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Summer is almost half way over! Can you believe it? With two family vacations behind us and one more to go, I look forward to staying closer to home, and taking advantage of all the great entertainment deals right here in my own back yard!
It has been over two months since I wrote a 10 Savvy Entertainment Deals in Southern California round up. Because there are so many events to share, let’s get right to it!
1. Roaring Nights: L.A. Zoo’s Adults-Only, After-Hours Summer Concert Series, Los Angeles – $18.75 tickets
Ever wondered what animals do after dark? Roaring Nights is the L.A. Zoo’s adults-only summer concert series that lets you explore the zoo after hours, rock out to local indie bands and dance to your favorite DJs, all while eating from L.A.’s best food trucks and sipping cold drinks available for purchase from the full bar.
2. Footloose: Popular Dance Musical Cuts Loose @ Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Beach – $29.00 tickets
Kick off your Sunday shoes as high-energy pop musical Footloosedances onto the stage in this thrilling production at Laguna Playhouse. Based on the hit 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon and Sarah Jessica Parker, Footloose was a hit on Broadway and London’s West End. It’s the story of Ren McCormack, a big-city teen who finds himself out of place in a rural town where dancing has been outlawed. As he tries to carve out a place for himself, he sets off a revolution in the town as the younger generation rebels against the strict rules of the religious authorities. You’ll hear all the chart-topping songs from the film, including “Almost Paradise,” “Holding Out for a Hero” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” plus new material written for the stage.
3. RISE: Jack-O’-Lantern Festival Featuring 5,000 Hand-Carved Masterpieces @ Santa Anita Park, Arcadia – $16.50 tickets – OUR FAVORITE FALL EVENT!
Marvel at thousands of beautifully lit pumpkin carvings of your favorite characters, celebrities and more at RISE of the Jack O’Lanterns Santa Anita Park, with new and exciting additions for 2015. Bring the whole family for a not-too-spooky stroll where you’ll go out of your gourd seeing these intricately carved pumpkins, arranged according to various themes, from movie and TV-show characters to classic cars, safari animals and even a giant dragon display, all accompanied by an original score. Check out the live carving station, manned by one of the team of RISE’s talented artists, and turn this multi-sensory experience into a fun family tradition.
4. Sea Jellies & More at Aquarium of the Pacific: Afternoon Admission For Any Weekday (after 3 pm), Long Beach – $7.00 tickets
Umbrella jellies, purple-striped jellies and egg yolk jellies: You can see all sorts of jellyfish species — and even safely touch them without getting stung — at Aquarium of the Pacific’s new Jelliesexhibits. Discover these beautiful yet mysterious animals with no heart, brain or lungs that have existed on our planet since before the time of the dinosaurs, and learn about their importance to our ocean planet.
5. See Julianne & Derek Hough from Dancing with the Stars on stage in the Move Live on Tour @ Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles – $32.50 tickets
You’ve seen their fiery moves on Dancing With the Stars, now see them perform live at Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Star siblings Julianne and Derek Hough have collectively taken home seven DWTS mirror ball trophies and are both renowned professional ballroom dancers.
6. Raging Waters: Rides, Slides, Pools & More, San Dimas – $27.99 tickets
Spend a day cooling off at California’s largest water park, Raging Waters San Dimas. With 50 beautifully landscaped acres of slides, attractions and its own sandy beach, Raging Waters has active entertainment options for everyone. Feel the adrenaline rush on the all new Aqua Rocket, a four-person rocket style raft merging the excitement of a roller coaster and the thrills and spills of a water ride. Face thrillers like the Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, which features both a 40-foot drop and 360-degree spins … in total darkness! Make a splash at Wave Cove, a wave pool that simulates true tidal movements or just kick back and tube the quarter-mile-long lazy river known as Amazon Adventure.
7. Cosmic Laser Concerts Featuring Music of the Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd & More @ Laserium Van Nuys Studios, Van Nuys – $8.00 tickets
Hear and “see” the music of the Beatles, U2, Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails or Led Zeppelin at the historic Laserium Van Nuys Studios. Here, The Cosmic Laser Concert works in real time with the greatest rock music ever recorded, as a “master laserist” creates a mesmerizing live performance of unique visual effects that can only be described as “music for your eyes.” Discover why The New York Times wrote that you’ll “walk out exhilarated” from this visually and aurally intense experience in an intimate studio setting.
8. Fiddler on the Roof: Broadway Musical Celebrates Life’s Traditions @ Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Simi Valley – $12.00 tickets
Let your spirit soar as you get swept away with one of the most beloved musicals of all time, which returns to the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in honor of its 20th anniversary. Winner of nine Tony Awards, Fiddler on the Roof follows the life of Tevye, a poor dairyman in an early-1900s Russian village. Teyve attempts to honor and maintain the Jewish religious customs of his ancestors, but times are changing and his daughters are eager to follow the new ways. When dangerous forces threaten the village’s traditional way of life, Teyve’s faith and love for his family give him strength to fight for his home and the traditions of his people.
9. SuperHero — Princess Academy: A Mini-Musical for Little Ones @ CAC Studios, Santa Monica – $7.40 tickets
What do the students of Princess University do when the school needs to be shut down for re-glitterification? They crash SuperHero Academy! In this one-hour mini-musical filled with audience interaction, singing and dancing, children can be a part of the fun as the superheroes teach the princesses how to be heroes, and the princesses return the favor with lessons on how to be royalty.
10. Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy Tales @ Dolby Theatre, Hollywood
Prepare to laugh, sing and dance as you step into a world of wonder where wishing is only the beginning and dreams really do come true in Disney Live! presents Three Classic Fairy TalesPresented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy as they bring the timeless fairy tale adventures of Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, andSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs to life in a live theatrical experience that is pure magic. With dynamic storytelling, award winning music, stunning costumes, glittering special effects and spectacular sets, you will be captivated by these spellbinding stories when you dream with the princesses and cheer for their heroes as they conquer evil villains.
Happy Field Tripping!
Jilleen
Disclosure: This post is for informational purposes only. All points of view are my own.