With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman, produced by Mark Platt and telling the origin story of the witches of Oz, the musical “Wicked” runs Nov. 28-Jan. 27 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.
The Skirball Cultural Center invites families to celebrate Hanukkah at its “This Little Light of Mine” festival on Dec. 2, featuring a klezmer band, roaming musicians, dance leaders, art projects and the Urban Voices Project choir. Also at the Skirball, you can gorge on latkes from Freedman’s LA while enjoying stand-up performances from Jewish comedians Dan Ahdoot, Matt Lieb, Robby Hoffman, Heather Pasternak and host Ester Steinberg in a show aptly titled “Latkes and Laughs” on Dec. 6.
The iconic songbook of the composer of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather” and “That Old Black Magic” will be celebrated in “The Music of Harold Arlen, Wonderful Wizard of Song” at the Soraya Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Cal State Northridge on Dec. 1. Hosted by Arlen’s son Sam Arlen, the program features Eden Espinosa, Leo Bwarie, Karon Blackwell and George Bugatti in a big band tribute to the tunesmith’s classics.
Singer Barry Manilow will perform a mix of hits and holiday songs in “A Very Barry Christmas” at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Dec. 14 and at the Agua Caliente Casino & Spa in Rancho Mirage on Dec. 15-16.
Israeli singer-guitarist David Broza brings his unique blend of Israeli and Spanish-inspired songs — and a message of peace — to the Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Dec. 15. This return engagement of David Broza & Friends features Trio Havana and guests Yuniel Jimenez “El Guajiro,” Xianix Barrera and Alfonso Cid.
Mixing stand-up comedy, cabaret and music in her idiosyncratic style, movie and TV actress Sandra Bernhard returns to her live performance roots with the world premiere of “Sandemonium!” a solo show at the Sorting Room at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts from Dec. 13-15.
Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital joins the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for an all-Vivaldi program celebrating the composer’s “Four Seasons” on Dec. 13 at Zipper Hall in Los Angeles and Dec. 14 at St. Monica Catholic Church as part of LACO’s Baroque Conversations series.l
Read more from the 2018 Holiday Arts & Entertainment Edition here.
