Moveable Feast: Gronk in Conversation with Paul Holdengräber
Beckman Auditorium | 332 S Michigan Ave., Pasadena | Aug. 27 | caltech.edu
Visual and performance artist Gronk will be in conversation with Paul Holdengräber. Tickets: $10.
‘Conscience’
Beverly O’Neill Theater | 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach | Aug. 28 – Sept. 13 | ictlongbeach.org
At a time when fear and political intimidation silenced many voices in Washington, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith chose to speak. On June 1, 1950, the Republican senator from Maine became the first to publicly rebuke Sen. Joseph McCarthy on the Senate floor, condemning his tactics in a speech that became known as the “Declaration of Conscience.” Tickets are $56 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, except opening night (Friday, Aug. 28), and $59 on opening night and at Sunday matinees.
Golden Hour: Music in the Garden
Norton Simon Museum | 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena | Aug. 28 | nortonsimon.org
Purchase light bites and beverages from the Garden Café, pick up drawing supplies and find a spot to relax in the newly renovated Sculpture Garden to enjoy musical styles programmed by musician Masatoshi Sato. On Aug. 28, enjoy music from a jazz trio featuring David Tranchina (bass), Jamie Rosenn (guitar), and Trevor Anderies (drums). The event is free with museum admission. Admission: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (ages 62 and above), and free for children 18 and younger.
Friday Nights at The Gamble House
The Gamble House | 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena | Aug. 28 | gamblehouse.org
Enjoy access to the first floor of the famed Gamble House, where docents will be stationed in each room to share insights and answer questions. Then head out to the lawn and sip curated wine flights from West Altadena Wine, stretch out on a blanket, and settle in with a picnic or purchase food from Triple Beam Pizza and dessert from Normal Ice Cream while Pasadena Youth Night plays rock and pop. Tickets: $40 w/wine tasting (21+) for non-members, $5 w/out wine tasting, and free for children 12 and under.
‘Hip Hopera‘
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | Aug. 28-29 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Babatunde Akinboboye, a classically-trained baritone singer brings fresh new perspective to opera with “Hip Hopera,” a musical style fusing the classical opera with the rhythmic intensity and attitude of hip-hop. Tickets: $40.
KCRW Summer Nights at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes | 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles | Aug. 28 | lapca.org
Groove to the sounds of Adrian Quesada’s Trio Asesino, plus sets from KCRW DJs Francesca Harding and Wyldeflower. Attendees will also be able to explore the galleries, grab a bite from food trucks, grab a drink at the bar, and enjoy special activities. This event is free but advance RSVP is recommended as entry is subject to capacity. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.
Fiesta La Ballona
Veterans Memorial Park | 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City | Aug. 28-30 | fiestalaballona.org
Enjoy a weekend filled with live music, community performances, food, vendors, and family-friendly fun at this free community festival. This year, there will be two entertainment stages, including a main stage lineup with classic rock, folklorico, funk, jazz, hip hop big band, world music, R&B, soul, Latin, indie rock, Caribbean, country, New Orleans funk, Afro-Cuban, salsa, and more.
KCRW Summer Nights at Bowers Museum
Bowers Museum | 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana | Aug. 29 | bowers.org
Enjoy live sets from KCRW DJs Chris Douridas and John Tejada, then step inside for after-hours access to the galleries with docents available for your questions. KCRW Summer Nights is free but museum admission is sold separately.
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
A Noise Within | 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena | Aug. 29-Sept. 20 | anoisewithin.org
Set during a 1927 recording session in Chicago, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom transforms an ordinary afternoon into a volatile clash over race, art, power and ownership. As legendary blues singer Ma Rainey battles white producers determined to control both her music and her career, ambitious trumpeter Levee dreams of a future beyond the band. Their competing visions ignite tensions that build toward one of Wilson’s most devastating finales. A one-hour INsiders Discussion Group will take place prior to the matinee on Sunday, Aug. 30 beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. is “Black Out Night,” an opportunity for an audience self-identifying as Black to experience the performance together; tickets include a post-show reception (non-Black-identifying patrons are welcome to attend, or to select a different performance). Post–performance conversations with the artists will take place every Friday (except the preview) and on Sunday, Sept. 6. GalaPro closed captioning is available at select performances, courtesy of the Perenchio Foundation. Tickets start at $41.75.
Leimert Park Jazz Festival
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (Outdoor Rooftop Parking Deck) | 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Los Angeles | Aug. 29 | leimertparkjazzfestival.org
From emerging voices to established artists, celebrate jazz with artists like José James, Bobby West, West Coast Get Down, and many others. Register for free or pay-what-you-wish general admission.
Music of the Night: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends
LA County Arboretum | 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia | Aug. 29 | pasadenasymphony-pops.org
The season closes with melodies from Broadway’s Andrew Lloyd Webber and his contemporaries. Get ready for hits from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” “Evita,” “West Side Story,” “Les Misérables” and more. Tickets start at $38.
‘Indian Mythology and Me’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | Aug. 29 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Dancing Storytellers brings Indian myths to life through its family-friendly program “Indian Mythology and Me,” a blend of classical South Asian dance, folk movement, storytelling, and playful audience engagement. Designed for K–5 audiences, the performance weaves together three stories—Bheema’s meeting with Hanuman, the clever mice who outwit an elephant queen, and the powerful tale of Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Tickets: $20.
Echo Park Rising
Echo Park | Aug. 29-30 | epr.la
Echo Park Rising is a free impromptu street fair celebrating the creative residents and businesses of Echo Park. Enjoy music, food, drinks, and shopping over two days at more than 50 neighborhood spots.
Levitt Vibe Pasadena Music Series
Memorial Park | 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena | Aug. 29 | levittvibepasadenamusicseries.com
Singer-songwriter Alejandro Aranda, “American Idol” season 17 runner-up, will perform. Admission is free.
LA Vintage Flea Market
Santa Anita Park Gate 5 | 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia | Aug. 29 | instagram.com/p/DcbvndhsGDY/
Shop for art, jewelry, plants, vintage goods, crafted goodies, trinkets, and more. Admission and parking: free.
‘Two Gentlebots of Verona’
Buena Vista Branch Library | 300 N. Buena Vista St., Burbank | Aug. 29-30 | theactorsgang.com
The Actors’ Gang’s annual tradition of Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families returns with a new production -”Two Gentlebots of Verona” – a one-hour adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” When two best friends, Val and Proteus, travel to Culver City, their bond is put to the test. They both fall for the same robot, Silvia Dot Matrix, prompting betrayal, disguises, and a journey down a road towards forgiveness that leads them back to their friendship. This is a free event, and early registration is recommended.
Cinespia: ‘Labyrinth’
Hollywood Forever Cemetery | 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles | Aug. 29 | cinespia.org
Picnic at Hollywood Forever Cemetery as DJ sets bring the block party to life, and enjoy classic movie treats. There will also be a free photo booth. Tickets start at $31.02.
‘Echoes of Home’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | Aug. 30 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
The Asia America New Music Institute (AANMI) presents Echoes of Home, a program of new works exploring the places, people, and memories that shape our sense of belonging. Highlights include two world premieres – the first by AANMI founder Chad Cannon, whose film, TV and concert credits include the Oscar-winning documentary “American Factory,” and the other a work for solo piano by Chinese composer Weijun Chen – as well as the West Coast premiere of “Monologue II” for solo piano by SunYoung Park. Additionally, the concert spotlights three works for string quartet and harp – Niall Taro’s “Mikan no omoide” (Incomplete Memories), “Sea of Light” by Alex Williams, and Ari Sol’s “Strum!”, a harp concerto and love-letter to the instrument. Tickets: $12-$35.
Silent Sundays Series
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse | 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel | Aug. 30 | missionplayhouse.org
Silent Sundays, with live accompaniment on the Playhouse’s 1924 Mighty Wurlitzer, returns with Enjoy a trio of shorts starring comedy great Buster Keaton: “The Scarecrow,” “One Week,” and “The Boat Sunday.” Accompanying the shorts is organist Russ Peck who currently performs at San Diego Symphony Hall/Jacobs Music Center for their silent film presentations and is house organist at San Diego’s Balboa Theatre.Tickets: $12.
Dino Fest
Natural History Museum | 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles | Aug. 30 | nhm.org
Meet world-renowned paleontologists from the Museum’s Dinosaur Institute and beyond, get curious with a LEGO® Build the Change activity, watch a special screening of NBC’s Surviving Earth, “When the Asteroid Fell,” see rare specimens from the museum’s collections, participate in hands-on activities, and more. Adult tickets: $18.
Historic Pasadena Architectural Walking Tour
Pasadena | Aug. 30 | laexplained.com
This guided Pasadena history and architecture tour explores the people, architects, landscapes, and landmark homes that helped shape Pasadena’s identity. Ticket: $33.99.
‘LOOKING WEST: How the Myth of the Western Frontier Got its Start’
Skirball Cultural Center | 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Aug. 30 | muse-ique.com
The cowboy is a symbol of freedom and of self-invention — and it spread, in part, through the uniquely mythologizing power of music. The “cowboy songbook” is composed of both traditional songs born on the range, as well as Broadway showtunes, popular songs and film scores that responded to and created the idea of this Western hero. “LOOKING WEST” is a musical map of that expansive frontier featuring the vocals of Damon Daunno, Tony Award-nominee for his performance as “Curly” in the Broadway remounting of “Oklahoma!” and Raye Zaragoza, whose album “Hold That Spirit” embodies her proud claim that the great Western songbook has roots in Mexican and Indigenous cultures.
Mango Fest
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos | Aug. 30 | instagram.com/p/DcRMgqOAeN5/
This free community event features food vendors, unique merchandise vendors, and plenty of tropical vibes.
‘Instante/revelación: Moments in Mexican Photography’
Getty Center | 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles | Sept. 1-Jan. 3 | getty.edu
“Instante/revelación: Moments in Mexican Photography” brings together a selection of works by 13 influential photographers, tracing Mexican photography from the late 1920s to the mid-2010s. This bilingual exhibition offers a nuanced portrait of Mexico’s visual culture. On the occasion of the opening of the exhibition, Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m., moderator Elizabeth Ferrer will lead a panel discussion with contemporary photographers George Rodriguez, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Reynaldo Rivera and Yolanda Andrade. Spanish-language guided tours will also be offered monthly throughout the exhibition.
Whacked Out Wednesdays
HAHA Comedy Club | 4712 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood | Sept. 2 | tixr.com
Comedy veterans Kym Whitley (“Happy Gilmore 2,” “Next Friday,” “Act Your Age”) and Buddy Lewis (“Martin,” HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” BET’s “Comic View”) are offering a platform for up-and-coming comedians. “Whacked Out Wednesdays” will showcase a diverse lineup of emerging comedic talents on stage every first Wednesday of each month. General admission: $30.
ONGOING
‘Phantom of the Opera’
Segerstrom Hall | 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa | Through Aug. 30 | scfta.org
The Phantom of the Opera returns with its iconic score that includes “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,” “Masquerade” and its unforgettable title song. Tickets start at $74.
‘Being Piaf’
Odyssey Theatre | 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Aug. 30 | /odysseytheatre.com
Actress, singer and writer Eleanora Owen channels the “little sparrow,” sharing both her life story and repertoire with the audience. Multiple award winning director Tim Byron Owen helms this original solo play with music that highlights Piaf’s joie de vivre, resilience, and triumph over a life of abject poverty and despair. Tickets: $35.
Sawdust Art Festival
935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach | Through Sept. 6 | sawdustartfestival.org
Discover handmade artwork from more than 180 local artists, enjoy live music, art demonstrations, take a glassblowing or mosaic class (among many offered), and soak in Laguna Beach’s beautiful scenery. Single day ticket: $12.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children.
‘The Comedy of Errors’
Old Zoo in Griffith Park | Through Sept. 6 | indieshakes.org
Two small-town pals find themselves lost and fumbling through a Mediterranean port city. Surrounded by a medley of languages, cultures, and unfamiliar rules, the duo stumbles through mishaps, mayhem, and mistaken identities, only to run into the last people they expect. Admission: free.
‘Romeo and Juliet’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Sept. 26 | theatricum.com
Co-directors Ellen Geer and Willow Geer have set their “Romeo and Juliet” in New York City during the tumultuous Gilded Age, a period marked by stark social inequality and rampant industrialization. Through this lens, the famous love story becomes not just a tragedy, but a powerful warning about the costs of division, hatred and fear. Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. Children 4 and under are free.
‘Enemy of the People’
Odyssey Theatre | 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Sept. 27 | odysseytheatre.com
Director Bart DeLorenzo brings Henrik Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People” squarely into the 21st century with a new adaptation that thrusts the play’s central conflicts—between public health and economic survival, individual conscience and collective will—into sharp contemporary focus.When Dr. Tom Stockmann discovers that the waters of the local hot springs are contaminated, the solution seems obvious: shut them down before more people are harmed. But protecting public health comes with a devastating price. As financial interests, political expediency and public opinion collide, Stockmann finds himself branded not a hero, but an “enemy of the people.” Tickets to performances are $35. Discounted tickets are available for seniors ($27) and students ($15). A $3 fee will be added to each ticket purchased with a credit card.
‘Waiting in the Wings’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Oct. 3 | theatricum.com
Set in “The Wings,” a charity home for retired actresses, Noël Coward’s 50th play is a witty portrait of nine opinionated, funny, difficult and full of life women, each of whom once basked in public admiration — but who must now learn to face old age together, long after the curtain has fallen. A tribute to the theater that evokes the lives of aging stars, their lingering jealousies and the enduring power of friendship, Waiting in the Wings is a meditation on community and forgiveness. Old grievances linger here like half-remembered roles, but Coward suggests that bitterness is heavy to carry, and that reconciliation, no matter when, can be liberating. Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63.
‘The People of Pompeii’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Oct. 4 | theatricum.com
Weeks after the Palisades Fire narrowly spares their Topanga home, Carlos and Vera invite friends over for a celebratory dinner party meant to restore a sense of normalcy. But as the night descends into EDM-fueled chaos, chocolate mushrooms and brutally honest confrontations, the myth of communal harmony begins to crack wide open. At once hilarious and deeply uncomfortable, The People of Pompeii dissects performative progressivism, gentrification, race, class and the uneasy social dynamics between longtime canyon residents and wealthy newcomers searching for authenticity as Topanga becomes increasingly trendier and more elite. Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. The performance on Monday, Aug. 31 is Pay-What-You-Will (available online the week of the performance or pay cash at the door) and features a 30-minute pre-show discussion, beginning one hour before curtain, at 6:30 p.m.
‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Oct. 10 | theatricum.com
Set against the natural backdrop of Topanga’s woods, this production requires no elaborate set design to conjure Shakespeare’s enchanted forest brimming with magic, mischief and romance. Audiences of all ages will be enchanted by the whimsical entanglements of four lovers, a troupe of bumbling actors, and the mischievous fairies who meddle with them. Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63. Children 4 and under are free.
‘WASHOKU | Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine’
Japan House LA | 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Oct. 18 | japanhousela.com
This landmark exhibition explores the core elements, evolution, and cultural significance of washoku, a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage.
‘Treasure Island’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Oct. 3 | theatricum.com
In this re-imagining of the novel by Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer, a young man’s romantic dream of pirates on the high seas becomes a harrowing reality. Tested at every turn, young Jim Hawkins faces each challenge with courage, trusting in a moral compass strong enough to triumph — and to discover the true treasure: a life lived with integrity and purpose. Tickets to performances range from $15 to $63.
‘Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon’
Academy Museum | 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Feb. 28 | academymuseum.org
“Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon” will celebrate Marilyn Monroe as a visionary actor and image-maker, examining the many facets of how she created and shaped her public image in the context of the classical Hollywood studio system. The pink satin gown will be on view in the exhibition, located on Level 3 in the Rolex Gallery. General admission tickets for the museum’s exhibitions are $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (age 62+), and $15 for students.
‘Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo’
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | Through March 21 | 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.