Incredible Dolly! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{Dolly Parton}

Incredible Dolly!

By Ken Werther

If I told you that Dolly Parton is 70 years old, would you believe me? It’s true! The singer-songwriter-actress-author-businesswoman and humanitarian is the most honored female country performer of all time! She has had 25 songs reach No. 1; she has 41 career top 10 country albums (a record for any artist); and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years.

Dolly has garnered eight Grammy Awards (46 nominations, tying her with Bruce Springsteen), 10 Country Music Association Awards, and seven Academy of Country Music Awards. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, she has composed over 3000 songs … and she is one of the few to have received at least one nomination from the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Emmy Awards.

This beloved dynamo is also a movie star! If you’re too young to remember them, check out 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias. And if you are old enough to remember them, see them again! Dolly’s stage adaptation of 9 to 5 had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2008 and I was working there so I got to meet her! Unforgettable!

For dates and information on her upcoming 60-city concert tour, click here.

Spotlight! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{Photos (L-R): Once cast members at Opening Night top, Perez Hilton at Casa Valentina Opening bottom, Patty Onagan and Ken Werther at LGBT Spotlight Mixer, pasta donated by Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, Pantages’ Martin Wiviott, Lorraine O’Brien, and Jeff Loeb, scene outside Pantages theatre, Fabiolus Cucina’s sandwiches at Pantages, cast members of Once, The Pasadena Playhouse’s Sheldon Epps and friend on Opening Night, Press Team for Casa Valentina, Alanna Ubach on red carpet at CV Opening Night, Entire cast of CV, Promo’s Donuts, Ken Werther, Tiffany Fuller, Patty Onagan at LGBT, scene in courtyard at The Pasadena Playhouse, and delicious sandwiches by Fabiolus Cucina.}

Sponsored Events!

Story / Photos By Paige Petrone

This month LAArtsOnline was proud to sponsor three amazing events. First up on March 15th we hosted the Opening Night for Once inside the legendary Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Cast members mingled and enjoyed scrumptious cuisine from Chef Sergio Corbia of Fabiolus Cucina and cocktails sponsored by Diabolo, Evian, Leese – Fitch, and John & Pete’s Fine Wine & Spirits.

Second up we sponsored the Opening Night for Casa Valentina at The Pasadena Playhouse on March 20th in the courtyard. This was a super lively and an excited group. The entire cast and all the guests were treated to a feast graciously provided by our partners, Essential Chocolate Desserts, Fabiolous Cucina and Primo Donuts. We also would like to thank Diabolo, Evian, John & Pete’s Fine Wine & Spirits, Leese-Fitch, and Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin for the abundance of support.

Finally, we were so proud to sponsor the “LGBT Spotlight Mixer” for Casa Valentina at The Pasadena Playhouse on Saturday, March 26th. This was a special partnership between LAArtsOnline, Gay Men’s Chorus of L.A and the playhouse. Our guests mingled prior to the show in the elegant “Library” space (upstairs inside the theatre) while nibbling on bites from Fabiolus Cucina, Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, and The Counter in Pasadena.

To check out all the photos from our events, click here.

Creepy Fun! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{http://www.laartsonline.com/television/}

^{The cast of The Family airing on ABC}

CREEPY FUN!

By Ken Werther
Photo Courtesy of ABC

A young boy disappears. Presumed dead, he returns 10 years later. His steely and ambitious mother is the Mayor of their town and is now running for Governor. His pious sister is a closet lesbian and mom’s political adviser. The boy’s older brother has grown up to be an unfocused and aimless alcoholic. The police inspector that originally put the wrong man away is having an affair with the dad, and there’s a newspaper reporter determined to get to the bottom of the whole mess. These are the elements of The Family, ABC’s new suspense thriller series.

Everyone in this tale has a dark secret. I think I’ve figured out some, but I’m not so sure about others. The central question is whether or not this returned boy is actually the one that was taken 10 years ago. Everyone believes it is … except for the older brother that no one listens to because he’s … well … drunk all the time. Here’s the thing — I don’t believe it’s the same boy either!

When I was a kid, my father loved to read murder mysteries and somehow always knew who the killer was within the first 10 pages. Me, not so much. I’m loving all this mystery and deception. Oh, and did I mention that it’s all really creepy? I can’t wait to see what happens next!

“The Family” airs on Sunday nights on ABC.