GuadaLAjara Film Festival (GLAFF)
Los Angeles | Nov. 5–7 | glaff.org
The 16th edition of the GuadaLAjara Film Festival returns to Los Angeles with film screenings, industry panels, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. This year’s gala lineup includes ‘Ashes’ directed by Diego Luna, ’14th’ directed by Ava DuVernay, and ‘Mexicanamerican’ directed by Eddie Sánchez. Proceeds are donated to the community. Tickets start at $10.
Live in the Lounge: Aubrey Situmorang Brings the Bass
The Ebell of Los Angeles | 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 5 | ebellofla.org
Berklee-trained jazz bassist Aubrey Situmorang performs an intimate evening of live jazz in the historic Ebell Lounge, presented in partnership with Leimert Park Jazz Festival. Seating is limited. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $33 ($28 for members of The Ebell of LA).
‘The Laugh Track’
International City Theatre | 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach | Nov. 6–22 | ictlongbeach.org
The play takes audiences behind the scenes of the classic American sitcom I Love Lucy, which aired on CBS from 1951 to 1957. Inspired by the real-life experiences of Madelyn Pugh, one of Hollywood’s first female television writers (often referred to at the time as the “girl writer”), the play shines a light on the inner workings of America’s beloved sitcom and the woman who punched up the jokes, helping to open doors for women in the writers’ room. Tickets are $56 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, except opening night (Friday, Nov. 6), and $59 on opening night and at Sunday matinees.
Día de los Muertos
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse | 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel | Nov. 6 | missionplayhouse.org
Enjoy cultural performances on the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse stage and check out altars in the lobby. There will also be hot drinks and sweet treats available for purchase from El Pavo Bakery and Restaurant. Admission: free.
‘JAPAN CRAFT | Art for Living – Hyakkō’
Japan House LA | 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 6–Jan. 24 | japanhousela.com
Japan has a long and rich craft heritage, embodied in practices such as pottery, urushi (Japanese lacquer), and metalworking that span millennia. The new exhibition shifts the focus from craft as historical tradition to craft as an evolving practice embedded in contemporary everyday life. Admission: free.
‘Alice in Wonderland’
El Capitan Theatre | 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 6–11 | elcapitantheatre.com
Disney’s animated classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’ returns to the El Capitan Theatre in an all-new 4K restoration as part of the theatre’s centennial celebration. Tickets: $16; $5 on Tuesdays while supplies last.
Día de los Muertos Celebration
San Dimas Nature Center | 1628 Sycamore Canyon Road, San Dimas | Nov. 6 | instagram.com/p/DfBFn07vGpS/
LA County Parks Nature Centers host a Día de los Muertos celebration featuring live performances, altars, arts and cultural activities, crafts, and food tastings. The event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. This event is free for all ages.
‘Party Trick’
The Hudson Backstage Theatre | 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 6–15 | eventbrite.com
The Hudson Theatre presents the world premiere of “Party Trick,” a dark comedy written and directed by Tianna Loverde, set in a bedroom the morning after a party. Tickets: $33.85.
‘The Difficulty Adjustment’
Beverly Hills Playhouse | 254 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills | Nov. 6–29 | bhplayhouse.com
The Beverly Hills Playhouse presents ‘The Difficulty Adjustment’ by Allen Barton, who also directs. The production concerns two financial crises, and how two men across 20 years respond to them. Performances run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. General admission: $42.
‘The Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2’
Odyssey Theatre | 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 6–Jan. 17, 2027 | odysseytheatre.com
“The Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2” is an evening of two one-act comedies by the master French farceur Georges Feydeau, directed by Cirque du Soleil clown Daniel Passer. With “Going to Pot” and “Stark Naked,” Feydeau plunges his characters into a dizzying, surreal whirlwind of complications. The two one-acts are part of the famous French vaudevillian’s “marriage” collection, written late in his career as his comedy grew increasingly anarchic. Domestic disagreements explode into madness and mayhem, as people pushed to their limits behave in increasingly outrageous, and hilarious, ways. Ticket prices range from $20 to $38.
‘Competing Cosmologies: Interpreting the Sky’
Wende Museum | 10808 Culver Blvd., Culver City | Nov. 7–Oct. 17, 2027 | wendemuseum.org
The Wende Museum presents Competing Cosmologies: Interpreting the Sky, an exhibition examining how artists around the world have been and continue to be inspired by outer space during and after the Cold War. The exhibition brings together an international mix of more than 170 artworks, historical artifacts, films, and archival materials to examine how advances in astronomy and space exploration were interpreted through diverse cultural, political, and social perspectives. Admission is free for all exhibitions and public programs.
Sacred Path x The Autry Pow Wow
Autry Museum | 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles | Nov. 7 | theautry.org
Celebrate Native culture through traditional dancing, food, and vendors. Admission: free.
Diwali Fest : Indian Food & Music Festival
Academy LA | 6021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 7 | eventbrite.com
Celebrate India’s festival of lights with music, food, lights, shopping, and entertainment. General admission: $18.91.
LAAS Star Party
Mount Wilson Observatory | 100 Mt Wilson Circle Road, Mt Wilson | Nov. 7 | mtwilson.edu
Join Mount Wilson Observatory and the Los Angeles Astronomical Society for this free star party in the San Gabriel Mountains. This event does not give access to the 60– or 100-inch telescopes but telescopes will be provided by the members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society.
‘Dumbo’
El Capitan Theatre | 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood | Nov. 7 | elcapitantheatre.com
Disney’s “Dumbo” returns for one night only to mark its 85th anniversary, with a single screening at 7 p.m. The film tells the story of the flying baby elephant and his friend Timothy Q. Mouse. Tickets: $16.
LA MEHKO Week Kickoff Event
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Community Event Center | 905 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles | Nov. 7 | mehkoweek.com
A free community kickoff event running from noon to 3 p.m. brings together microenterprise home kitchen operations (MEHKO) entrepreneurs, community partners, and local leaders. It includes refreshments provided by Flavors From Afar, community partner tables, and a short speaker program. Representatives from County departments will answer questions about starting a MEHKO business. Admission: Free.
‘Nacho Ate Spiderman’
Ruskin Group Theatre | 2800 Airport Ave., Santa Monica | Nov. 7–Dec. 20 | ruskingrouptheatre.com
The play follows a neighborly dispute in a progressive beach community after an award-winning rabbit goes missing and a rescue dog becomes the prime suspect. What begins as a neighborly conversation about pets, boundaries and one suspiciously large hole quickly spirals into accusations, shifting alliances, whiskey, cashew cheese, and the uncomfortable realization that being a good neighbor is a lot easier when nobody is testing the fence. Tickets: $45, with discounts for students and seniors.
Tree Fest
Odyssey Charter School | 725 W. Altadena Drive, Altadena | Nov. 7 | altadenawild.org
The second annual Tree Fest, held in partnership with Altadena Green and Cal State Northridge’s Urban Forestry Project, runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Altadena residents can receive free citrus trees and California native saplings while supplies last, and attend expert talks on native plants and firescaping. Admission: Free.
Marlonius Jazz Orchestra and Mara Kaye Pay Tribute to Billie Holiday and The Blues
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | Nov. 8 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Jazz and blues vocalist Mara Kaye joins the Marlonius Jazz Orchestra, led by virtuosic bassist/composer Marlonius (who goes by a single name), to celebrate the iconic musical legacy of Billie Holiday. Tickets: $35.
Camerata Pacifica: ‘The Innocence of Life’ World Premiere
Janet and Ray Scherr Forum | 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks | Nov. 8 | cameratapacifica.org
The Huntington | 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino | Nov. 10
Zipper Hall | 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | Nov. 12
Camerata Pacifica performs a program featuring the world premiere of Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s ‘The Innocence of Life’ for mixed octet, alongside works by Michael Daugherty, Sarah Gibson, Missy Mazzoli and Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major, K. 452. The 20-minute work for clarinet, oboe, horn, violin, viola, cello, percussion and piano is the first of two highly anticipated Camerata Pacifica-commissioned world premieres presented during the 2026-27 season. Tickets: $85 at The Huntington and Zipper Hall; $75, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum.
‘Deepfake’
Atwater Village Theatre | 3269 Casitas Ave, Los Angeles | Nov. 8 | echotheatercompany.com
Echo Theater Company presents a free public reading of ‘Deepfake,’ a new play by Alisa Zhulina that won first place in Echo’s 2025 New Play Competition. Set in a near-future where a company sells lifelike companions, the play follows two new lovers, two old flames and a family as they test whether artificial intimacy can heal human wounds. Admission: Free.
L.A. Culture in a Cup: Bats, Birds, and Agave
Mírate – Restaurant and Bar | 1712 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles | Nov. 8 | nhm.org
Mírate LA hosts NHM for the finale of the L.A. Culture in a Cup series, featuring a 6 p.m. panel on the ecosystem connections that sustain ancestral ingredients and the role of bats and birds as pollinators in the agave world. The evening, running 5–8 p.m., includes food and drink pairings and taxidermy from the Museum collection. Tickets: $75.
‘Romeo and Juliet: Time Enough for Love’
Atwater Village Theatre | 3269 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles | Nov. 8–Dec. 19 | openfist.org
Open Fist Theatre Company presents a new twist on Shakespeare’s classic, conceived and directed by Christian Lebano, in which Romeo and Juliet fall in love at 75 instead of 14. Set in Verona Village, a South Florida retirement community, the production keeps Shakespeare’s original language intact and stars Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James. Previews run Nov. 8, 11 and 12, with performances through Dec. 19. Tickets: previews $10; performances $26–$45.
Harvest Festival
Various locations | Nov. 10–24 | parks.lacounty.gov
LA County Parks presents a festival celebrating the season’s harvest, cultural traditions and sustainable practices. Space is limited and activities are available on a first-come, first-served basis across various locations.
ONGOING
‘Carmen’
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion | 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | Through Nov. 7 | laopera.org
Passion, jealousy, obsession, and tragedy collide in the dramatic opera about a mercurial, free-spirited gypsy. Tickets begin at $51.
‘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.
‘Speaking in Tongues’
The Los Angeles Theatre Center | 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles | Through 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 all Thursday performances; $48 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances; and $24 for students, seniors, veterans and LAUSD teachers with valid ID.
‘Radio Galaxy’
Lovelace Studio Theater | 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills | Through Nov. 22 | thewallis.org
“Radio Galaxy” follows Tino, a brilliant 17-year-old from a working-class New Jersey town who dreams of becoming an astronomer. When he discovers he has a half-sister in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant, Tino is pulled into a world he never knew existed — and suddenly offered a future that feels as vast and uncertain as the universe he studies. Tickets start at $42.90.
‘Bobby Robotowitz’
One eastside, one westside secret venues | Through 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.
‘at the very bottom of a body of water’
Boston Court Pasadena | 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena | Through Nov. 29 | bostoncourtpasadena.org
“at the very bottom of a body of water” is a poetic, intimate, magical play about grief, ritual, and the unexpected paths back to connection. Every week, Marina returns to the same fish store, buys a catfish, and makes soup — a quiet, methodical act masking devastating grief. But when her usual fishmonger suddenly vanishes, her fragile routine shatters, and Marina is forced to confront the wreckage of her carefully constructed world as something unexpected breaks through: the stirrings of romance and a tidal wave of magic. Tickets range from $15 to $82, including fees.
‘Passing Strange’
Pasadena Playhouse | 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena | Through Nov. 29 | pasadenaplayhouse.org
Celebrating 20 years since its world premiere, “Passing Strange” – the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation based on the life of singer-songwriter STEW – finally makes its long-awaited LA premiere. A young artist is searching for the real thing, but he can’t seem to find it at home in South Central LA. He sets out on a cross-continental journey of self-discovery full of sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll in search of a life that’s bigger, louder, and entirely his own. Tickets start at $53.
‘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.
‘Confederates’
The Fountain Theatre | 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles | Through Dec. 13 | fountaintheatre.com
Nedra Ryan Taylor stars as Sara, an enslaved woman who becomes a Union spy during the Civil War, opposite Sarah Scott Davis as Sandra, a tenured political science professor at a prestigious university in the year 2026. Their lives might be separated by more than 150 years, but the forces they navigate around race, gender, power and institutional betrayal prove disturbingly similar. Friday, Nov. 13, is “Black Out Affinity Night,” an opportunity for an audience self-identifying as Black to experience the performance together. A day-long Black Wellness Summit featuring Black wellness leaders and organizations will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14. Ticket prices range from $5–$75.
‘Letter from David’
Santa Monica Playhouse | 1211 4th St., Santa Monica | Through 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.
‘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.
‘Jenny Yurshansky: What We Carry’
Skirball Cultural Center | 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Feb. 28 | skirball.org
“What We Carry” is an exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Jenny Yurshansky whose artwork explores how the experiences of immigration and displacement impact people, both personally and collectively. Through community storytelling—the practice of sharing stories to preserve culture and foster connection—Yurshansky considers how we remember family history and how those memories shape our sense of home and belonging. The artist, whose work is deeply informed by her family’s experience as Soviet Jewish refugees, examines the narratives that are carried in our everyday objects and in our bodies—they hold our stories even when one generation has tried to keep them hidden from the next. General admission: $20.
‘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.