Los Angeles

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.

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  • 1. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

    Downtown

    Though half a century old, this theater maintains the glamour of its early years, richly decorated with crystal chandeliers, classical theatrical drapes, and a 24-karat gold dome. Part of the Los Angeles Music Center, this pavilion is home to the L.A. Opera though a large portion of programming is made up of dance and ballet performances as well. Ticket holders can attend free talks that take place an hour before opera performances. Reservations for the talks aren't required, but it's wise to arrive early, as space is limited.

    135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90012, USA
    213-972–0711
  • 2. Greek Theatre

    With a robust lineup from May through November, acts such as Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, and Aretha Franklin (RIP) have all graced the stage at this scenic outdoor venue. Located at the base of Griffith Park, there's usually slow pre-show traffic on concert nights, but that'll give you a chance to take in the beautiful park foliage and homes in the Hollywood Hills. Paid lots are available for parking, but wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk as some lots are fairly far from the theater. Or you can park and enjoy cocktails in trendy and chic Los Feliz before a show, then walk up to the venue.

    2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA
    844-524–7335
    View Tours and Activities
  • 3. Walt Disney Concert Hall

    Downtown

    One of the architectural wonders of Los Angeles, the 2,265-seat hall is a sculptural monument of gleaming, curved steel designed by Frank Gehry. It's part of a complex that includes a public park, gardens, shops, and two outdoor amphitheaters, one of them atop the concert hall. The acoustically superlative venue is the home of the city's premier orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, whose music director, Gustavo Dudamel, is an international celebrity in his own right. The orchestra's season runs from late September to early June, before it heads to the Hollywood Bowl for the summer.

    111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90012, USA
    323-850–2000

    Arts/Entertainment Details

    Rate Includes: Free self-guided tours
    View Tours and Activities
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