Das Barbecü

According to Entertainment Today, “The Musical Theatre Guild (MTG) is a treasured gift to Los Angeles for which we should all be deeply grateful.” The nonprofit membership company of theatrical professionals is devoted to preserving the unique American art form of musical theatre by presenting seldom-seen musicals, and by offering education for both the current and next generations of musical theatre audiences.

On June 14, MTG presents Das Barbecü (book and lyrics by Jim Luigs and music by Scott Warrender) at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Kevin Mc Mahon, President of the MTG Board said, “We are thrilled to wrap up our 14th season with this partnership with Ring Festival LA. When we picked Das Barbecü for this season we were aware of the upcoming festival, and are so grateful and honored to be a small part of this countywide event. The show is going to be a hoot and holler and a perfect complement to the Ring.” The Hollywood Reporter says, “Conjure up your basic Texas hootenanny, complete with lassos, long-neck beers, fringed leather and steel guitars. Now, if you can, marry that image with Wagner’s Ring cycle, in all its operatic, melodramatic intensity. These improbable, no impossible, bedfellows come deliriously together in this splendidly giddy musical.” This country-western parody of the Ring will delight not only opera lovers, but musical theatre and country-western fans. Mark your calendars and order your tickets.

Basement Wagner: A Brief History of the Bayreuther Festspiele

Machine Project is a non-profit performance and installation space investigating art, technology, natural history, music, literature, food, and whatever else humans like to do. When not occupying their storefront space in Echo Park, Machine Project operates as a loose confederacy of artists producing their shows at locations ranging from the Santa Monica beach to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Their next project involves a year-long experiment in rethinking how visitors experience the Hammer Museum. As a part of Ring Festival LA, Machine Project is presenting a basement installation tracing the history of Wagnerian set design, as well as a series of performances and lectures interpreting the Ring Cycle on various dates now through June 19.

Artist Juliana Snapper will lead a Wagner sing-along on June 11, and an all-day performance of Hojotoho! on June 18. On June 12, theorist and author Jason Brown will lecture on the operatic origins of the American space program. On June 19 the duo ing will perform a lo-fi musical interpretation of all four operas in one evening entitled "the ing cycle". Artist Liz Glynn will construct a series of sculptural vignettes and drawings tracing the evolution of Wagnerian set design from naturalism to abstraction as it evolved at the Bayreuth Festival, open on weekends and by appointment until June 19 (for lecture, performance and gallery times visit www.ringfestivalla.com) .

Blood Red Lost Head Dead Falcon: THE NIBELUNGEN

Highways Performance Space’s, Artistic Director Leo Garcia presents collision/theory's Blood Red Lost Head Dead Falcon: THE NIBELUNGEN to the space for three performances June 25 through 27 (visit www.ringfestivalla for performance times). collision/theory is a collection of theatre and visual artists. Their drawn imagery, video and animation collide with movement, puppetry and text to explore and explode theatrical narratives. Lead artists Lyn Gaza, Aaron Henne, and Michael Manning are award-winning members of the Los Angeles Theater community. Movement collaborator Julie Lockhart is a frequent performing artist with Theatre Movement Bazaar. The 800 year-old German text, Die Nibelungenlied, served as inspiration for Wagner's Ring cycle. This wild, collaged, mash up performance piece also references this tale of magic, love, loyalty and revenge, while deconstructing the original source material. Bringing together traditional and digital animation sequences, video art, original musical composition, live performance, dance, puppetry and lyrical language, this workshop presentation turns the ancient text into a modern multimedia extravaganza.

The performances are presented with an exhibit Blade in the Heart. The exhibition of artist Michael Manning's work from the illustrated novel, The Nibelungen, in the gallery opens on June 22 and continues through July 11. Michael Manning is an illustrator, animator, tatoo designer and comix artist. His best known works include The Spider Garden and Tranceptor graphic novel series and the art collection Inamorata. His artwork has been featured in galleries and museum exhibits both locally and internationally. In collaboration with publisher Sum Legio, Manning has illustrated his own unique interpretation of the saga of the Nibelungen. Elegant, savage and sensual, Manning's artwork brings new life to this classic tale of love, honor and betrayal. A book signing will be held on June 26, prior to the 8:30 pm performance. To preview the book visit http://the-nibelungen.com