Sierra Madre Playhouse

Versa-Style Street Dance Company brings an exciting new version of its critically acclaimed full-length work “Box of Hope” to Sierra Madre Playhouse for two performances on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, 2026, at 8:00 PM.
Choreographed by company Founders/Co-Artistic Directors Jackie “Miss Funk” Lopez and Leigh “Breeze-Lee” Foaad, “Box of Hope” (2nd Edition) celebrates the company’s 20th anniversary as a hip hop and street dance ensemble. It pays homage to its artistic journey, weaving through some of the influential figures, cultural movements and community touchstones that helped shape the company. The uplifting and energetic multidisciplinary work, intimate and intentional, spotlights West Coast Hip Hop and street dance styles that originated in the L.A. area.
The tribute also honors some of the individuals who have helped shape the global street dance culture that embraces hip hop, house, popping, locking and more, among them Rennie Harris, Damita Jo Freeman, and Toni Basil, who are still active today, as well as those who have passed on, including Stephen “Twitch” Boss and Marjory Smarth.
The dancers featured in the Sierra Madre Playhouse production include Aryeal "AryLove" Lands; Aubrey “Siga” Mamaid; Elizabeth “Essence” Altamirano; Gabo “Mag’k” Avalos; Leo “Inner-G” Flores; Luis “Marvelous” Maravilla; Milagritos “Floetic” Godina; Nick “Surge” Cuevas; Tyrese “Taktic” Starling; Zion "Noiz" Elamin; Zuleny “Zuly” Ordonez; Myles “Eklypse” Mawa; and Jeffrey “J-Free” Robinson
Versa-Style was founded in 2005 by Los Angeles-natives and co-artistic directors Jackie “Miss Funk” Lopez and Leigh “Breeze-Lee” Foaad to promote, empower, and celebrate the artistry of hip hop and street dance culture. Named “Los Angeles’ Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” by LA Weekly, Versa-Style is recognized for electrifying performances that bring the exhilarating energy of street dance to the concert stage as well as its inspirational community engagement programs. The company’s committed, highly skilled street dance artists and educators reflect LA’s complexity and diversity.
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: Versa-Style Dance Company Brings Hip Hop and Street Dance to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Los Angeles County

Sierra Madre

California

Versa-Style Dance Company Brings Hip Hop and...

Versa-Style Street Dance Company brings an exciting new version of its critically acclaimed full-length work “Box of Hope” to...

Versa-Style Dance Company Brings Hip Hop and Street Dance to Sierra Madre Playhouse

Organist Carey Frank summons the soul of jazz on the Hammond B3 organ at Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, August 9, 2026, 8:00 PM. He is joined by guitarist Nadav Peled and drummer Jake Reed.
Frank leads the powerhouse trio through iconic songs spanning rock, pop, folk, and soul, reinventing them through the lens of jazz improvisation and the unmistakable sound of the Hammond B3 organ. Delivering familiar melodies, surprising arrangements, and high-energy interplay, the band breathes new life into beloved classics such as the Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood,” Bob Dylan’s “Don't Think Twice”; The Beach Boys’ “Smile” and “God Only Knows”; “Everybody Wants To Rule the World” by Tears for Fears; “Stop Shooting” by Old Man Saxon; Paul Simon’s “Cecilia”; Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”; and “I say a Little Prayer” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
The ensemble fuses rhythmic drive from the Leslie speaker’s swirling tone, fiery guitar interplay, and dynamic drum conversations to make every tune feel both spontaneous and deeply rooted. With Carey at the keyboard, the organ’s visceral vibrations are sure to be felt from each of the intimate venue’s 99-seats.
Frank’s playing combines the deep pocket of classic organ jazz with the harmonic sophistication and subtle modern touch of today’s scene. The sought-after keyboardist, composer, and arranger has performed with such artists as Michael Bublé, Bruce Springsteen, Social Distortion, Kate Hudson, Jane Monheit, Veronica Swift, and Tedeschi Trucks Band.
For tickets ($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: Jazz Organist Carey Frank Featured at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 8/9

Jazz Organist Carey Frank Featured at Sierra...

Organist Carey Frank summons the soul of jazz on the Hammond B3 organ at Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, August 9, 2026, 8:00...

Jazz Organist Carey Frank Featured at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 8/9

Sierra Madre Playhouse – reflecting its own historic path from silent movie house to one of the Southland’s leading performing arts centers – bridges silent-film history and live music vitality with a program pairing the groundbreaking 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin with the world premiere of a music score for string quartet and vocal quintet composed and conducted live by George Sarah. Back-to-back performances are set for Friday and Saturday, August 14 and 15, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic 99-seat venue.
Sergei Eisenstein’s cinematic landmark, which still resonates today, charts the 1905 uprising aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin with gripping montage, rhythm and emotional energy.
Sarah, known for melding electronic, classical and chamber music traditions, reimages the film, bringing his unique sonic voice to this filmic masterpiece — integrating string quartet textures, a five-voice vocal ensemble, and subtle electronic elements to transform the screening into a multisensory experience. With Sarah’s score, the visuals are echoed and amplified: the strings underscore dramatic tension and camaraderie; the voices give human edge to mass uprising; and the electronics add depth and contemporary resonance.
The performers include George Sarah, composer/arranger, synths/electronics; soprano Jenna Hansen; mezzo soprano Anna Caplan; tenors George Sterne and Sean McDermott; Kaija Hansen, violin/viola; Katie Kim, violin; and cellists Carolyn Regula and Paul Hyun.
This blended cinematic revival and live concert is an example of the type of bold and innovative programming Sierra Madre Playhouse, led by Artistic and Executive Director Matt Cook, has become known for in recent years.
For tickets ($30) 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: Silent Film "Battleship Potemkin" to be Screened with George Sarah's New Live Score 

Silent Film "Battleship Potemkin" to be...

Sierra Madre Playhouse – reflecting its own historic path from silent movie house to one of the Southland’s leading performing...

Silent Film "Battleship Potemkin" to be Screened with George Sarah's New Live Score 

Cellist Chris Votek joins Absolute Focus – the celebrated husband-and-wife duo of santoor virtuoso Kamaljeet Ahluwalia and tabla master Jas Ahluwalia – for an evening of traditional Hindustani raga, on Saturday, August 16, 2026, 4:00 PM, at Sierra Madre Playhouse. The program provides a rare opportunity to hear a combination of instruments rarely featured together in Hindustani music tracing the classical Raga arc from stillness to movement, from introspection to celebration.
Kamaljeet Ahluwalia walks an innovative path on the santoor, a rare and exquisite hammered dulcimer/zither whose shimmering resonance is central to the Hindustani tradition. Her performances invite audiences on an emotional and spiritual journey, exploring vast, sublime melodies and intricate rhythmic patterns that build to an energy-filled crescendo. Kamaljeet began her training at age seven under sitar maestro Dharambir Singh (MBE). She furthered her studies with santoor maestro Harjinderpal Singh, with her most transformative learning coming from her time under the late Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, whose teachings deeply shaped her artistry. Kamaljeet now humbly works to carry on his legacy through her performances and dedication to the santoor.
Jas Ahluwalia studied the illustrious tabla, a pair of hand-played drums renowned for its versatility in both melody and rhythm, under the world-renowned Ustad Tari Khan. Jas' deep understanding of rhythmic cycles (tala) and intuitive accompaniment elevates every performance, bringing emotional depth and intelligence to each interaction with his fellow musicians.
Votek is one of very few cellists in the world fluent in the language of Hindustani music. He has spent years immersed in the vocal-style (Gayaki-ang) tradition, adapting its intricate ornamentation, bends, and breath-like phrasing to the cello with remarkable clarity and emotional depth. Playing alongside Absolute Focus, he becomes a true voice within the raga itself — his cello weaving through santoor and tabla in the call-and-response conversation that defines Hindustani performance. The set will follow the traditional raga trajectory: a meditative alap unfolding slowly into intricate, rhythmically charged interplay and exhilarating dialogue between the musicians.
The concert is presented as part of the Sierra Madre Playhouse Hindustani Music Series, which highlights Los Angeles-based artists devoted to the living tradition of Indian classical music.
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: Hindustani Music Program Features Absolute Focus & Cellist Chris Votek

Hindustani Music Program Features Absolute...

Cellist Chris Votek joins Absolute Focus – the celebrated husband-and-wife duo of santoor virtuoso Kamaljeet Ahluwalia and...

Hindustani Music Program Features Absolute Focus & Cellist Chris Votek

Brightwork newmusic, hailed for boundary-breaking chamber music that blurs the line between pop and the avant-garde, returns to Sierra Madre Playhouse with “New Music Game Night!” – an eclectic program of game-inspired music – on Saturday, August 22, 2026, 8:00 PM.
The fun-filled evening of music ranges from Cristina Lord’s choose-your-own-adventure piece based on Kafka’s Metamorphosis to Isaac Schankler’s polyrhythm game, The Six-Body Problem. Also featured are works by Los Angeles-based composers Siobhán Dougall, and Richard An.
The performance features Brightwork newmusic Artistic Director/pianist Aron Kallay, who is joined by ensemble members Sara Andon, flute; Brian Walsh, clarinet; Shalini Vijayan, violin; Maggie Parkins, cello; and Nick Terry, percussion.
Audience participation is welcomed as well. Kallay explains, “They can vote on an adventure during Lord’s work. Audience members will also be able to interact in game that includes a video element about surveillance, and two people will be invited to compete in a different game live on stage.”
Brightwork newmusic has been hailed as “dazzling” (Los Angeles Times) and celebrated for delivering “music that slips between multiple traditions, honoring each but beholden to none” (San Francisco Classical Voice). The Los Angeles-based chamber ensemble was formed in 2013 by pianist Aron Kallay. Built around a sextet instrumentation (piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, percussion), it focuses on presenting contemporary classical music and landmark works from the past hundred years. The ensemble’s mission is to revitalize the art of new music by commissioning living composers, premiering their works, and inviting listeners into the creative process.
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: Brightwork newmusic Performs Game-Inspired Chamber Music

Brightwork newmusic Performs Game-Inspired...

Brightwork newmusic, hailed for boundary-breaking chamber music that blurs the line between pop and the avant-garde, returns to...

Brightwork newmusic Performs Game-Inspired Chamber Music

Babatunde Akinboboye, a visionary classically-trained baritone singer brings fresh new perspective to opera with “Hip Hopera,” a genre-defying musical style fusing the classical opera with the rhythmic intensity and attitude of hip-hop, on Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29, 2926, 8:00 PM, at the historic Sierra Madre Playhouse.
With a voice deeply grounded in operatic tradition and a performance style rooted in contemporary culture, Babatunde, accompanied by DJ Amond Jackson, creates an experience that feels both timeless and cutting-edge as he moves freely between tradition and innovation. His vocal virtuosity meets cultural conversation in a way that is visceral, fresh, and deeply engaging, redefining opera for a modern audience.
Babatunde traverses instantly recognizable arias and vocal works, such as Toreador, Funiculi, Funicula, and O Sole Mio, along with modern rhythms and spoken-word passages, revealing how these two musical worlds reflect one another—both in drama, narrative arc, and emotional reach.
In the intimate setting of the 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse, each phrase and dramatic turn delivered by the internationally celebrated YouTube sensation is carried with clarity and immediacy.
Nigerian American baritone Babatunde Akinboboye, known for his enthralling stage presence, has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara, Long Beach Opera, and Utah Opera. He has also debuted the roles of Drew in the Opera Works’Arts for Social Awareness Project’s world premiere production of The Discord Opera, and Zanni in the world premiere of Gloria Coates’ Stolen Identity. Recent performances include Daggoo in LA Opera’s Moby Dick, Escamillo in Pacific Opera Project’s production of Carmen, and Lucha’s Father in The Industry’s production of Hopscotch. He is also an advocate for the performance of art song and operatic works written by African and African American composers. Babatunde’s honors include Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, and finalist in the International Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in Llangollen, Wales. In 2018, Babatunde combined his love of classical opera and hip hop and created the new genre Hip Hopera in a viral video that gained over 10 million views and was featured on Time.com, Classic FM, MSN.com and more.
For tickets ($40) 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: Babatunde Blends Hip Hop and Opera 

Babatunde Blends Hip Hop and Opera 

Babatunde Akinboboye, a visionary classically-trained baritone singer brings fresh new perspective to opera with “Hip Hopera,”...

Dancing Storytellers brings Indian myths to life through its delightful family-friendly program “Indian Mythology and Me,” a vivid blend of classical South Asian dance, folk movement, storytelling, and playful audience engagement, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, 11:00 AM, at Sierra Madre Playhouse. Designed for K–5 audiences but captivating for all ages, the interactive program offers a vibrant introduction to Indian mythology, dance traditions, and the timeless themes embedded within them.
The performance weaves together three unforgettable stories—Bheema’s meeting with Hanuman, the clever mice who outwit an elephant queen, and the powerful tale of Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Each story is told through expressive gesture, dynamic choreography, and the artists’ signature style of conversational storytelling.
Dancing storyteller artists Danish Bhandara and Tulsi Shah move through the space, inviting children to step into the story with them, try out movement and gestures, and become part of the world onstage. The result is a performance that feels both theatrical and deeply personal, connecting ancient narratives to the everyday lives of young audiences.
Rich with humor, heart, and cultural insight, “Indian Mythology and Me” encourages reflection on identity, courage, empathy, and the power of stories to shape who we are. It was created by Sheetal Gandhi, Shyamala Moorty, and Ulka Simone Mohanty.
The Dancing Storytellers are multi-talented artists who transport audiences through exceptionally crafted programs that blend the contemporary with the traditional. South Asian dance and music forms collide with humor and theatricality to engage, enlighten and entertain audiences.
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: Dancing Storytellers Bring Indian Myths to Life in Family-Friendly Program

Dancing Storytellers Bring Indian Myths to Life...

Dancing Storytellers brings Indian myths to life through its delightful family-friendly program “Indian Mythology and Me,” a...

Dancing Storytellers Bring Indian Myths to Life in Family-Friendly Program

Yu&amp;Sung Duo, featuring violinist YuEun Kim and pianist Sung Chang, celebrates the music and moments that stay with us throughout our lives with the chamber music program “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” on Friday, September 4, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse. The program was inspired by Kim's own recent journey into motherhood.
Through beloved classics, lyrical favorites, and passionate virtuoso works, Kim shares the stories behind the music—from childhood memories and family to love, resilience, and the joy of discovering life through new eyes.
Embracing a trajectory of human emotions and experiences, the program begins with “Love,” illustrated by the first movement from César Franck’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major; “Joy,” spotlighting the fourth movement from Antonin Dvořák’s Sonatina in G Major; “Reflection,” conveyed through Clara Schumann’s Three Romances for Violin and Piano; and “Challenge,” portrayed by Sergei Prokofiev’s “Dance of the Knights” from Romeo and Juliet.
The duo, hailed for its artistic excellence and creative programming, continues the celebration with “Strength,” expressed by Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane; “Wonder,” evoked by Robert Schumann’s “Träumerei” from Kinderszenen; “Gratitude,” articulated by Dvořák’s Songs My Mother Taught Me, transcribed for violin by Fritz Kreisler; and “Hope,” reflected by the fourth movement from César Franck’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major.
Yu&amp;Sung Duo, founded in 2016, is a Los Angeles-based violin and piano duo known for its expressive performances and imaginative programming. Prize winners at the 2018 Boulder International Chamber Competition: Art of Duo, the duo has performed extensively throughout the United States and South Korea. Their projects range from beloved classical masterworks to thoughtfully curated thematic programs, including a complete performance of Beethoven's ten violin sonatas presented in three concerts at the University of Southern California. Yu&amp;Sung Duo has been featured regularly on the L'Ermitage Foundation Concert Series and the Sundays Live series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art broadcast on KUSC. The duo continues to tour nationally and internationally, connecting with audiences through engaging performances and creative concert experiences.
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: Yu&Sung Duo Presents Chamber Music Concert 

Yu&Sung Duo Presents Chamber Music Concert 

Yu&Sung Duo, featuring violinist YuEun Kim and pianist Sung Chang, celebrates the music and moments that stay with us...

The mesmerizing sounds of Indian Veena (plucked string instrument), bansuri (bamboo flute), and percussive tabla blend seamlessly in a program of classical Indian ragas when Sierra Madre Playhouse continues its Hindustani Music Series with “Samyōga - A Confluence of String, Wind &amp; Rhythm” on Saturday, September 5, 2026, 4:00 PM, at the historic 99-seat venue.
Samyōga - from the Sanskrit samyoga (संयोग), meaning "coming together"- features an afternoon of Hindustani classical music, the living classical tradition of North India. At its heart lies the rāga: a melodic personality; a constellation of notes shaped by characteristic movements, emphasized tones, ornamentation, and melodic grammar, all of which evoke a distinct emotional atmosphere, or rasa.
The program traces a journey from solitude to confluence. It begins with two solo explorations. Anand Vemuri plays the bansuri (bamboo flute) while Suman Laha performs on the ancient and revered string instrument known as veena. Each artist illuminates a rāga through the unique voice of the instrument, one carried on breath and the other ringing through strings. Though their instruments arise from different musical traditions, both share a deep commitment to the contemplative spirit and expressive subtlety of Hindustani music.
In the final set, these two melodic voices converge in jugalbandi, the celebrated duet tradition in which musicians engage in spontaneous musical dialogue, echoing, answering, challenging, and inspiring one another in real time. Throughout, Jyoti Prakas on tabla provides the rhythmic framework through the intricate cycles of tāla, completing the confluence of string, wind, and rhythm.
The concert is part of the Sierra Madre Playhouse Hindustani Music Series, which highlights Los Angeles-based artists devoted to the living tradition of Indian classical music.
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: Samyōga - A Confluence of String, Wind & Rhythm

Samyōga - A Confluence of String, Wind & Rhythm

The mesmerizing sounds of Indian Veena (plucked string instrument), bansuri (bamboo flute), and percussive tabla blend...

Jazz keyboard maestro Brandon Coleman, a central figure in the Los Angeles jazz and funk-fusion scene who pushes the boundaries of sound, brings his distinctive musical artistry to Sierra Madre Playhouse on Sunday, September 6, 2026, 8:00 PM.
Coleman leads the Brandon Coleman Ensemble through a program of original compositions infused with improvisational dialogue and rhythmic drive, merging his deep jazz sensibility with electronic texture and soulful grooves to create a sound that is both expansive and immediate.
Coleman is a Los Angeles-born pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, vocalist, and music director whose work moves effortlessly between jazz, gospel, funk, soul, and cinematic music. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, Coleman began as a drummer before discovering the piano and developing much of his musical language by ear. His early foundation in the church, combined with studies at The Colburn School under renowned jazz educators Clay Jenkins and Lee Secard, helped shape the artist he is today.
A longtime member of the West Coast Get Down and a Brainfeeder recording artist, Coleman has performed, recorded, arranged, and collaborated with artists including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Babyface, Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Roy Hargrove, Rachelle Ferrell, George Benson, and Childish Gambino. His work has taken him to stages including the Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and The Tonight Show. In 2025, he served as Music Director and Contractor for “Perfect Angel: The Definitive Minnie Riperton” Tribute at the Hollywood Bowl.
Whether leading the Brandon Coleman Ensemble, composing for visual media, or serving as music director, Coleman continues to explore new musical territory through original compositions, fearless improvisation, and a sound that bridges tradition with the future.
For tickets ($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: Jazz Keyboardist Brandon Coleman at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Jazz Keyboardist Brandon Coleman at Sierra...

Jazz keyboard maestro Brandon Coleman, a central figure in the Los Angeles jazz and funk-fusion scene who pushes the boundaries...

Jazz Keyboardist Brandon Coleman at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse pulls the curtains back on its state-of-the-art movie screen to present Hola Frida!, a family-friendly animated biographical film released in 2024 inspired by the childhood of acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, 4:00 pm.
Suitable for viewers ages seven and up, the accessible and visually compelling biopic follows a vibrant, free-spirited, young girl in Coyoacán, Mexico, whose world is suddenly challenged by illness and physical limitation. This tender yet bold narrative, directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi, traces how Frida uses imagination, art and resilience to reclaim her voice and her body.
The animated film, with its lively visual style rooted in cultural detail, evokes Frida’s early life – her discovery of color, nature and self-expression – even as it acknowledges adversity and transformation. Although grounded in Frida’s true-life story, it uses creative freedom to emphasize themes of difference, creativity, and hope. Hola Frida! also celebrates art as healing and strength as imaginative.
The New York International Children’s Film Festival proclaims, “A true girls' POV story if there ever was one, this biopic frames freedom, feminism, and the zeitgeist of 20th century Mexico through the eyes of one sparkling, vibrant young girl.” The Guardian states, “this engaging documentary about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is a beguiling and rather beautiful tribute to her spirit and originality.”
Hola Frida! was adapted from the book ‘Frida, c’est moi’ by Sophie Faucher (text) and Cara Carmina (illustrations).
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: Sierra Madre Playhouse Screens "Hola Frida!" –  Animated Biopic about Artist Frida Kahlo 

Sierra Madre Playhouse Screens "Hola Frida!" – ...

Sierra Madre Playhouse pulls the curtains back on its state-of-the-art movie screen to present Hola Frida!, a family-friendly...

Sierra Madre Playhouse Screens "Hola Frida!" –  Animated Biopic about Artist Frida Kahlo 

The Sierra Madre Playhouse becomes a hub for Indian classical dance and music when dancer/choreographer Rukhmani Mehta takes the stage for a spellbinding program of Kathak, a rarely performed traditional dance form known for its dazzling footwork and fast spins that originated in northern India, on Sunday, September 13, 2026, 4:00 PM. Mehta is joined by eminent sitarist Jayanta Banerjee and tabla master Salar Nader.
Kathak, comes from the Sanskrit word “Katha,” which means “story,” a fitting name for it, since storytelling is foundational to the dance style, which evolved from the wandering poets and singers called Kathakas who roamed northern India, sharing tales from Hindu mythology accompanied by graceful body movements and distinctive facial expressions.
The program features Sandhi, Mehta's personal exploration of traditional Kathak. With Sandhi, which in Sanskrit means a charged threshold or a meeting point between states, she transports the audience to a world that embodies ancient sacred Indian temples, the grandeur of the Mughal courts, the ecstatic longing of the Bhakti saints, the songs of the courtesans, and the stories of gods and goddesses that have traveled across time. Sandhi is where three currents meet: the story of India and her people, the story of Kathak itself, and the story of one artist at the threshold of both. As the ancient and the immediate collide, artist and audience find themselves changed, remade by an encounter with the living, the sacred, and the eternal.
Mehta, who is also a Kathak educator, has helped shape the landscape of Indian classical dance in the United States for more than two decades. Both lineage bearer and contemporary voice, she works at the intersection of classical Indian dance, contemporary performance, and embodied inquiry. A senior disciple of legendary master Pandit Chitresh Das, Mehta is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective and Artistic Director of Leela Youth Dance Company, where she mentors young South Asian women as artists and cultural ambassadors.
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: Indian Classical Dancer Rukhmani Mehta Appears at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Indian Classical Dancer Rukhmani Mehta Appears...

The Sierra Madre Playhouse becomes a hub for Indian classical dance and music when dancer/choreographer Rukhmani Mehta takes...

Indian Classical Dancer Rukhmani Mehta Appears at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

Pacific Jazz Orchestra, the country’s only 40-piece hybrid big band and string orchestra, announces its 2026-27 season, entitled “Four &amp; More,” celebrating the critically acclaimed ensemble’s fourth season of delivering musical magic with entertaining and imaginative programs of straight-ahead jazz, swing, soul, R&amp;B, Broadway, and pop, in collaboration with renowned musical guests. Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s seven-time Grammy-nominated Founder and Artistic Director Chris Walden announced the details.
“This season, Pacific Jazz Orchestra embarks on an exhilarating musical journey with some of the most distinguished and inventive artists of our time, including multi-Tony-winning Broadway star Sutton Foster, global recognized pianist David Benoit; in-demand vocalist Nayanna Holley; and singer/pianist Kandace Springs, known for her soulful stylings,” says Walden. “We are also proud to welcome back to our stage leading vocalists – and audience favorites – Adam “Aejaye” Jackson, Billy Valentine, Sy Smith, and Brenna Whitaker.”
Walden adds, “The title of the 2026-2027 season, ‘Four &amp; More,’ is borrowed from the name of jazz legend Miles Davis’ iconic album. It’s a nod to our fourth season and all the exciting musical opportunities that lie ahead for us. It also reflects the same level of commitment to innovation and excellence that Pacific Jazz Orchestra strives to pour into its performances as Davis applied to his own groundbreaking work.”
During the 2026-2027 Season, Pacific Jazz Orchestra traverses the Southland, bringing its artistry to wide ranging communities. It makes its Ventura Music Festival debut and returns to the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) in Northridge, Santa Barbara’s Granada Theatre, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) in Beverly Hills, the Irvine Barclay Theater, and Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre.
While most of the concerts this season include the ensemble’s full 40-piece compliment of musicians, Walden notes that the group’s smaller 19-piece big band iteration also gets showcased in a pair of performances. “This kind of flexibility allows for great variety and depth in our programming,” he explains. Walden, who is also the lead arranger for the Academy Awards, creates original music and unique arrangements for every show, each with a specific theme, distinctive jazz flair, and lush orchestrations.
Programs Include: •	An Evening of Broadway and beyond featuring Broadway legend and seven-time Tony winner SUTTON FOSTER (September 19, 2026, at The Soraya).
•	A tribute to eminent producer/composer Quincy Jones with guest vocalists ADAM “AEJAYE” JACKSON and NAYANNA HOLLEY presented by Ventura Music Festival (October 18, 2026, at Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center)
•	A Holiday Spectacular headlined by vocalists BILLY VALENTINE, SY SMITH, and BRENNA WHITAKER (December 23, 2026, at McCallum Theatre).
•	A celebration of jazz and soul with special guest singer/pianist KANDACE SPRINGS (February 9, 2027, at The Wallis).
•	A tribute to eminent producer/composer Quincy Jones featuring guest vocalists ADAM “AEJAYE” JACKSON and another vocalist to be announced (April 3, 2027, at Granada Theatre).
•	The Music of Charlie Brown &amp; Peanuts featuring internationally renowned pianist DAVID BENOIT (May 20, at Irvine Barclay Theatre).
Pacific Jazz Orchestra has garnered critical acclaim for thrilling performances that “entertain, inspire, and enrich” (Variety). Pacific Jazz Orchestra thanks the Herb Alpert Foundation for its ongoing leadership support. Major funders for Pacific Jazz Orchestra include GROW@Annenberg Foundation; the Alesia Alpert Family Foundation; the Natalie Cole Foundation; the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation; and Anonymous.
For tickets and information about Pacific Jazz Orchestra, visit <a href="https://www.pacificjazz.org." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">pacificjazz.org.</a>

Local Event: Pacific Jazz Orchestra Announces 2026-27 Season

Pacific Jazz Orchestra Announces 2026-27 Season

Pacific Jazz Orchestra, the country’s only 40-piece hybrid big band and string orchestra, announces its 2026-27 season,...

Janet & Ray Scherr Forum Theatre

Camerata Pacifica, the chamber music collective celebrated for its exceptional artistry and compelling programming, unveils its 2026-27 season. Founder and Artistic Director Adrian Spence announced the details of the 37 th season, featuring eight programs embracing new and legacy works spanning three centuries, including two world premieres. Camerata Pacifica launches its 2026-27 season on October 11-15, 2026. Pianist Irina Zahharenkova performs Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22. Violinist Grace Park and cellist Santiago Cañón- Valencia then join Zahharenkova, to play Schubert's B-Flat Major Trio. The program on November 8-13, 2026, includes the world premiere of a new work for mixed octet by composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh. In addition, Principal Oboe Nicholas Daniel is featured on Michael Daugherty’s Firecracker. Other contemporary works include Missy Mazzoli’s Vespers for Violin, as well as I prefer living in color by the late Sarah Gibson.&nbsp;Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat Major, K. 452, provides musical context to the program. Featured artsist include Alena Hove, violin; Rob Brophy, viola; Ani Aznavoorian, cello; Catherine Gregory, flute; Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinet; Eleni Katz, bassoon; Ben Goldscheider, horn; Irina Zahharenkova, piano; and Ji Hye Jung, percussion, along with Nicolas Daniel, oboe. On December 7 and 8, 2026, Camerata Pacifica begins the second phase of “Beethoven 32,” its three-year Beethoven cycle featuring Principal Piano Gilles Vonsattel performing all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas in a hybrid blend of solo recitals and chamber programs. For this program, Vonsattel interprets three contrasting sonatas, starting with Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1, followed by Piano Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, “The Tempest.” Vonsattel wraps the recital with Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3, “The Hunt.” Camerata Pacifica’s season continues on January 10-15, 2027, with the world premiere of a new work for mixed sextet by Howard Frazin. The chamber collective also performs Bach’s Flute Sonata in E Major, featuring flutist Sébastian Jacot; de Falla’s Concerto for Harpsichord, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin and Cello; and Malcom Arnold’s Divertimento, Op. 37, a sequence of six short pieces for flute, oboe, and clarinet. Strauss’s Kaiser- Walzer, Op. 437, a waltz arranged by Arnold Schoenberg, caps the program. Appearing with Sébastian Jacot are Grace Park, violin; Jason Uyeyama, violin; Che-Yen Chen, viola; Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinet; Nicholas Daniel, oboe; Ani Aznavoorian, cello; and Irina Zahharenkova, piano. On February 19-23, 2027, Camerata Pacifica reprises John Harbison’s String Trio, which Camerata Pacifica commissioned and premiered in 2013. It features Jolente De Maeyer, violin, Che-Yen Chen, viola, and Ani Aznavoorian, cello. Harbison’s tour de force is bookended by another segment of the “Beethoven 32” project with Gilles Vonsattel performing Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2, and Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 22
The second of two “Beethoven 32” solo piano recitals this season featuring Gilles Vonsattel takes place March 25 and 26, 2027. He illuminates four Beethoven piano sonatas, beginning with the deeply expressive Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1, and the Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2. Vonsattel also performs Piano Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a, “Les Adieux,” and Piano Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110. On April 13-18, 2027, Camerata Pacifica celebrates the harp with two of the world’s leading harpists – Emmanuel Ceysson, who has served as Principal Harpist for the Paris Opera, the Metropolitan Opera and now the LA Phil, and Cristina Montes Mateo, Principal Harpist for the Valencia Opera House in Spain and Royal Harpist to the King and Queen of Spain. The rare all-harp program features them on Smetana’s Die Moldau arranged by Trneček; Takemitsu’s Bryce for flute, two harps, marimba, and percussion; The Eye of Night by David Bruce; and Walter-Kühne’s Fantasia on Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. Further spotlighting the instrument’s broad sonic range are Rameau’ Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins; Balakirev’s harp arrangement of Glinka’s The Lark; and Fauré’s Fantaisie, Op. 79. Also on the program is Kembang Suling, one of Gareth Farr. The artists appearing with the two harpists are percussionists Ji Hye Jung and W. Lee Vinson, violist Che-Yen Chen, and flutist Sébastian Jacot. Camerata Pacifica wraps season on May 9-14, 2027, with another “Beethoven 32” component, featuring pianist Gilles Vonsattel playing Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3. It concludes with Samuel Barber's String Quartet in B Minor, Op. 11, and Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 57, featuring violinists Jolente De Maeyer and Jason Uyeyama; violist Che-Yen Chen; and cellist Ani Aznavoorian, in addition to Gilles Vonsattel. For tickets and information, please visit cameratapacifica.org.

Local Event: Camerata Pacifica Announces 2026-2027 Season

Camerata Pacifica Announces 2026-2027 Season

Camerata Pacifica, the chamber music collective celebrated for its exceptional artistry and compelling programming, unveils its...

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