By Shari Barrett
The Notebook musical is based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film that tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. Directed by Michael Greif and Schele Williams, with music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter, and choreography by Katie Spelman. performances run from January 6–25 at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre by Broadway in Hollywood, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90028. broadwayinhollywood.com and moves to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 300 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626 from January 27–February 8. scfta.org
An Inspector Calls is a classic mystery play written by J.B. Priestley, directed by Cate Caplin and produced for Theatre 40 by David Hunt Stafford, moves into the beautiful and historic Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills 90210 from January 8-18. http://theatre40.org
The Wiz – The Tony Award-winning Best Musical returns to stages across America in an all-new Broadway tour. This groundbreaking twist on “The Wizard of Oz” changed the face of Broadway, from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and ‘70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. With direction by Schele Williams, choreography by JaQuel Knight, and additional material by Amber Ruffin, this dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road. Performances from January 13–25 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 300 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 92626. scfta.org
Family Fest and The Great Race celebrate Lunar New Year (the year of the horse) with a joyful day on Saturday, January 17 including a free outdoor festival celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills 90210. The Great Race by the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, directed and written by Reiko Ho, tells the story of the Chinese Zodiac through traditional movement, music, and martial arts, showing how each animal earned its place in the twelve-year cycle. The Great Race is an indoor ticketed performance with all seats priced at $20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. https://thewallis.org/
I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, written & performed by Ronnie Marmo and directed by Joe Mantegna, arrives for one performance only on Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m. A talkback with Marmo and Mantegna follows the performance at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Art, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., Las Mirada 90638. Adults only! https://lamiradatheatre.com
Eddie Izzard in Shakespeare’s Hamlet – Following a thrice-extended engagement in New York, a box office record-breaking two-week run in Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle, and a six-week London run, Tony Award-nominated Eddie Izzard brings Shakespeare’s classic to life in a dynamic new staging of the iconic play, adapted by Mark Izzard and directed by Selina Cadell. At The Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine Street, Los Angeles 90028 from January 22-31 https://ticketmaster.com
More Miracles – 3 Original One-Act Plays developed by The Actors’ Gang during the 2025 10-minute play festival include Nun Fight by Willa Fossum, 16 Summers by Ayindé Howell, In Recovery by Mary Eileen O’Donnell. 14 performances only from January 22 to February 21 at The Actors’ Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd, Culver City 90232. https://theactorsgang.com/
Margaret Cho, a pioneer amongst women in comedy, brings her latest razor-sharp stand-up show about the politics of disgust and what is disgusting about politics to The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills 90210 on January 23. https://thewallis.org/
The Great American Songbook is the annual fundraiser supporting Education-Outreach programs at Musical Theatre West on Friday, January 23 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Event includes a gourmet dinner and a sing-along celebrating movie musicals of the 1970s with stars of MTW shows at The Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, 6200 Atherton Avenue, Long Beach 90815. tickets@musical.org
Grammy Award-winning singer Arooj Aftab in concert on Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. at The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills 90210 https://thewallis.org/
20th Anniversary Los Angeles Ballet – LAB prepares for this milestone with a triple bill of iconic works and undaunted new beginnings, all brimming with heart and playfulness from January 29-31 at The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills 90210 https://thewallis.org/
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a dark and witty Tony Award-winning musical about love, murder, meat pies, and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th Century London with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond, and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. Jason Alexander directs the production at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., Las Mirada 90638, running January 30 to February 22. https://lamiradatheatre.com
And a few musicals opening in February:
Amadeus examines the riveting rivalry between two composers: Antonio Salieri, the court’s celebrated musician, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the vulgar prodigy whose brilliance threatens everything Salieri holds dear. Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays stars as Salieri under the masterful direction of Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak. Lavishly laced with biting wit, this Tony and Oscar-winning masterpiece dives deep into ambition, envy, and the price of greatness. February 11-March 8 at the Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena 91101 https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/
Here Lies Love is a groundbreaking musical about former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos and her family’s rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution. Featuring music by Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award winner David Byrne and Grammy Award winner Fatboy Slim, direction by Snehal Desai and choreography by William Carlos Angulo, this all-new 90-minute production (the first since appearing on Broadway in 2023) is a transformative experience combining disco beats and adrenaline-fueled choreography that goes beyond Imelda’s near-mythic obsession with shoes to explore true questions of authoritarian rule and responsibility. February 11-March 22 at the Mark Taper Forum, 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles 90012.
https://www.centertheatregroup.org/shows-tickets/venues/mark-taper-forum/
Monty Python’s Spamalot first galloped onto Broadway in 2005 featuring a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. The Tony-winning musical comedy has everything that makes a great knight at the theatre, from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake. With well-known songs such as “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” and “Find Your Grail,” it rolls into the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 300 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626 from February 17-22. scfta.org
