UCLA PRESENTS THE BEST in arts and culture, community events, sports and entertainment. From fabulous film screenings to amazing art exhibitions, September offers a wide range of unique and exciting experiences. For more UCLA events, visit community.ucla.edu.
SEPTEMBER 6 | 10 A.M.
Take a guided one-hour tour of one of the best living museums on the West Coast — the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, of course. Come explore UCLA’s collection of plants from around the globe and learn all about them from a botany expert, for free. On the tour, you’ll hear the stories of plants in the garden — some of which are the only ones of their kind in North America — and their relevance to the human and natural worlds. Tours meet at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion at the northern end of the garden. RSVP here.
THROUGH NOVEMBER 30
New Hammer Exhibition: Rising Sun, Falling Rain
In its newest exhibition, the Hammer Museum at UCLA displays works from the genre of ukiyo-e or “pictures of the floating world” that came to prominence during Japan’s 17th-century Edo period. Rising Sun, Falling Rain traces the evolution and mastery of ukiyo-e printmaking. The works depict themes ranging from vibrant urban life inside teahouses and kabuki theaters to nature, poetry and folklore. This exhibition features artists such as Katsukawa Shunshō, Utagawa Toyokuni, Utagawa Hiroshige, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Kawase Hasui and Katsushika Hokusai (the artist behind the famed ukiyo-e print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”). Showcasing the aesthetic refinement of a storied era of Japanese art, Rising Sun, Falling Rain displays a wealth of historical and cultural narratives to explore. Like all other Hammer exhibitions and programs, Rising Sun, Falling Rain is completely free.
SEPTEMBER 3–OCTOBER 5
Writer and actor Roxana Ortega delivers this fiercely funny one-woman tour-de-force based on her experience navigating the chaos of her mother’s mental decline. Ortega — straight from sitcom The Casagrandes and the always hysterical Groundlings improv troupe — takes us through the heart-wrenching and hilarious moments of familial duty and destiny. In her show, Ortega fearlessly embodies life’s ups and downs through an eccentric assortment of characters and scenes: a mermaid-obsessed aunt and a prickly sherpa, a wild ride to an opera house and an arduous trek up a killer mountain. Previews for Am I Roxie? begin September 3; opening night is September 11. Tickets here.
SEPTEMBER 13 | 7:30 P.M.
The Long Goodbye / California Split
Liven up your mid-September Saturday night by taking in another fantastic double feature from the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Come to the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum to watch two classic ’70s films by famed director Robert Altman. The night starts with the 1973 satirical noir thriller The Long Goodbye, a hilarious yet dramatic tale about a down-on-his-luck Hollywood private eye (Elliott Gould) suddenly thrust into some of the biggest mysteries of his career. Like many great noir films of its era, this one includes acts of murder, betrayal, escapes to Mexico and just a bit of revenge. After The Long Goodbye, enjoy Altman’s 1974 comedy-drama California Split. Also set in Los Angeles, California Split follows the quintessential bachelor (Elliott Gould again) and his poker-playing partner (George Segal) as they entertain two sex workers and gamble their savings away in search of the ultimate payday. The two movies are now seen as triumphs of New Hollywood in the post-midcentury age. Like all archive events, this showing is free. Seats are first-come, first-served.
SEPTEMBER 27 | 8 P.M.
Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol (which translates to “Gardens Lying in the Sun”) is an experimental theater ensemble driven by one core tenet: Things are what they are, but they can also be different. The group’s latest project is Centroamérica, an artistic research project exploring how Mexico, a country set on “always looking north,” sees Central America — as a group of nations, as a name, as poetry, as a stigma. Centroamérica takes the form of an anthropological play that unfolds from the perspective of Mexico and Mexicans as they interpret and interact with Central America. The play is composed of chapters displaying more traditional acting and testimonials from Central Americans in exile; one of these testimonials comes from historian Dora María Téllez, an activist who worked alongside President Daniel Ortega in the Nicaraguan Sandinista National Liberation Front in the ’70s. Presented by UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, Centroamérica both reflects and reimagines the relationship between Mexico and its Central American neighbors. Purchase tickets here.
SEPTEMBER 28 | 7 P.M.
Silent Movie Day Showing: The Little American
There’s only one way to celebrate Silent Movie Day — actually, there are probably many ways — but no matter the method you choose, make sure you do it quietly. This year, the UCLA Film & Television Archive has selected one of its favorite silent films: The Little American. A romantic war drama written by Jeanie MacPherson and directed by her longtime collaborator Cecil B. DeMille, this 1917 classic stars Mary Pickford as the titular little American who falls in love with two World War I soldiers: one French and one German. Buoyed by her courage and a determination to follow her heart, Pickford’s character travels through war-torn Europe (what could go wrong?). The archive photochemically restored this film in 1990 from DeMille’s personal 35mm nitrate print and a nitrate negative fragment. Don’t miss Silent Movie Day: Come celebrate in style at the Billy Wilder Theater. No tickets required.
SEPTEMBER 7 | 1 P.M.
Women’s footie is back at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. This is one of the first regular-season home games for the Bruins. The showdown with the Stanford Cardinal happens to be one of the most anticipated of the season: Both teams are powerhouses and ranked in the NCAA top 25. Tickets are only $9 for youth and $17 for adults. Rep your blue and gold, get loud — and Go Bruins!
SEPTEMBER 12 | 7 P.M.
Football season is officially here with this game against the University of New Mexico Lobos. This matchup is an important one for the Bruins — regular season Big Ten games are just around the corner. As always, there will be lively tailgating (come to the Rose Bowl Fan Zone to enjoy a party thrown by UCLA’s own Alumni Association), great giveaways and vibrant performances from groups like the UCLA Marching Band, Spirit Squad and Dance Team. This game against New Mexico is also one of the cheapest of the year; tickets at the historic Rose Bowl start at only $27 each.
SEPTEMBER 19–21
Men’s Water Polo Conference Invitational
The UCLA men’s water polo win machine just keeps on going. The reigning NCAA champions (coming off their 13th national title, by the way) are back in the pool and ready to capture this season’s big trophy. Winning this early-season tournament will certainly set them on the right track. The MPSF Invitational is right on campus at the Spieker Aquatics Center and will feature some of the most competitive teams in the nation: University of Southern California, Stanford and UC Berkeley. To see the national champs in action, check the event schedule and swing by the pool — no ticket required!
THROUGH SEPTEMBER
New Bruin Send-off Celebrations
UCLA Alumni Affairs is honored to host New Bruin Send-off Celebrations to welcome incoming students and families. No matter where you’re located or whether you’re a student, alum, family member or friend of the university, there’s something for everyone at a New Bruin Send-off!
Join a New Bruin Send-off Celebration in your area and connect with fellow incoming students, families and alumni leaders. Hosted by UCLA’s regional, diversity and affinity alumni networks, these casual and festive gatherings are the perfect place to start building your Bruin network. From backyard get-togethers to park picnics, each send-off has its local flavor, but they all share one thing: the incredible feeling of Bruin pride that powers the UCLA community. Check out the Send-off schedule to find an event — and Bruins — near you.
SEPTEMBER 9 | NOON
Managing Your Time and Increasing Your Productivity
You probably have a lot to do — and not enough time to do it in. Join career engagement specialist Holly Hoeksema as she explores innovative approaches to thinking and operating. Everyone faces challenges with productivity and time management, but engaging with proven best practices — as outlined in this online seminar — will leave you feeling capable of enacting purposeful change in the workplace, at home and beyond. You’ll come away from this event with new strategies in task prioritization, email management, interruption mitigation and assignment completion. Come ready to absorb and implement approaches that will fundamentally change how you look at productivity. RSVP here.
SEPTEMBER 27 | 7:30 P.M.
Beyond Terror: Vincent Price on Television
Step into the world of Vincent Price in Beyond Terror, a curated screening inspired and moderated by the research of UCLA alum Gabz Norte M.L.I.S. ’24, a Cahuilla and Cupeño filmmaker and audiovisual archivist. The eclectic mix of television gems showcases Price’s wit, artistry and versatility. This program at the Hammer features everything from a playful tour of his art collection and guest spots on Dinah! to chilling turns in Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Night Gallery. Experience rare commercials, intimate interviews and a heartfelt This is Your Life tribute that reveals the Renaissance man behind the horror legend. UCLA alumni are encouraged to come on down to the Billy Wilder Theater and experience the macabre magic of Vincent Price ... if you dare! No RSVP required.
