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The Music Center invites Angelenos and visitors from around the world to the heart of Downtown L.A. for a vibrant summer season of joy, movement, connection and creativity. From world-class dance and live music to acclaimed theatre and free nights of dancing under the stars, L.A.’s performing arts center becomes a dynamic hub of energy and expression—everyone is welcome to feel the rhythm all summer long!
Dance moves to the forefront at The Music Center from June through August with an exciting range of performances and participatory experiences that invite audiences not just to watch, but to join in. From the highly anticipated return of New York City Ballet and the star-studded artistry of The Music Center’s BalletNOW: Superstars of Paris featuring Hugo Marchand & Friends to the infectious energy of free weekly lessons and social dancing under the stars at The Music Center’s Dance DTLA, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions and more, movement will animate every corner of the campus. Across both Jerry Moss Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park, dance will unfold in many forms—from global beats and live music-fueled dance parties to community celebrations that bring people together—making The Music Center a place where visitors can move or be moved.
Whether planning a family outing or a gathering with friends—or making a spontaneous decision to be adventurous and try something new—Angelenos and visitors alike will discover unforgettable experiences at every turn at The Music Center, including an exceptional lineup of arts experiences presented by The Music Center’s resident companies (Center Theatre Group, LA Opera, LA Phil and the Los Angeles Master Chorale).
“Dance takes center stage at The Music Center this summer because it reminds us of what it means to feel fully alive and to hold on to hope and joy, especially at a time when our communities are facing real challenges both close to home and around the world,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We are proud to open the doors to our stages—and our outdoor dance floors at both our plaza and in the park—to everyone who wants to experience the power of movement. With extraordinary ballet artists from New York and Paris joining us this summer, along with dynamic participatory dancing experiences, The Music Center reflects the very best of who we are as Angelenos and fans of the performing arts: dynamic, diverse and full of possibility.”
The Music Center is easily accessible by public transportation by taking the A or E line to Metro’s Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station or taking the Metro Red or Purple line to Grand Park Civic Center station.
To view a complete list of summer events at The Music Center, visit musiccenter.org/summer.
THE MUSIC CENTER
- Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center: New York City Ballet
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
After more than 20 years, New York City Ballet returns to The Music Center with two electrifying programs. These performances showcase the company’s storied legacy, from masterpieces by George Balanchine and New York City Ballet Co-Founding Choreographer Jerome Robbins to groundbreaking contemporary works by Ulysses Dove, Justin Peck, Tiler Peck, Gianna Reisen and Christopher Wheeldon. This residency is a must-see opportunity to witness the company’s legendary past and thrilling future. Both programs feature recorded music and live performances by New York City Ballet Orchestra.
Wednesday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 25, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 27, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 28, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- The Music Center’s ¡DALE! Fútbol Watch Party: Spain v. Uruguay
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center
The Music Center hosts a free World Cup Watch Party as part of the international soccer tournament. Cheer on Uruguay or Spain, create artwork and enjoy a summer evening on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center! Guests are welcome to bring a picnic dinner or purchase eats and treats with a variety of food and drink options available at The Music Center. After the final whistle is blown, the evening continues with a global dance party—The Music Center’s Dance DTLA—to kick off a summer of dancing. This special evening is co-created with The Music Center’s Partner Network Initiative members: Dance Resource Center, Las Fotos Project, Arts for LA, South Gate Museum & Art Gallery, LA Commons, KCRW, LAUSD Arts Education Branch and Dexter Story.
Friday, June 26, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Free!
- The Music Center’s Dance DTLA
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center
Join the thousands who love the chance to learn new dance styles and dance the night away under the stars! The Music Center's Dance DTLA returns on Friday nights this summer for the 22nd season of free, in-person beginner dance lessons followed by a dance party to practice some new moves. No dance experience necessary! Food and beverages will be available for purchase. No outside alcohol is permitted. Kick off this summer’s Dance DTLA on June 26 with an epic ¡DALE! Fútbol Watch Party (Spain vs. Uruguay), to be televised beforehand on the giant LED screens on Jerry Moss Plaza!
Friday nights: June 26; July 10, 17, 24 and 31; and August 7, 14
7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Free!
- Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center: The Music Center’s BalletNOW: Superstars of Paris featuring Hugo Marchand & Friends
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Renowned for his breathtaking technique, artistry and commanding stage presence, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile (principal dancer) Hugo Marchand brings an extraordinary lineup of the company’s principals and soloists to The Music Center’s iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall with The Music Center’s BalletNOW: Superstars of Paris featuring Hugo Marchand & Friends. Marchand reimagines the ballet experience through a distinct program of intimate performances that bring the elegance and artistry of Paris’ top dancers beyond the traditional stage. This is a rare opportunity to experience the flawless technique and powerful performances of these internationally acclaimed ballet superstars.
Friday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 1, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 2, 2:00 p.m.
- Live at The Music Center
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center
Dance the night away with incredible live music under the stars. The annual free concert Live at The Music Center returns to Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center for the fifth consecutive summer, thanks to the generosity of the Moss Foundation. This summer’s concert will feature an artist to be announced who will get audiences up and on their feet!
Saturday, August 15, 8:00 p.m.
ONGOING PROGRAMS
- The Music Center Tours
Meet at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles 90012
Create fun memories during summer vacation with a free tour of The Music Center’s sprawling campus! Led by volunteer Music Center docents, the Symphonians, the 90-minute tours encompass The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall and share details of each theatre’s history and architecture, along with Jerry Moss Plaza, while highlighting the many pieces of artwork, sculptures, tapestries, paintings and antiques from across the globe dating back to the 17th century. The free tours begin in the Grand Lobby of The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Tuesdays through Fridays, 11:00 a.m.
Saturdays and Sundays, 10:15 a.m.
- The Music Center Presents Life in Motion
Digital Arts Space at The Music Center
The Digital Arts Space at The Music Center invites Angelenos and visitors to create their own digital art related to nature and the building blocks of life. Developed by Taiwanese artist Chi Po-Hao and Zone Sound Creative, The Music Center Presents Life in Motion depicts a series of unique scenes that explore the beauty, complexity and interconnectedness of life. Participants, for example, can gather particles in space, shift landscapes of mountains and rivers, draw musical scores and more—all powered by their own movements and hand gestures—depicted on screens.
Now through June 28
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays: 2:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK
- Gloria Molina Grand Park's Wellness Breaks
Angelenos are invited to experience outdoor movement, restoration and reinvigoration—in under an hour—with this free series, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Wellness Breaks, which redefines midday breaks. Every Wednesday and Friday, participants can immerse themselves in their yoga flow amid the park’s lush greenery. Everyone is also encouraged to mark their calendars for select Sundays for the Wellness Breaks’ “Wild Card” series, adding excitement and variety to the regular weekly yoga classes. All of these sessions take place on the park’s scenic performance lawn between Grand Ave. and Hill St.
Wellness Breaks: Wednesdays & Fridays
Noon – 12:45 p.m.
Free!
Wellness Breaks’ Wild Card Series: Bollywood Fusion, Sunday, May 31; Fútbol Fusion, Sunday, July 12; and Goat Yoga, Sunday, August 9
11:00 a.m. – Noon
Free!
- Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party
All are welcomed to dance and celebrate the summer as the largest free summer block party on the West Coast, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party, returns with fun for the whole family. With local food vendors, arts activities, live DJs, global sounds, dancing and an iconic drone light show, this celebration of L.A.’s diverse communities is not to be missed.
Saturday, July 4, 4:00 – 9:30 p.m.
- Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions
A celebration of L.A.’s contributions to the global art form of dance music specially curated with DJs, themes and experiences unique to the house music genre and cultural community, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions is simply the best way to enjoy the park, sip cocktails, picnic and dance your heart out.
Sundays: July 19 & August 16
3:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Free!
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
- Primary Trust
The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum
In Primary Trust, Kenneth, a 38-year-old bookstore worker in a small upstate New York town, spends his evenings sipping Mai Tais at the local tiki bar with his best friend Bert. When he’s suddenly laid off, Kenneth faces challenges he has long avoided—with transformative and heart-warming results. Primary Trust is a touching story of new beginnings, old (and new) friends and finding the courage to see the world for the first time.
May 20 through June 28
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Mamma Mia!
The Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre
Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA in Mamma Mia! On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she has never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. For over 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story and the music that make Mamma Mia! the ultimate feel-good show.
June 23 – July 19
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Specially Scheduled Performances: Thursday, July 2, 2:00 p.m.; and Friday, July 3, 2:00 p.m.
No performances on Saturday, July 4
- MUSE/IQUE Presents Defiantly Joni
The Music Center’s Mark Taper Forum
An artist who has always prioritized her authenticity over compromise, Joni Mitchell revolutionized American songwriting and paved a path for future musicians to take ownership of their artistry. Celebrate the unparalleled influence of Mitchell, the woman who continues to blaze a trail for female artists, featuring beloved classics such as “Both Sides Now,” “A Case of You” and “Circle Game” as MUSE/IQUE Presents Defiantly Joni.
Saturday, July 11, 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 12, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 18, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 19, 2:30 p.m.
LA OPERA
- The Magic Flute
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Once upon a time, a prince awakens in a mysterious land with an even more mysterious task. Armed with enchanted bells and a magic flute, Prince Tamino sets off, bound and determine to rescue his lady love, the Princess Pamina—only to find that things aren’t what they seem. The Queen of the Night, who sent him on his quest, just might be plotting his doom instead. James Conlon ends his legendary tenue as LA Opera music director with the world’s most popular opera, The Magic Flute. Miles Mykkanen makes his LA Opera debut as Prince Tamino opposite Sydney Mancasola as the beautiful Pamina. Kyle Miller might just steal the show as the lovable sidekick Papageno, while Aigul Khismatullina and Kwangchul Youn face off as the Queen of the Night and Sarastro.
Saturday, May 30, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 14, 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 21, 2:00 p.m.
- Renée Fleming in Recital
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Today’s most celebrated soprano can boast five Grammy® wins, a National Medal of Arts and a live performance at the Super Bowl. The legendary songstress returns to Los Angeles to delight audiences with her incomparable artistry and astonishingly beautiful voice.
LA PHIL
- Sounds of France
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Flutist and composer André Jolivet was the kind of musician who strictly avoided conformity and advocated for music that makes us feel “human.” Pairing the flute with a quartet of percussionists, he aimed to highlight the instruments closest to the “primal” senses and origin of music in his 1965 suite.
Fauré’s E-minor String Quartet represents another aspect of humanity—death. Written just a month before he passed (and while he was completely deaf), the piece is as genius and complex as it is brooding and evocative, featuring an Andante movement, which his biographer said “bathes in a supernatural light” from beginning to end.
Performed before and after the intermission in Sounds of France are works by Vincent d’Indy and Marcel Tournier, respectively. D’Indy’s soothing and spirited song for woodwinds meets Tournier’s astounding and elaborate harp sonata.
- Gustavo Dudamel & Yo-Yo Ma
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Yo-Yo Ma “is a musician of immense conscience, a wholeheartedly earnest presence who tends to bring out the best in whatever company he is in” (The New York Times). Sharing the stage with Gustavo Dudamel, Ma brings his sensitive playing to the world-premiere performances of an underwater field recordings-inspired concerto by Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón. The collaboration between Negrón and Ma sparked from an experiential creative workshop Negrón facilitated with Ma and the Billion Oyster Project in New York City.
Thursday, May 28, 8:00 p.m. (This performance is sold out.)
Saturday, May 30, 8:00 p.m. (This performance is sold out.)
- Strauss and More with Dudamel
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Richard Strauss’ tone poems are arguably among some of the most richly orchestrated and strikingly adventurous pieces written for orchestra. Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) is no exception as it closely follows the composer’s own real-life conflicts, resolutions and romances along the way through its bold battle music, soaring melodies and passionate spirit. Join Gustavo Dudamel in Strauss and More with Dudamel as he conducts Strauss’ heroic journey for the first time in Los Angeles after the LA Phil performs a brand-new orchestral piece by Roberto Sierra, the Puerto Rican composer known for his unique fusion of European modernism and Latin American folk elements called “tropicalization.”
Friday, May 29, 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 31, 2:00 p.m.
- Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
After more than 20 years of recording and performing together, MacArthur “genius” Jeremy Denk and Grammy® winner Joshua Bell have “developed the sixth sense that characterizes the closest musical relationships” (The New York Times). The pair returns for their first joint recital at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall since 2010.
Wednesday, June 3, 8:00 p.m.
- Gustavo Dudamel: Celebrating the Musicians of the LA Phil
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
For 17 years, the musicians of the LA Phil have been close collaborators with Gustavo Dudamel in countless performances. During Gustavo’s final weekend at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall as music & artistic director, the principal musicians of the LA Phil take center stage for an evening of Mozart, Strauss and more.
Thursday, June 4, 8:00 p.m.
- Gustavo Dudamel: Celebrating 17 Years
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Gustavo Dudamel honors his Venezuelan and American identities, presiding over two poetry-inspired choral symphonic works in his final program at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall as music & artistic director. At times hushed and mysterious and at others pulsating and ecstatic, Harmonium was a breakthrough for John Adams’ compositional voice. Borrowing texts from Emily Dickinson and John Donne, Adams explores time, harmony and rhythm, unraveling gentle meditations into an awe-inspiring swirl of sound.
In the second half, Dudamel guides Cantata Criolla, another breakthrough work that is not just definitive of composer Antonio Estévez’ voice but an emerging national Venezuelan style. Driven by his belief that music can build bridges between cultures, Dudamel selected the cantata as one of the first pieces he wanted to bring to Los Angeles in his inaugural season as music director, and it fittingly sets the stage for his finale concert of the 2025/26 season.
Friday, June 5, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 6, 8:00 p.m. (This performance is sold out.)
Sunday, June 7, 2:00 p.m. (This performance is sold out.)
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
- Sound Waves: The Music of Esmail, Garrett and Woo
The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall
Sound Waves delivers a rare escape from the world’s noise with three spectacular immersive meditations on humans’ delicate relationship with water and nature. Korean composer Hyowon Woo’s powerful SUM immerses the audience in a transcendent “soundbath for the soul,” where 62 voices are spread throughout The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall surrounding the audience, interweaving with Korean percussion and resonant singing bowls to create an atmosphere of vibration. Rooted in the restorative power of sound and breath, this spatially dynamic experience invites guests to “be selfish” for a moment—surrendering to melodic currents that renew body and mind.
On the Seashore, by American composer Marques L. A. Garrett, unfolds as voices rise and recede like waves—cascading in a surge that crests in a breathtaking sonic climax. Garrett set his music to a 1912 poem by Rabindranath Tagore, reflecting children's innocence in an endangered, ever-changing world.
In Hindustani music, Malhaar (A Requiem for Water) refers to a family of raags that beckon rain. As drought worsened in Southern California, Indian American composer Reena Esmail was inspired by the legend that the greatest musicians could cause a downpour performing this raag. With Malhaar (A Requiem for Water), Esmail unlocks the power of music to heal and nourish. The great Hindustani singer Saili Oak, along with internationally renowned tabla player Abhimam Kaushal, create the underlying pulse and melodies that will vibrate through The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, as an immersive video installation by Camilla Tassi transforms the space into a cocoon of light and motion.
Sunday, May 31, 7:00 p.m.
*Programs and artists subject to change.
ABOUT THE MUSIC CENTER
As L.A.’s performing arts center, The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The $80 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Gloria Molina Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, live and digital K–12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park, which comprise $3 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on social media @MusicCenterLA.
ABOUT GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK
A vibrant outdoor gathering place, Gloria Molina Grand Park is a beautiful public park for the entire community in Los Angeles County. With expansive green space for gatherings large and small, Gloria Molina Grand Park celebrates the county’s cultural vitality and is host to community events, cultural experiences, holiday celebrations and many other activities that engage and attract visitors from all communities. The 12-acre Gloria Molina Grand Park stretches from The Music Center on the west to
City Hall on the east and is easily accessible by Metro via the B/D (formerly Red/Purple) line to the Civic Center/Grand Park station. Working closely with the county, The Music Center is responsible for all operations and programming for the park. For more information, visit grandparkla.org. Follow Gloria Molina Grand Park on Instagram, X, Twitch, TikTok, Spotify and Mixcloud (@grandpark_la) as well as YouTube and Facebook (@grandparkLosAngeles).
ABOUT CENTER THEATRE GROUP
Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967, Center Theatre Group has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as Zoot Suit; Angels in America; The Kentucky Cycle; Biloxi Blues; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Children of a Lesser God; Curtains; The Drowsy Chaperone; 9 to 5: The Musical; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. CenterTheatreGroup.org
ABOUT LA OPERA
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies. In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects initiative offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reaches people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. Learn more at LAOpera.org.
ABOUT THE LA PHIL
Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel (through August 2026), the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today.
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
The Grammy® Award-winning Los Angeles Master Chorale is “the finest-by-far major chorus in America” (Los Angeles Times) and a vibrant cultural treasure. Hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision and artistic daring, the Master Chorale is led by Grant Gershon, Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director, who will celebrate his 25th anniversary with the 2026/27 season. The Master Chorale reaches over 175,000 people a year through its concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall, international touring of innovative works, commissions, recordings and community education programs. Singing any genre in any language, the mission of the Master Chorale is to share the traditional and evolving spectrum of choral music with the widest possible audience.
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