It seemed that success was never hard to come by for composer Henry Mancini. Before his death in 1994, he left his mark on countless classic films, contributing to the Hollywood pantheon everything from the tenor sax riff of “The Pink Panther” theme song to “Moon River” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Yet with all his successes in the film scoring industry, composer Henry Mancini was aware of its highly competitive, cutthroat nature. Read more...

Sugarcult “Palm Trees and Power Lines” Fearless Regardless of relying on every pop-punk convention ever conceived, Sugarcult’s new album, “Palm Trees and Power Lines,” might bring some needed credibility back to a genre that has been hijacked by tattooed boy bands and MTV in the past few years. Read more...

Correction appended For Frank Rudow,German-born multi-instrumentalist of the Spanish rock band Manta Ray, April 14 was the longest day in his life. After touching down from a 34-hour flight from Europe, Rudow found himself surrounded by the greenery and suburbs of Oregon, excited to be in the Western Hemisphere for the first time to begin the band’s first U.S. Read more...

For many people, the word retirement conjures up an image of a poolside house in Palm Springs where a game of tennis or bridge is the most important activity on the daily agenda. 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...

With so many events to choose from, navigating a weekend at the Festival of Books can be more than a little daunting. To make things easier, we’ve sifted through the schedule and picked out what look to be the most promising panels and stage appearances of the festival. 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...