For Malibu music lovers like Ginny Mancini and Fran Dresher, the summer season has begun, and many wouldn’t miss being tucked into their cozy boxes on opening night at the Hollywood Bowl for the world.
This year, you better start believin’ because when it comes to kicking up the evening’s Hall of Fame, rock band Journey will be honored. The festivities begin with a high-voltage VIP cocktail party to get fans in the mood for a one-of-a-kind evening on Saturday.
After mingling over a few canapés and sips of chardonnay, guests will head for their boxes and a first-class spread.
The Hollywood Bowl’s Orchestra Conductor Thomas Wilkins will take the stage, as well as the young and talented members of the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles.
After its special program, when the “lights will go down in the city,” Journey makes its command performance as the latest inductees in the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame.
With a spate of chart toppers, it will be a nostalgic night indeed and don’t be surprised if you see a little “lovin’, touchin’ and squeezin’.” You can be sure this superband will welcome its fans “with open arms” and “faithfully.”
The legendary rock group starts on a high note to get things grooving, but this is just the beginning. The season continues with Underworld Jungle and KCRW’s popular World Music Festival.
Families will love the sing-a-long to the “Sound of Music,” celebrating the film’s 50th anniversary. Melissa Peterman will host.
It will be a blast on July 4 with the smooth sounds of the one and only Smokey Robinson and the fireworks celebration. You just know you’ll be cruising together.
Tchaikovsky lovers won’t want to miss “Romeo and Juliet” and the “Rococo Variations.”
Later in July, oh-so-cool crooner Harry Connick Jr. takes the stage with Death Cab for Cutie just a few days later.
And what season could be complete without a performance by Gustavo “The Dude” Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic? They’ll perform “Carmina Burana” with soprano Joelle Harvey and tenor Lawrence Brownlee. What’s more, you can look for Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale and its Children’s Chorus.
Lovers of “Old Blue Eyes” won’t want to miss a tribute to Frank Sinatra on what would have been the year of his 100th birthday.
The L.A. Phil’s Gustavo returns later in July with Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5.” There’s also the ever-popular “Nutcracker” and the classic “1812 Overture.”
August rings in Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” as well as Sheryl Crow and, for Reggie Night, a little Ziggy Marley and the smooth jazz sounds of Dave Koz and friends. The season winds down in September with a voyage to outer space as John Williams presides over “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” for a special series of concerts.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your picnic bag, grab a blanket and have a blast