Jazz Festivals and the Joy of Experiencing Art Together This Summer

Summer in Los Angeles brings that familiar feeling of scrolling through endless event listings, searching for something that feels different from the usual routine. While the city offers no shortage of entertainment, finding cultural experiences that truly connect people across generations and interests can be surprisingly challenging. This year, BroadStage’s newly announced 2025–26 season promises to change that conversation entirely, offering surprising cultural adventures that welcome everyone, regardless of their usual go-to genre.

A Season That Brings Everyone Together

At the heart of BroadStage’s approach lies a simple but powerful philosophy: great art should be accessible to all. The intimate Santa Monica venue, with just over 500 seats, has built its reputation on creating experiences where families, women of all ages and diverse cultural groups feel genuinely welcome. The venue’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond mere words, offering American Sign Language interpretation on request and running education programmes that reach over 15,000 children, parents, educators and community members annually.

‘This season at BroadStage is a celebration of bold new voices and long standing artistic courage, side by side,’ said Rob Bailis, Artistic and Executive Director at BroadStage. ‘It is truly intergenerational, built for a time when we must stand together, stand for what we believe – younger and older, alike and different – we must find the mutualities that bring us into community.’

Something for Every Mood and Moment

The beauty of BroadStage’s 2025–26 season lies in its remarkable range. Whether you’re drawn to the improvisational energy of jazz, the dramatic intensity of opera, the physical poetry of dance, the intimacy of theatre, the levity of comedy, the grandeur of classical music or even the adventurous spirit of National Geographic Live events, there’s genuinely something designed to surprise you.

This diversity creates perfect gateway moments for those who might not consider themselves ‘arts people.’ A friend who swears she only likes pop music might discover she loves blues and roots performances. A mother looking for something special to share with her teenage daughter might find that a contemporary dance piece sparks conversations they never expected to have. Like the art exhibitions that challenge us to see ourselves differently, these discoveries often become the most cherished memories.

The Santa Monica International Jazz Festival: A New Tradition

Perhaps the most exciting addition to the season is the debut of the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival, taking place from 1 to 9 May 2026. Co-produced by Stanley Clarke, the legendary bassist and four-time Grammy winner who pioneered jazz fusion as a founding member of Return to Forever, this festival carries particular significance for Los Angeles’ musical heritage.

The festival will celebrate the 100th anniversaries of Route 66, Miles Davis and John Coltrane – three pillars that helped shape American jazz culture. Clarke, who has lived in Los Angeles for decades and served as BroadStage’s Artist in Residence in 2023, brings both international credibility and deep local connections to this endeavour. Having been the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours and sell out shows globally, Clarke understands how jazz can create communal experiences across all backgrounds.

Jazz festivals have proven particularly effective at bringing people together because the music itself thrives on spontaneity and interaction. Like other successful music festivals, they invite audiences to respond, to feel the rhythm collectively, to experience the excitement of musicians creating something unrepeatable in the moment. Whether you’re attending with a group of friends, exploring solo or planning a family outing, festivals offer multiple ways to engage – from focused listening to casual socialising.

Not-to-Miss Experiences: Patrick Page’s Shakespeare Solo

Another highlight demanding attention is Patrick Page’s return to BroadStage with ‘All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain.’ Running from 15 to 25 January, this twelve-performance engagement showcases Page’s remarkable ability to bring Shakespeare’s most complex characters to life through solo performance.

Page, renowned for his Broadway roles including Hades in Hadestown (which earned him both Grammy and Tony nominations) and his acclaimed Shakespearean work, offers audiences something increasingly rare: an intimate encounter with a world-class performer exploring the psychological depths of literature’s most fascinating villains. The New York Times praised his Off-Broadway version of this show for its ‘captivating exploration’ and Page’s ‘resonant voice and presence.’

In BroadStage’s intimate setting, this becomes the kind of singular Los Angeles night out that creates lasting impressions. The proximity to the performer, the shared quiet attention of the audience and Page’s masterful storytelling combine to create an experience that feels both personal and communal.

The Joy of Going Together

There’s something particularly powerful about shared cultural experiences in our increasingly digital world. Heading out to performances can serve as a balm for daily stress, a source of unexpected laughter or a spark for new perspectives – often all within a single evening. These outings become natural connection points: mothers and daughters discovering they both love the same aria, friends finding themselves debating a play’s meaning over dinner afterwards, or even solo attendees striking up conversations with strangers during intermission.

Bailis captures this sentiment perfectly when he describes this season as offering ‘resilience and comic relief’ as shared experiences. ‘This season will offer a vibrant platform for collaboration, provocation, conversation, resilience and comic relief – it’s built to fortify all of us for the days ahead,’ he notes.

Regular BroadStage attendees frequently mention in reviews how the venue’s atmosphere encourages this kind of connection. The excellent sightlines mean every seat feels involved, while the acoustics create intimacy even in the back rows. Much like attending intimate classical music events, the venue’s location in Santa Monica also allows for easy day-date combinations – perhaps a beach walk followed by an afternoon performance, or dinner in the area after an evening show.

Planning Your Experience

BroadStage makes attending accessible in practical ways too. The venue offers convenient parking and is accessible via public transport, while nearby casual dining options mean you can easily build an entire evening around your show. The venue’s location in vibrant Santa Monica means you can combine cultural experiences with other activities, whether that’s exploring local shops, enjoying the seaside setting or making it part of a broader day out.

For those interested in making regular attendance part of their cultural routine, subscriptions offer both cost savings and the pleasure of anticipating multiple experiences throughout the season. The venue also provides accessibility services and welcomes families, making it genuinely inclusive for various needs and ages.

What’s Your Next Cultural Adventure?

As you consider BroadStage’s upcoming season, the question becomes less about whether you’re an ‘arts person’ and more about what kind of evening or afternoon would bring you joy. Are you curious about Stanley Clarke’s jazz festival and the communal energy that live music creates? Intrigued by Patrick Page’s intimate exploration of Shakespeare’s villains? Or perhaps drawn to one of the many other offerings spanning opera, dance, comedy and classical music?

The artist lineup and ticketing information for the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival will be released this autumn, while other season events are available now. Visit BroadStage.org for subscriptions, tickets and the full season calendar. Whatever draws you in first, you might just discover that the real joy lies not only in the performance itself, but in the shared experience of being moved, surprised or delighted alongside others who’ve gathered for the same purpose.