Latest news with #L.A.Opera
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘I have no fear': L.A. Opera lovers attend shows in downtown L.A. despite protests
Hours before downtown Los Angeles headed into its sixth night under curfew orders imposed by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, dozens of opera and theater fans funneled into the Music Center on Sunday afternoon to catch matinee performances of L.A. Opera's 'Rigoletto' and Center Theatre Group's 'Hamlet.' The shows took place just one day after thousands of 'No Kings' demonstrators flooded the streets to protest immigration raids across the city. Center Theatre Group had canceled its Wednesday night performance of director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of 'Hamlet' before officials announced a curfew exemption on Thursday for ticket holders of indoor events and performing arts venues downtown such as the Music Center. Saturday's matinee and evening performances of 'Hamlet' were also canceled in anticipation of the protests. No performances of 'Rigoletto' were canceled and L.A. Opera's 'Renee Fleming and Friends' event took place on Saturday night. On Sunday afternoon, aside from a handful of police cars sprinkled throughout the area, there wasn't much of a law enforcement presence and no protests were happening, which made many attendees feel more relaxed about coming downtown. Ahead of the 'Rigoletto' show, we spoke to ticket holders about whether they hesitated about coming to the Music Center and downtown Los Angeles and how they feel about supporting the arts even in times of conflict. Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Why did you want to come to the show today? Pancake: I've never seen 'Rigoletto' live and I haven't been to the L.A. Opera even though I've been [in L.A.] since 1987. I've been to the Mark Taper and Ahmanson hundreds of times, but never to the opera. I'm here because my nephew turned 21 and even though he's a punk rock, heavy metal dude, he really likes the opera. I was going to bring him here for his birthday on Thursday, but he felt weird about coming down here. I have no fear. I'm old. I don't care anymore. I've lived through all the riots, strikes and protests. I'm gay. I've been marching since 1987 for a million different reasons, so I changed it to today because he was concerned about the curfew and then he still didn't come. So I brought Gabe, my good friend, who is also a theater guy. Acero: My father is a security guard at the Federal Building and I told him I was coming here, and he was like, 'Oh, that's closed.' And I'm going, 'No it's not. 1) That's only a nighttime thing. 2) That's changed. Ticketed events are still allowed because they want the arts to happen.' It's just funny that there's this dichotomy of like someone you'd think is in the thick of it and they don't even know what's going on in the area with rules and what's happening. Pancake: I was at the 'No Kings' rally all morning and afternoon yesterday and so I'm at the opera today. The L.A. Opera and the Music Center has done a really good job about sending emails and updating us about what was going on. How often do you come to downtown L.A.? Acero: I'm usually downtown at least every Friday. I go to Precinct all the time. Pancake: I'm down here often. I go to the theater. I'm an actor and I know a lot of actors. [Gabe] is a prosthetic makeup artist, so we are in the world of acting and theater. As an actor, nothing will stop me from doing theater and attending theater. Do you have any plans after the show? Pancake: I think we're going to go eat afterward. Why do you think it's important to support the arts, which are still trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood strike and the recent wildfires? Pancake: To show them, the performers and the artists, that we're here for them. Then the flip side, it's like I appreciate it when people show up for my stuff, so it's a give and take and I'm happy to be a part of it. Acero: That's theater. You go there for a relief from the real world. It's sort of an escape. Why did you want to come to the show today? Asch: I love the opera. In our community, there was a bus organized to bring us up here, so we did it. I went to the protest yesterday. It was so exciting and we were all cheering and saying, 'No kings.' Block: We felt like this would not be in the area where there are a lot of protesters and that it would be perfectly safe to come on down. Why do you think it's important to support the arts? Asch: I think they lift your spirits. I mean even though this is a depressing opera, the music is thrilling and I know I'm going to shed a tear at the end. Block: We get tired of talking about politics and worrying about it, and this is an opportunity to get away from it. Are you doing anything after the show? Block: No [laughs]. We're getting on the bus to take us back home. Why did you want to come to the show today? I finished preaching a sermon, changed my clothes and then came down here for the show. I'm a social justice pastor, so basically when you bring me into your church, I'm going to talk about current events. The title of my sermon was 'This is God's world, we're just living in it.' Remember in 1865, we were looking for freedom and in 2025, we're still looking for it. I'm an avid opera goer. I feel that more people of color should go to the opera. They think that we're not included, but we are included, it's just that we have to show up. Also, I'm a big Verdi fan so anything Verdi writes, I'm going to go see it. Were you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests? You're talking to a man of faith. I didn't feel threatened coming downtown because I understood the cause. I think the people who are feeling threatened coming downtown are people who don't maybe agree with the cause. They're looking at too much CNN, and CNN is only [showing] what they want you to see. But no, I don't feel nervous in doing that. These people have a right to be out there. I don't believe in the violence part, but violence is gonna happen no matter what kind of protest. The American Revolution had violence. I felt that our current administration was overdoing it and I just passed by [some] Marines but there's nobody in the streets. Why did you want to come to the show today? Kelley: My husband conducted a performance of 'Rigoletto' about 15 years ago with an opera company in Chinatown. Hougesen: I wasn't worried. The L.A. Opera sends regular emails and they told us that we may want to take the 110 Freeway and the Temple Street exit. They also said if you don't feel comfortable, they would be happy to refund your money. So I wasn't afraid. I watch the TV news regularly and the [Los Angeles Police Department] was very good with crowd control yesterday, so I didn't think it was going to be a problem. Kelley: I had full trust that it was going to be OK. The 'No Kings' protest was yesterday, so I just figured especially if you arrive early enough, I figured it wouldn't be a problem. I hadn't heard of any of the protesters being on the ground at the Music Center.' Why do you think it's important to support the arts? Hougesen: Well, I have season tickets. I have for many years. I go to the L.A. Philharmonic and the L.A. Opera. Kelley: I think the arts are what keep a lot of people going. They uplift everybody. My late husband started an orchestra in 1965, the Palisades Symphony. He died about a year and a half ago, but the orchestra continues. It's an all-volunteer orchestra and I am still involved with it and I'm an active cellist. Also, some of those people lost their homes so it gives them a sense of continuity and friendship. Just playing music together is very very important to so many people. Why did you want to come to the show today? We just like to do things in the city. If anything sounds interesting, we'll go check it out. Were you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests? Not really and the freeway was clear when we came down so we weren't really concerned. How often do you come downtown? About once a month to visit the Ahmanson and the Mark Taper. I try to see whatever is playing. Are you planning to do anything after the show in the area? Our plan was to come early and enjoy the pavilion before the show. It's a school night. Why do you think it's important to support the arts? It's important to take a step back and pause, and get in tune with your emotions or experience something new and creative before you go back into the world because it might shift your perspective. It might change your mindset. So I think it's important, no matter what's going on in L.A., to support the arts. If we want an art scene here, we have to patronize it. Why did you want to come to the show today? Lass: We live in the mountains and were bored. We've both grown up in Southern California, and L.A. is not scary. You could be in a bad place at the wrong time, but that can happen anywhere. Roblee: They did cancel our brunch reservation though. When we were driving through, we saw some boarded-up buildings. Were you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests? Lass: A little bit just from seeing what was on the news, but it was not like I've seen in the past. I lived in Hawthorne during the riots, so if all the buildings aren't burning, everything is good. ... People want to fight for what's right. How often do you come downtown? Roblee: A couple times of year, mostly for activities. Why do you think it's important to support the arts even during times of strife? Roblee: The artists need to make a living and the theater has never been a place to get rich. It's important. It's culturally important and we enjoy it, so you have to support it. Take it away and life is boring. Why did you want to come to the show today? Kareem: We came to the opera last year and that was our first time, and we thought let's go again in the summer. We're teachers. Were you nervous about coming to downtown L.A. today? Amy: I didn't feel nervous today. I figured it was during the day. I was kind of curious to see the [freeway] off-ramps and all that stuff, but I wasn't nervous. Kareem: I was a little bit nervous because I'm the driver. As we got closer and into the city, I felt a little bit more relaxed. I didn't get nervous because I saw cars were moving, but I saw police cars lined up above the freeway and they had closed some off-ramps. But then as I kind of pulled off and I didn't see any activity, I felt more relaxed. We sat down. We ordered a beer. I feel like it was a little quiet when we got here. For me, it was like I have the tickets. Even going back to things that have happened in the past, like 9/11, you just kind of don't want to be roaming around in fear. I'm going to live my life and if I have to turn around for some reason, then I just turn around, but I'm going to move on and get things back to normal. The faster we do things without fear, the faster things can kind of move on. How often do you come to downtown? Kareem: A few times a year. Are you doing anything after the show? Kareem: We're doing a Father's Day dinner near our home. Why do you think it's important to support the arts? Amy: Our daughter is a senior in college and she's in the arts. She does musicals and theater, so it's kind of been a part of our family. And we've gone to shows at the Pantages and on Broadway, and we've just always enjoyed them. I know they work really hard and they don't make a lot, whether they're on stage or they are the stage crew. Kareem: In my family, it's kind of been like a way to bond every since we've been together through dating and marriage. My godfather's son grew up in the theater and still works as a professional in the arts and he's always working hard, so we try to support them. We don't know any of these people, but we enjoy it.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Downtown L.A. curfew update: City carves out exemptions for L.A. Opera and the Mark Taper Forum
Los Angeles city officials on Thursday carved out a curfew exemption for ticket holders of indoor events and performing arts venues downtown including the Music Center, paving the way for evening performances of Center Theatre Group's "Hamlet" and Los Angeles Opera's "Rigoletto." The news comes as Mayor Karen Bass' 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew for the civic center area approaches its third night and arts organizations, restaurants and other businesses across the area report a drop in patrons. On Wednesday, Center Theatre Group canceled a second night of director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of "Hamlet" at a cost of roughly $35,000 in ticket sales per night. That's in addition to what the company is spending on production expenses. "At this time, Center Theatre Group, the Music Center, and the surrounding streets have not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity. Our staff and artists are already on site, and we look forward to seeing you," CTG wrote in a statement Thursday. Major protests are planned nationwide for Saturday, when Trump's 79th birthday coincides with the massive 250th anniversary military parade he is throwing in Washington, D.C., at a reported cost of $45 million. One of the so-called "No Kings" protests is scheduled to take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of City Hall, prompting Center Theatre Group to cancel its Saturday matinee and evening performances of "Hamlet." Other events scheduled for that day and night have been been postponed, including a show by the rock band Ozomatli that's part of the Grand Performances series at California Plaza, and a Metro Art event called Bollywood Express at Union Station. The Broad museum, adjacent to the Music Center, said it will close all weekend. "The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff continues to be our highest priority," the museum said in a statement. L.A. Opera, however, issued a mid-afternoon news release announcing the curfew exemption and noting that "Rigoletto," scheduled to run from 7:30 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, would go on as planned. The company also is moving forward with its Saturday "Renée Fleming and Friends" concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. "Attendees will need to leave the theater immediately afterward without lingering on the Music Center campus," the release said, adding that guests may need to prove their attendance at the show if stopped by law enforcement. "All ticket holders should have their tickets with them while in the area, either printed, digital or as a screen shot of the ticket." The release also says that people should avoid driving through downtown from the south, where much of the military activity is centered. A representative for L.A. Opera acknowledged that given the circumstances, ticket holders may choose not to show up. They will be allowed to exchange their tickets for one of the remaining performances June 15, 18 or 21; or they can request a refund from the box office. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Downtown L.A. curfew update: City carves out exemptions for L.A. Opera and the Mark Taper Forum
Los Angeles city officials on Thursday carved out a curfew exemption for ticket holders of indoor events and performing arts venues downtown including the Music Center, paving the way for evening performances of Center Theatre Group's 'Hamlet' and Los Angeles Opera's 'Rigoletto.' The news comes as Mayor Karen Bass' 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew for the civic center area approaches its third night and arts organizations, restaurants and other businesses across the area report a drop in patrons. On Wednesday, Center Theatre Group canceled a second night of director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of 'Hamlet' at a cost of roughly $35,000 in ticket sales per night. That's in addition to what the company is spending on production expenses. 'At this time, Center Theatre Group, the Music Center, and the surrounding streets have not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity. Our staff and artists are already on site, and we look forward to seeing you,' CTG wrote in a statement Thursday. Major protests are planned nationwide for Saturday, when Trump's 79th birthday coincides with the massive 250th anniversary military parade he is throwing in Washington, D.C., at a reported cost of $45 million. One of the so-called 'No Kings' protests is scheduled to take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of City Hall, prompting Center Theatre Group to cancel its Saturday matinee and evening performances of 'Hamlet.' Other events scheduled for that day and night have been been postponed, including a show by the rock band Ozomatli that's part of the Grand Performances series at California Plaza, and a Metro Art event called Bollywood Express at Union Station. The Broad museum, adjacent to the Music Center, said it will close all weekend. 'The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff continues to be our highest priority,' the museum said in a statement. L.A. Opera, however, issued a mid-afternoon news release announcing the curfew exemption and noting that 'Rigoletto,' scheduled to run from 7:30 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, would go on as planned. The company also is moving forward with its Saturday 'Renée Fleming and Friends' concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 'Attendees will need to leave the theater immediately afterward without lingering on the Music Center campus,' the release said, adding that guests may need to prove their attendance at the show if stopped by law enforcement. 'All ticket holders should have their tickets with them while in the area, either printed, digital or as a screen shot of the ticket.' The release also says that people should avoid driving through downtown from the south, where much of the military activity is centered. A representative for L.A. Opera acknowledged that given the circumstances, ticket holders may choose not to show up. They will be allowed to exchange their tickets for one of the remaining performances June 15, 18 or 21; or they can request a refund from the box office.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Protests and curfew cancel L.A. Phil and 'Hamlet' as arts groups' losses mount
When Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday issued a curfew for downtown L.A. after the chaos of some ICE protests over the weekend, an unwelcome side effect took hold: Arts organizations inside the curfew zone had to cancel performances, notably "Hamlet" at the Mark Taper Forum and the final night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival — which also happened to be the Los Angeles Philharmonic's last evening at Walt Disney Concert Hall this season. The curfew remains in effect Wednesday, and Center Theatre Group has again been forced to cancel director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, starring Patrick Ball from the hit Max show "The Pitt." Other organizations including Los Angeles Opera, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Broad museum and the Japanese American National Museum are grappling with the snowballing effects of the civic unrest compounded by an uncertain future as thousands of National Guard troops and Marines roll into town under President Trump's orders. "As Los Angeles' largest theater company, located in downtown L.A., we are heartbroken by the events unfolding around us and affecting so many in our beautiful and diverse city," Center Theatre Group wrote in a statement. "Our mission is to be a home for everyone who calls themselves an Angeleno." The theater company said it has stayed in close contact with officials at the Music Center, as well as with leadership at other downtown cultural institutions, and that the safety of its patrons, cast, crew and staff was a top priority. The situation remains fluid and the company hopes to open "Parade" at the Ahmanson Theatre next week, as scheduled. The first preview is set for Tuesday, and opening night is on Wednesday. "Hamlet" had been sold to 85% capacity this week, Center Theatre Group said. "As a result of canceling performances of 'Hamet,' we lose approximately $35,000 in ticket sales per performance cancellation, in addition to still paying full production expenses related to the show," CTG said in its statement. "Should the curfews extend into next week, that number would increase significantly when factoring in both 'Hamlet' and 'Parade' cancellations." L.A. Opera is scheduled to present "Rigoletto" on Thursday and Sunday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The concert "Renee Fleming and Friends" is on the calendar for Saturday. A representative for L.A. Opera said the company has not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity, but that it is waiting for an update from city officials about the curfew. For now, all upcoming performances are moving forward, and the company will notify the public of any changes. The company is waiving all exchange fees for ticket holders who want to avoid the downtown area. Tickets can be exchanged online or by calling the box office. "Our thoughts are with the greater Los Angeles community and especially with those who have been directly impacted," L.A. Opera said in a statement. A representative for the Music Center, which includes Disney Hall, the Taper, the Ahmanson and the Dorothy Chandler, said the organization won't know the financial impact for some time. "Our hearts go out to all those who may be personally impacted by the recent events," the center said in a statement. "We remain steadfast in our values, including the protection of free speech and the right to peaceful protest. As always, we will continue to ensure the Music Center campus remains a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all." The situation is different for downtown museums, most of which close before the 8 p.m. curfew. MOCA closed its Geffen Contemporary building early on Sunday "out of an abundance of caution" and initially said it expected to reopen as usual on Thursday. However on Wednesday afternoon, a MOCA representative told The Times that the Geffen Contemporary will remain closed for the rest of the week. The durational performance "Police State," staged by Pussy Riot frontwoman Nadya Tolokonnikova, was originally scheduled to continue in the warehouse through Sunday. It is being paused and its conclusion postponed to a later date. (On Sunday Tolokonnikova remained in the museum after it closed, broadcasting sounds of the protests outside, mixed with her heartbeat, to the empty museum.) The main MOCA campus on Grand Avenue was open regular hours Tuesday, although attendance was lower than usual, the representative said. MOCA Grand Avenue will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday and cancel its usual late-night hours. (The museum typically stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.) The museum will contact affected ticket holders for refunds or rescheduling options. The Broad museum, also on Grand Avenue, remains open to the public and is monitoring the situation closely with local officials and its onsite security team. Due to the curfew, however, the museum plans to close at 5 p.m. Thursday, which means that its weekly free Thursday evening admission to "Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me" will not be offered. Any ticket reservations for Thursday evening will be honored at any other time during the run of the show, which closes Sept. 28. The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo suffered a significant amount of graffiti. The museum said it has installed fencing to protect the glass facade of the pavilion. A group of volunteers cleaned up the graffiti earlier this week. "Some areas will require additional, specialized attention due to the surfaces involved," a representative for the museum wrote. "This will entail some unexpected expense, though we don't have an estimate for that yet." The pavilion has been closed to the public since January in preparation for a scheduled renovation, but JANM did postpone a film screening originally scheduled for Tuesday night in its Democracy Center. The museum is evaluating whether to move forward with upcoming public programs on a day-to-day basis. The Little Tokyo Public Safety Assn., which organizes the annual Little Tokyo Sparkle cleanup, is arranging another cleanup effort on Thursday, gathering in JANM's plaza. "We know that the tagging does not represent the majority of those making their voices heard," wrote Board Chairman William T. Fujioka in JANM's monthly email newsletter. "JANM is and always will be a voice for social justice. We continue to stand with our immigrant communities and with those who exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Peaceful protest can lead to positive change for everyone." Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Protests and curfew cancel L.A. Phil and ‘Hamlet' as arts groups' losses mount
When Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday issued a curfew for downtown L.A. after the chaos of some ICE protests over the weekend, an unwelcome side effect took hold: Arts organizations inside the curfew zone had to cancel performances, notably 'Hamlet' at the Mark Taper Forum and the final night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Seoul Festival — which also happened to be the Los Angeles Philharmonic's last evening at Walt Disney Concert Hall this season. The curfew remains in effect Wednesday, and Center Theatre Group has again been forced to cancel director Robert O'Hara's world-premiere adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, starring Patrick Ball from the hit Max show 'The Pitt.' Other organizations including Los Angeles Opera, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Broad museum and the Japanese American National Museum are grappling with the snowballing effects of the civic unrest compounded by an uncertain future as thousands of National Guard troops and Marines roll into town under President Trump's orders. 'As Los Angeles' largest theater company, located in downtown L.A., we are heartbroken by the events unfolding around us and affecting so many in our beautiful and diverse city,' Center Theatre Group wrote in a statement. 'Our mission is to be a home for everyone who calls themselves an Angeleno.' The theater company said it has stayed in close contact with officials at the Music Center, as well as with leadership at other downtown cultural institutions, and that the safety of its patrons, cast, crew and staff was a top priority. The situation remains fluid and the company hopes to open 'Parade' at the Ahmanson Theatre next week, as scheduled. The first preview is set for Tuesday, and opening night is on Wednesday. 'Hamlet' had been sold to 85% capacity this week, Center Theatre Group said. 'As a result of canceling performances of 'Hamet,' we lose approximately $35,000 in ticket sales per performance cancellation, in addition to still paying full production expenses related to the show,' CTG said in its statement. 'Should the curfews extend into next week, that number would increase significantly when factoring in both 'Hamlet' and 'Parade' cancellations.' L.A. Opera is scheduled to present 'Rigoletto' on Thursday and Sunday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The concert 'Renee Fleming and Friends' is on the calendar for Saturday. A representative for L.A. Opera said the company has not been directly impacted by protest or law enforcement activity, but that it is waiting for an update from city officials about the curfew. For now, all upcoming performances are moving forward, and the company will notify the public of any changes. The company is waiving all exchange fees for ticket holders who want to avoid the downtown area. Tickets can be exchanged online or by calling the box office. 'Our thoughts are with the greater Los Angeles community and especially with those who have been directly impacted,' L.A. Opera said in a statement. A representative for the Music Center, which includes Disney Hall, the Taper, the Ahmanson and the Dorothy Chandler, said the organization won't know the financial impact for some time. 'Our hearts go out to all those who may be personally impacted by the recent events,' the center said in a statement. 'We remain steadfast in our values, including the protection of free speech and the right to peaceful protest. As always, we will continue to ensure the Music Center campus remains a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all.' The situation is different for downtown museums, most of which close before the 8 p.m. curfew. MOCA closed its Geffen Contemporary building early on Sunday 'out of an abundance of caution' and initially said it expected to reopen as usual on Thursday. However on Wednesday afternoon, a MOCA representative told The Times that the Geffen Contemporary will remain closed for the rest of the week. The durational performance 'Police State,' staged by Pussy Riot frontwoman Nadya Tolokonnikova, was originally scheduled to continue in the warehouse through Sunday. It is being paused and its conclusion postponed to a later date. (On Sunday Tolokonnikova remained in the museum after it closed, broadcasting sounds of the protests outside, mixed with her heartbeat, to the empty museum.) The main MOCA campus on Grand Avenue was open regular hours Tuesday, although attendance was lower than usual, the representative said. MOCA Grand Avenue will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday and cancel its usual late-night hours. (The museum typically stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.) The museum will contact affected ticket holders for refunds or rescheduling options. The Broad museum, also on Grand Avenue, remains open to the public and is monitoring the situation closely with local officials and its onsite security team. Due to the curfew, however, the museum plans to close at 5 p.m. Thursday, which means that its weekly free Thursday evening admission to 'Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me' will not be offered. Any ticket reservations for Thursday evening will be honored at any other time during the run of the show, which closes Sept. 28. The Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo suffered a significant amount of graffiti. The museum said it has installed fencing to protect the glass facade of the pavilion. A group of volunteers cleaned up the graffiti earlier this week. 'Some areas will require additional, specialized attention due to the surfaces involved,' a representative for the museum wrote. 'This will entail some unexpected expense, though we don't have an estimate for that yet.' The pavilion has been closed to the public since January in preparation for a scheduled renovation, but JANM did postpone a film screening originally scheduled for Tuesday night in its Democracy Center. The museum is evaluating whether to move forward with upcoming public programs on a day-to-day basis. The Little Tokyo Public Safety Assn., which organizes the annual Little Tokyo Sparkle cleanup, is arranging another cleanup effort on Thursday, gathering in JANM's plaza. 'We know that the tagging does not represent the majority of those making their voices heard,' wrote Board Chairman William T. Fujioka in JANM's monthly email newsletter. 'JANM is and always will be a voice for social justice. We continue to stand with our immigrant communities and with those who exercise their constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Peaceful protest can lead to positive change for everyone.'
