See a work of art come to life at the "Pageant of the Masters". This one-of-a-kind production, an Orange County tradition, uses real people to recreate classical and contemporary paintings down to the... [more+]

See a work of art come to life at the "Pageant of the Masters". This one-of-a-kind production, an Orange County tradition, uses real people to recreate classical and contemporary paintings down to the finest detail. As you take in the visual marvel, a narrator guides you through the story behind each work while a live orchestra sets the tone. This year's presentation, "The Grand Tour", recreates the experience of a time when there were virtually no public museums and people would go on artistic pilgrimages, traveling around Europe to see great works of art. Highlighting masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Tiepolo, Longhi, Watteau, Reynolds and Romney, as well as American artists like John Singer Sargent, "The Grand Tour" will take you on a whirlwind journey from Pompeii to a celebration of Carnival in Venice to the European tour of Buffalo Bill's "Wild West Show" to Paris in the Jazz Age. The special Celebrity Benefit evening on August 26th features performances by nine-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter/songwriter Herb Alpert and two-time Grammy winner Lani Hall. Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Bryan Cranston draws the winning ticket for a 2018 Acura TLX and introduces a special performance of the 2017 Pageant of the Masters. [less-]

With incredible hip-hop dancing, a contemporary Latin-flavored score and a story from Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of the hit Broadway show "Hamilton"), "In the Heights" made a huge splash on Broadway,... [more+]

With incredible hip-hop dancing, a contemporary Latin-flavored score and a story from Lin-Manuel Miranda (creator of the hit Broadway show "Hamilton"), "In the Heights" made a huge splash on Broadway, scoring the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical and winning over audiences with its fresh-faced charm and vibrant music. This Musical Theatre West production takes you on an exhilarating theatrical journey into the lives of the residents of the Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City -- a place where the coffee from Usnavi's corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the scent of impending change. Don't miss this pre-sale opportunity to see this vibrant musical at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. [less-]

Over the course of one monumentally tense afternoon, a dozen ordinary citizens decide the fate of a teenager alleged to have murdered his own father. What initially appears to be an open-and-shut case... [more+]

Over the course of one monumentally tense afternoon, a dozen ordinary citizens decide the fate of a teenager alleged to have murdered his own father. What initially appears to be an open-and-shut case proves to be anything but, as passions are ignited and prejudices are revealed. Maybe the most famous legal drama ever written, Reginald Rose's original play inspired an Oscar-nominated film and several other acclaimed adaptations. Now, the latest version of the classic "12 Angry Men" comes to the stage at the Laguna Playhouse. [less-]

Adapted from John Carney's motion picture musical, "Once" tells the story of a Dublin street musician ready to give up on his dreams when he meets a Czech flower seller intrigued by his haunting love ... [more+]

Adapted from John Carney's motion picture musical, "Once" tells the story of a Dublin street musician ready to give up on his dreams when he meets a Czech flower seller intrigued by his haunting love songs. As the two become rooted in romance -- despite both having significant others -- their musical notes dig even deeper in this heartfelt tale of love and struggle. Played by Glen Hasard and Marketa Irglova of the Swell Season, the team also composed the Grammy-nominated soundtrack, whose single "Falling Slowly" won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song. Don't miss this beloved musical when it comes to the Segerstrom Stage at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. [less-]

An off-Broadway hit adapted from John Gray's iconic book, this one-man show version of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" builds on the success of the book, which sold more than 50 million copi... [more+]

An off-Broadway hit adapted from John Gray's iconic book, this one-man show version of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" builds on the success of the book, which sold more than 50 million copies. Fusing theater, stand-up comedy and a dash of sage wisdom, this show delivers a hilarious take on the age-old battle of the sexes. The lighthearted theatrical comedy makes its way to the City National Grove of Anaheim to cover everything from dating and marriage to what goes on in the bedroom. [less-]

Some of the most memorable music in theater history comes to the stage of the Mysterium Theater at The La Habra Depot Playhouse with Cole Porter's classic "Anything Goes". This boy-meets-girl roller c... [more+]

Some of the most memorable music in theater history comes to the stage of the Mysterium Theater at The La Habra Depot Playhouse with Cole Porter's classic "Anything Goes". This boy-meets-girl roller coaster ride centers on Billy Crocker, a young Wall Street broker who falls hopelessly in love with a wealthy heiress. When he sees her boarding a boat to London, he throws caution to the wind and becomes a stowaway. Craziness ensues when fellow passengers -- including evangelist-turned-nightclub-singer Reno Sweeney and second-rate gangster Moonface Martin -- decide to help Billy win his true love. Showcasing Porter's signature wit and masterful composition skills, the musical features timeless tunes like "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top" and, of course, the title track. [less-]

"PAW Patrol" is on a roll with its hit live tour! It's the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay's Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom's Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to... [more+]

"PAW Patrol" is on a roll with its hit live tour! It's the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay's Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom's Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to be found. PAW Patrol to the rescue! Ryder summons Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Everest to rescue Mayor Goodway and run the race in her place. Using their unique skills and teamwork, the pups show that "no job is too big, no pup is too small," and share lessons for all ages about citizenship, social skills and problem-solving as they make several heroic rescues on their race to the finish line. Bring the whole family and join the adventure at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. [less-]

Spend a cool, summer evening outside with a beer and a show at The Plaza at Ehlers Event Center in Buena Park. A pioneering rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar" retells the last seven days in the life... [more+]

Spend a cool, summer evening outside with a beer and a show at The Plaza at Ehlers Event Center in Buena Park. A pioneering rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar" retells the last seven days in the life of the social and political rebel Jesus of Nazareth through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Chart-topping songs such as "Everything's Alright," "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and the high-octane title number highlight the struggles of Jesus' final days before his crucifixion. Don't miss this righteous and explosive rock musical -- filled with the unforgettable tunes of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice -- live on stage. [less-]

"A Night with Janis Joplin" is a blues-rock theatrical event that captures the legendary singer's life and legacy with all of the live intensity of an actual Joplin concert. Powered by showstopping hi... [more+]

"A Night with Janis Joplin" is a blues-rock theatrical event that captures the legendary singer's life and legacy with all of the live intensity of an actual Joplin concert. Powered by showstopping hits like "Cry Baby," "Piece of My Heart," "Me and Bobby McGee," "Summertime" and "Mercedes Benz," as well as a song Joplin never formally recorded, the show brings Joplin's story to the stage while also saluting some of her famous musical influences, including Bessie Smith, Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Catch this soulful, no-holds-barred tribute to one of rock music's greatest performers at the Laguna Playhouse in Orange County. [less-]

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" provides a colorful twist on the Old Testament tale of Joseph, whose father gives him a gorgeous multi-hued cloak as a gift. Green with envy over the gar... [more+]

"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" provides a colorful twist on the Old Testament tale of Joseph, whose father gives him a gorgeous multi-hued cloak as a gift. Green with envy over the garment, Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery, and he ends up in Egypt, where he manages to rescue the country from famine, with a little help from an Elvis-esque pharaoh. A multiple Tony nominee when it first appeared on stage, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" features a lively mix of musical styles, ranging from country and rock to hip-hop and even calypso. Catch all the dazzling color and delightful songs at Musical Theatre Village in Irvine. [less-]

Keith David is famous for acting in films like "Platoon", "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", "Armageddon", "Men at Work" and "They Live", but he can also sing, and you'll appreciate his pipes when he takes you on ... [more+]

Keith David is famous for acting in films like "Platoon", "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", "Armageddon", "Men at Work" and "They Live", but he can also sing, and you'll appreciate his pipes when he takes you on a swinging journey through the life and music of Nat King Cole. With charming songs like "Unforgettable," "Mona Lisa" and "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" Cole knew just how to croon and wheel true romance into an evening. Experience his legacy through song and story when David takes the stage at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. [less-]

What does it take to create a new piece of musical theater in the 21st century? Take a peek behind the curtain with "The Magic of Making Musicals". Broadway's Pamela Winslow Kashani ("Into to the Wood... [more+]

What does it take to create a new piece of musical theater in the 21st century? Take a peek behind the curtain with "The Magic of Making Musicals". Broadway's Pamela Winslow Kashani ("Into to the Woods", "Beauty and the Beast") and other dynamic musical theater performers will bring to life songs and stories from more than a dozen musicals currently in development through Apples and Oranges Arts' THEatre ACCELERATOR program, which helps fast-track new Broadway entertainment. Get in on the ground floor and watch a musical being built at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. [less-]

It's a tale too preposterous to be anything but true: Teenager Frank Abagnale practiced medicine without attending medical school, practiced law without attending law school and flew jets for PanAm wi... [more+]

It's a tale too preposterous to be anything but true: Teenager Frank Abagnale practiced medicine without attending medical school, practiced law without attending law school and flew jets for PanAm without ... well, you get the point. Abagnale's thrill-a-minute deceptions have inspired a best-selling book, a blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg and a celebrated Broadway musical. Now you can see "Catch Me If You Can" at the Attic Community Theater in Santa Ana. Using charm, imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks to create his ideal future, Abagnale successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer -- and wins the girl of his dreams -- before FBI agent Carl Hanratty finally catches up to him. [less-]

Prepare to take flight on a magic carpet ride and discover a whole new world filled with plenty of humor, whimsy and pop tunes when "Aladdin and His Winter Wish" soars into Laguna Playhouse for the th... [more+]

Prepare to take flight on a magic carpet ride and discover a whole new world filled with plenty of humor, whimsy and pop tunes when "Aladdin and His Winter Wish" soars into Laguna Playhouse for the third year in a row. Produced in the style of a classic British Yuletide panto, which traditionally takes a well-known fairy tale and gives it a wacky, melodramatic makeover," Aladdin and His Winter Wish" updates the classic tale from "Arabian Nights" with plenty of singing, dancing and audience participation, along with modern pop songs from One Direction, Right Said Fred and Earth Wind and Fire. Bring the whole family and enjoy this fun holiday tradition. [less-]

Mistaken identities, outrageous plot twists, slapstick comedy and a slew of self-obsessed performers desperately trying to keep things from falling apart: It's all in a day's work for master of the pe... [more+]

Mistaken identities, outrageous plot twists, slapstick comedy and a slew of self-obsessed performers desperately trying to keep things from falling apart: It's all in a day's work for master of the period-perfect farce Ken Ludwig ("Lend Me a Tenor"). In this fast-paced comedy set in Buffalo in 1953, a husband-and-wife acting team with a crumbling marriage struggle to keep their repertory ensemble together long enough to allow famed director Frank Capra to see them perform. But with a pregnant ingenue, a drunk leading man and a surprise visit from their daughter, things quickly go horribly -- and hilariously -- wrong. Catch this delightful comedy at STAGEStheatre in Fullerton. [less-]

The most thankless job in theater takes center stage in Theresa Rebeck's bitingly funny play about a Hollywood action star who attempts to become a serious actor by starring in a Franz Kafka play on B... [more+]

The most thankless job in theater takes center stage in Theresa Rebeck's bitingly funny play about a Hollywood action star who attempts to become a serious actor by starring in a Franz Kafka play on Broadway, only to be further tested by an understudy with a huge chip on his shoulder who's also got a complicated romantic past with the stage manager. Pulitzer Prize-nominee Rebeck, the creator and producer of the NBC show "Smash", and one of the most produced female playwrights in America, wrote this off-Broadway hit that looks at all the genius, bitterness and ridiculousness underscoring a life in showbiz. The Modjeska Playhouse brings this Lake Forest premiere to Orange County. [less-]

Few battles in U.S. history are as infamous as Gettysburg. Widely considered the turning point in the Civil War, the bloody conflict was brought to vivid life in Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winnin... [more+]

Few battles in U.S. history are as infamous as Gettysburg. Widely considered the turning point in the Civil War, the bloody conflict was brought to vivid life in Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Killer Angels", which drew on the diaries and letters of those who were there. Now, Brian Newell, founder of Fullerton's Maverick Theater, brings Shaara's novel to the stage in an intimate production that focuses on several characters who find themselves caught up in the middle of our nation's greatest crisis. [less-]

"Spring Awakening" took Broadway by storm when it debuted, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Punctuated by an electrifying and hauntingly beautiful rock score co-written by "Barely Br... [more+]

"Spring Awakening" took Broadway by storm when it debuted, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Punctuated by an electrifying and hauntingly beautiful rock score co-written by "Barely Breathing" pop mastermind Duncan Sheik, "Spring Awakening" follows a group of teenagers as they navigate the confusing and often troubled waters of adolescence and their budding sexuality. Based on an expressionist play that caused a scandal in 1891 Germany, this bold, touching musical at La Habra Depot Playhouse captures the timeless and turbulent experience of transitioning from youth to adulthood. The characters in this Mysterium Theater production grapple with issues like teen suicide, pregnancy and identity -- tough topics that remain as relevant as ever. [less-]

Last season's hit comic opera returns to Garden Grove, bringing with them a swashbuckling good time filled with pirates, damsels in distress and mayhem. Lovably zany and filled with hummable tunes, "T... [more+]

Last season's hit comic opera returns to Garden Grove, bringing with them a swashbuckling good time filled with pirates, damsels in distress and mayhem. Lovably zany and filled with hummable tunes, "The Pirates of Penzance" follows young pirate's apprentice Frederic who's about to turn 21 and complete his term of servitude. Only one snag: He was born on a leap year, which means he's technically only had five birthdays to date -- and won't have his 21st until he's 84. Will he ever be free? Will he win the hand of the (supposedly) beautiful Mabel? Find out as Shakespeare Orange County brings back one of the funniest musicals of all time to The Strawberry Bowl. [less-]

Experience the words of William Shakespeare set to a modern musical score in this updated adaptation of the world's most beloved romantic tragedy. Bear C.A. Sanchez directs the classic tale of two you... [more+]

Experience the words of William Shakespeare set to a modern musical score in this updated adaptation of the world's most beloved romantic tragedy. Bear C.A. Sanchez directs the classic tale of two young lovers caught up in the feud between their families -- a feud that leads to catastrophic results. With a modern setting and a fabulous score, this is the perfect outdoor summer theater production. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and watch the drama unfold from the lawn of the historical Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary. [less-]