Music

ABBA! Is there anyone that doesn’t know this Swedish pop group and their legendary music? Formed in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, ABBA became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music. Topping charts worldwide from 1974–1982, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. The Broadway musical Mamma Mia! is based on the songs of ABBA, was written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, and takes its title from the group’s 1975 chart-topper. The show has been seen by more than 60 million people around the world and ran for 14 years on Broadway, playing a whopping 5,758 performances from 2001–2015. To date, Mamma Mia! has been seen in 50 productions performed in 16 different languages grossing more than $7 billion at the box office. The show returns to Broadway for a limited run beginning in August. 

The 25^th Anniversary Tour of Mamma Mia! will play at Orange County’s Segerstrom Center for one week only, May 13–18. Telling the simple tale of a young bride’s desire to be walked down the aisle by the father she doesn’t know, the show includes many of ABBA’s biggest hits including  “Lay All Your Love on Me,” “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “Thank You for the Music,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “SOS,” and more. I promise you’ll be singing and dancing all the way home!

For tickets and more, click here.

This May, Sierra Madre Playhouse presents a vibrant lineup of performances celebrating the power of storytelling across music, dance, film, and theater.

On May 10 at 7:30 PM, experience Carl Dreyer’s silent film masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc(1928) accompanied by a mesmerizing live score from composer George Sarah. This one-of-a-kind event blends electronic music with a string ensemble and early music choir, reimagining the haunting classic with contemporary urgency.

Jazz lovers are in for a treat on May 16 at 7:30 PM, as saxophonist Alex Johnson leads a high-energy tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, honoring the iconic sound of hard bop with a powerhouse ensemble.

Dance and cultural heritage take center stage the weekend of May 17–18. On May 17 at 11:00 AM, Kayamanan ng Lahi showcases traditional Filipino folk dance. That evening and again on May 18 at 7:30 PM, Atwater & Ford perform In Search of an Exit, a compelling contemporary dance piece exploring identity and transformation.

From May 25 to June 9, the Playhouse premieres Flashes of Light, a stunning new musical by Billy Larkin and Ron Boustead. Set during the Industrial Revolution, it follows Nikola Tesla and Electra, the Goddess of storm clouds, in a mythic love story powered by jazz, pop, rock—and lightning.

For tickets and details, click here.

You’ve likely seen the commercials with the colorful costumes and talented performers of Shen Yun. How many of us have found the time to see this almost 20 year-long performance? In 2006, a group of classical Chinese artists came together with a mission: to revive the traditional, divinely inspired culture of China and share it with the world. They created Shen Yun. Enjoying true artistic freedom, these artists work tirelessly to bring this ancient world to life on stage. Nothing like this can be seen in China, in fact, Shen Yun is still not allowed to perform there.

Journey through millennia of traditional Chinese culture moving from one legend, region, or dynasty to the next. Themes range from the delicate elegance of Tang court ladies to the battlefield heroics of valiant generals, from the timeless philosophical works of Lao-Tzu to spectacular scenes of heavenly realms with 5,000 Years of Civilization. Classical Chinese Dance, Stunning Costumes, Orchestra, and Backdrops transport you to a magical world.

When Shen Yun was founded, The Chinese Communist Party began a transnational repression campaign against them. The CCP tries to stop them from performing by pressuring theaters to cancel performances, vandalizing buses and trucks, paying for ads slandering the performers and flooding online reviews with fake comments. They manipulate social media influencers and mainstream press to attack the production and even make bomb threats to venues like The Kennedy Center.

Shen Yun has several upcoming dates throughout Northern and Southern California, with Los Angeles performances at the Dolby Theater May 3-4, 2025.

For show times and tickets, click here.