The Music Center's Ahmanson Theatre
Opened in 1967, The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre (Ahmanson) features a state-of-the-art configuration with variable seating capacity that can accommodate a diverse selection of performances. The theatre was underwritten by philanthropist Howard F. Ahmanson Sr., the founder of H.F. Ahmanson & Co., a Los Angeles-based insurance and savings and loan company, and named for his second wife, Caroline Leonetti Ahmanson. The Ahmanson is home to a wide-ranging selection of theatrical and dance performances and is the site for Center Theatre Group presentations, including Pre-Broadway runs as well as the best of Broadway and the West End.
Originally faced on all four sides with off-white stone, the façade was altered in 1995 by Ellerbe Becket, the successor firm to Welton Becket & Associates, which designed the original Music Center campus. The theatre is joined with The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum (Taper) by a 47-foot high colonnade that surrounds both structures and creates a visual balance with The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Pavilion) across Jerry Moss Plaza. The main façade has a glass skin that extends the full 73 feet of the five-level structure, giving patrons the opportunity to view the Taper’s massive mural.
The 2,109-seat theater was designed for musical comedy and theatrical productions, ranging from the intimate to the spectacular. To create a warm, welcoming feeling for patrons, the Ahmanson’s auditorium is wider than it is deep. There are three levels of seating: Orchestra (988 seats), Mezzanine (606 seats including the boxes) and Balcony (515 seats including the boxes). Like the Pavilion, the first 13 rows of the Ahmanson are arranged in continental style with no front-to-rear aisles. Audience members reach the Mezzanine and Balcony from large promenades that overlook Jerry Moss Plaza.
Renovations in the early 1990s enhanced the theatre’s acoustics, improved sightlines and allowed for more flexible seating arrangements. In fact, the Ahmanson can be quickly transformed from a 2,109-seat theatre to a 1,200-seat venue. Updates included changes to the circulation of the auditorium and the addition of six boxes on each of the side walls. At the same time, the architects lowered the ceiling and covered it with new acoustical paneling. They moved the Balcony and Mezzanine closer to the stage, expanded backstage areas and installed mobile dividers in the Balcony to decrease the number of seats for shows that require a more intimate setting. In addition, the Ahmanson now has a three-story lobby. Patrons can view the sculpture, “Acrobat Freeway,” created by local artist Peter Shire, as they enter the building.
The Ahmanson’s original décor featured rich reds and pewter gray tones. Purples and golds were later introduced as part of the Ellerbe Becket renovations. The proscenium was widened in 2010, and its appearance and functionality enhanced with metal mesh curtains and a removable/storable proscenium header.
Featured at the Ahmanson Theatre
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Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
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Wed Jun 05 8:00 PM
Sun Jun 30 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group A Strange Loop
Ahmanson Theatre
The ground-breaking and critically acclaimed winner of every ‘Best Musical’ award on Broadway, and the Pulitzer Prize, bursts onto the stage for a limited engagement, direct from Broadway.
Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-percepti...Show More
The ground-breaking and critically acclaimed winner of every ‘Best Musical’ award on Broadway, and the Pulitzer Prize, bursts onto the stage for a limited engagement, direct from Broadway.
Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher, a young, gay, Black writer who hates his day job, writes a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who’s writing a musical about a young, gay, Black writer...a strange loop. Usher grapples with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes, all brought to life on stage by a hilarious, straight-talking ensemble.
Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, Michael R. Jackson’s blisteringly funny, “audacious and uproarious” (The Guardian) show is a heartfelt and thought-provoking masterwork that uses humor and honesty to explore themes around race and sexuality.
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Tue Jul 30 8:00 PM
Sun Aug 25 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Clue
Ahmanson Theatre
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult ...Show More
Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the cult 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.
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Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
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Thu Apr 25 4:00 PM
A TMC Arts Program: Arts Grown L.A. The Music Center and City of Lynwood Present DIAVOLO - Architecture in Motion
Henning Youth Center, Lynwood, CA
Experience the arts in your local community! Our Arts Grown L.A. program brings Music Center Performing Artists to communities and libraries all over L.A. County.
Seen by over 95 million people on America's Got Talent, the fearless, athleti...Show More
Experience the arts in your local community! Our Arts Grown L.A. program brings Music Center Performing Artists to communities and libraries all over L.A. County.
Seen by over 95 million people on America's Got Talent, the fearless, athletic daredevils of DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion® are even more mesmerizing live and in person. Using benches, doors and ladders, the company builds appreciation for movement by breaking down barriers to dance.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
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Tue Mar 05 12:00 PM
Sat May 04 12:00 PM
A TMC Arts Program: Digital Innovation Initiative The Music Center Presents Music off the Wall
Jerry Moss Plaza & Plaza Gallery
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free ...Show More
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free AR exhibit in the heart of DTLA showcases local and global artists and their captivating creations.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Tue Mar 05 12:00 PM
Sat May 04 12:00 PM
A TMC Arts Program: Digital Innovation Initiative The Music Center Presents Music off the Wall
Jerry Moss Plaza & Plaza Gallery
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free ...Show More
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free AR exhibit in the heart of DTLA showcases local and global artists and their captivating creations.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Sat Apr 06 7:30 PM
Sat Apr 27 7:30 PM
LA Opera La Traviata
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Violetta Valéry is the queen of Parisian nightlife for now, but she knows that life in the fast lane can't last forever. The arrival of a fresh-faced suitor offers her an unexpected taste of true love, until society’s disapproval threatens to tear...Show More
Violetta Valéry is the queen of Parisian nightlife for now, but she knows that life in the fast lane can't last forever. The arrival of a fresh-faced suitor offers her an unexpected taste of true love, until society’s disapproval threatens to tear them apart.
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Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
Show Less -
Tue Mar 05 12:00 PM
Sat May 04 12:00 PM
A TMC Arts Program: Digital Innovation Initiative The Music Center Presents Music off the Wall
Jerry Moss Plaza & Plaza Gallery
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free ...Show More
For the first time in its 60-year history, The Music Center transforms Jerry Moss Plaza into an interactive augmented reality gallery featuring 16 digital artworks, with accompanying music, brought to life through visitors’ smartphones. This free AR exhibit in the heart of DTLA showcases local and global artists and their captivating creations.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Sat Apr 20 10:00 AM
Sat Apr 27 10:00 AM
A TMC Arts Program Gloria Molina Grand Park's Easy Mornings
Gloria Molina Grand Park
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings offers a calm start to the weekend with relaxing and family-friendly activities for all ages focused on deepening relationships with self, community and the Park. This free four-hour public program...Show More
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings offers a calm start to the weekend with relaxing and family-friendly activities for all ages focused on deepening relationships with self, community and the Park. This free four-hour public program highlights arts and culture, educational and creative programs, and community health, offering Angelenos ways to experience joyful and creative opportunities to deepen relationships with family, community, parks and their playful selves as well as ways to support local small businesses.
Easy Mornings welcomes the return of the mini maker’s market featuring Los Angeles-based small businesses and nonprofits with activities to inspire children of all ages, adults, families and caregivers to think big. Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings is co-curated in partnership with Streetlet, an opportunity-matching and growth engine for small business owners and makers.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Fri Apr 26 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 2:00 PM
LA Phil Bartók and Mozart
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Inon Barnatan is “a true poet of the keyboard: refined, searching, unfailingly communicative” (The Evening Standard). Effortlessly sailing through its melodic yet meticulous runs, Barnatan demonstrates why No. 25 ranks among Mozart’s top ...Show More
Inon Barnatan is “a true poet of the keyboard: refined, searching, unfailingly communicative” (The Evening Standard). Effortlessly sailing through its melodic yet meticulous runs, Barnatan demonstrates why No. 25 ranks among Mozart’s top piano concertos. Karina Canellakis leads Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, universally praised for its thematic dominance, enhanced by shimmering harps and winds, a wistful folk-like intermezzo from the strings, and a spontaneous fugue and fanfare led by the brass.
Please note that Nicola Benedetti, who was previously scheduled to perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto during the Bartók and Brahms program (now titled Bartók and Mozart), has withdrawn from her LA Phil engagement as she is expecting her first child. She will be replaced by Inon Barnatan, who will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25.
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Fri Apr 26 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 2:00 PM
LA Phil Bartók and Mozart
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Inon Barnatan is “a true poet of the keyboard: refined, searching, unfailingly communicative” (The Evening Standard). Effortlessly sailing through its melodic yet meticulous runs, Barnatan demonstrates why No. 25 ranks among Mozart’s top ...Show More
Inon Barnatan is “a true poet of the keyboard: refined, searching, unfailingly communicative” (The Evening Standard). Effortlessly sailing through its melodic yet meticulous runs, Barnatan demonstrates why No. 25 ranks among Mozart’s top piano concertos. Karina Canellakis leads Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, universally praised for its thematic dominance, enhanced by shimmering harps and winds, a wistful folk-like intermezzo from the strings, and a spontaneous fugue and fanfare led by the brass.
Please note that Nicola Benedetti, who was previously scheduled to perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto during the Bartók and Brahms program (now titled Bartók and Mozart), has withdrawn from her LA Phil engagement as she is expecting her first child. She will be replaced by Inon Barnatan, who will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25.
Show Less -
Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
Show Less -
Tue Apr 02 8:00 PM
Sun Apr 28 1:00 PM
Center Theatre Group Funny Girl
Ahmanson Theatre
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direct...Show More
Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!
The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
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Sat Apr 27 12:00 PM
A TMC Arts Program: Arts Grown L.A. The Music Center and West Athens Victory Garden Present Jazz It Up! With Dr. Bobby Rodriguez
West Athens Victory Garden, 10500 S Normandie Ave. Los Angeles 90044
Experience the arts in your local community! Our Arts Grown L.A. program brings Music Center Performing Artists to communities and libraries all over L.A. County.
Experience the arts in your local community! Our Arts Grown L.A. program brings Music Center Performing Artists to communities and libraries all over L.A. County.
Show LessFree
Learn MoreFree
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Sat Apr 27 11:00 AM
A TMC Arts Program The Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival: Family Day
Jerry Moss Plaza
Join the fun at The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival Family Day! This free, inclusive one-day festival is perfect for children of all abilities and their families and a great way to spend a Saturday. Hosted in Downtown L.A. on Je...Show More
Join the fun at The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival Family Day! This free, inclusive one-day festival is perfect for children of all abilities and their families and a great way to spend a Saturday. Hosted in Downtown L.A. on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center, the Very Special Arts Festival Family Day celebrates the artist in all of us.
From free performances to family-friendly art making activities, this special event is an opportunity to experience the arts and explore your creativity!
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Tour The Music Center Campus
Free tours are available of all The Music Center's theaters.