Sierra Madre Playhouse

The Lunar New Year series at Sierra Madre Playhouse wraps with the launch of Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism, a new non-fiction book for middle-grade readers by author/performance artist/comedian/activist Kristina Wong (Beaming Books, April 2026), on Saturday, April 18, 2026, 2 pm. In this fresh work, Wong, through her trademark blend of sharp wit, heartfelt insight, and grassroots storytelling, has created a guide to help young readers learn how to practice self-care, fight for social justice, and be proud of the history that's made them who they are. She draws upon her own celebrated body of theatrical and social-practice work to explore community care, collective power, and the long legacy of Asian American activism. Wong discusses the inspiration behind the book, shares passages and reflections, and opens the floor for audience questions and connection.
For tickets ($35; includes book) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: Sierra Madre Playhouse Wraps Lunar New Year Programming with Book Launch, 4/18

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Sierra Madre

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Sierra Madre Playhouse Wraps Lunar New Year...

The Lunar New Year series at Sierra Madre Playhouse wraps with the launch of Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American...

Sierra Madre Playhouse Wraps Lunar New Year Programming with Book Launch, 4/18

Sierra Madre Playhouse presents the highly anticipated North American premiere of One Million Words – Rilke, a hit solo show inspired by the groundbreaking work of poet Rainer Maria Rilke created by and starring Ivo Müller, with six performances April 24, 25, 26 and May 1, 2, 3, 2026. Müller portrays both an actor from the present and a poet from the past who connect, exploring creativity, belonging, and what it means to stay grounded in a fast-moving world. Originally developed in Brazil, the show arrives in California during the centennial of Rilke’s passing (1875-1926), before heading to its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Directed by Arieta Corrêa, with Darrell Larson co-directing the English-language version, One Million Words - Rilke, tells the story of a writer who, for nearly a year, struggles to create poetry and can only express himself through letters. An actor uses these letters to navigate his own challenges in a place where even his name feels foreign, shaking the foundations of his identity. Together, the poet and the actor explore themes of love, the creative process, and a sense of not belonging, highlighting the importance of being grounded in the present moment, topics that resonate deeply in today's world.
“As we grapple with wars, violence, and the devastating impact of human suffering, Rilke’s words serve as an antidote to the chaos,” states Müller. “His ability to articulate the depths of human emotion provides a much-needed refuge amid the challenges of modern life. This show illuminates the human experience, reminding us of our shared vulnerabilities, even as we navigate a landscape that feels increasingly divided.”
Theatre Beyond Broadway proclaims, One Million Words – Rilke is “a masterful meditation on art, life, and the yearning for quiet in a chaotic world.”
An English-language version of the production was initially workshopped at New York City’s Torn Page in 2025. LA’s Odyssey Theatre presents a second workshop of the play on its works-in-progress series, Thresholds of Invention, on March 29, 2026, just prior to its North American premiere at Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who wrote in German, is widely regarded as a master of verse, helping to create a new form of lyrical poetry, short poems reflecting personal feelings and emotions. According to the Poetry Foundation, Rilke “was unique in his efforts to expand the realm of poetry through new uses of syntax and imagery and in an aesthetic philosophy that rejected religious precepts and strove to reconcile beauty and suffering, life and death.” The literary website The Marginalian notes, “Long before modern psychologists extolled the creative benefits of melancholy, Rilke explored the value of sadness as a clarifying force for our own interior lives.”
Ivo Müller is a stage and screen actor whose work spans Europe, the US, and his native Brazil. His stage credits include a production of Twelve Angry Men with leading Brazilian theatre company Grupo Tapa, in addition to his long-running hit solo performance based on the writings of Rainer Maria Rilke. Müller’s cinematic work includes Tabu, the multi-award-winning Portuguese film directed by Miguel Gomes, which received the Critics’ Best Picture Award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2012. Müller has worked with major studios such as HBO, Sony, and Globo TV. His recent credits include Hebe: The Brazilian Star (2019), in which he portrayed an AIDS-stricken hairdresser in the biopic about a celebrated Brazilian television host, and Night Stage, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025. Alongside his acting career, Müller also served as a teacher and acting coach on the award-winning documentary film Cine Marrocos (2019), collaborating with homeless people and refugees living in an abandoned movie theatre in São Paulo. Other stage credits include Stitching by Anthony Neilson, Huis Clos (No Exit) by Jean-Paul Sartre, The Widows by Arthur Azevedo, Camaraderie by August Strindberg, Bitter Sicilian by Luigi Pirandello, and Hecuba by Euripides.
For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: "One Million Words – Rilke," Solo Show Based on Work by Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Has US Premiere

"One Million Words – Rilke," Solo Show Based on...

Sierra Madre Playhouse presents the highly anticipated North American premiere of One Million Words – Rilke, a hit solo show...

"One Million Words – Rilke," Solo Show Based on Work by Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Has US Premiere

Master storyteller Carl Weintraub, hailed for “his high-energy physicality and his gift for including the audience” (Los Angeles Times), takes the stage at Sierra Madre Playhouse with his family-friendly solo show “Breadcrumbs Along the Trail” on Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11:00 AM.
The storytelling performance includes a collection of folk tales, fables and stories that nourish and enchant, with Weintraub bringing each character to life with humor, voice and movement. Stories include ”The Robin and the Crow,” a Russian tale about the paths we choose; Weintraub’s version of “Hansel and Gretel,” which melds various versions of the story into a compelling coming of age parable; and “The Ballad of the Simple Man,” a Ukrainian story for which a young audience member will be selected to play the title role.
Stories, like breadcrumbs, offer wisdom and nourishment to receive and share along the trail of life. They help us learn, grow, and explore the mysteries around us. The tales in “Breadcrumbs Along the Trail” guide audiences along paths forged by others, offering inspiration, insight, and kernels of knowledge while encouraging reflection on choices, consequences, and the shared human experience.
With his trademark warmth, theatrical skill, and deep respect for the oral tradition, Weintraub weaves an experience that entertains, enlightens, and invites reflection.
Weintraub has been creating and performing theatre for young audiences for more than four decades. The founder and artistic director of the We Tell Stories theatre for young audience company, he was the first recipient of the Los Angeles PASA Award for life achievement in professional artistry in schools. He has performed at such theatres as The Old Globe in San Diego and the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and in numerous movies and prime-time television roles.
For tickets ($15) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: Master Storyteller Presents Family-Friendly Program at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Master Storyteller Presents Family-Friendly...

Master storyteller Carl Weintraub, hailed for “his high-energy physicality and his gift for including the audience” (Los...

Master Storyteller Presents Family-Friendly Program at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Ecos de España celebrates the vibrant spirit of Spain with a compelling program of Spanish classical and flamenco music and dance on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 11:00 AM, at the historic Sierra Madre Playhouse. The family-friendly presentation is suitable for children and adults of all ages.
Dancer Susana Elena kicks off the performance with a lighthearted flamenco “Garrotín,” performed with a Spanish Cordobés hat. Incorporating drama, elegance and power, Spanish classical dancer Albertossy Espinoza performs “Paso Doble,” the dance of the bullfight. Classical guitarist Almer Imamovic plays a selection of the timeless compositions created for the Spanish guitar. Additionally, renowned international flamenco guitar and dance duo, Paco and Yolanda Arroyo, celebrate Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca with heartrending original choreography performed to his poem, “Nana del Caballo Grande.”
Ecos de España educates as it entertains. The artists briefly introduce each number as well as invite audience participation in various ways during the performance. Afterwards, audience members are welcomed onstage to meet the artists, take an introductory Spanish castanet class, learn basic flamenco dance steps or better understand classical and flamenco guitar technique.
¡Olé! ¡Viva la fiesta!
For tickets ($25) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: Ecos de España Performs Spanish Classical and Flamenco Music and Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Ecos de España Performs Spanish Classical and...

Ecos de España celebrates the vibrant spirit of Spain with a compelling program of Spanish classical and flamenco music and...

Ecos de España Performs Spanish Classical and Flamenco Music and Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Zipper Concert Hall

The esteemed international chamber music collective Camerata Pacifica caps its 36th season with the highly anticipated California premiere of Dimitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15, Op.144, arranged by Viktor Derevyanko for piano trio and percussion, May 14-19, 2026, in Los Angeles, San Marino, Santa Barbara, and Thousand Oaks. This is just the fifth performance in the western hemisphere of the 47-minute arrangement, which Shostakovich himself approved. Premiered in 1972 in Moscow, it is considered an alluring textural and rhythmic alternative to Shostakovich’s original. The Fifteenth Symphony, the composer’s final symphonic work, is regarded as a summation of Shostakovich’s remarkable artistry, blending “a hard-earned gravity with the buoyant spirit of youth” (The Wall Street Journal). Featured artists include Grace Park, violin; Ani Aznavoorian, cello; Gilles Vonsattel, piano; and percussionists Ji Hye Jung, Ayano Kataoka, Svet Stoyanov, and Jason Treuting.
The chamber music program is presented on Thursday, May 14, 8:00 pm, Zipper Hall in Downtown Los Angeles; Friday, May 15, 2026, 7:00 pm, at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West; Sunday, May 17, 3:00 pm, at Thousand Oaks’ Janet and Ray Scherr Forum; and Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino.
Additional highlights include the season’s final “Beethoven 32” offering with Principal Piano Gilles Vonsattel performing the Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2, a masterpiece that helped cement Beethoven’s reputation as one of the most important composers of his era. Camerata Pacifica’s “Beethoven 32” is a three-year Beethoven cycle that launched last fall featuring Vonsattel on all 32 of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas.
Two contemporary works spotlighting percussion round out the repertoire. The featured percussionists add rhythmic joy to Belgian composer Thierry De Mey's fascinating Musique de Table for which the artists “play” small tables as their only instruments.
The percussionists also join violinist Grace Park for Kenji Bunch’s Transcontinental for Violin and Percussion Quartet. Bunch has earned a reputation as one of America’s most engaging, influential, and prolific composers, with genre-defying music that has been performed on six continents and by more than seventy American orchestras.
For tickets ($35/$75 at The Huntington, Music Academy of the West, and Zipper Hall; $48.25/$94.40, including fees, at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum) and information, visit <a href="https://www.cameratapacifica.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">cameratapacifica.org.</a>

Local Event: Camerata Pacifica Gives CA Premiere of Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony

Camerata Pacifica Gives CA Premiere of...

The esteemed international chamber music collective Camerata Pacifica caps its 36th season with the highly anticipated...

Camerata Pacifica Gives CA Premiere of Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony

Sierra Madre Playhouse mounts Will &amp; Company’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:00 AM. Lively and engaging, this 45-minute version, filled with visual flair, takes the audience on a spirited romp through the woods into a world of enchantment filled with fairies, mischief, and magic. The family-friendly show is geared for children and adults of all ages.
In this whimsical tale of entangled worlds, four people get lost in a mystical forest near ancient Athens. The mischievous spirit Puck intervenes, and although chaos and romantic mix ups ensue, the story culminates with a glorious triple wedding. Audience participation is woven throughout the action.
Will &amp; Company is a critically acclaimed multicultural theatre ensemble with a “Professional Designation in Arts Education” award from the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, and recognition for “Excellence in Theatre” award by the State of California. The company performs adaptations of some of the world's greatest classic literature by Shakespeare, Homer, Dickens, and others. Also, critically acclaimed nationally for touring original works highlighting diversity and social justice issues, Will &amp; Company is the recipient of two NAACP Awards, and was nominated for a GLAAD Award.
For tickets ($20) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Adapted for All Ages Comes to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Adapted...

Sierra Madre Playhouse mounts Will & Company’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream on...

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Adapted for All Ages Comes to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jodi Seigel, acclaimed for her smokey vocals and masterful slide guitar, presents her gritty groove-forward blend of blues, R&amp;B, soul, and jazz on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic Sierra Madre Playhouse.
The Chicago native performs music from her latest album, Wild Hearts. Filled with emotional depth and musical craftsmanship, the album’s songs exude an undeniable down-home elegance. On stage with her band, Siegel commands both the solo spotlight and the collective energy of a tight ensemble with her blistering guitar lines, rich vocals, strong songwriting and seamless transitions across musical styles.
Seigel, now based in LA, has built a career opening for legends like Albert King and Robert Cray, and writing songs that have been recorded by Maria Muldaur, Marcia Ball, and Teresa James.
For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit <a href="https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sierramadreplayhouse.org.</a> Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Local Event: Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Jodi Siegel Brings R&B, Soul & Jazz to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Jodi Siegel Brings...

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jodi Seigel, acclaimed for her smokey vocals and masterful slide guitar, presents her gritty...

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Jodi Siegel Brings R&B, Soul & Jazz to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Pacific Jazz Orchestra (PJO) presents “Miles &amp; Trane at 100,” a powerful tribute to two of the most influential figures in jazz – trumpeter Miles Davis and saxophonist John Coltrane – on Thursday, May 28, 2026, 7:30 pm, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. The seminal artists, who were both born in 1926, would have turned 100 this year.
Noted guest artists Sean Jones, trumpet, Emmet Cohen, piano, and PJO’s own Jacob Scesney, saxophone, are featured with the 40-piece LA-based hybrid big band and string orchestra.
Seven-time GRAMMY®-nominated composer/arranger Chris Walden, the founder and artistic director of Pacific Jazz Orchestra, conducts the program, which includes newly arranged versions of some of Miles and Trane’s classic works that helped shape the course of modern jazz.
“Miles Davis and John Coltrane are towering jazz figures whose remarkable musical innovation continues to influence the landscape of modern music,” says Walden. “Pacific Jazz Orchestra is proud to honor their legacy and celebrate their timeless music.” Davis and Coltrane created a seismic shift in jazz during their fertile five-year musical collaboration from 1955 to 1960. They are hailed for producing landmark albums infused with a then-novel style of jazz called modal improvisation, which focuses on color and tonality for the harmonic framework, rather than chord progressions, providing the soloist greater freedom when improvising. Davis and Coltrane’s own individual artistic styles and other artistic endeavors also proved groundbreaking. Davis, known for his iconic smooth, subdued tone, was a cool jazz and jazz fusion pioneer as well as a visionary bandleader who championed rising artists. Coltrane’s instantly recognizable dark, brooding sound and virtuosic control of the saxophone place him among the pantheon of jazz players with many of his recordings reaching classic status, among them Blue Train, Giant Steps, and A Love Supreme.
Sean Jones (trumpet), who has worked with such major figures as Joe Lovano, Chico O’Farrill, Illinois Jacquet, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, and Dianne Reeves, previously served as lead trumpet for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (2004-2010) and was a member of the SFJAZZ Collective (2015-2017), which produced eight albums on Mack Avenue Records under his leadership. Jones, who joined Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter for their “Tribute to Miles” tour in 2011, is featured on three Grammy Award–winning albums: Dianne Reeve's Beautiful Life, Nancy Wilson's Turned to Blue, and Gerald Wilson's New York, New Sound.
Emmet Cohen (piano), widely recognized for his virtuosity and deep swing, has released 12 albums as a band leader and is the producer and creative force behind “Live From Emmet’s Place,” a landmark series comprising over 140 two-hour livestream performances featuring hundreds of musicians, which has had more than 100 million views. A Mack Avenue recording artist, Cohen has performed in more than 40 countries and was selected to be the Artistic Partner of the 2027 American Piano Awards. He was named DownBeat Readers Poll Pianist of the Year in 2025. In 2023, he garnered both Pianist of the Year and Livestream Producer of the Year honors from the Jazz Journalists Association.
Jacob Scesney (saxophone) is a rising star of the LA jazz and studio scene. He has performed around the globe with world-renowned acts such as Maroon 5, The Jonas Brothers, Shawn Mendes, and John Legend. He has played at Wembley Stadium, Crypto.com arena, Red Rocks, and Wrigley Field, among other iconic venues. Scesney has also appeared on the soundtracks of epic films such as Babylon and numerous hit TV shows, including Glee, The Voice, American Idol, The Ellen Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra has received critical acclaim for thrilling performances that “entertain, inspire, and enrich” (Variety). Thanks to the generosity of The Herb Alpert Foundation (HAF), the Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s inaugural season was fully funded, and HAF continues to support the ensemble in its 2025-26 season. Additional support this season is provided by Grow @ Annenberg.
The Wallis is located at 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. For tickets ($53.90-$108.90) and information, visit <a href="https://www.pacificjazz.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pacificjazz.org</a> or call 310-746-4000.

Local Event: Pacific Jazz Orchestra Presents "Miles & Trane at 100" at The Wallis, 5/28

Pacific Jazz Orchestra Presents "Miles & Trane...

Pacific Jazz Orchestra (PJO) presents “Miles & Trane at 100,” a powerful tribute to two of the most influential figures in jazz...

Pacific Jazz Orchestra Presents "Miles & Trane at 100" at The Wallis, 5/28

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Sierra Madre Playhouse Wraps Lunar New Year Programming with Book Launch, 4/18

APR

18

2:00 PM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

"One Million Words – Rilke," Solo Show Based on Work by Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Has US Premiere

APR

24

8:00 PM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

Master Storyteller Presents Family-Friendly Program at Sierra Madre Playhouse

APR

25

11:00 AM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

Ecos de España Performs Spanish Classical and Flamenco Music and Dance at Sierra Madre Playhouse

MAY

2

11:00 AM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

Camerata Pacifica Gives CA Premiere of Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony

MAY

14

8:00 PM

Zipper Concert Hall, 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Adapted for All Ages Comes to Sierra Madre Playhouse

MAY

16

11:00 AM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Jodi Siegel Brings R&B, Soul & Jazz to Sierra Madre Playhouse

MAY

16

8:00 PM

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA

Pacific Jazz Orchestra Presents "Miles & Trane at 100" at The Wallis, 5/28

MAY

28

7:30 PM

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA

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