Theatre entertainment in California
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A
Grand Lake Theater
One of the last remaining 1920s movie palaces to show first-run films. On Friday and Saturday evenings, certain films are preceded by performances on the mighty Wurlitzer organ (check the website).
reviewed
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Volcano Theatre Company
On weekends from April to November, the well-regarded Volcano Theatre Company produces live dramas in the restored Cobblestone Theater.
reviewed
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B
Alex Theater
For more than 80 years, Glendale's Alex Theatre has been the centerpiece of the City's arts, culture and community programming. The Theatre's diverse schedule boosts roughly 250 events and attracts more than 130,000 patrons per year. Program offerings range from classical, contemporary and world music concerts, to film screenings, live theatre and stand-up comedy. In addition, the Alex Theatre also hosts award shows, fundraisers and a variety of other special events and frequently serves as a location for television, commercial and film productions.
reviewed
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C
Mark Taper Forum
Part of the Music Center, the Mark Taper is one of the three venues used by the Center Theatre Group, SoCal's leading resident ensemble and producer of Tony-, Pulitzer- and Emmy-winning plays. It's an intimate space with only 14 rows of seats arranged around a thrust stage, so you can see every sweat pearl on the actors' faces. The theater has gone through a complete overhaul, finishing in summer 2008.
reviewed
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D
Geffen Playhouse
David Geffen forked over $17 million to get his Mediterranean-style playhouse back into shape and, boy, is it gorgeous. Just the perfect venue to show off his Hollywood clout. A recent lineup included the West Coast premiere of Third by Wendy Wasserstein and the US premiere of Joanna Murray-Smith's Female of the Species starring Annette Bening.
reviewed
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E
MET Theatre
It never hurts to have friends in high places. Holly Hunter and Ed Harris have strutted their stuff on the MET's stage and other Hollywood bigwigs – from Dustin Hoffman to Angelina Jolie – have funneled in some cash. The fare here runs from edgy to traditional and has included the premiere of Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class.
reviewed
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F
Kirk Douglas Theatre
An old-timey movie house has been recast as a 300-seat theater, thanks to a major cash infusion from the Douglas family. Since its opening in 2004, it's become an integral part of Culver City's growing arts scene. The Center Theatre Group uses it primarily as a showcase of new LA plays, and for theatre by and for children.
reviewed
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G
Hudson Theatres
This quartet of stages (plus a cute café) is a driving force on Hollywood's Theater Row and has catapulted a number of productions to Broadway, TV and the big screen, including Reefer Madness and Sweet Deliverance. Nia Vardalos' My Big Fat Greek Wedding had its world premier right here.
reviewed
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H
A Traveling Jewish Theater
Founded in 1978, this theater presents a variety of genres focusing on Jewish and American cultural issues. Borscht Belt comedy, music, storytelling, and serious and comic drama appear on the company’s main stage in the Mission, but sometimes elsewhere too; check with the box office to confirm locations.
reviewed
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I
Pasadena Playhouse
In business since 1924, this venerable theater underwent a serious sprucing up in the '80s and has been thriving ever since. Shows are a mix of tried-and-true classics by Sondheim and Coward as well as new works by contemporary playwrights such as Scott Schwarz (of Bat Boy: The Musical fame).
reviewed
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Open Fist Theater
The name is supposed to reflect the ensemble's mission of keeping an open mind while pushing hard for social change. Sure. In any case, they're pretty good at finding relevance for today's mad mad world both in new plays and classics by such Euro writers as Brecht and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
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K
East West Players
Founded in 1965, this pioneering Asian-American ensemble seeks to build a bridge between Eastern and Western theatrical styles. Its repertory of Broadway to modern classics takes a backseat to acclaimed premiers by local playwrights. Alumni have gone on to win Tony, Emmy and Academy awards.
reviewed
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Yosemite Theater
The fascinating life and philosophy of John Muir is brought to the stage by actor Lee Stetson several times weekly. His wife, Connie, does a humorous yet poignant program portraying a 19th-century pioneer woman. There are also special children's shows and the occasional guest performer.
reviewed
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L
Odyssey Theatre
This well-respected ensemble presents new work, updates the classics and develops its own plays in a ho-hum space of three 99-seat theaters under one roof. Every few years, British enfant terrible Steven Berkoff makes audiences laugh and cringe with his latest provocative one-man play.
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Nevada Theater
This is one of California's first theaters (1865) and has welcomed the likes of Jack London and Mark Twain to its stage. Now it's used for productions of the very good and prolific Foothill Theater Company, as well as off-beat movie screenings.
reviewed
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M
Spartan Stadium
Major League soccer team the San Jose Earthquakes (formerly the Clash) plays at the Spartan Stadium from late March to mid-October.
Tickets are available from the Compaq Center box office or, for a surcharge, through Ticketmaster.
reviewed
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N
AMC Van Ness 14
An enormous multiplex (14 screens) in a former Cadillac dealership, 1000 Van Ness mostly shows mainstream Hollywood releases, and has state-of-the-art theaters with surround sound and incredibly comfy high-backed stadium seating.
reviewed
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O
Climate Theater
You never know what’s doing at the Climate, a tiny black-box experimental theater, which is a testing ground for new works, from comedy improv to small plays pulled together on a shoestring.
reviewed
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P
Ahmanson Theatre
Much larger than the Taper, this grand space is another Center Theatre Group venue in the Music Center. It's used primarily for big-time musicals on their way to or from Broadway.
reviewed
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Forest Theatre & Outdoor Stage
This venue was founded in 1910. Musicals, drama and comedies, as well as movie screenings, take place in a lovely setting surrounded by trees and anchored by two large fire pits.
reviewed
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Q
Deaf West Theatre
Hearing-impaired actors perform classic and contemporary plays in sign language with voice interpretation and/or supertitles; its 'Big River' soared on Broadway.
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Golden Bough Theatre
This is the home of the revered Pacific Repertory Theatre (www.pacrep.org), whose repertoire ranges from Shakespeare to contemporary works.
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Sierra Repertory Theatre
In East Sonora, near the Junction Shopping Center, is the same critically acclaimed company that performs in the Fallon Hotel in Columbia.
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Stage 3 Theater
This troupe is right out of Waiting for Guffman and performs a highly regarded range of off-Broadway and original modern dramas.
reviewed
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R
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Now in its third decade, this company offers a full season of top-rated productions in a new, 525-seat venue downtown.
reviewed