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The art scene in Los Angeles extends beyond the screen and onto the stage. A place of artistic innovation and history, one can discover new and challenging theatrical works across L.A. stages, while the city still maintains a respect for tradition with its restored theaters and classic plays. See live music at impeccably designed amphitheaters like the Hollywood Bowl; listen in on captivating lectures by authors and directors at various intimate spaces. An homage to its roots as a filmmaking mecca, you can also stumble across retrospectives and rare screenings in movie theaters all over the city, often followed by Q&As with the cast.
L.A.'s art scene is varied, and caters to all budgets and tastes. East West Players at the David Henry Hwang Theatre focuses on Asian-American-themed plays, and if an opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion seems out of your price range, Actors’ Gang in Culver City offers a free Shakespeare play in Media Park in the summer. The Independent Theatre Company hosts a free Shakespeare festival in Griffith Park, also during summer.
Temperate weather allows for an extended season of outdoor events. Enjoy a classic summer picnic listening to the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, or watching a play outdoors at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater.
Cinefamily at the Silent Film Theatre is one of the few places that still shows silent films, but they also have a full calendar of foreign films, retrospectives, rare indie flicks, and campy classics you can't see anywhere else. American Cinematheque, showing classic and independent films, operates out of the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, as well as the historic Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
The epicenter for Los Angeles sports fans—the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks, and Kings all play here—Staples Center also plays host to big-name concerts. Headliners of all genres pass through here, from Beyoncé, to the Rolling Stones, to Taylor Swift.
Socially conscious, unconventional, and politically themed shows are the focus here. Helmed by artistic director Tim Robbins (who was also one of its founders in 1981), the Actors' Gang also has educational and outreach programs to benefit local students and the community. Their Prison Project initiative, for example, conducts acting workshops at California state prisons. Famous actors are also known to make cameos at the theater. In summer, the Actors’ Gang offers adaptations of Shakespeare for free in Media Park. Call or check the website for the schedule.
Exceptional plays and musicals, occasionally featuring known TV and movie actors, are what this theater is mostly known for---that and it’s a historical landmark that’s been operating as a theater since 1925. The 650-seat playhouse also holds the title of official state theater of California. Tours of the venue are available by appointment.
Located inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall, this 288-seat theater serves as a space for innovative performance and visual art in addition to film screenings and literary events. The gallery features changing art installations. Tickets are reasonably priced and many are free.
Top seller for live local events.
This theater is nothing fancy, but it is one of the most cherished in the city, and watching a movie here is a true L.A. experience. Recently acquired and updated by the American Cinemateque, this intimate three-auditorium theater has long been a part of Los Angeles’s rich movie-watching history. Two of the rooms cater to the latest first-run releases and often host Netflix screenings, while the third and biggest of the rooms is host to exclusive American Cinemateque events and showings. Book in advance online for special screenings and events.
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a cultural hub for a wide variety of artistic performances. A breath of fresh air, the complex is centered on the 1934 Italianate-style Beverly Hills Post Office. The interior is gorgeous, with eight Depression-era murals painted by California artist Charles Kassler depicting laborers and artisans. The building includes the 500-seat Bram Goldsmith Theater and the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater. Affordable parking is available underneath the space.
This open-air theater has put on classics like Shakespeare as well as new and relevant plays for five decades. You'll also find improv, performances of rare works, special events like Elizabethan and holiday fairs, classes, and Family Fundays in this bucolic space. The gardens have sitting areas for picnics before the show. You're encouraged to "Play and Stay" in the Topanga area by pairing your theater experience with a hike in the local hills or a trip to one of the area's unique restaurants beforehand; the company also hosts dinner (and a show) on certain nights.
Select weekends are great for families, with special shows performed with children in mind.
Built in 1931, this historical art deco landmark, named for its location at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue, serves mainly as a space for music (it's a top destination for touring musicians), but other live entertainment can be seen here as well, including comedy and dance. The main floor is standing room only for most shows, but there are some seating areas available if desired.
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