Quote:
Originally Posted by bobcat
. LA does lag other cities a bit in terms of performing arts, but that gap is sure to narrow in the coming years. Still though, it does take time for the cultural reputation of a city like LA to reflect reality--at least 10 years I'd guess, if not moreso.
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What do you mean, LA lags in performing arts? IF you look at the listings in aany thursday edition of the LA times, you will usually see over 100 and usually over 120 plays being performed in the city on any one week. actually the number of productions in the LA area out numbers the number of productions anywhere in the USA, including New York, although the productions in NYC are more elaborate as a rule and may play for years as opposed to LA productions which usually play for weeks or months. None the less most LA productions feature professional actors with their union cards.
There are three opera companies and new symphony hallls/performing arts centers have been built in downtown and Orange county recently. I am told there are more than 30 symphonic groups in the area including the prestigeous LA Phil, but also including the Hollywood bowl symphony, Pasadena symphony, glendale symph, Santa Monica Symphonia, LA chamber Orch, Orch Pacifica, etc. etc. USC, UCLA, and Cal tech have performing schedules. There are multiple performing arts centers all over the area including LOng Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, the Hollywood Bowl, etc. We are a little weak in homegrown classical ballet, but all the visiting companies come regularly, and as for non classical music, there are hundreds of clubs for live performance including most big names, In the US only New York can be said to have a more vital performing arts scene than LA.
The reason many don't ralize this is that our venues tend to be scattered across the metropolis, rather then located in a few areas. If you don't believe be, check out the Thursday calender section in the LA Times, or check out the LA weekly.
And that doesn't even count the tapings of TV shows open to the public,