In its 70th year, the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program again blends media stars with tradition, recalling the early years when celebrity artists taught and mixed with students. Manhattan Transfer’s Alan Paul, one of the founding members of the multi-Grammy, award-winning jazz vocal group, will mentor high school workshop students in tight-harmony vocal arrangements and singing…

The Stratford Players of Idyllwild announces it has been granted rights to perform the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” Last month, the Los Angeles production finished its extended run at the Mark Taper Forum. “I am thrilled!” said Marsha Kennedy, Stratford Players’ artistic director. “‘Vanya and…

At its apex, ancient Rome is believed to have had 1,000,000 inhabitants, monumental architecture and advanced infrastructure. It was also, according to Ron Singerton’s novel “Villa of Deceit” (Penmore Press, 2015), a dangerous labyrinth reeking of arrogance, corruption, abuse of power, and an environment where the fittest survived and others were trampled upon — a…