| Los Angeles is known the world over for its movie | | | | largest performing arts centers in the United States. |
| stars and television actors. Yet when "The Theater" is | | | | Besides the Ahamanson Theatre, the Music Center |
| mentioned one immediately thinks of Broadway and | | | | encompasses three other venues: the Mark Taper |
| not the City of Angels. | | | | Forum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Dorothy |
| However, Los Angeles has a bustling theater scene | | | | Chandler Pavilion. |
| replete with award winning talent and state-of-the-art | | | | The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion used to host the |
| venues. After all, actors and directors need to do | | | | Academy Awards but the last time the Pavilion gave |
| something in between film projects. | | | | out Oscars was in 1999. |
| The Pantages Theatre is located on Hollywood | | | | The Pavilion seats 3,197 and is home to the Los |
| Boulevard and is one of the city's most endearing | | | | Angeles Opera. |
| landmarks. The theater opened in 1930 and was once | | | | Upcoming performances at the Pavilion include the first |
| owned by Howard Hughes. | | | | two operas in Wagner's ring cycle, "Das Rheingold" |
| The theater seats over 2,600 and is a great place to | | | | and "Die Walkure." Also on the schedule is Verdi's |
| see some of Broadway's best musicals. | | | | classic "La Traviata." |
| "Rent," "Grease," "Mamma Mia!," "Dirty Dancing," "Fiddler | | | | Also appearing at the Pavilion in 2009 is Alvin Ailey |
| on the Roof," "Legally Blonde" and "How The Grinch | | | | American Dance Theater, The Birds, and the |
| Stole Christmas," are all schedule to perform at the | | | | American Ballet Theatre. |
| Pantages in 2009. | | | | The Mark Taper Forum, yet another venue at the L.A. |
| "Rain: The Beatles Experience," is a Beatles | | | | Music Center, also has its share of world-class theater |
| cover-band that will having you believing it's 1965 all | | | | productions. The award winning "Pippin" makes an |
| over again. The fake fab four has been booked for an | | | | extended run on its stage, as well as "Lydia," "Uncle |
| extended engagement in April. | | | | Vanya," "The Lieutenant of Inishmore," "Parade," and |
| The Ahmanson Theatre is located at 135 North Grand | | | | "Palestine, New Mexico." |
| Avenue and is one of the premier venues in Los | | | | The Mark Taper Forum opened in 1967 and |
| Angeles for plays, musicals, classics and revivals. | | | | underwent a $30 million renovation just a few years |
| The Ahmanson has debut six Neil Simon plays and | | | | ago. The Taper is known for staging innovated and |
| featured performances by such legends as Katharine | | | | risk-taking plays. It was also the host for the world |
| Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison, and James | | | | premiere of "Angels in America." |
| Earl Jones. | | | | Pulitzer Prize winning writer Donald Margulies' new |
| Remodel in 1995, the state-of-the-art theater has a | | | | work, "Time Stands Still," can be seen at the Geffen |
| seating capacity of 1,600 to 2,000, depending on size | | | | Playhouse. The low-key drama about journalists |
| and scope of the production. This historic and versatile | | | | covering the Iraqi War stars Alicia Silverstone and |
| venue has the largest subscription base of any theater | | | | Anna Gunn. |
| on the West Coast. | | | | The Geffen Playhouse, located in Westwood, was |
| In 2009, you can expect to see "Minksy's" a musical | | | | originally built in 1929. In 2001, it was updated with a $17 |
| set in the prohibition era, "Frost/Nixon" starring Stacy | | | | million remodel. The theater is quite cozy, seating just |
| Keach, and the Tony Award winning musical "Ain't | | | | 525 patrons. |
| Misbehavin." | | | | The Ralph Freud Playhouse is yet another destination |
| Later in the year, the Ahamanson will be visited by | | | | for theater goers. You can find the theater on the |
| Dame Edna, the Ballet Hispanico, and Patti Lupone | | | | campus of UCLA in the James West Alumni Center. |
| & Mandy Patinkin. | | | | This year, the intimate theater, and its 586 seats, are |
| The hilarious musical comedy "Monty Python's | | | | schedule to host performances of "Man of La |
| Spamalot" will raise Ahamanson's curtain as well as | | | | Mancha," "David Rousseve Reality" and "The |
| the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winning play, "August: Osage | | | | Fantasticks". |
| County." | | | | It's quite clear that Los Angeles has a vibrant and |
| Come 2010, look for performances of "Mary Poppins" | | | | diverse theater scene. With its state-of-the-art facilities |
| and "DreamGirls." | | | | and its award winning talent, the city of angels |
| The Ahamanson Theatre is located within the Los | | | | produces more than just movies and television shows, |
| Angeles Music Center, which is one of the three | | | | it also produces great theater. |