“Mean Girls” Directed by Mark Waters Paramount Pictures “Mean Girls” is one of the funniest movies you’re likely to see this year. Written by “Saturday Night Live” head writer Tina Fey and based on the nonfiction book “Queen Bees and Wannabees” by Rosalind Wiseman, “Mean Girls” is smart, savvy and likely to make you thank your lucky stars you’re not in high school anymore. Read more...

These days, the first thing that strikes you as you wander into the tiny Little Victory Theater in North Hollywood is how authentic and confident John Williams’ set design for the venue’s current production, Keith Bunin’s “The Credeaux Canvas,” truly feels. Read more...

The idea of a student-produced production conjures up visions of frenzied performers, strewn together stages and power-tripping producers. But during the final few rehearsals before opening night, the vibe around the dancers of WAC Smash, a student-created undergraduate showcase, is one of professional cool. Read more...

In one of the rare instances where lip-synching is not only engrossing but also applauded, the child actors of the Belgium-based theater company Victoria proved captivating as copycats in last Saturday night’s performance of writer/actor/director Josse De Pauw’s “üBUNG” at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, drawing to an end UCLA Live’s second International Theatre Festival. Read more...

When it comes to the issue of misconceptions of Chinese culture and dance, Josephine Louie, artistic director of “Lotus Steps, 2004,” recounts the time when the bare midriff of a child dancer performing in the show was brought into question. Read more...

The survival of independent publishing in a corporate mass media climate is a classic David and Goliath story, except in this case, the underdog may not succeed against all odds, and must instead learn how to coexist with his giant opponent. Read more...

As those familiar pointy white tents were being pitched all over campus this week in preparation for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, I couldn’t help but get to thinking about how we deal with literature here at the dB Magazine. Read more...