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The Program: Mark your calendar for these April SoCal performances.
Note: Though hours and formats are updated regularly, they can change without notice; best to confirm at venue websites.
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
Kim’s Convenience
Through April 19. This award-winning comedy drama, which inspired the Netflix hit, is a hilarious, feel-good story about a Korean family-run corner store. Mr. Kim works hard to support his family with his convenience store but as he evaluates his future, he faces both a changing neighborhood and the gap between his values and those of his Canadian-born children. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. centertheatregroup.org
A NOISE WITHIN
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Through April 19. Follow an aging salesman as he grapples with disappointment and the growing gap between his dreams and reality. Through memory, conflict, and fractured hope, Miller crafts a powerful portrait of a man chasing success in a society that defines worth by achievement. 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. anoiseiwthin.org
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
April 2. Led by Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, Dallas Symphony Orchestra returns to Orange County for the first time in more than 50 years to perform Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. Pianist Hélène Grimaud joins the orchestra to perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., philharmonicsociety.org
LA PHIL
Tchaikovsky & Haydn
April 2-4. Australian conductor Manfred Honeck leads the LA Philharmonic in timeless symphonies by Haydn and Tchaikovsky. The program will also include a concerto by Carl Reinecke featuring LA Phil principal flutist Denis Bouriakov. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
BROADSTAGE
The Amanda Castro Band
April 4. Known for high-energy performances and magnetic audience connection, the Amanda Castro Band delivers an exciting, feel-good experience that celebrates the golden age of music with a modern spark. 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. broadstage.org
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
Nowruz: Iranian New Year
April 4. Celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, a traditional festival that marks the beginning of spring. Nowruz is a time to celebrate the “rebirth of nature” and wash away the past. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., pacificsymphony.org
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
Brubeck Quartet’s Time Out
April 4. A record-breaking jazz album by the West Coast-cool Dave Brubeck Quartet that explores a variety of musical styles and time signatures. The first jazz album to sell a million copies was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Enjoy a celebration of the songs from this Grammy Hall of Fame album with a preshow performance from Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. The Jacobs Music Center, 250 B. St., San Diego. sandiegosymphony.org
THE OLD GLOBE
August Wilson’s Fences
April 4-May 3. Set in 1957, this Pulitzer Prize and. Tony Award-winning play follows Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star, now a sanitation worker. Grappling with the burden of his broken dreams, Troy struggles to assert control over his family and his future. Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. theoldglobe.org
THE WALLIS
English
April 4-26. Set in an Iranian classroom where four adult students and their teacher leapfrog through a linguistic playground, this is a funny, stunning triumph about the universal foibles of language and miscommunication. 3930 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Jeremy Denk, piano
April 9. Experience the soulful rhythms of Scott Joplin and Nina Simone, the rich harmonies of William Bolcom, alongside iconic works by Beethoven and Charles Ives. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., philharmonicsociety.org
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
American Ballet Theatre’s Sylvia
April 9-12. Sylvia is a captivating ballet combining the elegance of classical ballet with elements of folklore and mythology. This exciting revival of a rarely staged ballet was first performed in Paris over 150 years ago and has since attracted some of the world’s leading choreographers, including Ivanov, Ashton, Balanchine and Neumeier. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., scfta.org
BROADSTAGE
Lise Davidsen and Freddie De Tommaso
April 10. Soprano great, Lise Davidsen and vocalist Freddie De Tommaso return with a Celebrity Opera collaboration that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary, alongside an all-star orchestra of LA’s most accomplished classical musicians.1310 11th St., Santa Monica. broadstage.org
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
Journeys to California: Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3
April 10-11. A celebration of music by three composers, all of whom came from elsewhere to live in California: Adam Schoenberg, John Adams, and Rachmaninoff. This delightful fanfare of an overture celebrates the life of P-22, the world-famous mountain lion who lived for a decade in the hills above Los Angeles. The Jacobs Music Center, 250 B. St., San Diego. sandiegosymphony.org
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Mean Girls
April 10-May 3. Adapted from Fey’s hit 2004 film of the same title, Mean Girls was nominated for a staggering 12 Tony Awards. Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. lamiradatheatre.com
LA PHIL
Turangalîla
April 10-12. Australian conductor Simone Young leads the LA Philharmonic in Olivier Messiaen’s epic and gripping symphony. Inspired by the tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde, Turangalîla is an orchestral tour-de-force. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Danish String Quartet with Danish National Girls’ Choir
April 11. The Danish National Girls’ Choir joins the Danish String Quartet for an evening of music that will feature a stunning new work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., philharmonicsociety.org
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Christian McBride & Edgar Meyer
April 11. Witness the extraordinary collaboration of Edgar Meyer and Christian McBride—two titans of the bass world—as they bring their acclaimed album, “But Who’s Going to Play the Melody?” to life. Experience the unique synergy of these two legendary musicians and discover the boundless possibilities of the bass, as heard on their captivating album.Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Dr., scfta.org
SOUTH COAST REP
Eat Me
Apr. 12-May 3. Chris loves fine cuisine and spends hours on the internet with like-minded foodies. Stevie doesn’t eat fish with souls, Beatrice and Jen just baked a flax loaf, and Cindy might have salad later. Everyone is longing for something that makes them feel full—and when the meal is over, maybe they’ll be transformed. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Dr. scr.org
LA PHIL
Herbie Hancock
April 14. Jazz legend, 14-time Grammy winner and LA Phil Creative Chair, Herbie Hancock, graces the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage with a new discovery to share. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
Puccini’s Turandot
April 16-21. Step into the mythical world of Turandot, where love and destiny collide. Puccini’s lush melodies and grand orchestration bring this epic tale of sacrifice, love, and defiance to life. Conductor Carl St. Clair leads one of opera’s most powerful stories. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., pacificsymphony.org
LA PHIL
Shostakovich & Sibelius
April 17-19. Alisa Weilerstein tackles a Shostakovich specialty, and Ryan Bancroft leads the LA Philharmonic through an exploration of the majestic and mystical call of a swan in Finnish myth. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Ébéne Quartet
April 18. Known for their versatility and electrifying stage presence, the Ébène will present a program that showcases their mastery of the string quartet repertoire. Hear Beethoven’s joyfully spirited String Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2, Ravel’s colorfully sensuous Quartet in F Major, and Beethoven’s tragically sublime String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Dr., scfta.org
BROADSTAGE
Parsons Dance
April 18-19. Parsons Dance, an internationally acclaimed contemporary American dance company known for its energized, athletic, and joyous style, takes the stage as part of their 40th anniversary season! 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. broadstage.org
LA OPERA
Falstaff
April 18-May 10. A bumbling knight hatches a plot to marry rich…too bad his targets see right through it. This classic comedy provides constant laughs as the merry wives of Windsor team up to teach Sir John Falstaff a lesson in Verdi’s side-splitting final opera. James Conlon conducts a brilliant ensemble cast that includes Craig Colclough as Falstaff, Nicole Heaston, Ernesto Petti, and Hyona Kim. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laopera.org
THE OLD GLOBE
Alien Girls
April 18-May 10. Alien Girls is a heart-filled comedy about the tensions between creating art and creating life. It is a tale of best friends—one pregnant and the other failing to be happy for her. True feelings are revealed, and the fallout may be irreparable. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. theoldglobe.org
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
Fliter Plays Chopin
April 18-19. At the center are Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto, written when the great Polish composer and patriot was just 20 years old, and Borodin’s brilliantly colorful and tuneful Second Symphony, evoking the uproarious and warlike merrymaking of medieval knights-in-armor, with their ancient bards and strange-sounding folk-instruments. The Jacobs Music Center, 250 B. St., San Diego. sandiegosymphony.org
LA MASTER CHORALE
Mozart’s Requiem
April 19. Mozart’s Requiem, his final and most mysterious masterpiece, delivers a powerful journey through grief, hope, and transcendence—an enduring work that continues to move audiences centuries later. It will be paired with Fanny Mendelssohn’s Oratorio on Words from the Bible, composed in 1847 in response to a devastating cholera epidemic and the loss, grief, and eventual hope. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. lamasterchorale.org
LA PHIL
Beethoven & Schumann
April 21. Ensembles guide us from the hip soundscapes of New York City to the enchanting, heartfelt atmosphere of the Romantic era. Arrive early and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine before enjoying an evening of chamber music with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Mahler Chamber Orchestra with Yuja Wang
April 22. One of the most dynamic pianists of our time, Yuja Wang, performs with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, renowned for its passion and exceptional artistry. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., philharmonicsociety.org
LA OPERA
James Conlon Concert
April 24. LAO celebrates the tenured 20-year career and musical contributions of LAO’s Music Director, James Conlon, with a program that highlights Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, and more, featuring operatic superstars and surprise guests. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laopera.org
LA PHIL
Ichiko Aoba
April 24. Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ichiko Aoba returns to LA for an ambitious Walt Disney Concert Hall headline debut that encompasses jazz, folk, bossa nova, ambient, and classical, following the release of her latest album, Luminescent Creatures. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
My Fair Lady in Concert
April 24-25. The beloved classic My Fair Lady returns in a lavish concert with Pacific Symphony providing the emotional heartbeat. this semi-staged production blends theatrical charm with musical grandeur for an evening of pure golden-age joy. Relive the wit, romance, and transformation of Eliza Doolittle’s story through songs that defined an era—“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” and more—performed by a cast of celebrated vocalists. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 655 Town Center Dr., pacificsymphony.org
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY
A Feast of Beethoven
April 24-25. Trevor Pinnock, one of the great masters of Baroque and Classical music in our age, and Alexandra Dovgan, a young pianist already celebrated across the world for the majesty and beauty of her playing, join the Orchestra together for the first time for a glorious all-Beethoven program, filled with high drama, hope, and nobility. The Jacobs Music Center, 250 B. St., San Diego. sandiegosymphony.org
LA PHIL
John Adams & Víkingur Ólafsson
April 25-26. John Adams leads two evenings of edgy, groovy music with Icelandic rockstar pianist Víkingur Ólafsson. Adams pairs his concerto with Piazzola’s liberating Two Tangos and two impassioned Russian works—Stravinsky’s Song of the Nightingale and the suite from Prokofiev’s first film score, Lieutenant Kijé. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
PASADENA SYMPHONY
Beethoven Eroica
April 25. Conductor Brett Mitchell leads Julian Schwarz on cello for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” along with the West Coast Premiere of Grammy-winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s Cello Concerto. The program is rounded out with Heroic Overture (Overtura Eroica) by composer Quinn Mason. Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. pasadenasymphony-pops.org
SOUTH COAST REP
Fremont Ave.
April 25-30. With humor and heart, this multigenerational drama revolves around three Black men, their journeys to choose love, and the woman who holds them all together. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Dr. scr.org
BROADSTAGE
Inna Faliks
April 26. Pianist Inna Faliks joins the Sunday Morning Music / Santa Monica series with a dynamic program of beloved classics and a world premiere, and a unique interactive element, as the second half of the program will be determined by audience vote! Faliks is known for her poetic and expressive artistry, captivating audiences in concert halls and at festivals across the US, Asia, and Europe. She pushes the boundaries of classical piano through genre-bending, interdisciplinary projects and collaborations with contemporary composers. 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. broadstage.org
LA PHIL
Alexandre Kantorow
April 28. Pianist Alexandre Kantorow returns to LA and opens his recital with Liszt’s emotional rendition of a Bach cantata and anchors the program with sonatas by Medtner and Rachmaninoff. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Australian Ballet Theatre’s Sylvia
April 29. This renowned ensemble, known for their virtuosic playing and adventurous programming, will present a program that spans centuries of musical expression. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Dr., scfta.org
BROADSTAGE
Penguins of Antarctica
April 30. National Geographic Explorer Heather Lynch goes on assignment to the harshest environment on Earth, Antarctica, to meet the many species of penguins, along with an abundance of other life. Take a journey to the bottom of the world. 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. broadstage.org
Photo Credits: All images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
