Alisa Hayashida

Alisa Hayashida
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Alisa Hayashida is an arts and culture columnist and critic for South Pasadenan News, covering the greater Pasadena Metro area and Los Angeles Metro area. She is a valuable arts advocate in South Pasadena, with an extensive background in theatre arts. She has been a proud South Pasadenan for over 27 years.
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Lynn Clark, Ross Silverman, and Tracy Macrum at the Eclectic Preview Party.

Eclectic Preview Party! Keep the Music Free!

The Eclectic Friends of the Arts and the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce invites the community to shake it up at the highly anticipated Eclectic Preview Party. This is one of the biggest fundraisers...

Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe | Wednesdays

"I had a big dose of FOMO from missing out on the magic last Wednesday at the Lost Parrot," said Wine & Song producer, Brad Colerick. "Thanks to David Plenn for guest hosting. I'll...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA.

Free-For-All Museum Day is Coming to LA

Calling all art lovers! LA's Free-For-All Museum day is back! On Saturday, March 23, over 30 local museums across Southern California will offer FREE general admission as part of the "Museums Free-for-all." "With museums from...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Seniors enjoy the Lunar New Year luncheon held at the War Memorial Building in South Pasadena.

Lunar New Year Celebrated with South Pasadena Senior Community

The South Pasadena Chinese American Club once again provided the food and entertainment at the much loved Lunar New Year celebration for South Pasadena's senior citizens at the War Memorial Building, hosted by the...
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SAVE THE DATE! The ECLECTIC Music Festival is April 27, 2024

South Pasadenans favorite event of the year is on its way! Mark your calendars for the city-wide music and art extravaganza coming to you on Saturday, April 27 from 3:00pm - 10:00pm. And to...
PHOTO: provided by South Pasadena Unified School District | The South Pasadenan | Rachel Fox (middle left) and South Pasadena Unified School District representatives celebrated Fox receiving the Golden Apple Award for Volunteerism.

SPUSD Recognizes Rachel Fox with Golden Apple Award

If you have had a student in our public schools in the past twenty years, then you know the name Rachel Fox - a tireless parent volunteer who has dedicated herself to a myriad...

WINE & SONG at Lost Parrot Cafe | Wednesdays 7pm

If you haven't been to South Pasadena's WINE & SONG at their residency at Lost Parrot Cafe, this Wednesday would be a great time to check it out! South Pas favorite, Dave Plenn, will...
PHOTO: Craig Schwartz | The South Pasadenan | Cassandra Marie Murphy and Geoff Elliott in "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" at A Noise Within.

A Diabolical “Sweeney Todd” Awaits You at A Noise Within

The deliriously dark story of “Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” set to the astonishing score of Stephen Sondheim is now on stage in an unabashedly theatrical and spectacular production at A...
PHOTO: Erik Carter | The South Pasadenan | L-R: Angela Lewis, Kimberly Scott, Amber Chardae Robinson and Brandee Evans in Black Cypress Bayou at Geffen Playhouse.

“Black Cypress Bayou” at Geffen Playhouse

It’s several months into the pandemic of 2020 and Ladybird Manifold is a hand sanitizing, 6-feet distancing, no hugging, rule abiding black woman living in deep east Texas. Her mother, Vernita, has called and...

Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe | Happenings for Coming Weeks

As South Pasadena's beloved WINE & SONG gets ready to celebrate 15 years, take a look at the upcoming events that Brad and the gang have in store for us, including Wednesday Wine &...

SPPD Officer Administers Narcan to Save Overdoes Victim

Media Release South Pasadena (Calif.) – On February 7, 2024, at 3:44 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Huntington Drive for a report of a subject who had overdosed on narcotics. Upon arrival, officers discovered...
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy | The South Pasadenan | Alex Edelman in "Just For Us" at Mark Taper Forum through November 26, 2023.

Alex Edelman’s “Just For Us” | A Jewish Comedian Walks into a White Nationalist...

UPDATE: Just For Us returns for 7 performances as part of the Spring 2024 CTG:FWD Programming - March 26 to 31, 2024. Tickets now on sale at CenterTheatreGroup.org In a word? GO! Seriously. Get thee...
PHOTO: Provided by DeepMix Productions | The South Pasadenan | Sweet Niece and Double Batch Daddy will appear at Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe on January 31, 2024.

Wine & Song | Sweet Niece and Double Batch Daddy at Lost Parrot Cafe

If you haven't been to see Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe, you should make a date on your calendar to get over there for their current residency. It's a terrific venue with...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Physical therapist and author, Chantal Donnelly, discusses her book "Settled - How to Find Calm in a Stress-Inducing World" at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.

Chantal Donnelly Signs Her New Book at Vroman’s Local Authors Day

Vroman’s Bookstore was bustling and busy on Sunday January 28, as I arrived for a local authors event. Perhaps that is typical for a Sunday at Vroman’s but perhaps it had a little to...
PHOTO: Boston Court Pasadena Production | The South Pasadenan | Carolyn Ratteray in "Both And"

“BOTH AND (A Play About Laughing While Black)” at The Wallis | In Conversation...

“Both And (A Play About Laughing While Black)” had its World Premiere at Boston Court Theatre in Pasadena in May of 2022. It was the culmination of a fulfilling artistic process for actor Carolyn...
PHOTO: Jeff Lorch | The South Pasadenan | Kate Berlant in KATE at Pasadena Playhouse.

A Powerhouse Kate Berlant is KATE at Pasadena Playhouse

Going to see KATE at Pasadena Playhouse, I went in pretty blind. I was not familiar with Kate Berlant’s work. I only knew she was a comedienne and this was a one-woman show, however,...
PHOTO: Saalika Khan | The South Pasadenan | SPAMA students Lindsay Zhu and Marcus Neely play at Boston Court Pasadena.

South Pasadena Arts & Music Academy | $10 Lesson Event and What’s New and...

At a recent recital held at the beautiful concert space at Boston Court Pasadena, students of South Pasadena Arts & Music Academy could be heard playing everything from Mozart and Bach to Taylor Swift...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Author Chantal Donnelly with her new book "Settled - How to Find Calm in a Stress-Inducing World".

Chantal Donnelly | In Conversation with the Author of the New Book “Settled –...

On a recent sunny winter day, local author Chantal Donnelly looks peaceful and energized as she recounts an “aha” moment several years ago. Donnelly studied psychology and kinesiology at Occidental College and received her master’s...
PHOTO: Caterina Mercante | The South Pasadenan | Jana Souza and the cast of Cabaret at Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena.

A Visionary CABARET at Lineage

While Lineage centers most of its work on original pieces, every time they have done a Broadway musical they have hit it out of the park – from Tick Tick Boom, The Last Five...
PHOTO: provided by Wine & Song | The South Pasadenan | Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe.

Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe | Wednesday January 3

Happy New Year, South Pasadenans! "Big 2024 thank you to our sponsor Tracy Macrum of Compass Realty, and volunteers Sharon Hannah and Charles Nestle," says Wine & Song curator, Brad Colerick. "They make doing...
PHOTO: Tina Kistinger | The South Pasadenan | Volunteers are working day and night to finish the South Pasadena Rose Float for the Tournament of Roses 2024 Parade.

It’s Crunch Time! Volunteers Making Our 2024 Float Happen

This morning Tina Kistinger and family joined other South Pasadenan volunteers continue to get those fresh flowers, seeds, feathers, and grains mounted onto our 2024 South Pasadena Rose Parade float, "Boogie Fever"! Head on over...
PHOTO: Matthew Murphy | The South Pasadenan | Roman Banks as Michael Jackson and the cast of MJ The Musical national tour.

MJ The Musical is a Thriller

Michael Jackson fans rejoice and gather – there is a show in town that you simply can’t miss – the national tour of the Broadway show MJ The Musical, playing the Pantages through January...

Gentleman’s Haircut | Get Ready for the New Year at CALIBRATE

What better way to take on the holidays and new year then with a fresh, new look courtesy of your neighborhood men’s grooming specialists at Calibrate Grooming. Located at Fremont Street, across from Fiore...
PHOTO: Lissa Raney | The South Pasadenan | YoungArts award recipient Maya Proulx

Maya Proulx of South Pasadena Receives YoungArts Award with Distinction in Voice

Maya Proulx has been performing since studying piano and viola at South Pasadena Music Conservatory at four years old. She sang with the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and with the All Saints Children’s Choir...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Santa Clause visits South Pasadena for the city's annual Breakfast with Santa on December 9, 2023.

Must Be Santa! Kris Kringle Pays South Pasadena a Visit

On a beautiful, sunny, Southern California December morning, children were gathered with their families at the War Memorial Building in South Pasadena for a holiday breakfast. When what to their wondering eyes should appear...
PHOTO: Eric Staudenmaier | Make-up and hair Saida Staudenmaier | The South Pasadenan | Aubry Deetjen has been named a 2024 YoungArts winner with distinction in Design

Aubry Deetjen of South Pasadena Receives YoungArts Award

South Pasadenan, Aubry Deetjen, has been a multi-hyphenate artist her whole life. She is currently in the dance department at LACHSA, but got her start as an artist in her home art studio and...
PHOTO: Craig Schwartz Photography | The South Pasadenan | L to R: Eric Petersen, Kai Edgar, Henry Witcher, and Sabrina Sloan in "A Christmas Story, The Musical" at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre December 5 through December 31, 2023.

A Christmas Story, The Musical Sings and Taps its Way into your Heart

Something fun, festive, hilarious and heartwarming is happening at the Ahmanson Theatre this holiday season and it’s the musical version of “A Christmas Story”. Since it’s debut in 1983, the MGM movie starring Peter...
PHOTO: Cindy Ann Rubin | The South Pasadenan | Dylan Rubin pictured with Jennifer Tuason, Chair of the Reflections Committee.

Young Artist Dylan Rubin Among Winners at PTSA Reflections Art Exhibit

Young Dylan Rubin was thrilled to be named a winner in the photography division of the PTSA Reflections Arts Contest. An exhibit of the middle and elementary school winners was held at the school...
PHOTO: Craig Schwartz | The South Pasadenan | Geoff Elliot as Ebenezer Scrooge and the cast of A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within.

Review | A Christmas Carol Captivates at A Noise Within

What a joy and thrill to see A Christmas Carol back at A Noise Within in all it’s dazzling, whimsical wonder! Now in its 11th year, Geoff Elliott’s faithful adaptation – every word comes...
PHOTO: SPTW | The South Pasadenan | Schuyler Mastain, Daisy Donohue, and Robert Cesario in A Christmas Carol at South Pasadena Theatre Workshop.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Enchants at South Pasadena Theatre Workshop

South Pasadena has a new holiday tradition – the simply enchanting re-telling of A Christmas Carol, now in its second year at South Pasadena Theatre Workshop. Premiering last year, the production brings back most...
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