Take advantage of this perfect weather and adventure out to see what the Southland has to offer. From new plays to awards season events to live music, SoCal has something to enrich your cultural landscape this week.
‘The Adding Machine’
The Actors’ Gang | 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City | March 5 – April 18 | theactorsgang.com
Elmer Rice’s groundbreaking 1923 expressionist drama comes to life in this production directed by Cihan Sahin. The Adding Machine follows Mr. Zero, a bookkeeper replaced by automation after 25 years on the job, whose tragic unraveling becomes a sharp satire on technology, labor, and society. A century after its debut, the play’s themes of mechanization and human worth resonate in the age of AI. Performances Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; select Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets available online or by phone at 310-838-4264.
First Fridays
Natural History Museum of LA County | 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles | March 6 | nhm.org
First Fridays returns with a full evening of live music, DJs, pop-up experiences, food and drinks, and nighttime exploration across the museum after hours. March kicks off with “Life at the City Scale,” featuring scientist Dr. Christine Wilkinson, Assistant Curator of Community Science, NHM and Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA in a conversation moderated by neuroscientist Dr. Yewande Pearse. Together, they examine how cities are not just built for people, but are complex ecosystems teeming with living beings of every shape and size. Tickets: $30 for public / $20 for members.
Nominee Spotlights at the Academy Museum
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | March 6 – 14 | academymuseum.org
The Academy Museum will present Oscar Nominee Spotlights ahead of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony. These programs include screenings of all nominated short films, on-stage panel conversations with various Academy member affinity groups as a part of the annual “Breaking the Oscars Ceiling” program, and Academy Award–nominated filmmakers in the Animated Short Film, Animated Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, Live Action Short Film International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Picture categories. On the days of the Animated Short Film, Animated Feature Film, and Makeup and Hairstyling nominee programs, visitors can view a showcase of items from the nominated films in those award categories for free in the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby. Nominee Spotlight tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 62+), and $5 for students and children (age 17-). General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students.
‘Michael Campagna and Band’
Visionarium Live Italian | 1020 Mission St., Unit H, South Pasadena | March 6 | visionarium.shop
Back by popular demand, Michael Campagna and his band — Amy Meenan (keyboard), John Hause (drums), and Henry Osborne (bass) — return for an evening of jazz, blues, and original music. Tickets $25, fully redeemable for food and drinks; table automatically reserved.
Basketball Bonanza: Adaptive Sports for Every Body
Kidspace Children’s Museum | 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena | March 7 | kidspacemuseum.org
Just as the Paralympics kick off in Italy, Kidspace Museum is teaming up with Angel City Sports and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to host Basketball Bonanza: Adaptive Sports for Every Body, an all-ages, all-abilities celebration of basketball, the most popular Para sport. The day’s mid-day entertainment features a wheelchair basketball exhibition game between Angel City Sports all-stars and CHLA challengers. Young fans will have the chance to cheer on their favorite players and join the action at halftime. After the final buzzer, the excitement continues with a performance and dance clinic led by the Rollettes, the internationally renowned wheelchair dance team. Tickets: $15.50 for adults and kids, $13.50 for seniors.
‘Music @ the Playhouse: The Opera Buffs’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | March 7–8 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
The Opera Buffs presents an intimate showcase of nine rising opera singers performing a mix of humorous, dramatic, and poignant contemporary “bite-sized” operettas sung in English. The program features works by John Greer, Sheri Wilner, David Wolfson, Luca Sutto, Roydon Tse, Rachel Gray, and Zac Flasch, highlighting the next generation of vocal talent in a close-up, dynamic setting. Tickets $12–$35.
Sarah Davachi + Robert Takahashi Novak: New Commissions
The Broad (Lobby) | 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | March 7 | thebroad.org
An immersive evening of newly commissioned works by Los Angeles–based artists Sarah Davachi and Robert Takahashi Novak. Presented in The Broad’s dramatic, cathedral-like lobby, the performance uses a spatial sound system to activate the architecture and create a deep listening experience focused on perception, memory, and human scale. The site-specific works are presented in connection with the exhibition Robert Therrien: This is a Story, exploring how sound, space, and observation shape our awareness of the environments we inhabit. Tickets: $25.
‘MALICE: Stories of Injustice’
Odyssey Theatre | 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles| March 10 – 11 | odysseytheatre.com
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents two evenings, one in English and one in Spanish, of “MALICE: Stories of Injustice,” a series of monologues inspired by true stories of families and communities affected by ICE. A post-show discussion will follow each of the performances, allowing the audience to engage with the cast, writers, and representatives from West Los Rapid Response and Mar Vista Voice. Tickets: suggested donation of $50. Proceeds from all ticket sales will be donated to West Los Rapid Response and Mar Vista Voice.
‘Danny Jolles vs. The Alien’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | March 10 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Actor and comedian Danny Jolles brings his razor-sharp one-man stand-up show to Sierra Madre for one night only at 8:00 PM. Blending observational comedy with absurdist humor, Danny Jolles vs. The Alien hilariously explores conspiracy theories, government secrets, and what makes humanity worth saving. Tickets $20.
Ongoing Events
Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs
JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles – Gallery Level 2 | 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles | Through May 3 | japanhousela.com
This free interactive exhibition explores the artistry and global impact of Japanese pictograms, tracing their evolution from ancient kanji to modern emoji. Curated and designed by Nippon Design Center—the creators of the iconic 1964 Tokyo Olympic pictograms—the show features immersive installations, hands-on design activities, and a special student project highlighting locally inspired pictograms. Through playful visuals and thoughtful design, the exhibition reveals how symbols shape communication across cultures.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
International City Theatre (Beverly O’Neill Theater) | 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach | Through March 8 | internationalcitytheatre.org
International City Theatre opens its 41st season with the beloved musical comedy revue I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. This fast-paced, laugh-out-loud show explores modern love in all its forms—from first dates and awkward moments to marriage and long-term commitment. Featuring four performers portraying over 40 characters, the production delivers a witty, heartfelt look at relationships that’s funny, relatable, and universally resonant.
Candlelight: The Best of Bridgerton on Strings
Immanuel Presbyterian Church | 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | March 13 & April 11 | feverup.com
Step into the world of Regency-era romance with Candlelight: The Best of Bridgerton on Strings, a magical live concert experience illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Performed by a talented string ensemble, this elegant evening features beloved music from Shondaland’s hit Netflix series Bridgerton, reimagined in a classical style for an intimate and atmospheric setting.
Disney & Pixar’s ‘Hoppers‘ Experience
El Capitan Theatre | 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood | Through March 22 | elcapitantheatre.com
Experience Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new animated adventure Hoppers at the historic El Capitan Theatre, featuring a special live animal showcase before select screenings. The film follows Mabel, an animal lover who discovers technology that allows humans to communicate with animals by “hopping” into robotic bodies, leading to a heartwarming and high-tech adventure. Special early access and fan event screenings available; regular daily showtimes throughout the run. Tickets $18–$22 (special event pricing varies).
‘Octopus’s Garden’
Boston Court Pasadena – Main Stage | 70 Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA | Through March 29 | bostoncourtpasadena.org
Boston Court Pasadena, in collaboration with Circle X Theatre Co. and Outside In Theatre, presents the world premiere of Octopus’s Garden, a surreal new play by Weston Gaylord, directed by Jessica Kubzansky. When an octopus in a marine biology lab creates a piece of astonishing music, two scientists and a struggling composer are pulled into a transformative journey exploring art, obsession, and the mysteries of the unknown. Opening Night: March 7.
‘The Price’
Pacific Resident Theatre | 703 Venice Blvd., Venice | Through April 12 | pacificresidenttheatre.org
In Arthur Miller’s powerful 1968 drama, two estranged brothers reunite in their late father’s attic to settle the estate—only to confront long-buried resentments, sacrifices, and the true cost of their life choices. Directed by Elina de Santos, this poignant and darkly humorous production explores responsibility, integrity, and the moral weight of compromise. Performances run Thursdays–Sundays (additional matinee March 14; no performances March 27 or April 3). Tickets start at $25.
Photography and the Black Arts Movement
The Getty | 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 403, Los Angeles | Through June 14 | getty.edu
“Photography and the Black Arts Movement brings together works by more than one hundred photographers, painters, graphic designers, and multimedia artists who used photographic images in their struggles against inequality,” says Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the J. Paul Getty. Divided into eight sections, this exhibition brings together more than 150 artworks in a range of media, including video art, paintings, collages, contact sheets, newsletters, and magazines, giving a sense of the varied ways that photographic imagery circulated at the time.Admission to the Getty Center is always free, but a reservation is required for admission
‘Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo’
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA | Through Jan. 10, 2027 | academymuseum.org
The Academy Museum presents Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo, celebrating the artistry of Studio Ghibli and the hand-drawn animation behind the 2008 film. The exhibition features over 100 original materials from Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, an animation desk, and hand drawings by Hayao Miyazaki, many on display in North America for the first time. Curated by Jessica Niebel with assistant curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez. The museum is open six days a week, closed on Tuesdays. Tickets $15–$25; film screenings $5–$10.
