Kick back and enjoy some of the finest music collections and plays at Santa Monica’s landmark theater, the Miles Memorial Playhouse between January 7 to February 5, in their comfortable and stylish setting. The series ‘ Fireside at the Miles‘ includes fireside programming every Friday and Saturday night. On Friday night they offer an eclectic mix of music events, while for Saturdays they have invited Santa Monica based theater companies to present lively readings of Pulitzer Prize winning American drama’s. Justin Yoffe, Director, Miles Memorial Playhouse says that “any citizen of Santa Monica who has never experienced this historical gem is encouraged to come to the series. Tickets are a very affordable $10 or $5 for any senior, student or child 17 and under.”

This year the series presents rising roots music sensations Frank Fairfield and Sunny War, premier Shakespearean actor Lisa Wolpe, singer/songwriters David Poe and Amy Raasch, the Ruskin Group Theatre’s Best of the Cafe Plays, and two Inside Hip Hop nights featuring HBO and Comedy Central MCs IN-Q and MC Mr. Napkins, and many, many more fantastic performances. Comfortable lounge seating beside the massive stone fireplace, organic coffees and teas, pastries and an eco-friendly java log fire welcome you to Santa Monica’s historic theater!

From Miles Memorial Playhouse:

Friday January 7
Acoustic Fire with singer/songwriters
David Poe, Amy Raasch, Dudley Saunders & Madeline Mondrala

Featuring acclaimed singer/songwriter David Poe along with local favorites Amy Raasch and Dudley Saunders, joined by newcomer Madeline Mondrala, “Acoustic Fire” promises an evening of stellar lyricism and musical dexterity that will blow you away!

Saturday January 8
Wild and Woolly Tales from My Wild and Woolly Life
a solo storytelling by Michael D. McCarty

Follow the picaresque journey that led this man to become a professional storyteller! With his inimitable style and trademark boundless energy, griot (gree-oh) Michael D. McCarty is a man with a big mouth and a lot to talk about. In Wild and Woolly Life he will inspire and amuse with stories from his checkered career as wannabe physicist, revolutionary, acupuncturist, drug dealer, guru seeker, and world traveler.

Thursday January 13
Inside Hip Hop; performances by Dez Hope, MC In-Q, and Open Mic Eagle
Hosted by Pocho Joe with DJ Jedi

“Not only do you get to see some of the livest performances but you’ll also get to hear in depth from these artists as we sit them down for an interview.” – Pocho Joe

Friday January 14
Roots music with Frank Fairfield & Sunny War

The theme of this evening is transcending time. Both Frank Fairfield and Sunny War draw upon and extend the rich history of country music to create performances both of and outside of contemporary culture.

Saturday January 15
Three Contemporary Dances from Suchi Branfman, Michelle Garcia and Amanda Hart

Join these local choreographers as they create and renew short works for a very small space! Suchi Branfman is joined by Michelle Garcia (Oxford Street Dance) and Amanda Hart (Hart Pulse Dance Company) in a night of three very different works for bodies in motion.

Friday January 21
The Chamber Players of Los Angeles perform a program of International Voices

This thirteen-member classical ensemble returns to the Miles with a program of International Voices with flavors from around the world. Los Angeles-based composer Peter Senchuk’s woodwind quintet Three Pyansky celebrates the Ukranian folk melodies of Easter, the Chinese countryside is the basis for Soong- Fu Yuan’s Little Scenes from China, and Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5 transports with the rich lyric traditions of South America. The evening finishes with the great Czech (Bohemian) Antonin Dvorak and his quintet for string quartet and double bass.

Saturday January 22
Lisa Wolpe performs Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender

Join acclaimed Shakespearean drag king Lisa Wolpe as she performs her solo show, the story of a masterful performer rending the veil that separates genders, actors and the audience, and the present from the past. Wolpe reveals physical and spiritual secrets of cross-gender performance and offers insight into the making of the Bard’s magic.

Friday January 28
An Evening with Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera

Glorious voices abound in this program of famous arias and ensembles from Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, from operas including Lucia di Lammermoor, Carmen, Tosca, Don Giovanni and more. Bass Bob Arce, baritones Mario Biscaldi and Gabriel Manro, sopranos Linda Jackson and Amanda McAllister, mezzo-soprano Marcella Pan and tenor James Salazar are accompanied by Maestra Galina Barskaya on piano.

Saturday January 29
Ruskin Group Theatre’s Best of the Cafe Plays

The Ruskin Group Theatre presents a selection of favorite Cafe Plays from the series’ seven year history. Every short Cafe Play takes 10.5 hours to create, and playwrights write and actors and directors rehearse in one action-packed day. It’s mandated that each takes place in a cafe but otherwise anything can happen. Strap in for a wild ride!

Every evening, doors open at 7:15pm and performances begin at 8pm. Tickets are a recession-busting $10 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and youth 17 or under, and can be reserved by calling (310) 458-8634 or sending email to justin.yoffe@smgov.net.

Miles Memorial Playhouse
1130 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA. 90403