William Shakespeare's “Henry VIII,” interpreted from a Spanish perspective by Spain's Rakata theater company, made its U. S. debut at Santa Monica College's Broad Stage on Thursday. The play was a smash hit at the Globe Theater in London that gave the audience a glimpse of the life of Shakespearean Henry VIII of his rivalry for power with intriguers and...

In 1936, Spain was in flames, the country was in a civil war and Professor Miguel Aparicio’s grandmother, Manuela Quintero Avila, known as “Nena,” was there to see it happen. Aparicio, who teaches French at Santa Monica College, has recorded the story of his family in his new book titled “Nena y Gloria,” a story that spans from the foamy...

James Underdown is dedicated to prove that UFOs, psychic powers and paranormal abilities are all impossible. Underdown is a professional skeptic and investigator, and director of the nonprofit Center for Inquiry in Los Angeles. He is also the founder of the organization Independent Investigator Group, which investigates fringe science, paranormal and extraordinary claims from a rational, scientific viewpoint. Santa Monica...

On Saturday, the Santa Monica College Broad Stage was illuminated by the music, dancers and dazzling colors of "An American Tango," a ballet that tells the love story and journey of one of America's greatest ballroom dance couples, Frank and Yolanda Veloz. Those attending the show were treated to a whirlwind of technicolor artwork and lighting, nostalgia for dance and...

On Friday night, tenor saxophonist Robert Kyle and his band filled the concert hall of Santa Monica College's Edye Second Space with the hybrid sound of Brazilian music fused with American jazz. Enhancing the intimate atmosphere of The Edye, the small concert room that hosted an audience of approximately 40 people was softly lit with a few overhead lights focused...

Poet laureate of Los Angeles, Eloise Klein Healy, was scheduled to give a reading at Santa Monica College on Thursday, but she fell ill, which resulted in an improvised poetry performance by SMC's English professors Will Doucet and Mario Padilla. The full details about what struck down Healy have not been released, SMC English professor and event organizer Hari Vishwanadha...

In the maze of Santa Monica College, students of different cultures and ethnicities attend class, cram at the library and dine in the cafeteria. Inevitably, a glance, a stare or an exchange of words will signal a deep attraction between two people who may be of different ethnic backgrounds. Nationwide, interracial relationships are gaining steam, and the heart is overthrowing...

Sept. 11, 2001 marked the beginning of the 21st century. It set in motion the dominant themes of the last decade, and opened the door for conflicts that will cast a shadow over generations to come. On the 12th anniversary of the attacks, we inevitably question whether the world has changed. The world has indeed changed, but not for the...

The night sky above Santa Monica College showed the stars lighting up in a blue gleaming cluster, shining in luminous stellar explosions, and dancing in a constellation that appeared like a swan with spread wings. Astronomer Jim Mahon revealed this cosmic theater to attendees of the show and lecture called, "Autumn Deep Sky Wonders," presented at Santa Monica College's John...

On any given day, a walk through the Santa Monica College campus reveals a mix of faces, colors and nationalities. Like any major college campus in the United States, SMC features a generation of students who have come of age under the shadow of Sept. 11, 2001 and its aftermath. Atheer Althobaiti, dressed in a traditional Muslim hijab, sat on...