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From actors hoping to see their names in lights to musicians dreaming up new sounds, the Golden State is abuzz with creative energy—so sit back and enjoy the show.
California’s first theater was founded in Monterey in the 1840s by a sailor who staged performances lit by whale-oil lamps. Today, the state is home to hundreds of magnificent venues with forward-thinking troupes crafting original works. In San Diego, visit the La Jolla Playhouse to see plays helmed by Tony Award-winning creative director Christopher Ashley, and catch a classic at the 600-seat Old Globe in Balboa Park. Vibrant companies can be found across the state, including Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. Come summer, head to annual festivals that make use of stunning natural settings—think Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Santa Cruz Shakespeare.
L.A. is rife with concert halls and rock clubs, including The Wiltern, The Troubadour, and The Hollywood Bowl. In Bakersfield, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace hosts live acts paying tribute to its namesake genre, the Bakersfield Sound. Pappy & Harriet’s, a high desert honky-tonk, hosts local bands and traveling acts in Pioneertown. You can also find a number of exceptional orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Diego Symphony (and its shimmering new summer home, the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park), and the San Francisco Symphony. California is also a leader on the festival front, hosting iconic events like Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, and the Monterey Jazz Festival, to name just a few.
Aspiring dancers from all over the world come to California to perfect their angles and sharpen their technique. World-renowned companies find homes in major cities and less expected destinations like the LA Dance Project (led by Benjamin Millepied), Sacramento Ballet, Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, and Orange County’s Backhausdance. Meanwhile, the principal dancers of tomorrow are honing their craft at highly acclaimed programs such as the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts.
- Dancer Tiler Peck Stages a Homecoming in CaliforniaThe Bakersfield native turned New York City Ballet phenom brings her tour to Southern California
- Grass Valley: Music, History, and MagicHear why this Nevada County town is a hotbed for bluegrass and lots of quirky charm
- Berkeley's Greek TheatreListen to the music at Berkeley’s landmark outdoor theater, a truly iconic venue
- Comedy Clubs in CaliforniaFrom traditional performance venues to laughter-filled sightseeing tours, the Golden State will put a smile on your face
- 10 Great California Venues for Dinner and a ShowThese spots have upgraded both the convenience and breadth of their dining options
- California's Top Performance SpacesStriking, state-of-the-art venues for taking in world-class entertainment
- The Rady ShellEnjoy dinner and a show at this striking concert venue along the San Diego waterfront
- Walt Disney Concert HallVisit a building that’s every bit as beautiful as the sounds inside
- 5 Best Music Venues in Los AngelesExplore the city’s best venues, rife with rock history
- 18 Top California Music Festivals in 2023From Aftershock to BottleRock, this year’s list of outdoor concerts in the Golden State offers something for everyone
- 7 Historic Music VenuesCatch a show at one of these landmarks in California’s musical heritage
- Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing ArtsWatch a performance at this cultural hub for Beverly Hills
- Performing Arts in the Bay AreaMuseums, music, and a hint of bohemia
- Buck Owens’ Crystal PalaceExperience the Bakersfield Sound and the city’s honky-tonk heritage
- Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown PalaceHear great music under the stars at a quirky desert treasure
- Soka Performing Arts CenterAn intimate, world-class space for great music
- Warnors Center for the Performing ArtsA historic theater in downtown Fresno is enjoying a magnificent second act
- San Jose Performing ArtsHistoric venues present Broadway, Bach, and more
- 10 Places to Find Ken Burns’ Country Music in CaliforniaSee and hear where the Golden State contributed to the history of downhome music
- Segerstrom Center for the ArtsA dazzling arts complex hosts the best
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