‘Antigone: In the Language of Kings’
Getty Villa | 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades | Sept. 10-Oct. 3 | getty.edu
The Getty Villa Museum and Latino Theater Company present “Antigone: In the Language of Kings” for the 20th annual “Outdoor Classical Theater.” The ancient story, originally set in fifth-century B.C. Greece, of Antigone confronts themes of loyalty, familial duty and the clash between divine law and state edict. Latino Theater Company’s presentation sets the story in pre-conquest Tenochtitlan, Mexico, weaving in pre-Hispanic music and poetry and bringing Aztec mythology into Sophocles’ story. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performance will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24. Thursday night performances are $45 ($40 for students and seniors), Friday night performances are $50, and Saturday night performances are $60.
Broadway Gamble Ramble
The Gamble House | 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena | Sept. 10,11,13 | lineagepac.org
Journey through the house in small groups, encountering a curated series of live performances that weave together dance, theatre, and narrative. Flash sale generaL: $28.22.
Dark Sky Festival
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | Sept. 11-13 | sequoiaparksconservancy.org
Enjoy three nights of stargazing programs, ranger talks, and telescope viewing under some of the darkest skies left in California. Standard pass: $20-$35.
Arboretum Summer Nights Concert Series
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden | 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia | Sept. 11 | arboretum.org
Come and enjoy Upstream play Caribbean music, food trucks, vendors, crafts, and lawn games. Advance online reservations are recommended for non-members. Concert tickets include garden admission. Tickets: $18 for non-member adults, $14 for non-member seniors, and $8 for non-member children.
‘Marisol’
Atwater Village Theatre | 3269 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles | Sept. 12 – 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.
Levitt Vibe Pasadena Music Series
Memorial Park | 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena | Sept. 12 | levittvibepasadenamusicseries.com
Songwriter and producer Jon B takes the stage. Admission is free.
The Perry House Turns 150!
Heritage Square Museum | 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles | Sept. 12 | eventbrite.com
The Perry House is turning 150 and celebrating with a fundraising event featuring VIP tours, live music, food, beverages and more. General admission: $75.
Salsa & Bachata Night at Rodeo 72
Rodeo 72 | 7012 Walnut Grove Drive, Whittier | Sept. 12 | cielo.dance
You don’t need a partner. Just show up at 6:30 p.m. with your dancing shoes on for a free beginner-friendly salsa lesson. Then enjoy social dancing from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Matinees on the Mountain
Mount Wilson Observatory | 100 Mt Wilson Circle Road, Mt Wilson | Sept. 12 | mtwilson.edu
Watch “Solaris” in the Observatory’s 256-seat auditorium. You can picnic on the grounds, enjoy lunch at the Cosmic Cafe, or get some movie snacks and drinks. General admission: $20.
East Los Book Festival
East LA Civic Center | 4801 E. 3rd St., Los Angeles | Sept. 12 | instagram.com/eastlosbookfestival
The 3rd Annual East Los Book Festival returns with panel discussions, book signings, live readings, a vendor marketplace, and a kids stage. Highlights include Pulitzer Prize recipient Viet Thanh Nguyen, alongside Adriana Martinez and Mike Madrid in conversation with moderator Obed Silva; and LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano hosting a panel with American Book Award-winning poet, publisher, activist, and professor Lorna Dee Cervantes, and playwright, artist and founding member of CULTURE CLASH Herbert Siguenza. Admission is free.
Covina Greek Festival
Saint Nectarios Church | 20340 E. Covina Blvd., Covina | Sept. 12-13 | covinagreekfestival.com
Maybe you didn’t get to Santorini this summer but you can still enjoy Greek food and pastries, live music, dancing, Greek beer and wine, shopping at a marketplace, watching cooking demos and much more in the San Gabriel Valley. Admission: $5. Free for children 12 and younger, seniors 65 and older, active military and first responders.
IE Pupusa & Taco Festival
Downtown Upland | 217 E. A St., Upland | Sept. 12-13 | instagram.com/p/Da6R-2phPrq
Enjoy a full day of delicious pupusas and tacos, live music, a beer garden, classic car show, a petting zoo, local vendors, and more. Admission is free.
Rosemead Moon Festival
Valley Boulevard, from Walnut Grove Avenue to Ivar Avenue | Sept. 12 | rosemeadca.gov
Attendees can look forward to cultural performances, delicious food, merchandise vendors, family-friendly activities, and entertainment for all ages. Community members will also have the opportunity to receive vision screenings during the festival. Admission to the festival is free and open to residents and visitors.
‘Dog Man: The Musical’
Kirk Douglas Theatre | 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City | Sept. 12-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.
‘Hola Frida!’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | Sept. 12 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Sierra Madre Playhouse pulls the curtains back on its movie screen to present “Hola Frida!,” a family-friendly animated biographical film released in 2024 inspired by the childhood of acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Tickets: $15.
Cinespia: ‘Goodfellas’
Hollywood Forever Cemetery | 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles | Sept. 12 | 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.
The Disney Mansion Ghost Tour
4053 Woking Way, Los Angeles | Sept. 12 | hauntedoc.com
Led by renowned Disney historian Dusty Sage, publisher of MiceChat.com, take a rare, candlelit journey through Walt Disney’s 12-room residence. You’ll explore ornate living spaces while uncovering tales of tragic former residents, unsolved mysteries, and paranormal sightings. Tickets: $125.
Mariachi Festival
Haven City Market | 8443 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga | Sept. 12 | instagram.com/unidosporlamusica_
This is a free Family Night Out, with live mariachis, food, drinks, margaritas, community resources available throughout the event — from health screenings to a mobile foodbank and more.
Taste of Belize
217 E. Nutwood St., Inglewood | Sept. 13 | instagram.com/p/DcNcSyAmyNS
Celebrate Belize with live music, food, dancing and community. Entry is free.
L.A Stories on Screen: ‘My Family/Mi Familia’
The Autry | 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles | Sept. 13 | theautry.org
Presented in connection with the exhibition “Life, Liberty, and Los Angeles,” this screening reflects on how families and communities have pursued dignity, security, and the promise of a better life while helping shape the history and culture of Los Angeles.
Heartbeat of Mexico Festival
Aitken Arts Plaza | One University Drive, Orange | Sept. 13 | muscocenter.org
With two stages, a program jam-packed with music and dance, community organizations, live painting, and a chalk art contest, as well as a beer garden and crafts, there
Fiesta Latina
Great Park | 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine | Sept. 13 | cityofirvine.gov
Enjoy Lotería games, performances, music, art, a piñata party, delicious food, handcrafted goods by artisans, and take part in engaging activities such as cultural workshops and exhibits. This event is free.
Fiestas Patrias Celebration
Pico Rivera Sports Arena | 11003 Sports Arena Drive, Pico Rivera | Sept. 13 | instagram.com/p/DdABWkJElDH
Hosted by KBUE 105.5 FM “Que Buena” and Estrella TV, this family event will feature live music, food and activities. Admission is free.
Independencia de México
La Placita Olvera | 5-11 Olvera St., Los Angeles | Sept. 16 | cofem.org
Celebratef Mexican independence from noon to 5 p.m. with la Orquesta Oaxaqueña, performers from Estrella TV
ONGOING
Margaret Chase Smith Library
‘Conscience’
Beverly O’Neill Theater | 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach | Through 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 and $59 on opening night and at Sunday matinees.
‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
A Noise Within | 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena | Through 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. 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.
‘Under the Oaks’
Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum | 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga | Through Sept. 24 | theatricum.com
The annual Under the Oaks salon series, featuring performance and music every Thursday in September, is back. Tickets: $35.
‘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 Visit’
Pasadena Playhouse | 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena | Through Oct. 4 | pasadenaplayhouse.org
In “The Visit,” when the richest woman in the world returns to her struggling hometown, she’s ready and willing to rescue it from ruin… on one condition. In this haunting, twisted, and truly grotesque comedy, an entire community is forced to confront an unthinkable question: how far are you willing to go for a billion dollars?
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
