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  • Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO May 23-June 29, 2025 in Laguna Hills

    CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S ECHO

    • By LUCIA SERRANO

    Cirque du Soleil returns to Southern California with ECHO, a stunning new production that brings its signature Big Top magic to life at Laguna Hills Mall from May 23 to June 29, 2025. With a tale of evolution and the symbiotic relationships that connect all living beings, ECHO offers a fresh and unexpected take on Cirque’s poetic style—blending daring acrobatics, imaginative stagecraft, and immersive technology into a vivid spectacle.

    At the heart of the story is Future, a young heroine whose curiosity sets a transformative journey in motion. Alongside a cast of whimsical characters, Future learns that each choice we make has the power to shape the world. As they progress through the stages of evolution, they are driven by hope and empathy to rebuild the planet piece by piece, to ultimately create the world we all want to live in.

    Fuelled by youthful optimism, creative ingenuity, and the value of connection, ECHO invites audiences into a universe of color and possibility. This 20th Big Top show from Cirque du Soleil weaves together awe-inspiring performances and visual poetry to remind us that even small actions can spark meaningful change.

    Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the Cirque experience, ECHO is an unforgettable adventure that will leave you moved, inspired, and marveling at what’s possible when we dream together. 

    For tickets, discounts and more, click here.

  • Venice Art Walk returns May 9-18, 2025 on Abbot Kinney Boulevard

    ART WALK + AUCTION

    • By Elaine Walker

    Embracing the theme “Past, Present, and Future,” the Venice Family Clinic Art Walk + Auction returns for a special 46th annual edition May 9-18, free to the public, at 910 Abbot Kinney. As goes the theme, let’s first embrace the event’s past, or founding, by a group of clinic supporters who organized with local artists (including Frank Gehry in an integral role) in 1979 to raise funds to ensure the Clinic could continue to provide vital medical services to the community. Artists in Venice’s thriving scene – John Baldessari, Ed Moses and Ed Ruscha, among them – donated artwork to be auctioned and opened their studios to the public. Generations of artists have followed their example through the decades and, to date, the Art Walk + Auction has raised more than $24 million to support the Clinic’s mission. The 2025 auction features works from 175 artists – emerging, mid-career and established- including Frank Stella, Helen Pashgian, Don Suggs, Gajin Fujita and Adam Silverman. A special section of the gallery will honor the strength, resilience, and creativity of the communities most deeply affected by the recent wildfires and spotlight the relief Venice Family Clinic has provided in the wake of the tragedy and the role art and community play in healing and recovery. The contributions of Black artists from Altadena, with their rich cultural legacy and powerful creative voice, will be highlighted, speaking to the solidarity that continues to shape the landscape of Los Angeles.

    For more details and to view/bid on artwork online, click here.

  • Harry Potter and The Cursed Child playing through June 22, 2025 at Pantages Theatre (John Skelley and Emmet Smith / Photo Broadway in Hollywood)

    HARRY POTTER

    • By KENNE HOFFMAN

    Grab a port key or jump on your broom… It doesn’t matter how you get there, but you can’t miss seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Childat the famous Hollywood Pantages theatre. Hold onto the edge of your seat, this spellbinding spectacular will whisk you back to Hogwarts and beyond your imagination for a one-of-a-kind journey that is everything (and more) than you could hope for. Written by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Childwas marketed as the “eighth story” of Harry Potter, taking place after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.WhileHarry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play about a new generation of wizards, it features many fan-favorites including the Harry Potter trio, (John Skelley as Harry, Nathan Hosner as Ron, and Ebony Blake as Hermione).

    Set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hollows, the play opens with Albus (Harry’s son played by Emmet Smith) getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express for his first year. He befriends Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius (Aiden Close) on the train. The two travel through time to fix past wrongs, including the death of Cedric Diggory. Their actions could change the Wizarding World forever. It premiered in London in 2016 and New York in 2018 and won six Tony Awards including Best Play, Direction, Scene, Lighting, Sound and Costume Design.

    This mind-blowing race through time has spectacular spells and an epic battle with the most mystifying theatrical magic ever seen on stage. Playing through June 22, 2025, at the Hollywood Pantages. Don’t miss it!

    For tickets and show times, click here.

  • MOMENTUM on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025 at Theatricum Botanicum (Lexi Pearl / Photo Theatricum)

    MOMENTUM PLACE

    • By Nina Sventitsky

    Celebrate the spirit of survival, renewal, and creativity this Mother’s Day with MOMentum Place, a special performance at the enchanting Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon. Nestled among the towering oaks and vibrant gardens of this wonderful venue, Theatricum offers the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of heartfelt storytelling, music, and dance. This Mother’s Day event is special, because it comes just four months after the devastating Palisades fires that crept into the canyon.

    MOMentum is a dynamic showcase that honors the power of women, the nurturing forces of nature, and generational connections. Featuring an ensemble of gifted performers, the event weaves together original songs, poetry, acrobatics and choreographed pieces, creating a rich tapestry that speaks to resilience, beauty, and transformation. With each performance unfolding under the open sky, audiences will feel deeply connected to the warmth of community in this gorgeous place, where families can celebrate together.

    This year, MOMentum Place takes on special significance, celebrating mothers and caregivers of all kinds. Guests are invited to bring loved ones, pack a picnic, and experience a day that promises both joy and inspiration. Whether you’re drawn by the stirring performances, the natural beauty of the Theatricum’s outdoor stage, or the communal spirit of celebration, Momentum offers a memorable and moving way to honor Mother’s Day. Brunch ($40) is at noon, the performance ($45) starts at 2 pm. All ages encouraged.

    For more, click here.