Check Out The Best Los Angeles Things To Do In April

alvin-ailey-april-events
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

From top musical acts performing across the city to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, inaugural Dine L.A. Happy Hour Week, Artisanal L.A. and more; find the best Los Angeles things to do in April 2015 in our events roundup.

Edited by Christina Xenos

TV on the Radio
April 3. The acclaimed Brooklyn-L.A. indie rockers kick off the Palladium’s hip April lineup. Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, 323.962.7600. thehollywoodpalladium.com

Big Bunny Spring Fling
April 3-5. Find EGGciting activities for the whole family including petting a bunny, face painting, crafts, photos with “Big Bunny” and children’s musical entertainment.   All activities are free with paid Zoo admission (except “Big Bunny” photos, which are available for a nominal fee.  Zoo admission is $19 for general admission (ages 13 to 61), $16 for seniors (ages 62+), and $14 for children (ages 2 to 12).  No ticket is required for children under 2. lazoo.org

Westfield Century City
April 4. Celebrate the holiday with Westfield’s Easter Bash, complete with Easter egg hunt, family photos, petting zoo and story time by Giggles N’ Hugs. Noon-5 p.m. RSVP: CenturyCity@us.westfield.com. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City, 310.277.3898. westfield.com

Hornblower Cruises
April 5. Sip free-flowing champagne while watching breathtaking seaside cliffs as you cruise Marina del Rey. Enjoy an Easter brunch in aquatic tradition full of delicious savory breakfast fare, holiday classics, chocolatey treats, live entertainment and the Easter Bunny. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $68.95/$4137. children 4-12. 13755 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, 310.301.6000. hornblower.com

View our full list of where to celebrate Easter in Los Angeles

Dodgers Home Opener
April 6-8. The boys in blue are back, kicking off the season by taking on the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. 1000 Elysian Park Ave., L.A., 323.224.1507. dodgers.mlb.com

Arlo Guthrie
April 6. The folk singer and social activist marks the 50th anniversary of his Alice’s Restaurant with classic songs and anecdotes at Walt Disney Concert Hall. 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 323.850.2000. laphil.com

The Power of Duff
April 7-May 17. Charlie Duff’s nightly newscast makes him a voice to be heard, so why isn’t his teenage son listening? When an on-air prayer for his father goes viral, Duff finds himself at the center of a firestorm over God’s place in the newsroom. When his prayers turn prophetic, Duff suddenly has the power to reach everyone — except his own son. Stephen Belber’s sharp new play asks if there is anything more vital than the faith we have in one another. Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A. GeffenPlayhouse.com

Coachella
April 10-12, 17-19. Mega-popular music and arts festival in the desert. This year’s headliners are AC/DC, Jack White and Drake. Buzzworthy local bands on the bill include Fitz & the Tantrums and the Allah-Las. Three-day pass $375-$899. Camping pass $85. Empire Polo Club, 81-800 Avenue 51, Indio. coachella.com

Fleetwood Mac
April 10, 14. Reunited Fleetwood Mac makes its way to L.A. to play two dates at the refurbished “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood this month. Fans won’t want to miss Stevie Nicks and company’s On With the Show tour, as it marks Christine McVie’s return to the band. 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, 310.330.7300. fabulousforum.com

National Spa Week
April 13-19. Biannual event sees participating spas around the city offer signature treatments (massages, scrubs and facials that usually cost $100-$500) for just $50. Choose from Tikkun Holistic Spa in Santa Monica, Le Jolie Medi Spa in Studio City, Total Woman Gym + Spa locations across L.A. and more. See website for details. 212.352.8098. spaweek.com

Barry Manilow
April 14. The “Copacabana“ and “Mandy” crooner stops at Staples Center on his One Last Time! tour. Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Dave Koz opens. 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 213.742.7100. staplescenter.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
April 15-19. The program includes the West Coast premiere of Odetta choreographed by Matthew Rushing, After The Rain Pas de Deux choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, Uprising choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, Polish Pieces by Hans van Manen, Bad Blood by Ulysses S. Dove, plus Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, David Parson’s Caught, Aszure Barton’s LIFT, Ulysses S. Dove’s Episodes and Alvin Ailey’s Revelations. The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N Grand Ave., downtown. musiccenter.org

Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal
April 16-18. Following sold-out performances at The Wallis this past season, Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal returns with a new program, featuring “Zero in On” by Cayetano Soto, “Kosmos” by Andonis Fionadakis and “New Creation” by Rodrigo Pederneiras. An internationally renowned repertory company led by Artistic Director Louis Robitaille, BJM have continued to grow with their signature energy and spirit of exploration since their formation in 1972. Displaying its radiant and expressive style, BJM explores the creative side of contemporary trends while firmly committing to classical aesthetics in a unique style that often has an uplifting effect on the soul. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
April 17-19. Expect car races, concerts, car displays, rock-climbing walls, racing simulators and more fun family events, plus a lifestyle expo featuring green technology at this 41st annual event. Check website for schedule. One-day admission $30-$83. Three-day pass $77-$135. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 888.827.7333. gplb.com

The Music Center Presents PicnicLA
April 18. Just in time to get ready for National Picnic Day on April 23, The Music Center presents a giant picnic in the park that celebrates the picnicking experience. Grand Park visitors will enjoy their own picnics, share recipes and explore how those recipes reflect the heritage of Angelenos, create their own pop-up recipe books and more. Noon-4 p.m. 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown. grandparkla.org

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
April 18-19. Authors, celebrities, booksellers and readers mingle on the USC campus during this two-day celebration of the written word. Check website for lineup. Sa 10 am-6 pm, Su 10 am-5 pm. Free. Parking $10-$15. University of Southern California, Exposition Boulevard and Figueroa Street, L.A., events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks

SFJAZZ Collective
April 19. The SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star jazz ensemble comprising eight of the finest jazz performer/composers at work today. Their debut at The Wallis will pay tribute to legendary saxophonist and composer Joe Henderson, with a repertoire that spans Henderson’s illustrious career from the early Blue Note years through his resurgence on Verve Records in the 1990s. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

Igor Levit
April 21. Igor Levit has appeared in major concert halls and music festivals around the world, and has won several international awards, amongst them second prize at the International Maria Callas Grand Prix, Athens (2004), first prize at the International Piano Academy Competition in Hamamatsu (2004), silver medal and three awards at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv (2005) and the Luitpold Prize for young artists in Bad Kissingen (2009). For his Wallis debut, Igor Levit will perform Beethoven sonatas. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. thewallis.org

Hercules vs. Vampires
April 23-26. Technicolor opera slays bloodsuckers with song! L.A. Opera’s Hercules vs. Vampires combines opera and midcentury pop culture, synchronizing live music with a 1961 sword-and-sandal epic starring bodybuilder Reg Park: the cult fantasy film Hercules in the Haunted World. When the film’s actors open their mouths to speak, their lines are sung by vocalists from the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. The film follows Hercules on a Technicolor journey to rescue his beloved from a fiendish mastermind played by horror legend Christopher Lee. A new score by Patrick Morganelli complements Italian director Mario Bava’s gorgeously gaudy world. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.8001. laopera.org

Gregg Allman
April 24. The legendary singer-songwriter brings his rockin’ blues to the Roxy. 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.276.2222. theroxy.com

Brewery Artwalk
April 25-26. More than 100 artist studios at the former brewery open their doors for the 32nd anniversary of the twice-annual artwalk. The event offers goers the chance to see new works of art, speak with the artists and purchase works at non-commission studio prices. Dining available at the artwork and their on-site restaurant. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 2100 N Main St., downtown. breweryartwalk.com

Artisanal L.A.
April 25-26. Seasonal event draws vendors and aficionados of SoCal’s local, handmade and sustainable edibles. Shop food and home goods, then try your hand at creating during hands-on workshops. 11 am-6 pm. $12-$15. The Reef, 1933 S. Broadway, downtown. artisanalla.com

Dine L.A. Happy Hour Week
April 27-May 1. The popular twice-annual dining event expands with this inaugural event that showcases L.A.’s culinary and beverage scenes. Enjoy exclusive dishes and drinks from L.A.’s acclaimed chefs and bartenders. Choose from afternoon/evening or late-night options. See website for participating restaurants and bars. dinela.com

CONTINUING
Dunsinane
Through April 5. This 2010 play from David Greig—presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company—harks back to Old England with a story about a peace mission bound for Dunsinane Hill and a fierce queen unwilling to relinquish her throne. (photo KPO Photo) Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.746.4000. thewallis.org

Switzerland
Through April. 19. This new psychological thriller from playwright Joanna Murray-Smith makes its co-world premiere here with Sydney Theatre Company. Laura Linney stars as novelist Patricia Highsmith, whose career gets upended by a mysterious, handsome young man. Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, 310.208.5454. GeffenPlayhouse.com

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Through April 26. This live iteration of the classic rags-to-riches story is both romantic and hilarious in turns. The legendary creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific are behind the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which boasts an orchestra and classic songs—plus some twists on the classic story. (photo Carol Rosegg) Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org

Newsies
Through April 19. Disney’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical brings its high-energy fun to L.A. Based on true events, the crowd-pleasing play tells the story of a group of newspaper boys in New York who fight for what’s right and turn from underdogs into heroes (photo Deen van Meer). Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770. hollywoodpantages.com

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