Alisa Hayashida
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.
In Conversation with Deborah Strang at A Noise Within
Los Angeles theatre goers have had the thrill and privilege to watch actress Deborah Strang on our stages for more than thirty years, most...
Pasadena Symphony’s Ode To Romance Arrives in Time for Valentine’s
The Pasadena Symphony continues its 2021/22 season with updated Covid-19 vaccination requirements, including boosters for all eligible patrons, staff and musicians. On the heels...
Lineage Invites Us To Their New Performing Arts Center for “The Curiosity Tales”
Lineage Performing Arts Center has officially opened their brand new, beautiful performance space at 920 East Mountain Street in Pasadena and it is the...
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” – A Fizzy, Pop-fueled Delight
Has there ever been a time when we needed a jolt of feel-good escapism more than right now? I went to opening night of...
The Curiosity Tales | Lineage Performing Arts Center
“The Curiosity Tales” presented by Lineage Performing Arts Center explores the well-known stories of curious characters like Alice and Pandora through a humorous and exciting...
Wine and Song | Outdoors at Canoe House
South Pasadena's Wine and Song kicks off 2022 with a magical evening on the Canoe House patio on Wednesday January 19 at 6:30pm with...
Review | A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within
What a joy it is to welcome back A Christmas Carol at A Noise Within after last year’s hiatus. Needless to say, last year...
Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery presents Jayme Design
Sector Seven Contemporary Art Gallery, currently located at 1011 Mission Street in Suite A, is holding an artist reception for Jayme Design on Thursday,...
The Band’s Visit at The Dolby Theatre
It’s 1996 in the small town of Bet Hatikva, Israel and the Alexandria Ceremonial Orchestra has just arrived from Egypt and is asking for...
Festive Tree Lighting and Menorah Lighting in South Pasadena
After taking last year off, South Pasadenans were out en masse at Thursday's Farmers Market for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony sponsored by the...
Camille DePedrini is Open and Grateful for Community Response to Break-in
Local women's fashion boutique, Camille DePedrini, was broken into during the early morning hours of November 27, just before the much anticipated Small Business...
“Paradise Blue” at Geffen Playhouse
In a dimly lit, smoky bar, a lone trumpet player plays a soulful solo and sets the tone for an evening in Paradise, a...
Sense and Sensibility
Dear readers, I bring you news of a profoundly celebratory return to live theatre as South Pasadena Drama took to the boards for a...
Head Over Heels at Pasadena Playhouse
Pasadena Playhouse is back in business and they are quite literally throwing a party to celebrate by way of a raucous romp of a...
Wine & Song at Canoe House and Mamma’s Brick Oven
While Wine & Song at The Blue Guitar room awaits the re-opening of the restaurant at Arroyo Seco Golf Course, they have begun performing...
An Exuberant Return To Live Theatre as SPHS Drama Presents SENSE AND SENSIBILITY Under...
Fear not, dear reader, for I bring you news of the imminent arrival of LIVE theatre back in South Pasadena by way of the...
SEVEN GUITARS at A Noise Within
In the working class Hill District of Pittsburgh in 1948, a group of weary friends return home from the funeral of their friend, aspiring...
Opening Night of “A Recurrent Retreat” at SPARC Gallery
It was a full house with a constant flow of people coming through the Val Trimarchi exhibit opening at the SPARC Gallery Saturday evening....
“A Christmas Carol” Starring Bradley Whitford Coming To The Ahmanson Theatre
The five-time Tony Award-winning production of “A Christmas Carol” playing at the
Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre from November 30, 2021 through January 1,...
OUR TOWN at Fremont Centre Theatre
A beautiful production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” is now playing at Fremont Centre Theatre, a play that, as it turns out, is both...
South Pasadena Fall Arts Crawl | Saturday October 16
The South Pasadena Arts Crawl this Saturday October 16 is shaping up to be a humdinger of a time with lively events happening all...
My Fair Lady at The Dolby Theatre
The Lincoln Center Theater production of Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” opened at The Dolby Theatre this week to a Los Angeles audience...
Ensemble Shakespeare Theatre Brings Us Something New With “What You Will”
On a beautifully sunset-lit evening in Descanso Gardens, audience members were summoned down a pathway that led to a magical outdoor stage where they...
AN ILIAD at A Noise Within
My first foray inside a theatre since the shutdown was to see the one person show “An Iliad”, an adaptation by Lisa Peterson and...
Square Up Comedy Show at Square Deal Barbershop in South Pasadena
Let's have a laugh, South Pas! Square Deal Barbershop is hosting a weekly comedy show in its outdoor space behind the shop featuring local...
A Noise Within presents “AN ILIAD” | September 12 – October 3, 2021
A Noise Within, California’s acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, is back! As companies across the country begin to welcome audiences back into their theatres,...
Discover Dance | Interactive Scavenger Hunt For Kids in South Pasadena
Shall we dance, South Pasadena? If you’ve got a youngster somewhere in the age range of kindergarten through 2nd grade, Claire Kucera has created...
The Importance of Being Earnest | YST at Fremont Centre Theatre
Get thee to the theatre one and all! For the first time in 17 months, I sat with other human beings as the lights...
Sierra Madre Playhouse Outdoor Production of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Extended!
Because of robust advance ticket sales, Sierra Madre Playhouse is adding performances of its outdoor production of "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown", extending...
Friday-Night Fun is Back at The Music Center’s Free DANCE DTLA Dancing Under The...
The Music Center's Dance DTLA is back starting on August 13th for five Friday night dance parties on its Jerry Moss Plaza. Shake your groove...
