18 Best Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California

With two stages and year-round performances, Atwater Village has aligned with three L.A. theater companies: Ensemble Studio Theatre, Circle X Theatre Co., and Echo Theater Company, and presents fresh works from new local playwrights.

Specializing in restored archival film, the Billy Wilder Theater, home of the UCLA Film & Television Archive, presents a number of acclaimed screenings, including both silent and foreign films. The Hammer Museum produces its own events for the theater, including readings, lectures, and conversations with artists. Authors Jonathan Lethem and Roxane Gay, and director David Lynch have all made appearances. Hammer Museum programs are free; screenings by the UCLA Film & Television Archive have charged admission with a ticket.

An array of arresting events happens here, from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, to storytelling series The Moth, to performances by activist artists Silencio Blanco, and more. The Los Angeles Ballet is one of the frequent guests here.

The Center Theatre Group is comprised of three venues: the Ahmanson and the Taper (both at the Music Center campus Downtown) and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. They show an array of productions, from the Tony Award winner Dear Evan Hansen to touring productions of Broadway hits like Jersey Boys.

The 3,400-seat theater and host of the Academy Awards is housed in the shopping and entertainment complex known as Hollywood & Highland, just steps away from the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. If no concerts or events are happening when you’re in the area, take one of the daily tours offered by Dolby Theatre and see a world only Hollywood bigwigs and movie stars are privy to.

The theater packs in as much preshow entertainment as it can, such as an immersive light-and-projection show before movies such as Beauty and the Beast. There's also an on-site organ player to entertain folks as they find their seats. VIP tickets are available and include reserved seating, popcorn, and a drink.

Well-known actors are often on the bill at the Geffen, and plays by established playwrights, such as Neil LaBute and Lynn Nottage, happen regularly. With two stages hosting world premieres and critically acclaimed works, there's always something compelling to watch. Free events are frequently put on for ticket holders, including Wine Down Sundays, which feature music and wine sampling before evening shows.

This theater, located in a walkable Culver City neighborhood (close to cocktail bars and trendy restaurants), stages modern works and world premieres. The smallest venue of the group at 317 seats, the theater also hosts intimate workshops and readings.

Going on its 11th year presenting world-class productions, Los Angeles Ballet (LAB), the city's one and only professional classical ballet company, performs at a number of venues across the city, showcasing both classical and modern ballet.

Odyssey Theatre presents largely traditional dramas in an intimate space, typically with astute direction and powerful acting. They also produce contemporary, experimental plays (or thoughtful explorations of the classics) throughout the season.

For the grand-scale theatrics of a Broadway show, such as Hamilton and The Book of Mormon, the 2,703-seat Pantages Theatre (the last theater built by Greek American vaudeville producer Alexander Pantages) lights up Hollywood Boulevard on show nights, when lines of excited patrons extend down the block.

High-demand tickets for sporting events, concerts, and theater are usually found on this site; sometimes at a discount, but generally not.

Plays, musicals, and concerts all happen at this midsize theater, mostly focusing on Latin culture. When the weather warms up, they host the Rooftop Cinema Club, where you can watch a flick on the roof (they give out blankets on cold nights), indulge at the snack bar, and take in views of Hollywood.

This historic art deco theater in Beverly Hills plays host to rock and soul artists and legends, as well as comedy shows.

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.

Top seller for live local events.