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 this July, and what’s opening over the rest of the summer, 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 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. Read our take before you go.
Cameron Mackintosh's revitalized production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, a limited seven-week summer engagement.
Open now. 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.
The Tony-nominated Broadway musical of Sara Gruen's bestseller, a Depression-era love story set in a traveling circus, staged with real acrobatics and inventive puppetry for the animals.
The most visually inventive show on the fall Pantages slate. The circus staging is the whole point, so a wider view pays off here, lean front mezzanine over close orchestra. Single tickets may trail the season packages, so check availability before you plan around it.
The winner of four 2024 Tony Awards including Best Musical, adapted from S.E. Hinton's novel and the Coppola film. A gritty, physical, emotional staging with a score by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
The fall title I'm most excited about. If you read the book in school, go. It's the most substantial straight-up drama on the Pantages slate this year, and it hits harder up close, so lean orchestra or front mezzanine over the cheap seats for this one. Check the box-office rush and the Broadway in Hollywood app lottery before paying resale.
Nothing matches that filter right now.
Just after the big touring musicals? Here’s my full rundown of Broadway musicals in LA right now, grouped by what’s playing, what’s coming, and which ones are actually worth it.
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? The Phantom of the Opera is playing now through August 9, 2026, the redesigned Cameron Mackintosh production. See our Pantages guide for the room and seating, and our Phantom best-seats guide for where to sit. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast follows August 12.
When does the Hollywood Bowl 2026 season start? The LA Phil’s summer season opened June 20, 2026 and runs through the fall. Our Hollywood Bowl guide covers seats, parking, and picnicking.
What’s a good night out in LA this summer, not a big musical? Right now the big houses are all musicals, so for a different kind of night the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood is the room to watch for straight plays, and LA’s comedy clubs are the grown-up alternative that’s easy on the wallet. See our guide to the best comedy clubs in LA.
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.
