Lineage Dance Company, January 27, 2018, Lineage Performing Arts Center

Pasadena-based Lineage Dance Company produced an unusual and very personal show called "Stories of Identity: Gender & Sexuality" that was touching and thought provoking. In it, five speakers alternated with short dances connected to the theme. The speakers, all of whom were either non-heterosexual, non-binary gender, or both, told of their personal experiences such as coming out during high school, a mother's refusal to acknowledge a same-sex relationship, learning to appreciate drag culture as a gay man, and living in the world as a non-binary person. The dances were performed to live renditions of songs including two from Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Origin of Love, Wicked Little Town), and a pair of recordings of wedding vows from a gay wedding. The dancers, led by Artistic Director Hilary Thomas, were strong, supple, and sensitive.

A Very British Lesbian, November 9, 2017, Santa Monica Playhouse

Fiona Goodwin tells her sexuality life story with dry British wit. It includes being the subject of an exorcism when she was a teenager, training to become a nun, travelling the world, a last-ditch attempt at dating a rich, unattractive man, falling in love with a married woman, and finally finding acceptance and happiness in LA. Recently workshopped, the production was rough, but the emotions were real and powerful.

From the program notes: "Trouble was - the truth about myself was so unattractive to me and all the people I cared about - that it was to be buried. Apparently, you can't bury things about yourself selectively. All of me got shut down at some level. Coming out does mean coming out...in every way!"

The Nutcracker, December 2, 2017, The Broad Stage

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica gave a very creditable performance, accompanied by the Santa Monica College Symphony, which was soothingly unscreechy in the hardest parts of the score.