Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Ford Amphitheatre, Los Angeles

The Ford Amphitheatre is one of many excellent Los Angeles performing arts venues, and it can be found at the base of the Hollywood Hills at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. From May to September, a variety of events are held at this intimate theater, and they range from dance performances and concerts to films and theater shows. The country regional park setting that the Ford Amphitheatre boasts lends to the overall experience for patrons, and the proximity of the seats to the stage is also worth noting. All of the 1,245 seats at the theater are less than 100 feet away from the stage, so it's essentially impossible to buy bad Ford Amphitheatre tickets.

The Ford Amphitheatre is named for the late County Supervisor, John Anson Ford, and it was originally built in 1920. After opening under a different name, the theater was home to the same summer play for nine years. In October of 1929, a brush fire brought the original theater down, in which case a new one was built and opened in 1931. The new theater is made of concrete, instead of wood like the original, and the architectural accents are inspired by the gates of Jerusalem. The original Pilgrimage Play that was held at the Ford Amphitheatre in the early days continued its run until 1964. A variety of concerts and other kinds of performances replaced it, though the patrons became increasingly scarce and the theater eventually started to deteriorate. It was John Anson Ford who stepped up to obtain funding for the fledgling venue some decades ago, and thanks to extensive renovations between 1995 and 2000, it has never been better.

Every year between the months of May and December, Los Angeles locals and visitors alike can catch any number of events at Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Most of the events that are held at the theater are family friendly, so families can drop by when they're not hanging out at the Los Angeles Zoo, the Natural History Museum, or any other number of family-friendly Los Angeles attractions. Concessions are offered during the summer events season, so it's easy to keep the kids satisfied when they get hungry or thirsty. Gourmet box dinners can also be prepared for guests who are interested in dining on-site, while a number of area restaurants can also come in handy before or after a show.

The Ford Amphitheatre is actually two theaters in one. There is the outdoor, 1,245-seat John Anson Ford Amphitheatre and the indoor, 87-seat Inside The Ford venue. This smaller, indoor theater hosts theater shows and live music performances throughout the year, and it also features the Ford New Play Series. This series runs from November to April and is supported by the Los Angeles Country Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. The various events at Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles offer something for everyone, and when you consider the many other area venues, such as the Kodak Theatre, it becomes clear than an LA getaway can be ideal for performing arts enthusiasts.

Ford Amphitheatre tickets are known to go fast, and this has a lot to do with the low seat count and the quality of the performances. As such, anyone who is hoping to catch one of the many great events at Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles might want to buy their tickets in advance when possible. For those who wait until they get to town, the box office is open on all show days. More often than not on show days, the box office opens an hour before showtime and closes fifteen minutes after the show begins. Fear not if you can't manage to get your hands on some Ford Amphitheatre tickets when in town, as there are plenty of other places to catch some live entertainment in the City of Angels. The Hollywood Bowl, for example, is an excellent place to catch a musical performance, and the historic Orpheum Theatre recently reopened after enjoying extensive renovations.

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