‘Bobby Robotowitz’
One eastside, one westside secret venues | Oct. 15–Nov. 23 | iamatheatre.com
“Bobby Robotowitz” unpacks questions around identity and AI and what it means to be a writer in today’s digital world. Dina Katzman is struggling. As a novelist, as a mother, as a wife, and as a person. Then she starts talking to an AI chatbot named Bobby: a confidant who always listens, never judges, and somehow seems to understand her better than most people in her life. What could go wrong? General admission: $65.
Downtown LA Architecture Tour
Downtown LA | Oct. 15, Nov. 12 | priceless.com
Discover downtown LA’s architecture on a guided design tour with content creator and LA insider Drew Tillman. Beginning in the historic core, explore landmarks such as the Cal Edison Building, The Biltmore, and the Bradbury Building. Tickets: $95.
Pintura Cura: Paint N Sip
Monarco Sol Collective | 300 E. Colorado Blvd., #139, Pasadena | Oct. 15 | monarcasol.com
Paint a sugar-skull cat or dog inspired by Día de Muertos. Choose colors that represent your pet’s energy, personality, and love.
‘Speaking in Tongues’
The Los Angeles Theatre Center | 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles | Oct. 17–Nov. 15 | latinotheaterco.org
The world premiere of “Speaking in Tongues” by Luis Alfaro continues the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient’s funny, poignant exploration of life in the small, predominantly Mexican-American agricultural towns of California’s San Joaquin Valley. The setting is a Pentecostal church on the edge of a cornfield in Earlimart, a California town off Highway 99 in Tulare County. Hermana Romie, Hermana Cubby, Hermano Mando and Hermano Tico share chisme, food, and their devotion to the Apostolic faith. Hermana Romie’s husband was the pastor of their church — until he disappeared eight weeks ago. As immigration raids threaten the community and their daughter prepares to leave for a secular life in Los Angeles, Hermana Romie claims her own authority, uniting religious devotion with activism and leading the congregation toward collective resilience. Tickets are $10 for previews and all Thursday performances; $48 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances, except opening night; $24 for students, seniors, veterans and LAUSD teachers with valid ID; and $75 for opening night, which includes a post-performance reception.
Family Festival: LA and Mexico in Focus
Getty Center | 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles | Oct. 17 | getty.edu
Take the whole family to enjoy a vibrant lineup of mariachi, ballet folklórico and bilingual storytelling. Tickets are free but the Center requires a timed-entry reservation.
Fiestas de Octubre Al Estilo Jalisco
Los Nietos Park | 11143 Charlesworth Rd, Santa Fe Springs | Oct. 17–18 | ticketon.com/tl/uckjiya
immerse yourself in emotional melodies with music from Banda Los Recoditos on Saturday, or Mariachi Premier and Sonora Dinamita on Sunday. General admission: $13 per concert.
‘Carmen’
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion | 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | Oct. 17–Nov. 7 | laopera.org
Passion, jealousy, obsession, and tragedy collide in the dramatic opera about a mercurial, free-spirited gypsy. Tickets begin at $51.
Alex Mendham & His Orchestra
The Biltmore Hotel | 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | Oct. 17 | tinyurl.com/biltmorerendezvous
Known for bringing the glamour and music of the 1920s and 1930s back to life, Alex Mendham & His Orchestra bring their time-travel magic to The Biltmore.
‘Letter from David’
Santa Monica Playhouse | 1211 4th St., Santa Monica | Oct. 18–Dec. 20 | santamonicaplayhouse.com
Who says working with David Bowie is impossible? Not teenage magician Albie Selznick, whose steadfast determination propels him on a comedic journey amidst LA’s ever-changing cultural zeitgeist. With a little ingenuity, a lot of moxie, and a ton of help from his infamous performance troupe The Mums, Selznick shares how he mimed, juggled, and tightrope walked his way through the theatre, club and rock scenes to reach his hero. Tickets: $25.
Smorgasburg LA Presents: Diwali Festival Of Bites
ROW DTLA | 777 Alameda St., Los Angeles | Oct. 18 | smorgasburg.com/la-events/diwali-la
Smorgasburg will feature some guest vendors, special vendor collabs, and some more tasty surprises to celebrate Diwali. Entrance is free.
ONGOING
Oktoberfest at Fairplex
Fairplex | 1801 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona | Through Oct. 17 | fairplex.com
Oktoberfest returns with live bands, German food, cold beer, dancing, and a whole lot of fun. Advance online general admission: $17 Fridays / $20 Saturdays. Gate price: $20 Friday / $25 Saturday.
‘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.
‘Dog Man: The Musical’
Kirk Douglas Theatre | 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City | Through Oct. 18 | centertheatregroup.org
Based on the bestselling series by Dav Pilkey, “Dog Man: The Musical” follows the chronicles of Dog Man, who loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. Tickets start at $40.25.
‘Marisol’
Atwater Village Theatre | 3269 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles | Through Oct. 24 | openfist.org
“Marisol” is a darkly funny, apocalyptic fable about survival, faith and hope. After her guardian angel abandons her to join the celestial battle against a senile God, Bronx resident Marisol Pérez must navigate a terrifying, unraveling world on her own while struggling to preserve her humanity. Tickets range from $26 to $40.
‘Boston Marriage’
European House LA | 12355 Rye St., Studio City | Through Oct. 24 | ticketsource.com/boston-marriage
Set in the late Victorian era, Anna and Claire are involved in a “Boston marriage”—a 19th-century term for a real social phenomenon where two educated women choose lifelong female companionship, living together independently of financial support from a man… often as lovers. Anna, prone to poetic fits of passion, has become the mistress of a wealthy man who supports her luxurious lifestyle, which she hopes can woo her longtime companion Claire to move in with her. However, the cool-yet-lascivious Claire has become infatuated with a much younger woman and wants to enlist a jealous Anna’s help to arrange a rendezvous. Tickets: $50.
‘Winter’s Bench’
24th Street Theatre | 1117 W. 24th St., Los Angeles | Through Oct. 25 | 24thstreet.org
Actress Anne Gee Byrd, joined onstage by flutist Shih-wei Wu, stars in the world premiere of “Winter’s Bench,” a lyrical and deeply human new play by Olivier Award-winning British playwright Mike Kenny. Set in a park where only one ancient tree remains, Winter’s Bench follows Gladys, an elderly woman who has spent a lifetime believing the tree spoke to her when she was a child, and who waits, even now, to hear its voice again. Tickets range from $10 to $24 with Monday performances offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
The Haunted Harvest
Frosty’s Forest & Pumpkin Patch | 14861 Ramona Ave., Chino | Through Oct. 31 | thehauntedharvest.com
Make your way through six haunted houses scattered throughout a sprawling 2-acre corn maze that you must navigate in the dark with monsters at every turn. General Admission: $30.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles | Through Nov. 1 | losangeleshauntedhayride.com
The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride returns with more frights and fun from Fallen Angel Haunted Attraction, Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem Haunted Attraction, Midnight Falls Cider Mill (fresh apple cider and warm cider donuts await.), Zombie Splat Gellyball Experience, Madame Aurora’s Seance Theatre, add-on experiences and more. Tickets start at $34.99.
‘Yamel Cucuy’
The Los Angeles Theatre Center | 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles | Through Nov. 1 | latinotheaterco.org
Haunted by folkloric spirits and hunted by ICE, a girl journeys beyond life to discover inherited wisdom in a visually arresting production blending puppetry, music and live performance. Yamel, a girl on the threshold of adulthood, is pursued by immigration agents and tormented by specters drawn from Mexican folklore. As she crosses the shadowy frontier between life and death, Yamel must summon the courage and wisdom to confront both inherited fears and present-day violence. The bilingual production is performed in English and Spanish and features supertitles in both languages. Tickets: $10–$48.
‘The Dance and the Railroad’
The Los Angeles Theatre Center | 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles | Through Nov. 1 | latinotheaterco.org
Asian American theater collective Artists at Play and Latino Theater Company reunite for their fourth collaboration in four years with a rare revival of “The Dance and the Railroad,” an early work by David Henry Hwang. Set during the Chinese Railroad Workers’ Strike of 1867, two immigrant laborers form an unexpected bond through their shared love of Chinese opera. Together, they practice the ancient art form atop a mountain in the Sierra Nevada, finding connection and a sense of possibility even as their fellow workers below confront brutal labor conditions, isolation and cultural displacement. Tickets: $10–$48.
Prancers Farm Fall Festival
Prancers Farm | 8540 E. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula | Through Nov. 1 | prancersfarm.com
Spend a day on the farm soaking in the fall atmosphere and enjoying hayrides, the corn maze, live entertainment on weekends, festive photo opportunities, and scenic views throughout the farm. You can also pick out the perfect pumpkin. Tickets start at $15.47.
Dark Harbor
The Queen Mary | 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach | Through Nov. 1 | darkharborhalloween.com
The Queen Mary transforms into a Halloween festival featuring haunted mazes, monsters, immersive attractions, live entertainment, VIP experiences, themed bars and lounges, carnival rides, festive foods, photo ops and more. Tickets: $58.99.
‘Come From Away’
A Noise Within | 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena | Through Nov. 8 | anoisewithin.org
When 38 planes were diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001, its residents opened their homes to thousands of stranded strangers. With an infectious score and a spirit of generosity at its core, this uplifting, Olivier Award-winning musical is a testament to the best aspects of human nature. Tickets start at $41.75.
‘Hold Each Other’s Hands: Trans Mutual Aid 1966 – 1996’
OXY ARTS | 4757 York Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Dec. 5 | oxyarts.oxy.edu
“Hold Each Other’s Hands” chronicles a history of mutual aid led by transgender and gender expansive people. This exhibition explores how people with various relationships to gender nonconformity have worked together to develop inventive mutualistic models to create communities. With archival installations, contemporary artworks, featured speakers, and community programming, “Hold Each Other’s Hands” holds space for expansive thinking and public dialog around collectivity, co-existence, and care.
‘Instante/revelación: Moments in Mexican Photography’
Getty Center | 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles | Through 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. Spanish-language guided tours will also be offered monthly throughout the exhibition.
‘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.