Although tickets to Wicked are available through Ticketmaster, most people don't realize that there's a way to get some of the best spots in the house for less than the price of the nosebleed seats. Before each performance, 26 front row seats are made available through the "Wicked lottery," which takes place next to the ticket booth at the Pantages. So with a little luck, some persistence and $25 cash, you could find yourself front and center for one of the final performances. more ›

Dolly Parton rocked the House of Blues Friday at a “sneak peek” press and group sales event in Los Angeles for 9 to 5: The Musical , a new musical comedy based on the 1980 hit movie that starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin opening September 20 at the Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre. more ›

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For those of us not stuck on the 15 to Vegas, here's what's going on around town tonight: more ›

There I was, minding my own on the Red Line, screeching along toward Hollywood and Western, reading the ad copy on the walls. I'd seen the cross-promotional Metro-Wicked ads before, but I noticed something different this time: the witch is reading a copy of the Los Angeles Tribune. (Hed: "Metro Named America's Best Transportation Agency.") Two questions: First, why isn't she reading the Times? It's probably because Metro's marketing department wanted badly to include... more ›

It is estimated that 200 firms, 6000 workers and 1200 actors produce 4000-7000 adult films a year in Los Angeles. Yes, there are more porn-related, adult industry jobs than software jobs in this town. With $4.3 billion in sales and rentals (which is still nothing compared to the $12 Billion made from toys and books), the Adult Entertainment Industry puts $4 billion in revenue back into the local economy. “It’s in an industry producing... more ›

SONICS - The Witch &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/16 The Witch.mp3"> CREAM - Strange Brew &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Cream - Strange Brew.mp3"> DONOVAN - Season of the Witch &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Donovan - Season Of The Witch.mp3"> KINKS - Wicked Annabella &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Kinks - Wicked Annabella.mp3"> SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS - I Put A Spell On You &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Screamin' Jay Hawkins_Choice Rock Cuts_09_I Put A Spell On You.mp3"> FUNKADELIC - March To The Witch's Castle &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/03 March to the Witch's Castle.mp3"> LEON REDBONE - Witch Queen of... more ›

I often take short, random Quicktime videos with my camera. The uploads are limited, so they are sometimes abrupt. Here is a little entertainment from Wicked Wednesdays, the Lotus Festival. and Mods and Rockers. Let's start things off with a clip of Emily Rozek singing the hit showtune, Popular. Many more after the jump!... more ›

After covering Wicked Wednesday, I realized that I didn't have to work until later that night. The PR person had said, "Just go wherever you want." I think she meant within the stage area, but I thought I'd wander around a little. The last time I went to Universal Studios they had just gotten Jaws, and they were still doing an avalanche with big cheesy-looking styrofoam boulders. I went on "Back to the Future"... more ›

This summer, Universal Studios has been presenting a special series called Wicked Wednesdays, featuring performers from the hit musical, Wicked. It is a rare opportunity to hear the hit songs performed in an intimate venue. The Wizard and I, Popular, As Long as You're Mine and For Good were sung yesterday by Julie Reiber (in the role of Elphaba) Emily Rozek (in the role of Glinda), and Adam Lambert (Fiyero). The Wizard, John Rubinstein... more ›

The Noisettes @ Amoeba (6:30pm) The Noisettes, The Maccabees, The Pity Party @ The Troubadour Sage Francis, Buck 65 @ Henry Fonda Mere Mortals, Kind Hearts & Coronets @ Spaceland Peter Case, Ron Franklin @ Largo Roger Waters @ Verizon Amphitheatre Derek Trucks @ Ford Amphitheater The Dillards @ McCabe's Rhino Bucket, DC-4, Wicked Relish, Fantastic Black @ Paladino's Led Zepagain @ Hollywood Park... more ›

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Giant Drag @ The Glass House Stephen Marley, Damian "Jr Gong" Marley @ House of Blues Tapes & Tapes, Harlem Shakes @ Spaceland Jet @ The Troubadour Vast @ El Rey The Shys, Dirty Sweet, Lords of Jack @ Viper Room Vow of the Repentent, Artistic Expression, The Circuit, The New Colony @ Roxy Xu Xu Fang, Stephenson Ranch Davidians, Ludger @ Silverlake Lounge Elliot Randall Band, Pete Hopkins,... more ›

LAist is a big fan of local theater. Many smaller productions are so often overlooked by the big titles that come to town, like say, Wicked, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf or Master Class, so we’ll support LA’s theater community with the best of them. But like those big productions, sometimes you’re pleasantly surprised, but other times – like in the case of The Empty Bed – you’re not quite satisfied. Billed in the... more ›

Beyonce continues to bully the charts. And far too many people think that buying Kenny G CDs is an appropriate use of money. I know we can do better than this. Here to make miserable your otherwise sunny day is a list of this week’s Billboard No.1s. Below is the short list. More good news after the jump... Billboard Charts Issue Date: January 27, 2007 The Billboard 200 - Dreamgirls:Soundtrack The Billboard Hot 100... more ›

LAist is proud to begin offering a weekly, chart roundup of Billboard Magazine’s most coveted rankings. Join us as we revel in the conventional standard of musical success. Let us cross our fingers, hoist our lighters, and dream together of the supreme resurrection of artist-driven recordings that will forever eclipse the dark cloud of big label greed, A&R sleaze and disposable audio. Amen. Here are this week’s chart toppers. Behold the #1’s. Billboard Charts... more ›

David Geffen won the bidding war in the mid '80s to nab the country-tinged LA band Lone Justice and their self-titled debut came out to much hype. Everyone was fixated on the blonde singer, Maria McKee, whose voice was often compared to both Dolly Parton and Janis Joplin as the songs went from bluesy to hillbilly with a solid foundation in rock. Record sales didn't meet expectations despite being overwhelmingly loved by critics, fans,... more ›

As anyone who travels by car in Los Angeles can tell you, traffic can be a real pain in the ass. Just try getting from the Valley to Santa Monica in under an hour or from Santa Monica to Downtown without several tense moments and feelings of complete hopelessness, and you'll know what we mean. more ›

The Hollywood myth of becoming who or whatever you want to be never rings more true than this week. more ›

L.A. theater critic Rob Kendt's theater blog, the Wicked Stage, is back with fresh entries and, unfortunately, he's got a big story to parse this week as news filters out that the [Music] Center Theater Group (CTG) new artistic director, Michael Ritchie, has eliminated programs focused on the development of new plays and playrights, effective July 1, in order to spend more time and funding on staging new plays rather than work-shopping them in readings. more ›

Rob Kendt, Los Angeles theater critic and blogger of "The Wicked Stage," compiles some local theater recommendations for Stephen Hawking, the noted scientist and, apparently, frequent SoCal visitor. more ›

Okay, so the Grove may not have booked J-Lo, who's kind of like the Tiffany of today, but they do have K-Lo and L-Lo. That's "American Idol" Kimberly Locke and soundtrack songstress Lisa Loeb to you. They'll be performing live this Wednesday at 7:00 PM. more ›