LA Theatre
A local's curated guide to what's playing in LA theatre right now and opening soon, from the Pantages to the Hollywood Bowl, with honest takes on what's worth your night. Updated as shows change.
Here’s what’s actually worth seeing on LA stages right now, and what’s opening in the next few weeks, with an honest take on each. It’s a curated list, not every listing in the county, and I keep it current as shows open and close. Use the filters to jump to a venue or see what’s playing tonight.
The biggest open theatre festival on the West Coast: 480+ uncurated shows across 30+ Hollywood venues, most tickets under $20. Comedy, drama, immersive, solo shows, and plenty that defies category.
Treat it like tapas, not a tasting menu. Buy the $5 button if you're seeing more than a couple shows, and go by reviews, not poster art.
Alicia Keys' semi-autobiographical, Tony-winning coming-of-age musical, built around more than 20 of her songs. It's a story, not a concert.
Our pick if you want a big, vocal-driven night out. Grab the $40 box-office rush if you can.
Pearl Cleage's sharp, soulful West Coast premiere comedy about art, activism, and aging, directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson.
The intimate, grown-up choice this month. The Geffen is a great room for a talky, well-acted play.
The LA Phil kicks off its 104th summer season with a Broadway gala: Thomas Wilkins conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, with Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Darren Criss, Renée Elise Goldsberry and more.
The most on-brand season opener for a theatre lover. Split a box with friends and picnic.
The ABBA jukebox blockbuster returns downtown, the ultimate feel-good singalong, for a four-week run.
Bring the group that wants to sing along, not sit in silence. The Mark Taper lottery next door is worth an entry too.
Cameron Mackintosh's revitalized production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, a limited seven-week summer engagement.
If you've somehow never seen it, this is the summer. Aim for center orchestra or front mezzanine for the chandelier moment.
Disney's newly reimagined 30th-anniversary production of the stage musical, the Menken-Ashman-Rice score plus the big set pieces ('Be Our Guest', the ballroom) with updated staging and effects. Close to a four-week run at the Pantages.
The family pick for late summer, and the easiest sell if you grew up on the 1991 film. Kids do fine up in the mezzanine where tickets run cheaper, but spring for the orchestra if you want the ballroom to land. Check the box-office rush before you pay online fees.
Nothing matches that filter right now.
I’m not trying to list everything. I’m pointing you at the shows worth planning around, at rooms I’d actually send a friend to. That means a mix: a buzzy touring musical, a smaller play with real acting, a big night under the stars. If something’s overhyped or the room fights the show, I’ll say so rather than pad the list.
Two things I weigh every time: is the production itself good, and is the venue the right place to see it? A play that sings at the Geffen might get swallowed by a barn, and a spectacle built for the Pantages loses something in a black box. Fit matters.
Once you’ve picked a show, the logistics are the easy part with the right guide:
For the full rundown on each room, browse all our LA venue guides.
Dates and lineups shift, and shows get added or extended all the time. I update this page as that happens, but always confirm the specific performance and on-sale details with the venue before you buy.
What’s playing at the Hollywood Pantages right now? Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys musical, runs through June 21, 2026, and The Phantom of the Opera takes over from June 24 through August 9, 2026. See our Pantages guide for the room and seating.
When does the Hollywood Bowl 2026 season start? The LA Phil’s summer season opens June 20, 2026 with a Best of Broadway gala. Our Hollywood Bowl guide covers seats, parking, and picnicking.
What’s a good play in LA this summer, not a big musical? Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous at the Geffen Playhouse (June 10 to July 12, 2026) is the grown-up, character-driven pick this month, a West Coast premiere by Pearl Cleage.
How often is this page updated? Regularly, as shows open and close. It’s a hand-curated list, so it reflects a real local’s read rather than an auto-generated feed. Confirm exact dates with the venue before booking.
