On Saturday, more than 1,000 museums — including two in Bakersfield — across the country will offer free admission as part of a campaign to promote the value of cultural experiences.

When monsters take the stage at Gaslight Melodrama this weekend, there’s no need to fear — they’re bringing the laughs. Just in time for the Halloween season, the theater presents “The Mummy Knows Best,” a comedic adventure of classic Universal monsters.

If anyone can find beauty and meaning in a time of uncertainty, it would surely be artists. Along with guiding burgeoning artists, instructors at Bakersfield College have found time to create their own works, which are on display now at the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery.

If you're not feeling OK these days, that's perfectly OK. And there are people and local programs ready to help. That's part of the message that Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services is sharing through its everGREEN mural project, which will have its first unveiling on Friday.

There will be no escaping from fun this Monday when Celebrities of Magic hosts performer Naathan Phan at the Gaslight Melodrama.

Comedian W.C. Fields once quipped, "Never work with children or animals." Whether it was due to their unpredictability or their ability to steal a scene, while some may agree with that adage, that's not the case at Ovation Theatre, which opens its production of "The Sound of Music" on Friday…

Both love and art have a transformative power, allowing the opportunity to connect and to change. Whether that's for the better or the worse is explored in "The Shape of Things," which opens today at Stars Playhouse.

It seems laughable to describe 90-degree days as a relief, but we're beating the heat however we can as summer wanes. That includes some cool activities like First Friday, which will feature art throughout downtown.

For its return to main-stage shows, The Empty Space decided to bare all — literally. "The Full Monty," which opens Friday, is the Oak Street theater’s first indoor production in 18 months.

Vehicle consignment and public art don’t seem like a natural pairing but don’t tell that to CarLotz, which just opened its Bakersfield hub with a beautiful new mural on the side of its building.

Since we’re all aiming to look on the bright side of life, now’s the perfect time to see “Monty Python's Spamalot” at Stars Theatre Restaurant.

Calling all artists: The Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival returns to The Marketplace on Oct. 16 and 17.

Ballerina Tiler Peck may have returned to New York, but she’s still keeping folks in her hometown entertained with her social media content. The latest have been videos under the hashtag #MondayMovieMoves, in which the Bakersfield native recreates some of the most recognized dance moments in film.

As summer winds down, local community theaters continue or are set to kick off their new seasons, bringing the joy of live entertainment back to the stage. Here's a rundown of what you can look forward to over the next few months.

Tonicism Productions is back with a pair of shows starting this weekend at The Empty Space.

Bakersfield Community Theatre is finally opening its doors again! This Saturday only, the theater presents the BCT Youth Summer Workshop production of "Celebrate! A Return to Live Theatre!"

On Friday — that’ll be the day — Bakersfield gets its first look at Ovation Theatre’s "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” the jukebox musical about the famed 1950s singer-songwriter.

Ready to leave the dog days of summer behind, now’s the time to get around downtown and enjoy the art of First Friday.

If understanding the biases and expectations of identity in modern life is complicated for adults, it’s even more so for teenagers. Some creative students put pen (or brush or other tools) to their chosen medium to interpret those ideas for “Deconstructing the Lens: Selections from the Stude…

Chances are you’ll never don a Nudie suit — made famous by American tailor Nudie Cohn — but you can feel almost as stylish with a bandana inspired by the designer available at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

A play about robots presented on Zoom? We are definitely in the modern age, and you have a chance to take part. Auditions for Bakersfield College's production of "R.U.R." will take place on Aug. 5 and 6.

When it came to starting her latest mural, artist Minami Marina Perales knew color was going to make all the difference.

What do an artist, a masseuse and a room full of art lovers have in common? They'll all be at An Evening with Art Sherwyn, being held Thursday at the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Feed me, Seymour! The hardworking team at East Bakersfield High School is ready to plant you in your seat for its production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” the school’s first live theatrical production since the shutdown.

Those familiar with the work of The CCircle, a local troupe rooted in the techniques of acting teacher Michael Chekov, might be surprised by its latest production opening Friday at Stars Playhouse.

Many in Bakersfield are flocking to movie theaters to enjoy some entertainment but live theater is offering the big screen a run for its money. After a 16-month break from mainstage shows, Stars Theatre Restaurant returns this weekend with Rodgers and Hammerstein's "A Grand Night for Singing."

Parents looking for ways to engage their young readers should get ready to dance this summer with the return of Books in Motion.

It’ll be an offer you can’t refuse when “The Mobfather” calls on you to attend the new show at Gaslight Melodrama.

Amid all the deals and discounts at the Outlets at Tejon, there's a bigger design now at work. Bird Dog Arts, which opens Friday, is bringing an immersive arts experience to the retail space.

It seems this summer has been an especially hot one, even just two weeks in. If you'd like to stay cool at home but still enjoy the art, check out these First Friday offerings. 

Some projects start with grand plans, but in the case of the "Dreams" mural in Shafter, it started with a simple observation.

The story of a group of impoverished artists struggling to find love and acceptance while in the midst of a pandemic could be ripped from the headlines today. It's also the premise of the wildly popular musical that will mark Ovation Theatre's return to live performances after shuttering las…

We're still a few weeks away from the official start of summer but as far as our weather is concerned, the heat is on. Of course, that means it's the season in which we find ourselves looking for fun activities that allow us to stay inside with the AC on. Luckily art lovers still have a chan…

Believe it or not, no one may be more excited that Art After Dark is back in person than the Bakersfield Museum of Art staff themselves.

Do you have a passion for the arts and the desire to help them flourish in Kern County? Well then there may be a new job in your future.

We've all had a lot to process over the last year and, for some, that effort has been a creative one. That's certainly the case for the graduating seniors from Cal State Bakersfield's Department of Art and Art History, whose work is currently on display in an exhibition at the Bakersfield Mu…

Good news for local theaters fans: The show is going on. Most of the community theaters have announced their plans for their latest seasons on the stage.

Where would Mama Tosca face off against Johnny Rocket? According to the Gaslight Melodrama, "It All Happened in Haggin Oaks."

Art is a way for creatives to share their passions, which can include their memories and the causes they support. This month's exhibits and activities run the gamut with plenty to interest viewers.

School’s still in session but many parents are already looking for how to occupy their children this summer. For budding artists, MAKE Bakersfield has just the thing: summer workshops exploring different methods of art for two different age groups.

Christmas has come early this year for fans of circus-style acts of daring. Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular will bring its high-flying theatrics to Mechanics Bank Theater on Nov. 14.

Love comes in many forms and Shakespeare had a take on all of them. Bakersfield Community Theatre's upcoming virtual production "Crazy Love from Shakespeare" explores those fictional relationships.

Every pandemic birthday celebration hits a little bit different and such is the case for Shakespeare. The Empty Space, which plans a Shakespeare production each April in honor of the famed playwright, had to get more creative this year, launching "Bard in Your Yard."

Simply coming out of a trying year like 2020 may feel like accomplishment enough, but leave it to artists to go a step further. The Bakersfield Museum of Art's Visual Arts Festival, which debuts online Friday, highlights some of the creativity that sprung over the last year.

Bakersfield City Ballet misses you, Bakersfield. And chances are you miss them too. Luckily the upcoming Pints En Pointe fundraiser is aiming to bring everyone together for an afternoon of dance and community support.

Ballerina Tiler Peck is back in New York but her local ties are still strong. 

Those seeking an artist's unique perspective can tune in Thursday evening for a conversation with L.A.-based artist Patrick Michael Ballard.

Based on the positive response to its Drive-In Live! last month, The Empty Space will host another socially distant outdoor performance in May. To fill out its roster, the show's coordinators are seeking performers of all kinds for the show.

The Hub of Bakersfield has certainly been busy the past few weeks. It has artists hard at work in Old Town Kern, just named other artists selected for another project and announced an upcoming virtual historical happy hour.

As we continue in a less-restrictive tier, this month’s First Friday is closer to what we have come to expect with art to see and things to do.