Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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prominent and emerging writers. UCL A purchased the theater—which was originally
built as a M asonic temple in 1929, and later ser ved as the Westwood Playhouse—back
in 1995 with a little help fr om philanthropic entertainment mogul David Geffen. This
striking venue is often the West Coast choice of many acclaimed off-B roadway shows,
and also attracts locally based TV and mo vie actors eager for the immediacy of stage
work. One recent production featured the world pr emiere of
Wishful Drinking,
a poi-
gnant comedy written and per formed b y Carrie F isher. Always audience-friendly , the
Playhouse prices tickets in the $28 to $43 range.
You've probably already heard of the
Kodak Theatre,
6834 Hollywood Blvd. (
&
323/
308-6300;
www.kodaktheatre.com), home of the Academy Awards. The crown jewel of
the Hollywood & H ighland entertainment complex, this modern beauty hosts a wide
range of international performances, musicals, and concerts ranging from Alicia Keys and
David Gilmour to the Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet and Sesame Street Live. Guided tours
are given 7 days a week from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
The recently restored
Pantages Theatre,
6233 Hollywood Blvd. between Vine St. and
Argyle Ave. (
&
323/468-1770;
www.pantages-theater.com), reflects the full Ar t Deco
glory of L.A.'s theater scene. Opened in 1930, this historical and cultural landmar k was
the first Art Deco movie palace in the U.S. and site of the A cademy Awards from 1949
to 1959. The theater recently presented
Cats, Les Miserables,
and
Wicked.
Located at the foot of the Hollywood Hills, the 1,245-seat outdoor
John Anson Ford
Amphitheatre
(
&
323/461-3673;
www.fordamphitheater.org) is located in a county
regional park and is set against a backdrop of cypress trees and chaparral. It is an intimate
setting, with no patron more than 96 feet away fr om the stage. Music, dance, film, the-
ater, and family ev ents run May through September. An indoor theater , a cozy 87-seat
space that was extensiv ely renovated in 1998 and r enamed
[Inside] The Ford,
features
live music and theater year-round.
One of the most highly acclaimed pr ofessional theaters in L.A., the
Pasadena Play-
house,
39 S. El Molino Ave., near Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena (
&
626/356-7529;
www.
pasadenaplayhouse.org), is a registered California Historical Landmark that has served as
the training ground for many theatrical, film, and TV stars, including William Holden
and Gene Hackman.
For a schedule at any of the abo ve theaters, check the listings in
Los Angeles
magazine
(www.lamag.com), available at most ar ea newsstands, or the “Calendar ” section of the
Sunday
Los Angeles Times
(theguide.latimes.com); or call the bo x offices at the numbers
listed above.
Smaller Playhouses & Companies
On any given night, there's more live theater to choose from in Los Angeles than in New
York City, due in par t to the sur feit of r eady actors and writers chomping at the bit to
make it in Tinseltown. Many of today's familiar faces from film and TV spent plenty of
10
Tips
Great Theater, Cheap Tickets
Two hours before curtain time, the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum
offer specially priced $12 tickets that must be purchased in person at the box
office with cash. All performances are subject to availability, with restrictions.
