Thursday, April 2

Theater review: ‘Waitress’

UCLA alumna Sara Bareilles serves up a sweet story about a waitress who finds joy in baking pies. Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for the musical “Waitress,” based on the movie of the same name. Read more...

Photo: In alumna Sara Bareilles’ “Waitress,” expectant mother Jenna (pictured, as played by Jessie Mueller) works at a diner baking pies. (Courtesy of Joan Marcus)


Album review: ‘4 Your Eyez Only’

Hip-hop fans knew Christmas was here when J. Cole announced last week that he would drop a new album following two years of radio silence. After the release of his double-platinum success “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” on Friday, Cole dropped “4 Your Eyez Only,” an album that explores topics he’s dealt with in the past – death, family life and race relations. Read more...

Photo: (Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records)



‘Nocturnal Animals’ provides valuable acting experience for UCLA alumna

Chelsea Taylor and Jake Gyllenhaal spent an hour observing two dead bodies. Taylor, a 2013 UCLA alumna, plays the friend of Gyllenhaal’s fictional deceased daughter in the film “Nocturnal Animals.” In the film, his character’s fictional wife and daughter are brutally murdered by bandits; Taylor’s principal moment comes with observing the actor as he grieves the death of his family members. Read more...

Photo: Alumna Chelsea Taylor was cast as Young Girl in “Nocturnal Animals” because the production team wanted redheaded actresses for the film’s Western-noir aura. (Courtesy of Matthew Mitchell)



Student dives into world of TV production at ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’

Erin Hayes’ typical Friday activities range from being backstage with Tom Hanks to driving a golf cart around the Warner Bros. lot. Hayes, a third-year English student, is an intern at “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” from August through December. Read more...

Photo: Third-year English student Erin Hayes interned at “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” during fall quarter. Her duties ranged from watching late night television shows to sorting through fan mail. (Habeba Mostafa/Daily Bruin)


Hear This Not That: John Legend breaks barriers, Pete Doherty brings stale sounds

Music fans can find it hard to decide which albums to stream and which to skip, considering the surplus of new music released. Each week, A&E columnist Sean Lee will compare two newly released albums and recommend which one students should listen to. Read more...

Photo: John Legend’s fifth studio album “Darkness and Light” (left) and Pete Doherty of The Libertines’ “Hamburg Demonstrations” (right) were both released Friday. (Columbia Records (left) and BMG Rights Management (right)).