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.

Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe | James Kirby, Aireene & Marty Wednesday...

Join Brad Colerick and the gang this Wednesday April 24 at 7pm for this week's Wine & Song featuring James Kirby, Aireene Espiritu and...
Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | The cast of Bright Star rehearsing for their April 19 opening at South Pasadena High School.

SPHS Drama Ready to bring an Uplifting BRIGHT STAR to South Pasadena

South Pasadena High School Drama Department has done quite a list of terrific, big and splashy musical theatre comedies for the spring show, usually...
PHOTO: Craig Schwartz | The South Pasadenan | The cast of King Hedley II at A Noise Within.

Staggering Performances in King Hedley II at A Noise Within

It’s Reagan-era 1980’s in the working class Hill District of Pittsburgh when a young, African-American man, King, returns home after seven years in prison...
PHOTO: Jenny Graham | The South Pasadenan | Gerard Joseph as David and Sylvia Kwan as Gina in KAIROS at East West Players.

KAIROS Asks if We’d Like to Live Forever | East West Players

Gina and David are two young professionals in their early thirties who are having a meet-cute after they’ve had a fender bender. They start...
PHOTO: Jeff Lorch | The South Pasadenan | Marcel Spears and Billy Eugene Jones in Fat Ham at Geffen Playhouse.

FAT HAM Serves up a Ghost at the Cookout | Geffen Playhouse

UPDATE: Extended through May 11, 2024 James Ijames’ 2022 Pulitzer Prize winning and Tony nominated play, “Fat Ham”, is now playing at the Geffen Playhouse...
PHOTO: Robert Dahey | The South Pasadenan | Actress Eileen T'Kaye

Funny Girl | Eileen T’Kaye is Mrs. Strakosh at the Ahmanson

After a prolific 45+ year acting and producing career, Eileen T’Kaye is on her first Broadway National Tour, as Mrs. Strakosh in Funny Girl,...

Wine & Song at Lost Parrot Cafe | Teresa James, Clayton Chaney & Philip...

Join Brad Colerick at Lost Parrot Cafe on Wednesday April 3 at 7pm as he welcomes Teresa James and her band, The Rhythm Tramps,...
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | Fire Chief Paul Riddle with Engine 81 at the South Pasadena Firehouse.

Fire Chief Paul Riddle Says Goodbye to South Pasadena After 32 Years

I’m sitting in the South Pasadena Firehouse living room with Fire Chief Paul Riddle. It’s a place he’s called home for almost 33 years....
PHOTO: Alisa Hayashida | The South Pasadenan | The 2024 Eclectic Preview Party held at The Daily.

Eclectic Preview Party Gets Things Ready to Rock

Did you catch that hailstorm on Sunday afternoon? It came in the middle of the Eclectic Preview Party that was held at The Daily...
PHOTO: Jeff Lorch | The South Pasadenan | Lana Parrilla, Carlos Gomez, and Isabella Gomez in One of the Good Ones at Pasadena Playhouse.

We Meet The Parents in “One of The Good Ones” at Pasadena Playhouse

We meet Ilana Gomez when the doorbell rings at her impossibly chic and grand Pasadena home – it’s the flower delivery man bearing a...
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...

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,...
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...
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...
eclectic-2023-esteban-lopez

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...
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...

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...
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...
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...

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...

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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,"...
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