Maniacal Natalie Merchant: ‘What is the matter here?’ By Michael Tatum No music figure I revile intrigues me more than Natalie Merchant, formerly of the pop group 10,000 Maniacs. Read more...

‘Mask’ screenwriter visits Melnitz Film success story Mike Werb returns to his alma mater By Michael Horowitz Daily Bruin Senior Staff "Every parking attendant in town is writing a screenplay," declares Mike Werb, who writes screenplays for a living and doesn’t park any cars except his own. Read more...

Philharmonic revives 1919 performance for 75th By John Mangum The Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated its 75th birthday with a six-foot tall cake. It didn’t need candles because the orchestra was on fire. Read more...

‘Seduction’ adds new edge to spicy formula By Lael Loewenstein The dark and dangerous femme fatale has long stalked men in Hollywood films. In classics like Double Indemnity (1944) and Out of the Past (1946), beautiful and mysterious women lured unsuspecting men into committing crimes in the name of love, only to double-cross and kill them later. Read more...

Box set documents Prine’s truly ‘Great Days’ By Michael Tatum From marrying a belly dancer who encourages him to blow up his TV to wondering whether his cat’s death was an accident or a suicide, nobody comes close to capturing the "Big Old Goofy World" like John Prine. Read more...

‘Dreams’ reflects UCLA reality Film documents American youths’ love of basketball By Bernie Cook Special to The Bruin Kristaan Johnson. omm’A Givens. J.R. Henderson. Toby Bailey. Read more...

Hackett modernizes old plays UCLA professor directs comedies for Getty museum By Jeanna Blackman Imagine the Getty museum asking you to direct two ancient comedies. And ­ by the way ­ your work will be judged by theater-goers as well as specialists in ancient history. Read more...