Tag: geffenplayhouse

Circa’s Playbill for LA’s Must-See Theatre Scene

Get your tickets now for LA’s hottest shows! This theater season is buzzing with award-winning musicals, hit comedies, and popular plays, many not far from Circa. You won’t want to miss LA Opera’s Carmen at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, The Music Man at the Ahmanson Theatre, and Tony Award winning musical The Outsiders at Hollywood Pantages. For a more intimate experience, you’ll find countless live performing arts theaters in almost every part of town, such as the El Portal, Odyssey Theatre, Zephyr Theatre, and Garry Marshall Theatre. Take a deeper dive and check out Broadway World Los Angeles for the latest news, reviews, and show coverage from critics and reporters who know the Los Angeles stage scene. Here are some upcoming highlights, curated with something for everyone to enjoy! 

LA Opera Carmen at the Music Center near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Carmen Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Oct 17 – Nov 7  LA Opera presents the premiere of a brand-new production of Bizet’s Carmen, bringing Spanish Gothic style to the stage, created by director/designer Thaddeus Strassberger. Domingo Hindoyan makes his inaugural appearance in his new role as LA Opera Music Director with one of the world’s most iconic scores. Meet Carmen. She’s desirable, defiant, and driven, and  thinks nothing of charming a soldier to escape a spot of trouble—never imagining that he would abandon his childhood sweetheart and desert his post to follow her. But Don José is a jealous lover, and as Carmen begins a new relationship with the bullfighter Escamillo, his passion turns dark—and deadly. 

LA Opera Candide at the Music Center near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Candide Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mark your calendar for Nov 21 – Dec 13 LA Opera presents Leonard Bernstein’s Tony and Olivier Award-winning classic Candide, starring Broadway icon Patti LuPone, and featuring lavish costumes and rapidly-changing sets bursting with 18th-century Rococo style. Can’t get enough of LA Opera? The Classic 5-Opera Package offers a full season of awe-inspiring productions of your favorite operas: Carmen, Candide, Nabucco, Turandot, and The Marriage of Figaro. Your package gives you up 15% savings off the already lowest fixed pricing, priority seating selection, pre-sale access to add-on concerts, recitals, and Off-Grand  performances.

The Music Man at the Ahmanson Theatre near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Meredith Willson’s The Music Man Ahmanson Theatre 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Oct 28 – Nov 8 There’s trouble in River City when a fast-talking salesman gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. Meredith Willson’s six-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize—despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall. 

Destiny of Desire at the Mark Taper Forum near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Destiny of Desire Mark Taper Forum 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Nov 11 – Dec 25 Destiny of Desire is a delightfully unapologetic musical homage to telenovelas. On a stormy night in Bellarica, Mexico, two baby girls are born—one into outlandish wealth, and one into a life of poverty. When the newborns are swapped by a ruthless ex-beauty queen, the stage is set for two outrageous misfortunes to grow into an extraordinary destiny. Brimming with energy, Karen Zacarías’ hilarious hit, Destiny of Desire, takes you on an emotional rollercoaster sprinkled with the melodrama and wild antics that make the telenovela the most popular form of storytelling in the world.

The Outsiders at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre near Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Outsiders Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Sep 30 – Oct 18 The story that defined a generation, The Outsiders is the winner of four 2024 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this thrilling new musical features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, and music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival. Set in 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade, and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. The Outsiders navigates the complexities of self- discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, The Outsiders is a story of friendship, family, belonging, and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”

Frankenstein: Resurrection at The Nocturne Theater not far from Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Frankenstein: Resurrection The Nocturne Theater 324 North Orange St. Glendale, CA 91203

Closes Sep 30 Victor Frankenstein awakens in a secret laboratory beneath the infamous Paris Morgue, resurrected by the brilliant and obsessive Doctor Seraphina Pretorius. As Victor becomes convinced that the doctor’s sister Elsa is the reincarnation of his lost bride Elizabeth, he descends into a nightmare of obsession, murder, and madness. Guided by the Monster through the proverbial Nine Circles of Hell, Victor must confront the terrible truth that the greatest monster he ever created was himself. Operatic, brutal, and deeply human, Frankenstein: Resurrection asks one haunting question: what is the cost of refusing to let go—and who pays it when we don’t? Music and orchestration by Chris Thomas. Books and lyrics by Justin Meyer.

Come From Away at A Noise Within not far from Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Come From Away A Noise Within 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107

Oct 4 – Nov 8 Especially poignant in the 25th anniversary year of 9/11, the musical Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in a small Newfoundland town on 9/11. As fear and uncertainty give way to compassion and connection, a community opens its doors to the world. With a soaring score and deeply human storytelling, this production reflects A Noise Within’s distinctive approach to musicals and offers a rare opportunity to experience it in an intimate setting. Come From Away is a moving and uplifting celebration of kindness, resilience, and the power of coming together in extraordinary times.

The Visit at Pasadena Playhouse not far from Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

The Visit Pasadena Playhouse 39 S El Molino Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101

Closes Oct 4 When the richest woman in the world returns to her struggling hometown, she’s ready and willing to rescue it from ruin…on one condition. In this haunting, twisted, and truly grotesque comedy, an entire community is forced to confront an unthinkable question: how far are you willing to go for a billion dollars? Following the triumphant run of Amadeus, Tony Award-winners Jefferson Mays and Darko Tresnjak return to the Playhouse for another gripping and truly unmissable theatrical event. 

Purpose at Geffen Playhouse not far from Circa residences in Downtown Los Angeles

Purpose Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024 

Nov 11 – Dec 13 Direct from Broadway, this 2025 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize–winning play makes its LA debut with the original Broadway cast, directed by the incomparable Phylicia Rashad. Both intimate and epic, Purpose is provocative, often hilarious, and ultimately a devastating exploration of legacy and the cost of believing in something bigger than yourself. Meet the Jaspers: generations of a powerful Black political family under one roof where nothing stays buried for long. When their youngest son returns home, instincts kick in to protect their public image of leadership and moral authority, and fractures soon appear as private grievances, betrayals, and long-simmering questions of identity rise to the surface.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: Center Theatre Group

Photo #2: LA Opera

Photo #3: LA Opera

Photo #4: Center Theatre Group

Photo #5: Center Theatre Group

Photo #6: Hollywood Pantages Theatre

Photo #7: The Nocturne Theater

Photo #8: A Noise Within

Photo #9: Pasadena Playhouse

Photo #10: Geffen Playhouse  

Circa Previews LA’s Sizzling Theater Season

Get your tickets now for LA’s hottest shows! This theater season is ablaze with award-winning musicals, hit comedies, and popular plays, many not far from Circa. You won’t want to miss LA Opera’s West Side Story, Les Miserables at the Pantages, or the thrilling theatrical production of Paranormal Activity at the Ahmanson. For a more intimate experience, you’ll find countless live performing arts theaters in almost every part of town, such as the El Portal, Odyssey Theatre, Zephyr Theatre, and Garry Marshall Theatre. Here are some upcoming highlights, curated with something for everyone to enjoy! Check websites for dates and other details.

West Side Story LA Opera performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

LA Opera West Side Story Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opens Sept 20 Countless fans know and love Leonard Bernstein’s landmark work with songs like “America,” “Somewhere” and “I Feel Pretty,” but few have seen it like this. Originally conceived as an opera, LA Opera is paying tribute to Bernstein’s impact, with James Conlon leading the brilliant LA Opera Orchestra—not to mention a magnificent cast in top vocal and physical form. Director Francesca Zambello dives into one of the most emblematic works of American theater with this elevated, maximalist take that incorporates the iconic original choreography created by the legendary Jerome Robbins.

LA Opera in the Park West Side Story free performance in Altadena

LA Opera in the Park Loma Alta Park 3330 N Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001

Sept 27 Gather your blankets and lawn chairs, pack your picnic, and experience the music and drama of West Side Story under the stars! New York City’s West Side is split between the Jets and the Sharks—but these warring gangs never imagined that two of their own could fall in love. This event is free to attend and open to all ages. Hungry? Support Altadena small businesses and build your perfect plate. Plus, quench your thirst at the beer garden by West Altadena Wine + Spirit. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed. 

Eureka Day at Pasadena Playhouse theater performance

Eureka Day Pasadena Playhouse 39 S El Molino Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101

Opens Sept 10 When a mumps outbreak hits a progressive private school in Berkeley, the well-meaning Board of Directors descends into full-blown chaos trying to create a perfectly inclusive vaccination policy. Spoiler: it does not go well. As passive-aggression turns into a hysterical meltdown, Eureka Day brilliantly taps into the current American moment. Don’t miss this razor-sharp, 2025 Tony Award-winning satire from Jonathan Spector that Time Out New York calls “comic gold.”

Am I Roxie? theater performance at Geffen Playhouse in Westwood

Am I Roxie? Geffen Playhouse10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024 

World Premiere Opens Sept 10 In this fiercely funny one-woman tour-de-force based on her own life, writer/actor Roxana Ortega (Nickelodeon’s The Casagrandes, The Groundlings) navigates the chaos of her mother’s mental decline with outrageous humor and unbreakable spirit. Playing everything from a mermaid-obsessed aunt to a prickly sherpa, Roxie takes us on a wild ride into an opera house, up a killer mountain, and through the doomscape of her own mind. Heartfelt and hilarious, Am I Roxie? explores duty, destiny, and how facing your darkest fears can reveal who you truly are.

One Man, Two Guvnors theater performance at A Noise Within in Pasadena

One Man, Two Guvnors A Noise Within 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107

Closes Sept 28 A fast-paced, laugh-out-loud farce set in 1960s Brighton, England, Tony Award-winning One Man, Two Guvnors follows Francis Henshall, a down-on-his-luck man who finds himself working for two bosses at the same time – without either of them knowing. As he scrambles to keep up the act, comic chaos, confusion, and hilarious misunderstandings unfold. Packed with physical comedy, quick wit, and a live skiffle band, this modern take based on Goldoni’s masterpiece Servant of Two Masters is a wildly fun night at the theatre. 

Les Miserables musical performance at the Hollywood Pantages

Les Miserables Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opens Oct 7 Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon, Les Miserables. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as “a reborn dream of a production” (Daily Telegraph). Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Miserables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Miserables includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more.

Center Theatre Group in downtown LA near Circa apartments

Center Theater Group

Center Theater Group (CTG) is the heartbeat of the LA theater scene, producing exceptional shows at the Ahmanson Theatre. Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre. As one of the nation’s largest and most influential not-for-profit theatre companies, CTG proudly continues their nearly 60-year tradition of using the art of theatre to broaden horizons and illuminate new perspectives. 

GUAC theater performance at Kirk Douglas Theatre

GUAC Kirk Douglas Theatre 9820 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232

Opens Oct 14 at the historic Kirk Douglas Theatre. GUAC is a fearless, funny, and deeply moving theatrical tour-de-force about a father turned activist. Seven years after his son Joaquín “Guac” Oliver was killed in the Parkland shooting, Manuel Oliver channels his love, loss, and rage into a powerful force for change. From pepperoni bacon pizza to air guitar solos, Oliver paints a vivid, unforgettable portrait of a vibrant life cut short—and a father’s relentless fight for a better future. Both a celebration and a rallying cry, GUAC pulls zero punches and speaks to anyone who has ever loved, lost, or dreamed of making a difference.

Paranormal Activity theater performance at the Ahmanson near Circa apartments in downtown Los Angeles

Paranormal Activity Ahmanson Theatre 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opens Nov 13 An original story set in the world of the terrifying Paranormal Activity film franchise, this thrilling new play is from celebrated playwright Levi Holloway (Broadway’s Grey House) and originally directed by Punchdrunk’s Felix Barrett (Sleep No More) with illusions by Tony Award-winner Chris Fisher (Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Harry Potter & The Cursed Child). This world premiere play will haunt you long after the lights go out. 

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: LA Opera / Karli Cadel, Glimmerglass Festival

Photo #2: LA Opera / Todd Rosenberg, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Photo #3: LA Opera

Photo #4: Pasadena Playhouse

Photo #5: Geffen Playhouse

Photo #6: A Noise Within

Photo #7: Hollywood Pantages Theatre

Photo #8: Center Theatre Group

Photo #9: Center Theatre Group / Elijah Pelton

Photo #10: Center Theatre Group

Circa Raises the Curtain on LA’s Theater Scene

The stars have never been brighter for LA theater lovers. Theatre Week is back through April 14 with tickets starting at $20, allowing Angelenos to experience high-caliber cultural performances at an accessible price. We also recommend checking out Broadway World Los Angeles to discover the hottest plays, musicals, concerts, and other live performances. In addition to critically-accalimed shows, the city boasts many iconic historical venues, such as the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and the Tony Award-winning Pasadena Playhouse. For a more intimate experience, you’ll find countless live performing arts theaters in almost every part of town, such as the El Portal, Odyssey Theatre, and Garry Marshall Theatre. Here are some of the highlights, curated with something for everyone to enjoy!

Funny Girl at the Ahmanson Theatre near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Funny Girl at the Ahmanson Theatre 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

On the top of our must-see list is Funny Girl at the Ahmanson Theatre. Yogis On the Move is offering Circa residents discount tickets as part of their collaboration with Center Theatre Group. This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Center Theatre Group theatre near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Center Theater Group

Center Theater Group (CTG) is the heartbeat of the LA theater scene, producing exceptional shows at the Ahmanson Theatre. Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and more. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai and Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman, CTG creates the energy that feeds a city, a culture, and a society. As one of the nation’s most influential nonprofit theatre companies, CTG proudly continues their more than 50-year tradition of using the art of theatre to broaden horizons and illuminate new perspectives.

Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes theatre near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

April 20 Spend an evening with a true Broadway legend, returning to LA Opera for a solo concert after unforgettable star turns in The Ghosts of Versailles and Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. In her new concert, the three-time Tony Award winner performs an array of songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America—from a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to eventually achieving success with both career and family.

Dinner with Friends theatre near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Dinner with Friends Zephyr Theatre 7456 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

Written by Donald Margulies, Dinner with Friends tells the story about two married couples who have been best friends for years and their relationship with each other and time. Director and Producer Peter Allas explains that “this play is a reflection of what all couples go through and whether they are willing to examine—or not—marriage, friendship, commitment, or even betrayal in any form, and deal with the possibility of loneliness when it is always evolving.”

Fat Ham theatre performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Fat Ham Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024 

Meet Juicy, a young Black man with a Shakespearean-sized dilemma. When the ghost of his dead father shows up at his family’s BBQ wedding reception demanding his murder be avenged, does the poetic and sensitive Juicy have it in him to do the deed, or will he “to thine own self be true?” See what the New York Times calls “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy,” in this Pulitzer Prize–winning take on Hamlet, direct from Broadway to L.A.

King Hedley II theatre performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

King Hedley II A Noise Within 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107

King Hedley II continues A Noise Within’s commitment to August Wilson’s American Century Cycle, engaging with characters that exist throughout these epic plays. After seven years in prison, an ambitious and proud King re-enters society eager to rebuild his life, but quickly confronts the inescapable challenges facing Black men in Reagan-era Pittsburgh. King’s aspirations come in conflict with the stories he’s been telling himself, and he insists on planting seeds where nothing can grow.

Girl From The North Country theatre performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Girl From The North Country Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opens May 14 Girl From The North Country is the Tony Award-winning new musical that the Chicago Tribune declares is “a Broadway revelation!”  Written and directed by celebrated playwright  Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.”  

Jelly's Last Jam theatre performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Jelly’s Last Jam Pasadena Playhouse 39 S El Molino Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101

Opens May 29 When legendary musician Jelly Roll Morton’s soul is forced to face the music, the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz” is left at the ultimate crossroads. Follow Jelly from the back alleys of New Orleans to the sparkling stages of New York, as his remarkable journey unfolds in a stunning display of song, dance, and music. With soulful melodies, electrifying tap dancing, and fiery tunes that will leave you breathless, get your groove on with this dazzling musical masterpiece.

Book of Mountains & Seas theatre performance near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Book of Mountains & Seas BroadStage 1310 11th St. Santa Monica, CA 90401

Co-presented with LA  Opera, Book of Mountains & Seas, presents a fantastical world of sunbirds, demons and hairy giants evoked in a fascinating work of vocal theater for 12 singers, two percussionists, and six puppet masters. Composer/librettist Huang Ruo took his inspiration from a classic compilation of Chinese mythology first transcribed in the fourth century B.C. Over the years, these stories have become part of Chinese written and oral history, shifted and reshaped to match contemporary times. Performed in Mandarin with English subtitles.

Photo Credits:

Photo #1: Center Theatre Group

Photo #2: Yogis On The Move

Photo #3: Center Theater Group

Photo #4: LA Opera

Photo #5: Zephyr Theatre

Photo #6: Geffen Playhouse

Photo #7: A Noise Within

Photo #8: Hollywood Pantages Theatre

Photo #9: Pasadena Playhouse

Photo #10: BroadStage

Just the Ticket: Live Performances Are Back

All around LA, your favorite concert halls and theaters are welcoming audiences back with exciting new live performances. This fall, LA Phil, LA Master Chorale and LA Opera are returning to their respective homes at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, not far from Circa. And at last, Hamilton has returned to the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. The Geffen and Pasadena Playhouses also have entertaining line-ups in store for you. Or enjoy Shakespeare under the oaks at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Please note that live venues have safety protocols in place. Check their websites for details.

Hollywood Bowl performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Hollywood Bowl 2301 N Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90068

The Hollywood Bowl continues their season with an eclectic program including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in Concert accompanied by the LA Phil, Yo-Yo Ma | The Bach Project, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ In Concert accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, KCRW’s World Festival featuring Brittany Howard, Mozart Under the Stars with Dudamel, Andrea Bocelli and more. Tickets & schedule HERE

LA Opera performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

LA Opera Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

LA Opera begins its live performance season on September 16, featuring beloved favorites such as Il Trovatore, Tannhäuser, Alcina, Cinderella and more. Created in 1986 by a team of visionaries, LA Opera has become a leader in artistic innovation, while honoring the great historical legacy of opera. Through this powerful art form, LA Opera celebrates the diversity and pioneering spirit of our great city. Tickets & schedule HERE

LA Master Chorale performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

LA Master Chorale Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

LA Master Chorale’s long-anticipated return to Walt Disney Concert Hall begins September 25, featuring music from Nilo Alcala, Shawn Kirchner, Reena Esmail, and Morten Lauridsen. Other highlights of the season include Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil, Festival of Carols, and Handel’s Messiah. Led by Grant Gershon, the Los Angeles Master Chorale is widely recognized as the leading professional choir in the United States, hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision, and artistic daring. Tickets & schedule HERE

LA Phil Dudamel performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

LA Phil Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

LA Phil returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall on October 9 with Homecoming: A Special Concert & Fundraiser, which sees Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil taking the stage for the first time in 572 days, with special guests Cynthia Erivo and Seong-Jin Cho. Led by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, this internationally renowned orchestra harnesses the transformative power of live music to build community, foster intellectual and artistic growth, and nurture the spirit. Tickets & schedule HERE

Hamilton performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Hamilton Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028

Hamilton, the beloved sung-and-rapped-through musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is back at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Hamilton tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies, who was George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and became the nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.

Grand Performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Grand Performances California Plaza 300 & 350 S Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071

Grand Performances, the longest running presenter of free outdoor concerts in Los Angeles, has returned to the newly renovated California Plaza in DTLA for its 35th season. On September 24, KCRW’s Summer Nights and LA’s iconic Grand Performances are teaming up for a special night featuring indie electronic singer, percussionist and activist, Madame Gandhi, in a full band performance, along with DJ sets from KCRW’s Anne Litt and Valida. Concert schedule HERE

Geffen Playhouse performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

The Enigmatist Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024

Can you solve the enigma? From the creator and performer of the hit virtual production Inside the Box comes an immersive experience of puzzles and cryptology. Following a sold-out New York City run in 2019, renowned magician and New York Times crossword constructor David Kwong brings his popular in-person show The Enigmatist to the Geffen Playhouse. Clues are everywhere, so keep your eyes open and be ready for surprises behind every multi-layered illusion.

Will Geers Theatricum Botanicum performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum 1419 N Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290

Enjoy Shakespeare under the oaks at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Founder Will Geer, noted for his work on the New York stage, in film, and on radio, established the theatre on his property in Topanga in 1973. Because he held a degree in botany, the theater was named for a landmark botany text book, Theatricum Botanicum, which means, quite literally, “a garden theatre.” Today, under the creative supervision of his daughter, Artistic Director Ellen Geer, Theatricum Botanicum has blossomed into a vital creative force that has been recognized internationally for its interpretation of Shakespeare’s work. Tickets & schedule HERE

Pasadena Playhouse Head Over Heels performances near Circa residences in downtown Los Angeles

Head Over Heels Pasadena Playhouse 39 S El Molino Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101

Coming November 9, the music of The Go-Go’s fuels Head Over Heels, a non-stop, dance-filled joyride though magic, merriment and mischief. From the first notes of We Got the Beat to the final rapturous curtain call, you’ll be whisked away through a world of whimsy and wit. This jubilant celebration follows a royal family in search of a purpose, lovers in search of each other and a whole kingdom in search of a beat.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Geffen Playhouse

Photo #2: Hollywood Bowl

Photo #3: LA Opera

Photo #4: LA Master Chorale

Photo #5: LA Phil 

Photo #6: Broadway in Hollywood/Hollywood Pantages Theatre

Photo #7: Grand Performances

Photo #8: Geffen Playhouse

Photo #9: Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum

Photo #10: Pasadena Playhouse

Major Arts Organizations Offer Live Streaming & Access to Digital Archives

The Culture Beat goes on! Major arts organizations, including LA Phil, LA Opera, The Met, Hammer Museum, and The Broad, are offering free live streaming and access to their digital archives! Ordinarily, you might have to pay a hefty fee for some of these services, but in the spirit of healing through art, these institutions are throwing open their virtual doors and sharing their treasures with the world. In these unprecedented times, please consider making a donation to your favorite arts organization to keep our culture beat alive and thriving!

LA Opera@Home

Opera is bigger than just a stage – that’s why LA Opera is bringing it directly into your home. Enjoy all kinds of opera from the comfort of your couch, regardless of your previous experience or knowledge of opera. Whether it’s live Living Room Recitals, broadcasts of old performances, or how-to’s with some of your favorite artists, there are a ton of ways you can #LAOAtHome.

LA Phil At Home With Gustavo

Gustavo Dudamel has partnered with KUSC in Los Angeles and KDFC in San Francisco on a new radio show that he’s recording in his home. Tune in Tuesday-Friday at 6pm and Sunday at 7pm to hear Gustavo Dudamel’s broadcast on KUSC and KDFC, both on the air and online. You can also explore LA Phil’s archives online including videos, music, podcasts, interviews, and more.

Berlin Philharmonie Digital Concert Hall

The Berlin Philharmonie is closed for now, so they will come to you. The Digital Concert Hall is now free for everyone. Redeem the voucher code BERLINPHIL and receive free access to all concerts and films. The Philharmonie Berlin has been the musical heart of Berlin since 1963. Located at the periphery of West Berlin when it opened, it became part of the new urban center after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The distinctive tent-like shape and eye-catching bright yellow color makes it one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. The unusual architecture and innovative concert hall design initially ignited controversy, but it now serves as a model for concert halls all over the world.

The Metropolitan Opera Nightly Opera Stream

During this extraordinary time, the Met hopes to brighten the lives of their audience members even while their stage is dark. The Metropolitan Opera is offering free Nightly Opera Streams on their website – performances that show off opera at its most thrilling, thought-provoking, and uplifting. Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is available for free streaming, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 6:30 p.m. the following day. The schedule will include outstanding complete performances from the past 14 years of cinema transmissions, starring all of opera’s greatest singers.

Geffen Stayhouse

Geffen Stayhouse, presented by the Geffen Playhouse, is sharing exclusive, original content every Wednesday from some of their wonderful Geffen alumns and favorite theater artists. You can also watch full-length productions of Geffen Playhouse shows on BroadwayHD, including Long Day’s Journey Into Night, featuring Alfred Molina and Jane Kaczmarek; Thom Pain, featuring Rainn Wilson (The Office); and Benjamin Scheuer’s The Lion. And as a special treat, Benjamin is presenting an exclusive performance of “Weather the Storm” from The Lion all the way from Wales, UK, where he’s hunkering down with his family.

Hammer Museum Watch & Listen

Art has the power to transport us and to give insight into pressing cultural, political, and social questions. The Hammer’s lectures, symposia, film series, readings, and performances aim to spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas. Many of these programs were recorded and you’ll find selected highlights on their website. Find more on their YouTube channel. You can also watch interviews with Hammer artists.

The Broad From Home

While The Broad may be temporarily closed, they’re still committed to inspiring and fostering an appreciation of contemporary art. Through their new digital initiatives, they are offering ways to experience #TheBroadFromHome. Find inspiration through music, videos, poetry, and conversations (from a distance!). Check out the Infinite Drone Series, a new, contemplative way of experiencing The Broad’s most popular artwork, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away. 

GRAMMY Museum at Home

The GRAMMY Museum Exhibits at Home and Programs at Home allow you to access exhibits and watch conversations with musicians and industry professionals from their archives. The GRAMMY Museum seeks to educate and inspire all Museum visitors and members as to the enduring qualities and cultural significance of all genres of music.

LACO at Home

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s LACO AT HOME allows people everywhere to engage and listen to spellbinding performances with “America’s finest chamber orchestra” — no subscription, sign-up, or payment required. We may not be able to gather together to share music in person, but current circumstances will not prevent LACO from providing you with exquisite, enduring, personal musical experiences. LACO is happy to announce that their musicians have generously volunteered to share a wide variety of audio and video options during this time. All broadcasts can be live-streamed and streamed on-demand.

Photo credits: 

Photo #1: LA Phil

Photo #2: LA Opera

Photo #3: LA Phil

Photo #4: Berlin Philharmonie

Photo #5: The Metropolitan Opera

Photo #6: Geffen Playhouse

Photo #7: Hammer Museum

Photo #8: The Broad

Photo #9: GRAMMY Museum

Photo #10: LACO