The hottest tickets in L.A. theater, classical music and more this fall

As a passionate admirer of classical music and contemporary art, I find the upcoming events in Los Angeles this fall to be absolutely thrilling! Let me share my thoughts on some of these exciting happenings.

1. Save the dates and secure your tickets, as the artistic community, though still recovering from the pandemic’s impact, is eagerly anticipating an exciting lineup of shows this fall. The new edition of PST, featuring over 70 exhibitions with a science focus, is taking center stage in museum and gallery schedules. We’ve highlighted our recommended picks in a separate guide and map for your convenience. Here, you’ll find a round-up of intriguing stage productions and concerts we’re keeping an eye on, along with an additional non-PST art event to add some variety.

THEATER

From September 4th to 29th, the Pasadena Playhouse will present “Cyrano de Bergerac,” a contemporary adaptation by Martin Crimp of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 French classic. Unlike the common association with an actor wearing a large nose, this play delves into the allure of language rather than physical appearance. This modern take on romantic drama is engagingly metatheatrical, transforming melodrama into a verbally captivating experience. Chukwudi Iwuji, who has starred in James Gunn’s blockbuster film “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and is an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company, will headline this production directed by Mike Donahue. As described by Charles McNulty.

From September 20th to October 13th, L.A.-based comedian Sam Morrison will be performing at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Morrison found love in Provincetown, a popular gay destination, but his partner tragically passed away from COVID during the pandemic, leaving him heartbroken. To cope with his grief, Morrison turned to comedy as a way to move forward. The upcoming show, which combines stand-up and solo performance, is a reflection of his mourning process. Oscar Wilde once said, “Life is too important to be taken seriously,” and perhaps he would have also found humor in death. — C.M.

From September 11th to October 21st, “Clarkston” by Samuel D. Hunter will be presented at the Atwater Village Theatre by the Echo Theater Company. Known for his emotionally resonant plays set in his native Idaho, Hunter’s work has garnered critical acclaim. His play, “The Whale,” was adapted into a film starring Brendan Fraser, who won an Oscar for his performance. “Clarkston” is a drama about two lost souls in the small town of Clarkston, Washington, which lies across the Snake River from Lewiston, Idaho. The production, under the direction of Chris Fields, artistic director of Echo Theater Company, promises to highlight Hunter’s ability to uncover the connections between where we live and our emotions. — C.M. (Paraphrased)

From September 11th to November 3rd, the play “Kill Move Paradise” will be staged at the Odyssey Theatre. This 2019 production by James Ijames, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his works like “Fat Ham”, presents a unique blend of existential themes reminiscent of Sartre’s “No Exit” and Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”. The story revolves around four Black men in an otherworldly waiting room, grappling with the absurdity and senselessness of their existence. Ijames, a writer who seamlessly integrates insightful social commentary with humorous irreverence, has crafted a thought-provoking piece that is sure to resonate with audiences familiar with his work, as evidenced by the Geffen Playhouse production of “Fat Ham”. Gregg T. Daniel, an experienced director in August Wilson’s ensemble dramas, will helm this Southern California premiere at the Odyssey Theatre. – C.M.

From October 2nd to November 10th, the Mark Taper Forum will restart its performances with a fresh take on “American Idiot,” a musical inspired by Green Day’s popular 2004 concept album that combined alternative rock and pop-punk to create a trendy sound on Broadway. This production marks Center Theatre Group artistic director Snehal Desai’s first venture into direction, collaborating with Deaf West Theatre, a group renowned for revitalizing musicals like “Big River” and “Spring Awakening.” The story unfolds during the turbulent post-9/11 era, embodying the spirit of youthful rebellion. As election season heats up, there couldn’t be a more fitting musical to spark political awareness and discussion. — C.M.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m excited to share my upcoming theater experience:

From October 13 to November 10, “The Piano Lesson” is being staged at A Noise Within, with Gregg T. Daniel directing. Daniel has previously drawn remarkable ensemble performances in his productions for A Noise Within, most notably with the challenging play “King Hedley II” last spring. In this production, he delves into one of August Wilson’s most significant works. Set in Pittsburgh during the 1930s, “The Piano Lesson” centers around a sibling disagreement over a piano, an antique family artifact that conceals secrets of the past and potentially holds the key to a more enlightened future. – C.M.

From October 15th to November 3rd, I’ll be immersing myself in the enchanting world of “Kimberly Akimbo” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. This Tony Award-winning musical, adapted from David Lindsay-Abaire’s play of the same name, is a captivating tale about a unique protagonist – Kimberly Levaco, a girl afflicted with a condition that speeds up her aging process. Before she can even experience adulthood, she finds herself transforming into an elderly woman.

From October 18th to 23rd, “Symphony of Rats” will be presented at REDCAT by two trailblazers of avant-garde theater, The Wooster Group. Directed by Elizabeth LeCompte and Kate Valk, this production is a reinterpretation of a play by Richard Foreman. Known for his distinctive aesthetic that mirrors the unconventionality of The Wooster Group, Foreman’s work serves as the foundation for this surreal show.

2023 Highlight: “Rising Salt Costs in Evanston,” a Performance at Rogue Machine Theatre

From November 6th to December 15th, “Waiting for Godot” will be staged at the Gil Cates Theater of the Geffen Playhouse. Starring Rainn Wilson (known for his role in NBC’s “The Office”) and Aasif Mandvi (formerly a correspondent on “The Daily Show”), this revival promises to add a modern touch of humor to Samuel Beckett’s absurdist classic. Although the plot may seem static, as “nothing happens, twice,” for theatergoers it becomes a profound experience as they witness Vladimir and Estragon passing their time in anticipation of the enigmatic Godot. Judy Hegarty Lovett directs this production featuring her husband, veteran Beckett actor Conor Lovett, who collaborates with Gare St Lazare Ireland, a company founded by the Lovetts to bring Beckett’s plays and prose to stages worldwide. — C.M.

From November 7th to December 1st, “Pacific Overtures” will be staged at David Henry Hwang Theater, and it’s a production that East West Players are particularly skilled in presenting due to their past successes with the musical works of Stephen Sondheim. This specific show, written by John Weidman, delves into a significant era of Japanese history when American ships led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry demanded trade with Japan in 1853. Known for its complexity and challenge to stage, East West Players possesses the expertise to bring this ambitious work to life. — C.M.

From November 12th to December 15th, experience the heartwarming musical “La Cage aux Folles” at the Pasadena Playhouse. In these challenging times filled with political upheaval, this Jerry Herman-Harvey Fierstein production consistently offers a compassionate boost. Adapted from Jean Poiret’s play, the show invites audiences to join Albin, the musical’s iconic drag queen protagonist, in singing the empowering anthem “I Am What I Am.” Directed by Sam Pinkleton, who recently staged the Broadway hit “Oh, Mary!”, this revival stars Cheyenne Jackson and Tony nominee Kevin Cahoon. The production is set to introduce “La Cage aux Folles” to a new generation. — C.M.

From November 21st-24th, “The Life and Times of Michael K,” presented at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, is a unique collaboration between Handspring Puppet Company (known for “War Horse”) and partners from Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. This adaptation transforms J.M. Coetzee’s Booker Prize-winning novel into a theatrical dialect. Led by director Lara Foot, who worked alongside Basil J.R. Jones and Adrian P. Kohler to adapt the work, this production seeks a multimedia spectacle. Fans of Handspring’s captivating puppetry will undoubtedly be enthralled by their interpretation of this contemporary fable about a humble man and his connection to South Africa. — C.M.

From December 10th to January 5th, the beloved musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress” will be playing at the Ahmanson Theatre, fresh from its Broadway run. This revival, which initially catapulted Carol Burnett’s career, now stars two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster. Given this stellar cast alone, it’s a must-see show!

CLASSICAL

On September 14, the “Three Voices” performance by the Resonate Collective at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles will take place. This piece by Morton Feldman is a moving tribute to the late painter Philip Guston, created in 1982 for the unique vocalist Joan La Barbara. The live performance includes three parts, with two of them prerecorded by La Barbara. The text is sparse, drawn from the poetry of another friend of Feldman who passed away, writer Frank O’Hara. Known for her exceptional vocal techniques, La Barbara delivers an hour-long performance filled with haunting, interwoven phrases that blend elements of a Requiem and a Kaddish. Several singers have attempted this challenging piece, and the latest will be Laurel Irene, known for her mastery of repetition, endurance, and resonance that induces a trance-like state. This event marks the beginning of the Resonate Collective’s new season. — Mark Swed

From September 21st to October 13th, the Los Angeles Opera will present “Madama Butterfly” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This production, originally from Teatro Real de Madrid in 2002, has been updated to a 1930s Hollywood film set to bring a fresh perspective to the opera’s themes of racial stereotyping.

On September 28th and October 4th through 6th, the highly acclaimed San Diego Symphony will be hosting a gala event and performing Mahler’s Second Symphony at the refurbished Jacobs Music Center. Under the dynamic leadership of Venezuelan music director Rafael Payare, this orchestra has been making waves in the classical music world. Their previous home, the Jacobs Music Center, was a renovated movie palace with poor acoustics housed within an uninspiring bank building. However, the Jacobs Music Center has now undergone an acoustic renovation, and the grand opening gala will serve as a trial run for this revamped venue. The orchestra, conductor, and hall will be put to the test with the performance of Mahler’s Second Symphony (“Resurrection”), a challenging piece that was used by Esa-Pekka Salonen to demonstrate the superiority of Walt Disney Concert Hall 21 years prior.

On October 1st and 4th, renowned soprano Julia Bullock will perform “Harawi,” a dramatic song cycle for soprano and piano that has captivated her for the last ten years. Originally written in 1946 by the young French composer Olivier Messiaen, who was recently freed from a Nazi prison camp, this hour-long work reinterprets Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde as exotic Peruvian lovers. In this piece, Messiaen started crafting an extraordinary new musical language to portray a love that transcends death. To break away from traditional song recital formats, Bullock invites daring and innovative artists from the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) to join her for these performances. On October 1st, the performance will take place at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, followed by a show on October 4th at UCSD’s Campbell Hall.

10th October marks the first visit to the West Coast by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the leadership of Edward Gardner. On this tour, two distinct programs will be performed. At the Soraya in Northridge on the 10th, talented young American violinist Randall Goosby will perform Samuel Barber’s nostalgically romantic American Violin Concerto, penned in 1939, just before World War II. For the following nights at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa and the Granada in Santa Barbara, the unconventional Moldovan violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja will take center stage with Shostakovich’s intensely Russian First Violin Concerto, composed eight years later, following the war. Both programs also include a new work by Tania León and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. — M.S.

12th and 15th November, find the Calidore String Quartet performing at Colburn.

The multimedia art exhibit titled “Lightscape,” by artist Doug Aitken, will be presented at both Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles. From November 16th to December, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Philharmonic will collaborate on this project, showcasing a dreamlike film featuring landscapes along the West Coast with original live music by Aitken. This performance will be conducted by Grant Gershon and will serve as the finale for this year’s L.A. Phil annual new-music event, “Noon to Midnight.” Afterward, the installation will move to the Marciano Art Foundation starting in December, featuring pop-up live performances.

On December 13th and 14th, Zubin Mehta will be conducting “Gurrelieder” at Disney Hall. This event coincides with the 150th birthday of Arnold Schoenberg, a resident of Los Angeles for the latter part of his life. Despite his significant impact on various music genres such as film, avant-garde, and jazz, he remains underappreciated by many audiences and music institutions. However, local groups and soloists have been making efforts to rectify this, and Zubin Mehta has consistently advocated for Schoenberg’s work. In conclusion of the L.A. Phil’s Schoenberg festival, Mehta will lead the grand, majestic “Gurrelieder” performance. — M.S.

VISUAL ARTS

This autumn, the most significant visual art narrative revolves around “PST Art: Art & Science Intersect,” formerly known as Pacific Standard Time. We have compiled a special guide featuring notable exhibitions and events from this extensive lineup, but another series at MOCA is worth keeping an eye on for fall as well.

From October 4th to November 16th, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo will play host to a variety of live events as part of Wonmi’s Warehouse programs. The series kicks off with “Build This House,” a tribute to ballroom culture jointly presented by the Banjee Ball Foundation. Additional events include collaborations between Ellen Fullman and Theresa Wong, Wild Up and Dynasty Handbag (the stage persona of artist Jibz Cameron).

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2024-08-29 13:32