{"id":268007,"date":"2026-04-14T22:16:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/268007\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T22:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T22:16:08","slug":"the-art-of-shag-live-on-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/268007\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of SHAG Live on Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Artist Josh Agle designed \u201cShag With a Twist\u201d now playing in San Pedro<\/p>\n

The bold, graphic art of SHAG<\/a> is a buoyant reflection of the midcentury good life. In addition to a massive catalog of paintings, artist Josh Agle has created everything from his own branded stores<\/a> to Batman action figures to an entire \u201cSHAG house<\/a>\u201d in Palm Springs. John Travolta recently persuaded him to craft the animated opening to his next movie.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Artist Josh Agle mixing up prop drinks on opening night of \u201cShag With a Twist\u201d Credit: Photo by Chris Nichols<\/p>\n

In 2005, Agle collaborated with dancer Cindy Bradley on his first stage production, a murder- mystery musical called Shag With a Twist.<\/a> \u201cThis cast of characters assembles for a Tupperware party,\u201d Agle tells Los Angeles. \u201cDuring the party, someone is murdered, and the inspector and his fez-wearing monkey sidekick try to figure it out.\u201d\u00a0That acrobatic monkey, played by dancer Bogdan Shcherbakov<\/a>, is a standout who flic flacs about like young Jackie Chan, literally leaping off the stage and into the audience for an interactive segment. Talk about a painting coming to life!<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Bogdan Shcherbakov as Mr. Cuddles in Shag With a TwistCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to be a ballet or murder mystery lover to enjoy the show, since it slips into Broadway-style musical numbers at every turn, with characters in outrageous plastic wigs designed by SHAG. The show is seemingly set in an alternative universe at a time when, as the producers say \u201cpupu platters and bouffants were all the rage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe artwork of Josh Agle, aka Shag, is so fun and iconic that it connects with everyone who experiences it,\u201d said co-creator and choreographer Cindy Bradley, who also runs the San Pedro City Ballet<\/a> and is known for discovering 13-year-old ballet superstar Misty Copeland. \u201cOur goal was to bring his artwork to life and to capture in a live performance that essence of fun and mid-century esthetic that resonates in his paintings.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Carmen Qui\u00f1ones Callahan as Othal in Shag With a TwistCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols<\/p>\n

This month, Bradley begins a revival of the show as part of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District.<\/a> The show has sold out its first performances, but tickets are still available for later in the summer.<\/p>\n

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The artist plans to attend every performance, which opens with a tiki cocktail party where the audiences are encouraged to don their vintage finery. We saw a lot of Aloha wear on opening night, which gave us hope that the cocktails might be better than they were. We didn\u2019t even get a tiny umbrella! Make a day of it with a designated driver and a bar crawl between local tiki bars The Bamboo Club<\/a>, The Lagoon<\/a> and Secret Island<\/a> beforehand. I can only imagine how psychedelic that version of the show would be!<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Lexi Lewis and Raquel Glasser Kossman as Shimmy and Shake in Shag With a TwistCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols<\/p>\n

Shag With a Twist
At the Grand Annex<\/a> in San Pedro
Tickets available at Eventbrite<\/a><\/p>\n