Featured Arts News

Indian Playwright’s Work Staged at USC

Imagine setting out to be Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw and Tom Stoppard all rolled into one. Immodest as it sounds, that’s the goal Girish Karnad has set himself.

Dinner Salute to the Samples, Marilyn Horne

The USC Thornton School of Music’s 23rd Annual Charles Dickens Dinner, to be held on Dec. 11 at The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, will herald two turning points in the university’s history.

No Myths, Just Monk

Every day for almost a year, USC College professor Robin D. G. Kelley dug through junk to find a man. In a storage facility stacked to the ceiling with overflowing bags and boxes, Kelley donned a dust mask and spent...

Lost Woody Guthrie Recordings Revived

It sounded too good to be true. Pristine metal 78-rpm masters of more than a hundred recordings made by folk musician Woody Guthrie in the mid-1940s, including a few songs that had never been released, had been unearthed in cardboard barrels in a basement in Brooklyn.

USC Thornton Alums Come Together

At first glance, pairing Mozart, Titanic film music, jazz and humor-tinged stories might seem an odd mix for a concert program.

Meet the Music Man

Song and story. Story and song. In Bob Santelli’s eyes — rather, to his ears — tunes and tales are inextricably linked.

The Bond Between Sisters and History

At the Oct. 22 Literary Luncheon, novelist Lisa See shared the family stories and nearly forgotten Los Angeles history that inspired her latest novel.

As Usual, Anything Goes for Mel Brooks

USC School of Cinematic Arts students were treated to an afternoon with Mel Brooks as part of the Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Masters Lecture Series on Oct. 16.

In the Midst of a Phantom Presence

A sleeping baby, an upheld moth with wings outstretched, a portrait of a stately pug … Recent visitors to the USC University Club likely have noticed a collection of striking images lining the restaurant’s dining room walls.

Corwin’s One World Flight Enjoys Safe Landing

A gathering at the Barnes & Noble Westside Pavilion store honored Norman Corwin, a Los Angeles literary treasure, on Sept. 15.

Life, the Universe and Everything

From Zero to Infinity: The Story of Everything recently debuted in Doheny Memorial Library, drawing one of the largest-ever audiences to a USC Libraries opening exhibition.

Cinematic Arts Gets Star Treatment

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce gave the Hollywood Walk of Fame a special detour along 37th Street on Sept. 10 to honor the USC School of Cinematic Arts for its eight decades of contributions to film, television and interactive media.

USC Thornton Toasts 125 Melodious Years

The USC Thornton School of Music, one of the oldest and most illustrious music schools in the country, celebrated its 125th anniversary in grand style at Town & Gown on Sept. 10.

Getting to the Roots of the Miniseries

During his 40-year career in Hollywood, the late Stan Margulies produced several of the most acclaimed miniseries in the history of television, including Roots and The Thorn Birds.

Taking a Vow to be Heard

In James Moll’s documentary Inheritance, the daughter of Nazi Amon Goeth and one of his victims return to Goeth’s villa in Poland more than a half century after the sadistic camp commandant was hanged for war crimes.

Flying High With a World War II Legend

USC Marshall School of Business alumnus Kevin Gonzalez ’93 became familiar with World War II hero Gregory “Pappy” Boyington and his legendary fighter pilot exploits through the 1970s TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep.

In Memoriam: Arts Patron Virginia Ramo, 93

Virginia Ramo, a USC alumna, life trustee and 2002 recipient of the university’s highest honor, the Presidential Medallion, died Aug. 19. She was 93.

Old Structure Gives Way to New Park

The George Lucas Instructional Building, cinematic home to thousands of students from 1984 until 2008, was demolished during the months of June and July, using the most sophisticated equipment available.

Olmos Famous

Jose Olmos ’09 is and is not your typical Trojan. A native of Los Angeles, the School of Cinematic Arts graduate is still wrapping up summer courses as he splits time between homework and his job at the university’s dental school.

Bracing for Unexpected Success

Listening to Edna Ceballos’ passionate voice as she commands the stage in the Spanish Zarzuela Luisa Fernanda, it’s hard to imagine this accomplished soprano once had a collapsed lung.

SCA Alumnus Helvey Wins Student Oscar

Writer/director Gregg Helvey MFA ’09 at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, has turned bricks into gold with his film Kavi, which won the gold medal for narrative short film at the 36th annual Student Academy Awards on June 13.

From Finance to Filmmaking

For USC Marshall School of Business alumnus Thomas “Tommy” J. Papa MBA ’00, an investment banker based in Newport Beach, one of his most recent ventures is turning out to be one of the most fulfilling.

All Power to the Linemen

MFA art student Michael Parker happened upon his thesis project while riding his bicycle to class. It was hard to miss. A grid of gigantic wood poles suddenly had appeared on a dirt lot on the corner of Washington and Flower streets.

What I Will Do on My Summer Vacation

Four students from USC College's Master of Professional Writing earn scholarships to attend the New York State Summer Writers Institute program.

USC Roski Professor’s Film Headed to Cannes

A short film by Charlie White, director of the MFA program at the USC Roski School of Fine Arts, has been selected for the Director’s Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival.

Inspired by Alice

USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate student Ghia Godfree won first prize for Alicia en Lotería Land, her inventive mash-up of Alice in Wonderland and the popular lotería card game.

Learning the Bard Via Body Language

Although Shakespeare is famous for his cerebral language, USC College scholar Bruce Smith wants his students to absorb the Bard with not only their minds, but their entire bodies.

USC Thornton to Celebrate 125 Years

On April 2, the USC Thornton School of Music previewed its 125th anniversary with the news that its physical size will increase by 50 percent over the next two years as it takes over and renovates three buildings from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

In Memoriam: John Blankenchip, 89

The professor emeritus, who joined USC in 1955, was synonomous with the School of Theare and was integral in developing its BFA and MFA programs.

In Their Own Words

Six of USC’s professional writing students will offer their interpretations of the works at a LACMA exhibition.

Cinematic Arts Unveils New Digs

The illustrious school marks its 80th anniversary with a stellar celebration attended by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

Barrymores in the Limelight at Doheny Library

One of Hollywood’s most renowned families takes center stage in a photographic retrospective at USC’s David L. Wolper Center.

Sure, It’s a Dirty Job …

Free arts workshops encourage USC students to ‘get physical’ by dropping eggs, snapping images and strumming guitars.

Beat the Drum: New Lab First of Its Kind

Their collaboration results in establishment of the Roland Drumlab, a class that allows students to better understand drumming and its role in popular music.

Shedding Light on History’s Darkest Hours

Spell Your Name, a Holocaust documentary filmed in Ukraine, was created using the USC Shoah Foundation Institute archive.

Spell Your Name to Screen at USC

Documentary about the Holocaust in Ukraine will be followed by a panel discussion with director Sergey Bukovsky.

USC Shines at the Grammys

The USC Thornton School of Music claims wins in six categories on music’s biggest night of the year.

USC Undergrad Gets Lost

Melissa Farman, an honors student who was discovered in an acting class, has a new role on the Emmy-winning series as young Danielle Rousseau.

Looking Forward to the Sound of Music

Grammy Career Day gives hundreds of students the chance to start thinking about a college education and the music business.

Chabon Wins Scripter Achievement Award

USC Libraries will honor the author of Wonder Boys and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay at annual gala.

Scripter Finalists Named by USC Libraries

Compelling stories about aging, poverty, conformity, heroics and the Holocaust vie for this year’s USC Libraries Scripter Award.

New USC College Commons

A new series of workshops, lectures, debates and film screenings this spring at the USC College is designed to unite faculty, students, staff and alumni around compelling topics, recalling the Greek Akademia.