Holiday 2024 events around SoCal

Ahmanson Theatre

135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012
centertheatregroup.org

Once Upon a Mattress
Dec. 10 – Jan. 5, 2025

Musical theatre legend Sutton Foster returns to the Ahmanson Theatre as Princess Winnifred in this beloved musical fairytale. Full of gloriously catchy melodies like “Shy” and “In a Little While,” this uproarious update of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea” promises both classic charms and new delights. Directed by Tony-nominated “Encores!” Artistic Director Lear deBessonet and with a new adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino, “Once Upon a Mattress” sets an unapologetic free spirit loose in a repressed kingdom, reveling in Winnifred’s ability to charm and transform with willpower, honesty, and a little bit of help from her friends.

Kirk Douglas Theatre

9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 
centertheatregroup.org

Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical
Nov. 22, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025

Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics. Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out. Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious book series. This hilarious musical adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man” spin-off series, “Cat Kid Comic Club,” is written by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander—the team that brought you “Dog Man: The Musical.”

Terrace Theater

300 E. Ocean Ave., Long Beach 90802
longbeachnutcracker.com

Long Beach Nutcracker

Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m.

The Long Beach Ballet continues its annual holiday tradition, for the 42nd year this December, of presenting “The Nutcracker” at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center for seven performances from Dec. 14 to 22. As always, the beloved production bursts with special guest performances and additional surprise treats the entire family will love.The Long Beach Ballet’s Artistic Director David Wilcox has pulled out all the stops for this production of the classical tale. This production boasts a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics, and a cast of over 200. Former Disney designers Elliot Hessayon and Scott Schaffer created the enchanting scenery, Australian artist Adrian Clark designed the detailed costumes, and renowned magician Franz Harary created the special effects.

LA Phil 

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., DTLA
laphil.org

Deck The Hall Concerts

Leslie Odom Jr. The Christmas Tour
Dec. 1, 2024 | 7:30 p.m.
laphil.com/events/performances/3026/2024-12-01/leslie-odom-jr-the-christmas-tour

Holiday Sing-Along
Dec. 14, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
laphil.com/events/performances/3033/2024-12-14/holiday-sing-along

Chanticleer
Dec. 17, 2024 | 8 p.m.
laphil.com/events/performances/3035/2024-12-17/chanticleer

Jennifer Hudson The Gift of Love
Dec. 18, 2024
laphil.com/events/performances/3540/2024-12-18/jennifer-hudson-the-gift-of-love

Pasadena Playhouse

39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
pasadenaplayhouse.org

La Cage aux Folles
Nov. 12 – Dec. 15, 2024

Beautiful. Bawdy. Bizarre. Welcome to “La Cage aux Folles,” the hottest drag club in St. Tropez and one of theater’s all-time biggest hits. Experience the groundbreaking musical comedy with a heartfelt score by Jerry Herman and a hilarious script by Harvey Fierstein. The Tony Award-winning musical comes to life in this all-new Playhouse extravaganza.

Pershing Square Holiday Ice Rink

532 S. Olive Street, DTLA
holidayicerinkdowntownla.com
Opens Nov. 21, 2024 – Jan. 12, 2025

The Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square returns to downtown Los Angeles this winter, open from Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 to Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. The Opening Celebration takes place on Thursday evening, Nov. 21, along with the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony in Pershing Square. Open seasonally, The Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square has brought winter fun to sunny Los Angeles for more than 25 years. At 7,200 square feet, it is the city’s largest outdoor rink, offering visitors professional-quality ice for skating and entertainment, welcoming more than 45,000 skaters and 221,000 spectators annually. The rink fosters community, while embracing winter fitness and fun. This year’s beneficiary is once again the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. Sponsors include Wicked the Broadway Musical, DTLA Alliance, KUSC, Metro and Metrolink.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

300 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626
scfta.org

American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker
Dec. 12 – 22, 2024

SoCal’s favorite holiday tradition returns with American Ballet Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of “The Nutcracker.” Created by one of today’s most celebrated choreographers, Alexei Ratmansky, this dazzling holiday treat features ABT’s roster of superstar dancers along with gorgeous sets and costumes by Tony winner Richard Hudson, and Pacific Symphony playing Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. “The Nutcracker” is the tale of a young girl, Clara, who receives the gift of a nutcracker doll at her family’s Christmas party. In her dreams that night, the nutcracker doll comes to life as a handsome prince who joins her on a magical journey. Together, they travel to lands filled with dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers, a mouse army and other exotic characters, all brought to vivid life on stage by a cast of over 100 performers. 

Fiesta Navidad
Dec. 14, 2024

One of Orange County’s most beloved holiday events, “Fiesta Navidad,” features the Grammy Award®-winning Mariachi Los Camperos in a concert filled with festive music and dance. This celebration of Mexican holiday traditions is a joyous annual tradition at Segerstrom Center.

Take 6 Christmas
Dec. 15, 2024

Quite simply, TAKE 6 is the quintessential a cappela group and the model for vocal genius. They are the most awarded vocal group in history, having won 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Since their debut in the 1980s, the secret to the incredible longevity and success is easy to explain: this musical phenomenon has six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements, and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop. Like a fine-tuned vocal orchestra, the group continues to push the boundaries of creativity and musical genius with every new release, and with their ever-evolving live performances.

Back to the Future: The Musical
Dec. 26, 2024 – Jan. 25, 2025

Great Scott! “Back to the Future,” the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Costa Mesa in 2024. Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical, “Back to the Future: The Musical” is adapted for the stage by the iconic film’s creators Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis and directed by the Tony Award-winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future. When “Back to the Future” hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.

Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert
Dec. 28, 2024

Strauss Symphony of AmericaNir Kabaretti, conductor (Vienna)
Peggy Steiner, soprano (Dresden)
Michael Heim, tenor (Vienna)
Featuring dancers from San Diego Ballet

“Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert” is a joyful, lively experience that has delighted audiences in Costa Mesa for more than 10 years. Every holiday season, this beloved tradition bursts to life at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts with music, bright costumes, and lush flowers. As dancers enliven timeless melodies, including the Blue Danube Waltz, the Maestro regales the audience with stories (and a joke or two) from the conductor’s podium. Ring in 2025 with soaring arias, romantic duets, and festive overtures, courtesy of the “Waltz King,” Johann Strauss Jr. This beloved musical celebration evokes the enchantment and grandeur of Vienna’s Golden Age with a new cast and musical program each year. Performed by some of Europe’s finest singers, internationally celebrated dancers, and a full orchestra conducted by an expert in Viennese music, this concert experience is the perfect way to greet the New Year.

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