ON STAGE & SCREEN

With summer right around the corner, many LA theater companies are announcing which shows will keep us entertained into next year and beyond. Since there are so many wonderful theater options out there in this great city, I wanted to do a round-up of some of the exciting shows we can expect moving forward.

Where: The Pantages Theater
What: Chicago* (4/26-5/1/2016), 42nd Street* (5/31-6/19/2016), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* (6/22-7/17/2016), Cabaret* (7/19-8/7/2016), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (11/1-11/27/2016), The King and I (12/13/2016-1/21/2017), Finding Neverland (2/21-3/12/2017), An American In Paris (3/22-4/9/2017), The Bodyguard (5/2-5/21/2017), The Book of Mormon (5/30-7/9/2017), Hamilton (8/11-12/30/2017)
How: Currently, tickets for the 2016-2017 season are only available as part of a season package. Tickets for individual shows will go on sale as each engagement gets closer.
I’m Most Excited For: Is this even a question?
*2015-2016 season remaining productions, not a part of the season packages mentioned.

Where: Center Theatre Group (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theatre)
What: At the Ahmanson: Grey Gardens* (7/6-8/14/2016), A View from the Bridge (9/7-10/16/2016), Amelie (12/4/2016-1/15/2017), Fun Home (2/21-4/1/2017), Into the Woods (4/4-5/14/2017), Jersey Boys (5/16-6/24/2017), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (8/2-9/10/2017). At the Taper: Disgraced (6/8-7/17/2016), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (8/31-10/16/2016), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (11/9-12/18/2016). At the Kirk Douglas: Endgame (4/24-5/22/2016). More to be announced.
How: The Ahmanson’s shows are currently available as part of season packages. You can also design your own package of shows, combining productions at all 3 CTG theaters.
I’m Most Excited For: Curious Incident is one of my favorite plays of recent years.
*2015-2016 season remaining productions, not a part of the season packages mentioned.

Where: The Hollywood Bowl 
What: Disney’s The Little Mermaid in Concert (6/3-6/4/2016), starring Sara Bareilles, Rebel Wilson, Tituss Burgess, and Darren Criss; plus this year’s annual fully staged, star-studded musical, A Chorus Line (7/29-7/31/2016, cast to be announced).
How: Tickets for The Little Mermaid are available now on Ticketmaster. Single tickets for A Chorus Line go on sale May 1st.
I’m Most Excited For: This is difficult, because A Chorus Line is one of my favorite musicals of all time, but I have learned the hard way that the Bowl often cannot be trusted with things I love.

Where: The Geffen Playhouse
What: In and Of Itself (5/3-6/26/2016), Big Sky (6/7-7/17/2016), Barbecue (9/6-10/16/2016), The Model Apartment (10/11-11/20/2016), Icebergs (11/8-12/18/2016), The Lion (1/4-2/19/2017), The Legend of Georgia McBride (1/4-2/19/2017), Constellations (6/6-7/16/2017)
How: Keep checking their website for more information as it becomes available.
I’m Most Excited For: This is a great season full of both world premieres and west coast premieres, but I specifically heard good things about Constellations when it was on Broadway.

Where: La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
What: The Little Mermaid (6/3-6/26/2016), American Idiot (4/29-5/15/2016), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (9/16-10/9/2016), Lend Me a Tenor (10/21-11/13/2016), The Last Five Years (1/20-2/12/2017), West Side Story (4/21-5/17/2017), Man of La Mancha (6/2-6/25/2017)
How: Some productions on sale now; keep checking their website for ticket info as it becomes available.
I’m Most Excited For: I have yet to see Hunchback, which I have heard just wonderful things about. Also, believe it or not I have never seen a stage production of The Last Five Years, a favorite show of mine.

Where: La Jolla Playhouse 
What: Hollywood (5/10-6/12/2016), They Don’t Talk Back (5/26-6/5/2016), The Last Tiger in Haiti (6/28-7/24/2016), JUNK: The Golden Age of Debt (7/26-8/21/2016), Tiger Style! (9/6-10/2/2016), Miss You Like Hell (10/25-11/27/2016), Freaky Friday (1/28-3/12/2017)
How: Visit their website for more information.
I’m Most Excited For: Freaky Friday is a new musical from Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, who won the Pulitzer for Next to Normal. With that pedigree, a Broadway transfer seems likely if the show is successful here.

Where: Odyssey Theatre Ensemble 
What: The Hairy Ape (May-July 2016), A Taste of Honey (September-November 2016), The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other (October-December 2016), Underneath (October-November 2016).
How: Tickets for The Hairy Ape and season packages are available now. For more info, visit their website.
I’m Most Excited For: I am not familiar with any of these works, but I am excited nonetheless.

Where: Echo Theater Company
What: Captain of the Bible Quiz Team (5/13-7/2/2016), One of the Nice Ones (7/9-8/14/2016), Blueberry Toas (9/17-10/23)
How: Keep an eye on their website for more info.
I’m Most Excited For: I am unfamiliar with these upcoming works, but I adored their current production, Dry Land, running through May 15th.

Where: Antaeus Theatre Company
What: Hedda Gabler (5/26-7/17/2016), more to be announced.
How: Tickets for Hedda Gabler currently available here.
I’m Most Excited For: The Antaeus’s upcoming season will be their first in their new, expanded home in Glendale, which will surely provide only more opportunities for them to continue doing great work.

Where: Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum
What: The following 5 plays will be performed in repertory during the summer of 2016: Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tom, The Imaginary Invalid, and Titus Andronicus.
How: Tickets for all productions are on sale now at their website.
I’m Most Excited For: This is such a unique venue, outside under the stars in Topanga Canyon. Any production here is a lovely summer experience.

I will update this post as more information becomes available. Also, make sure to check out the NoHo Arts District and the Hollywood Fringe Festival for more fantastic local options.

Reminder that I am also a critic for OnStage, and in addition to those published on this site, more of my reviews can be read here.

What are you most excited for this season? Also, if you feel something is missing from this list, feel free to contact me anytime!