlike his assessment of Broadway's season, Charles McNulty wasn't so positive about a recent L.A. theater offering. He did not enjoy director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of 'Hamlet,' starring Patrick Ball from MAX's hit show 'The Pitt.' The new material places the story in a noir landscape in modern-day L.A. and features a second-act twist when a detective comes to investigate the play's bloodbath a la 'CSI.' 'O'Hara's audacious antics are stimulating at first, but there's not enough dramatic interest to sustain such a grueling journey,' McNulty writes. A massive Barbara Kruger mural titled 'Questions' on the side of MOCA's Geffen Contemporary began appearing in news broadcasts and social media posts across the country as ICE protests unfolded over the weekend. This proved prophetic, since the 1990 artwork is composed of a series of pointed questions that interrogate the very nature of power and control. Read all about it here. Pasadena Playhouse has announced its 2025-26 season, its first since buying back its historic 1925 building. Theater lovers can gear up for the shiny new Tony Award-winning best revival of a play, 'Eureka Day,' as well as Peter Shaffer's 'Amadeus,' a world-premiere adaptation of 'Brigadoon' and the novel two-person hip-hop musical, 'Mexodus.' — Jessica Gelt There is nothing more delectable — or truer to the diverse fabric of Los Angeles — than a good street taco. The Food team has pulled together a delicious list of 19 street vendors to support from the 101 Best Tacos guide.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Protests and curfew cancel L.A. Phil and 'Hamlet' as arts groups' losses mount
When Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday issued a curfew for downtown L.A. after the chaos of some ICE protests over the weekend, an unwelcome side effect took hold: Arts organizations inside the curfew zone had to cancel performances, notably "Hamlet" at the Mark Taper Forum and the final night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival — which also happened to be the Los Angeles Philharmonic's last evening at Walt Disney Concert Hall this season. The curfew remains in effect Wednesday, and Center Theatre Group has again been forced to cancel director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, starring Patrick Ball from the hit Max show "The Pitt." Other organizations including Los Angeles Opera, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Broad museum and the Japanese American National Museum are grappling with the snowballing effects of the civic unrest compounded by an uncertain future as thousands of National Guard troops and Marines roll into town under President Trump's orders. "As Los Angeles' largest theater company, located in downtown L.A., we are heartbroken by the events unfolding around us and affecting so many in our beautiful and diverse city," Center Theatre Group wrote in a statement. "Our mission is to be a home for everyone who calls themselves an Angeleno." The theater company said it has stayed in close contact with officials at the Music Center, as well as with leadership at other downtown cultural institutions, and that the safety of its patrons, cast, crew and staff was a top priority. The situation remains fluid and the company hopes to open "Parade" at the Ahmanson Theatre next week, as scheduled. The first preview is set for Tuesday, and opening night is on Wednesday. "Hamlet" had been sold to 85% capacity this week, Center Theatre Group said. "As a result of canceling performances of 'Hamet,' we lose approximately $35,000 in ticket sales per performance cancellation, in addition to still paying full production expenses related to the show," CTG said in its statement. "Should the curfews extend into next week, that number would increase significantly when factoring in both 'Hamlet' and 'Parade' cancellations." L.A. Opera is scheduled to present "Rigoletto" on Thursday and Sunday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The concert "Renee Fleming and Friends" is on the calendar for Saturday. A representative for L.A. Opera said the company has not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity, but that it is waiting for an update from city officials about the curfew. For now, all upcoming performances are moving forward, and the company will notify the public of any changes. The company is waiving all exchange fees for ticket holders who want to avoid the downtown area. Tickets can be exchanged online or by calling the box office. "Our thoughts are with the greater Los Angeles community and especially with those who have been directly impacted," L.A. Opera said in a statement. A representative for the Music Center, which includes Disney Hall, the Taper, the Ahmanson and the Dorothy Chandler, said the organization won't know the financial impact for some time. "Our hearts go out to all those who may be personally impacted by the recent events," the center said in a statement. "We remain steadfast in our values, including the protection of free speech and the right to peaceful protest. As always, we will continue to ensure the Music Center campus remains a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all." The situation is different for downtown museums, most of which close before the 8 p.m. curfew. MOCA closed its Geffen Contemporary building early on Sunday "out of an abundance of caution" and initially said it expected to reopen as usual on Thursday. However on Wednesday afternoon, a MOCA representative told The Times that the Geffen Contemporary will remain closed for the rest of the week. The durational performance "Police State," staged by Pussy Riot frontwoman Nadya Tolokonnikova, was originally scheduled to continue in the warehouse through Sunday. It is being paused and its conclusion postponed to a later date. (On Sunday Tolokonnikova remained in the museum after it closed, broadcasting sounds of the protests outside, mixed with her heartbeat, to the empty museum.) The main MOCA campus on Grand Avenue was open regular hours Tuesday, although attendance was lower than usual, the representative said. MOCA Grand Avenue will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday and cancel its usual late-night hours. (The museum typically stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.) The museum will contact affected ticket holders for refunds or rescheduling options. The Broad museum, also on Grand Avenue, remains open to the public and is monitoring the situation closely with local officials and its onsite security team. Due to the curfew, however, the museum plans to close at 5 p.m. Thursday, which means that its weekly free Thursday evening admission to "Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me" will not be offered. Any ticket reservations for Thursday evening will be honored at any other time during the run of the show, which closes Sept. 28. The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo suffered a significant amount of graffiti. The museum said it has installed fencing to protect the glass facade of the pavilion. A group of volunteers cleaned up the graffiti earlier this week. "Some areas will require additional, specialized attention due to the surfaces involved," a representative for the museum wrote. "This will entail some unexpected expense, though we don't have an estimate for that yet." The pavilion has been closed to the public since January in preparation for a scheduled renovation, but JANM did postpone a film screening originally scheduled for Tuesday night in its Democracy Center. The museum is evaluating whether to move forward with upcoming public programs on a day-to-day basis. The Little Tokyo Public Safety Assn., which organizes the annual Little Tokyo Sparkle cleanup, is arranging another cleanup effort on Thursday, gathering in JANM's plaza. "We know that the tagging does not represent the majority of those making their voices heard," wrote Board Chairman William T. Fujioka in JANM's monthly email newsletter. "JANM is and always will be a voice for social justice. We continue to stand with our immigrant communities and with those who exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Peaceful protest can lead to positive change for everyone." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Protests and curfew cancel L.A. Phil and ‘Hamlet' as arts groups' losses mount
When Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday issued a curfew for downtown L.A. after the chaos of some ICE protests over the weekend, an unwelcome side effect took hold: Arts organizations inside the curfew zone had to cancel performances, notably 'Hamlet' at the Mark Taper Forum and the final night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival — which also happened to be the Los Angeles Philharmonic's last evening at Walt Disney Concert Hall this season. The curfew remains in effect Wednesday, and Center Theatre Group has again been forced to cancel director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, starring Patrick Ball from the hit Max show 'The Pitt.' Other organizations including Los Angeles Opera, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Broad museum and the Japanese American National Museum are grappling with the snowballing effects of the civic unrest compounded by an uncertain future as thousands of National Guard troops and Marines roll into town under President Trump's orders. 'As Los Angeles' largest theater company, located in downtown L.A., we are heartbroken by the events unfolding around us and affecting so many in our beautiful and diverse city,' Center Theatre Group wrote in a statement. 'Our mission is to be a home for everyone who calls themselves an Angeleno.' The theater company said it has stayed in close contact with officials at the Music Center, as well as with leadership at other downtown cultural institutions, and that the safety of its patrons, cast, crew and staff was a top priority. The situation remains fluid and the company hopes to open 'Parade' at the Ahmanson Theatre next week, as scheduled. The first preview is set for Tuesday, and opening night is on Wednesday. 'Hamlet' had been sold to 85% capacity this week, Center Theatre Group said. 'As a result of canceling performances of 'Hamet,' we lose approximately $35,000 in ticket sales per performance cancellation, in addition to still paying full production expenses related to the show,' CTG said in its statement. 'Should the curfews extend into next week, that number would increase significantly when factoring in both 'Hamlet' and 'Parade' cancellations.' L.A. Opera is scheduled to present 'Rigoletto' on Thursday and Sunday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The concert 'Renee Fleming and Friends' is on the calendar for Saturday. A representative for L.A. Opera said the company has not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity, but that it is waiting for an update from city officials about the curfew. For now, all upcoming performances are moving forward, and the company will notify the public of any changes. The company is waiving all exchange fees for ticket holders who want to avoid the downtown area. Tickets can be exchanged online or by calling the box office. 'Our thoughts are with the greater Los Angeles community and especially with those who have been directly impacted,' L.A. Opera said in a statement. A representative for the Music Center, which includes Disney Hall, the Taper, the Ahmanson and the Dorothy Chandler, said the organization won't know the financial impact for some time. 'Our hearts go out to all those who may be personally impacted by the recent events,' the center said in a statement. 'We remain steadfast in our values, including the protection of free speech and the right to peaceful protest. As always, we will continue to ensure the Music Center campus remains a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all.' The situation is different for downtown museums, most of which close before the 8 p.m. curfew. MOCA closed its Geffen Contemporary building early on Sunday 'out of an abundance of caution' and initially said it expected to reopen as usual on Thursday. However on Wednesday afternoon, a MOCA representative told The Times that the Geffen Contemporary will remain closed for the rest of the week. The durational performance 'Police State,' staged by Pussy Riot frontwoman Nadya Tolokonnikova, was originally scheduled to continue in the warehouse through Sunday. It is being paused and its conclusion postponed to a later date. (On Sunday Tolokonnikova remained in the museum after it closed, broadcasting sounds of the protests outside, mixed with her heartbeat, to the empty museum.) The main MOCA campus on Grand Avenue was open regular hours Tuesday, although attendance was lower than usual, the representative said. MOCA Grand Avenue will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday and cancel its usual late-night hours. (The museum typically stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.) The museum will contact affected ticket holders for refunds or rescheduling options. The Broad museum, also on Grand Avenue, remains open to the public and is monitoring the situation closely with local officials and its onsite security team. Due to the curfew, however, the museum plans to close at 5 p.m. Thursday, which means that its weekly free Thursday evening admission to 'Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me' will not be offered. Any ticket reservations for Thursday evening will be honored at any other time during the run of the show, which closes Sept. 28. The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo suffered a significant amount of graffiti. The museum said it has installed fencing to protect the glass facade of the pavilion. A group of volunteers cleaned up the graffiti earlier this week. 'Some areas will require additional, specialized attention due to the surfaces involved,' a representative for the museum wrote. 'This will entail some unexpected expense, though we don't have an estimate for that yet.' The pavilion has been closed to the public since January in preparation for a scheduled renovation, but JANM did postpone a film screening originally scheduled for Tuesday night in its Democracy Center. The museum is evaluating whether to move forward with upcoming public programs on a day-to-day basis. The Little Tokyo Public Safety Assn., which organizes the annual Little Tokyo Sparkle cleanup, is arranging another cleanup effort on Thursday, gathering in JANM's plaza. 'We know that the tagging does not represent the majority of those making their voices heard,' wrote Board Chairman William T. Fujioka in JANM's monthly email newsletter. 'JANM is and always will be a voice for social justice. We continue to stand with our immigrant communities and with those who exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Peaceful protest can lead to positive change for everyone.'
