Ahmanson Theatre

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Ahmanson Theatre

Overview: The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the premiere live theatre venues in Los Angeles and one of three venues in the “music center.” It’s located on Grand Avenue in the northwest quadrant of Downtown Los Angeles on Bunker Hill and the government center.

The programming of the Ahmanson focuses on the larger productions because it’s a large live theatre venue. However, no matter where you sit, from the side balcony seats to the lower level orchestra seats, the visibility of the stage is still good. I’ve seen La Boheme in the balcony, Avenue Q in the mezzanine and Les Miserables in the orchestra seats. Though the visibility is obviously the best in the orchestra seats, you will still have a wonderful time at the Ahmanson.

During intermission, you can step outside the theatre room and grab a drink – both alcohol and non-alcoholic – from any between $4 to $10. Snacks and show related items are also sold as well. And, of particular interest, there is an opportunity to mingle with other theater-goers.

The Ahmanson Theatre sits at the north end of the music center plaza, the center of which, consists of a statue with a beautiful water fountain and synchronized show. In the music center, you have several dining choices: the Pinot Grill (21.972.3190), a fun outdoor but elegant dining experience between the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Mark Taper Forum, Kendall’s Brasserie (213.972.7322) and Spotlight Café, the most affordable of the dining choices in the plaza.

Tip: The Ahmanson Theatre sells what are known as rush tickets, which are tickets not sold two hours before the curtain call. The rush seats are for balcony seats only but you may get lucky if you are in a wheelchair find wheelchair seating tickets in the mezzanine section. The rush tickets are sold at $12.00.
Free standby tickets are sometimes given away during the opening night of some shows. These tickets are generally tickets that have not been sold but more often, these are tickets of no shows and cancellations. Call (213) 972-8098 to determine if standby tickets will be given for a particular show.

Hot Tix are sold for $20 three weeks prior to the first performance of a new show. Got to box office in person or call the Center Theater Group’s Audience Services at (213) 628-2772.

Location: 135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Site: www.centertheatregroup.org
Ph: (213) 628-2772

Cost: Tickets range from $20 (balcony) to $120 (orchestra).

Parking: $8.00 self parking, $20 valet. The parking garage entrance is located off Grand Avenue. There are metered parking spots in the surrounding areas. Remember that a handicap placard enables free parking in the metered spots (not the music center parking structure though).

Accessibility: for the physically disabled, the Ahmanson Theatre has wheelchair seating available in row N of the orchestra section, the sides of row M and the box seats C of the mezzanine section and box D in the balcony.
The Ahmanson also provides audio descriptions of programs, binoculars and listening devices.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com. Call the Center Theatre Group at (213) 628-2772 for shuttles.