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It’s the 10th Annual Santa Monica Playhouse BFF Binge Fringe Festival of FREE Theatre, Oct 14 – Nov 16, the only FREE Fringe Festival in the nation, offering over 36 plays, workshops and family-oriented events. What’s happening on BFF THURSDAYS?

Oct 16: STAGE MAMMA: From Child Star to Leading Lady. Award-winning actor Rheagan Wallace shares her extraordinary life with raw honesty, poignant reflection, and unexpected humor. “A virtuosic solo performance!” DoLA. Includes post-show Q&A with the artist. Rated 16+

Oct 23: Wise Ass Women from the Westside, an evening of comedic storytelling featuring Pattie Fitzgerald, Wendy Hammers and Susan Landon. Three wise (ass) women from the westside of LA share their wit and wisdom in comedic monologues, stand up bits, and stories. You’ll laugh a lot, cry maybe a little, and be grateful you are alive. Rated 16+

Oct 30: Zach Ring’s The Advocate is a “Hollywood” dramedy filled with suspense, lucky breaks and unluck consequences. Written, directed and produced by Zach Ring; featuring Rob Nagle, William Duffy Reina Guthrie, Clarissa Park, Hilary Kang Oglesby. 18+

Oct 30: Terri Silverman’s Workshop for Writers, Performers, Storytellers & Anyone Who Has Something to say. Fun writing and story-telling exercises. No experience necessary – just the willingness to have fun and take a little leap.

Nov 6: My Great Turnround: What God and Argentine Tango Taught Me About Life. Amidst a spectacular whirlwind of comedy, truth, multimedia and fabulous Argentine Tango, Ruthie Danziger and Tango Pro Daniel Ledesma answer the burning question, “Will this fiery, passionate dance be enough to reignite Ruthie’s passion and purpose in life, or will she Tango alone? Includes post-show Q&A and refreshments with the cast. Rated 16+

Nov 13: Trans Mom vs Family court: Justice Sees No Gender. A brutal custody fight. No attorney. No safety net. Just truth, love, risk and raw will. With reenactment, live looping, original music, courtroom audio,photographs and video clips, Rejyna Douglass-Whitman tells the story no one else could. Includes post-show Q&A with the artist. Winner of the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival Transcendent Craft and Daredevil Awards Rated 14+

Binge on Theatre this Fall – a great alternative to your couch.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

The governance of public schools is rather complex issue that incorporates various government entities at the federal, state and local levels. Added to the mix are a variety of organizations and special interest groups that have an impact on what is taught, how it is taught, to whom, and under what circumstances. In recent times, schooling has become highly politicized. However, this is not new. To understand how this happens, this lecture will examine the structure of public education in the United States and how it has evolved. Dr. Carol A. Bartell is Dean and Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University. She also served as Interim Dean at several Cal State Universities. She has taught at every level of education, from preschool to doctoral students, working in six states during her long career. She has served in a state policy role at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and held appointments on many state and national organizations and advisory boards. Her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies is from Virginia Tech. The Fifty and Better program was designed to offer university-level courses (no tests, no homework) taught by experts in the field, and to host social engagement activities for individuals age 50 and older.

Conejo Valley residents are invited to see and participate in Ventura County’s largest public emergency communications exercise of the year on June 25th and 26th. Amateur radio operators, also known as Hams, from the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC) will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise know as Field Day from 11:00 AM Saturday, June 25 to 11:00 AM June 26, 2022.

The CVARC Field Day Event will be held at the Lake Sherwood Development Company field located at 378 W. Potrero Road in Westlake Village on the south side of W. Potrero Road, between Trentwood Drive and Stafford Road.

CVARC holds one of the largest and most comprehensive Field Day events in the country as members set up as many as 20 temporary amateur (Ham) radio stations to demonstrate emergency communication skills and services to the public. Radio signals bring people together while providing essential emergency communication for communities in times of earthquakes and wildfires when cellphones and email, are often disrupted.

Field Day is an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio. There are more than 775,000 amateur radio operators in the United States and more than 103,000 in California. For more information about Ham radio or CVARC Field Day, please visit www.cvarc.org.

On Saturday, July 16, 2022, join artists Hiroko Yoshimoto, Katherine Chang Liu, W. Scott Miles, and Tori Tasch at the Santa Paula Art Museum for the premiere of "Hiroko Yoshimoto: New Works" featuring "Impending Storms", a collaborative art installation by Blue Marble Art Collective. Yoshimoto's newest artworks represent the Ventura artist’s continued work on her long-running “Biodiversity“ series, an output that amounts to nearly 300 paintings and sketches which speak to Hiroko's concern for the ever-growing threat to biological diversity. Many of the artworks will be available for purchase.

Yoshimoto recently teamed with fellow environmentally-conscious artists Liu, Miles and Tasch to form Blue Marble Art Collective. The group creates mixed media art and installations that put a spotlight on the looming dangers of significant loss of species and biodiversity.

The premiere party will include a special musical performance by Karen Pecht. Wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Admission to the premiere is $5 for SPAM members, and $10 for non-members.
"Hiroko Yoshimoto: New Works" and "Impending Storms" will be on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum July 16, 2022, through November 6, 2022.

HEADER IMAGE: "Biodiversity #119" by Hiroko Yoshimoto, 2019, Oil on canvas, 50 x 86 inches.

The Triunfo Water & Sanitation District will present four free “Water Smart Summer” classes that discuss water-saving and drought-tolerant landscaping and gardening techniques. Each of the classes will be presented by a certified instructor from the Master Gardeners of Ventura County.

One-hour classes will be held on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. beginning on July 30. Classes are at Mae Boyar Park (130 Kanan Road) in Oak Park.

July 30: Replacing Your Lawn--Turf Removal Options
Different methods of removing a lawn and replacing it with a drought-tolerant garden. Drip irrigation discussion also included.

August 6: Fire-Smart and Water-Wise
Types of plantings that are both fire-smart and water-wise for a home garden; the importance of soil, microclimates, hydro-zones, mulch and irrigation.

August 13: Growing California Natives
How to grow a California native plant garden--when it's best to plant natives, their maintenance needs, and other information about drought-resistant plants.

August 20: Drought-Tolerant Gardening, Design and Maintenance
How to remove turf and other high water-consumptive landscaping and how to select, plant and maintain drought-tolerant alternatives.

Triunfo Water & Sanitation District holds free classes and workshops throughout the year on various water-related subjects. Space is limited. To reserve a spot in one of the upcoming classes, go to www.triunfowsd.com/Water-Smart-Summer.

Southern California based pianist, Jason Stoll, will draw on his wide-ranging repertoire
in a concert designed to lift the spirits of the audience. The eclectic program includes “Fantasy on Themes from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story,” by young composer Andy Villemez, along with works by Granados, Ravel, Chopin, and Beethoven, among others.

The concert will also showcase the talent of classical violinist Kaitlyn Greenwood, a local high school student.

Rolling Stone has just put out its ranking of the top 50 one-hit wonders from the 2000s. Some of the songs might surprise you.

New details from a Census survey shows just how much more diverse the American electorate is becoming, with political implications still to come.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic to preview the College Football Playoff and upcoming bowl season games.

Join us for the 7th Annual BFF Binge Fringe Festival of FREE Theatre, Oct 15 - Nov 6, offering over two dozen plays and family-oriented events thanks to generous grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission and Playhouse PALS. What’s on today?

What if that which you identify with suddenly disappeared? Who would you be then? (IM)PERFEKT is a solo show about identity, beauty and labels. Sometimes you need to (literally) lose a part of yourself in order to discover who you truly are. What if you have been Perfect all along? How much precious time have you wasted living like you aren’t? Actress Jannica Olin was the stereotypical blonde blue eyed Swede. Her long hair had always been a big part of her identity. Until suddenly, she lost it all. In (IM)PERFEKT, Jannica takes us on a journey of exploring and uncovering that which we think we are, have to be and maybe, ultimately aren’t. Written & performed by Jannica Olin. Directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.

Prefer the safety of your living room? Email us at theatre@SantMonicaPlayhouse.com to get the live-streaming link.

For details about all BFF 2022 free events, visit SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com and click on the BFF logo.