Live theater is a thriving culture of story, song, and dance. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, theaters were forced to shut down out of caution while virus rates surged. Live theater performances ceased, causing a decrease in revenue of 36.6% for the live theater industry.
Now that the COVID-19 pandemic of the last two years is finally ending, live California theater performances are starting again. Once again, patrons can return to in-person live performances.
Wondering where to go to see the best live California theater performances? There are many great theaters in California for seeing live stage plays and performances. Read this guide to discover more information, as well as upcoming events.
The Pantages Theater
The Hollywood Pantages Theater is a beautiful art deco California theater in Hollywood, CA. The 2,703-seat theater was built in 1930 and has a prosperous 92 years of iconic stage plays and theater performances.
After recently closing its revised run of the Broadway smash-hit “Hamilton” in March, The Pantages Theater is gearing up for its next big show “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” starting June 30 through September 4, 2022.
Upcoming shows include “Stomp!” playing June 7- 11, 2022, and the Alanis Morissette-inspired rock musical “Jagged Little Pill” playing September 13-October 2, 2022.
The Dolby Theater
The Dolby Theater, originally built as a hub to host the Oscar Awards in 2001, sits within the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, CA. This California theater has partnered with The Pantages Theater to expand its capacity for live theater performances and stage plays.
The Dolby Theater will host the L.A. Premiere of “Hairspray” on May 2nd running through May 21, 2023.
The Ahmanson Theater
The Ahmanson Theater is part of The Music Center, a larger collective of performing arts venues in the heart of Los Angeles, CA, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Ahmanson Theater was built in 1967 and is a 2,084-seat capacity venue.
Within the Ahmanson Theater complexes are the Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas Theater.
Currently, the Ahmanson Theater is featuring “The Prom” runs August 9-September 11, 2022.
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is a California theater located in the greater Music Center collective in Los Angeles. Built-in 1964, it is a 4-level 3,200-seat capacity theater for theater performances, primarily symphony, opera, and ballet productions.
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is currently hosting the Los Angeles Opera: Otello through June 04th, 2023.
The Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse, built-in 1929, is a California theater in Los Angeles, originally built as a Masonic clubhouse for UCLA students. There are the Gil Cates Theater, a 512-seat intimate venue for live plays, and the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, a 149-seat venue for theater performances.
The Geffen has the 60th Anniversary of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” running April 19 through May 29, 2022, at The Gil Cates Theater At Geffen Playhouse. Other upcoming events include “A Wicked Soul In Cherry Hill,” running June 21-July 24, 2022.
The Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a 661-seat capacity California theater built-in 1929. The Pasadena Playhouse is known for its star-driven plays, having just recently closed its “Power of Sail” production starring ‘Breaking Bad renowned actor Bryan Cranston.
As part of its upcoming events, The Pasadena Playhouse features “Uncle Vayna” June 1-June 26, 2022, along with “Freestyle Love Supreme” July 12-August 7, 2022.
The Pasadena Playhouse will also host a Scene Study Intensive with Alfred Molina from June 27-July 22, 2022, as part of their 4-week learning course.
The Old Globe Theater
The Old Globe Theater is a California theater located in beautiful San Diego. It was constructed in 1935 to resemble the original Old Globe Theater started by none other than William Shakespeare as a theater-in-the-round stage design.
The Old Globe also has the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, a 620-seat outdoor stage used for outdoor Shakespeare plays during the Summer. The intimate 225-seat Cassius Carter Centre Stage is a venue for experimental theater performances.
Currently, the 580-seat capacity Old Globe Theatre features “Bob Fosse’s Dancin'” through June 5 and “Mala” (in Spanish) through June 12.
Some of their upcoming events include “Freestyle Love Supreme” June 21-July 10, “Dial M for Murder” July 21-August 21, and “The Taming of the Shrew” June 5- July 10.
The Orpheum Theatre
For those in San Francisco, the Orpheum Theatre is a historic California theater built in 1926 and located in the Civic Center. It has a 2,203-seat capacity.
The Orpheum Theater’s upcoming events include “An Evening With Neil Degrasse Tyson” on May 20, 2022, “Hadestown” the musical running June 7-July 3, 2022, and “The Australian Pink Floyd Show” on August 11, 2022.
Their 2022-2023 season officially starts on September 7, 2022, with “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” which runs through November 6, 2022.
Golden Gate Theatre
The Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco is also a historic theater in the Market Street Theatre and Loft District. It was initially built in 1922 as a vaudeville house and movie theater. It was restored as a performing arts venue for theater performances and live plays in 1979 and has a 2,200-seat capacity.
A limited run of the musical “CATS” will play June 1-5, 2022 in the Golden Gate Theatre.
“Weird Al” Yankovic takes the stage with his The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour, playing June 15th and 16th, 2022. This is followed by the Ben Folds: In Actual Person Live for Real Tour on June 18, 2022
“The Prom” starts July 21-July 17, 2022, and “Oklahoma!” plays from August 16-September 11, 2022.
Buy Tickets for California Theater Stage Plays and Live Performances at Barry’s Tickets
Now that you know where to go to see stage plays and live performances at top California theater venues, you’ll want to know where to find the best tickets. The answer is simple. Barry’s Tickets.
Barry’s Tickets has all of the best premium resale tickets. You’ll receive your valid tickets in plenty of time before your event, or we’ll replace your tickets with ones of equal or better value. Our Barry’s Tickets Guarantee means you’ll receive a 100% full refund if your event is canceled, so you can have peace of mind.
Contact Us today with any questions or concerns.
