Plays and Concerts this Weekend

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. The Pasadena Playhouse became California’s official State Theatre in 1937 after becoming the first American theater to present the entire Shakespeare canon. And it pulled that off just 20 years after it was founded.

In this weekend’s News N’ Roses:

• The Muppets Crash Broadway at Lineage

• Drama Over Five-Story South Lake Housing

• Events this Weekend

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Halima! 🎂

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THE DIGEST

The Muppets Crash Broadway at Lineage

The Muppets are crashing a Broadway audition at Lineage this Sunday. A Chorus Lineage: Muppet Edition brings together the worlds of A Chorus Line and The Muppet Movie for an original show featuring songs, storytelling, unexpected duets and plenty of audition chaos. The cast includes Lineage’s Dance for Joy students alongside teens, professional performers and community members.

The show takes place this Sunday, Aug. 16 at 3PM at Lineage Performing Arts Center. Proceeds support Dance for Joy, Lineage’s performing arts program for people living with neurological conditions. Get tickets here.

Drama Over Five-Story South Lake Housing

A proposed five-story development on South Lake Avenue is already stirring up some debate as it moves through Pasadena’s design review process. The project at 540 S. Lake Ave. would replace four one-story commercial buildings and a parking lot with 71 residential units and ground-floor retail. It’s being proposed as senior independent living, with nine affordable units.

Pie ‘n Burger owner Michael Osborne told the Design Commission the 64-foot-tall project would dwarf the longtime diner and make it feel “irrelevant.” Nearby residents also raised concerns about parking, traffic, shadows and the building’s size.

Commissioners were split, with some supporting the added density and others calling for changes to the building’s massing. Nothing has been approved yet — the project will return for formal design review.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Friday (8/14)

🏮 626 Night Market: Asian-inspired street food vendors, local artisans, and live entertainment fill Santa Anita Park’s grounds. Santa Anita Park | Friday | August 14 | 3–11PM

🎮 Outdoor Family Game and Play Night: Families play bean bag toss, giant Jenga, and horseshoes outside, plus kids can read to Cody, a therapy dog from Pet Partners. Hastings Branch Library | Friday | August 14 | 3:30PM

🎶 Summer Sunset Concerts at Lacy Park: Multi Cultural Event: The Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble performs gong-chime music and dance traditions from the southern Philippines. Lacy Park | Friday | August 14 | 5:30–8PM

🍷 Friday Nights at The Gamble House with West Altadena Wine + Spirits: West Altadena Wine + Spirits hosts an evening tasting on the grounds of the landmark Greene & Greene home. The Gamble House | Friday | August 14 | 5:30PM

📚 Bridget Morrissey, in conversation with Vince Rossi, discusses & signs “In What World”: Morrissey reads from and signs her novel about two high school rivals who travel alternate realities while searching for their missing drama teacher. Vroman’s Bookstore | Friday | August 14 | 7PM

🎸 Sunset Sessions | Live Music & Libations featuring Pocket Change: Pocket Change performs live in the open-air courtyard at One Colorado. One Colorado Courtyard | Friday | August 14 | 7:30PM

🎵 Grease: Altadena Music Theatre performs the 1950s musical outdoors at Mountain View Mausoleum. Mountain View Mausoleum | Friday | August 14 | 8PM

🎬 FILM | Battleship Potemkin + George Sarah: Eisenstein’s 1925 silent film screens with a live score by George Sarah, performed by string quartet, five-voice vocal ensemble, and electronics. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Friday | August 14 | 8PM

Saturday (8/15)

🥦 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: A certified market with locally-grown produce plus vendors selling jams, jellies, and fish. Victory Park | Saturday | August 15 | 8AM–12PM

🌽 La Canada Farmers’ Market: A weekly outdoor market running since the area’s farming roots, set along Rinetti Lane near the post office. Rinetti Lane (Next to LCF Post Office) | Saturday | August 15 | 9AM–1PM

🎒 Simply Divine Academy 6th Annual Back to School Giveaway: Darden Leadership & Career Academy and Simply Divine Academy distribute free school supplies, with food from Mariana’s Tacos. 421 E. Woodbury Rd. | Saturday | August 15 | 10AM–2PM

🎵 Musical Storytime at the Gamble House: PCM’s Rachael Denny leads kids through Together by Mona Damluji, using the picture book as a springboard for musical play on the Gamble House lawn. The Gamble House | Saturday | August 15 | 11AM–12PM

💕 Bookstore Romance Day at Vroman’s: Vroman’s marks the annual romance reader holiday with in-store festivities. Vroman’s Bookstore | Saturday | August 15 | 2PM

🎬 Matinees on the Mountain: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): Spielberg’s 1982 classic screens at Mt. Wilson Observatory. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Saturday | August 15 | 3–5:30PM

🔭 Explore the Universe through Physics: High school physics enthusiasts lead hands-on science experiments designed for middle schoolers. Lamanda Park Branch Library | Saturday | August 15 | 3PM

🪡 Cute & Quirky Button Earrings: Participants pick from an assortment of colorful clothing buttons to design their own pair of dangly earrings. Santa Catalina Branch Library | Saturday | August 15 | 3:30PM

🎹 2026 Levitt Vibe Pasadena Music Series: The Lao Tizer Band: LA-based keyboardist Lao Tizer leads his band in contemporary jazz blending world music, classical, pop, and soul. Memorial Park | Saturday | August 15 | 6PM

🎹 The Elton John Tribute: The Pasadena Symphony & Pops performs Elton John hits with soloist Craig A. Meyer and conductor Larry Blank, with gates open at 5:30PM for picnicking. LA County Arboretum | Saturday | August 15 | 7:30PM

🎶 29th Annual Concert Series 2026: Blue Breeze Band: An outdoor evening concert featuring the Blue Breeze Band at Loma Alta Park. Loma Alta Park | Saturday | August 15 | 7PM

Sunday (8/16)

🏃 Grandview Foundation’s 5th Annual Run for the Health of It: A 5K and 10K race supporting the Grandview Foundation’s addiction recovery and rehabilitation mission. Hahamongna Watershed Park | Sunday | August 16 | 8AM–12PM

🧘 Mat Pilates with Equinox Pasadena: One Colorado’s Courtyard Wellness Series continues with an all-levels mat Pilates class led by Equinox Pasadena lead Pilates instructor Ebony Perry, focused on core strength and flexibility. One Colorado | Sunday | August 16 | 10AM

🎭 A Chorus Lineage: Muppet Edition: Dance for Joy students, teens, professionals, and community members perform together in a Muppet-themed intergenerational show. Lineage Performing Arts Center | Sunday | August 16 | 3PM

🌿 Twilight Garden Strolls: An after-hours walk through The Huntington’s gardens at dusk, with a drop-in clay pendant-making activity using foliage collected on-site. Various garden locations at The Huntington | Sunday | August 16 | 4:30–7PM

🎙️ Go Fact Yourself LIVE with Adam Arkin: A live pop culture trivia show hosted by J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong, with actor Adam Arkin as a featured guest. The Crawford | Sunday | August 16 | 4PM

🎷 Ques in the City Jazz Concert Fundraiser: The Blue Breeze Band and John Tirabasso Community Youth Jazz Ensemble perform at this Omega Psi Phi fundraiser supporting local scholarships. Pasadena City Hall | Sunday | August 16 | 5–10PM

🌿 Twilight Garden Estate Tours: Guided evening tours through The Huntington’s gardens, led at dusk across the estate grounds. The Huntington | Sunday | August 16 | 5PM & 5:30PM

🎶 Music Meditation Medicine with Soul Force Project: Alma Cielo on sarangi, Paul Livingstone on sitar, and Neelamjit Dhillon on bansuri and tabla perform meditative ragas in the Olive Allée at sunset. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Sunday | August 16 | 7PM

Nothing in this section is sponsored. These are just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if something is sponsored!

WEATHER

Friday

80 🌡️ 63 |☀️| 💨 S 9 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 29 (Good)

Saturday

84 🌡️ 64 ☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

Sunday

88 🌡️ 65 |☀️| 💨 SW 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

Friday (8/14)

🎤Live Music Night with Avis Harrell: Live music from vocalist Avis Harrell at Visionarium Live Italian. @ Visionarium Live Italian (South Pasadena) – 7:00 PM

🎸Alela Diane – Who’s Keeping Time? Album Release Tour: Portland singer-songwriter Alela Diane brings her contemporary folk sound to Highland Park on her new album release tour. @ Lodge Room (Highland Park) – 7:00 PM

🎷Grace Fae and The Grandbirds: The LA-based vintage jazz band performs swinging songs from the 1920s through 1940s. @ Edwin Mills – 7:00–11:00 PM

Saturday (8/15)

🎻Classical Violin Concert: Violinist Mary Elizalde performs works by Bach, Saint-Saëns, and others. @ La Pintoresca Branch Library – 2:00 PM

🎸Gary Jules and Breezers: An afternoon of live music featuring Gary Jules and Breezers. @ Healing Force of the Universe – 3:00 PM

🎹2026 Levitt Vibe Pasadena Music Series: The Lao Tizer Band: LA-based keyboardist Lao Tizer leads his band in contemporary jazz blending world music, classical, pop, and soul. @ Memorial Park – 6:00 PM

🎸 Noah Kahan: The Great Divide Tour: The 2x Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter brings his stadium tour to Pasadena in support of his upcoming fourth studio album. @ Rose Bowl Stadium – 6:30PM

🎤An Evening with Teri Bond – Great American Songbook: Teri Bond performs timeless classics from the Great American Songbook. @ Visionarium Live Italian (South Pasadena) – 7:00–9:00 PM

🎹Marina Pacowski: French pianist and vocalist Marina Pacowski performs French songs and jazz classics. @ Edwin Mills – 7:00–11:00 PM

🎸Alex Amen with Grass: Singer-songwriter Alex Amen brings his warm, folk-influenced sound to the stage with Grass. @ Lodge Room (Highland Park) – 7:00 PM

🎹The Elton John Tribute: The Pasadena Symphony & Pops performs Elton John hits with soloist Craig A. Meyer and conductor Larry Blank, with gates open at 5:30PM for picnicking. @ LA County Arboretum – 7:30 PM

🎶29th Annual Concert Series 2026: Blue Breeze Band: An outdoor evening concert featuring the Blue Breeze Band at Loma Alta Park. @ Loma Alta Park – 7:00 PM

🎺Mike Bolger Ensemble: Mike Bolger and his band perform live, including unreleased music from his upcoming debut LP. @ The Barkley Restaurant & Bar (South Pasadena) – 9:00 PM–1:00 AM

Sunday (8/16)

🎵Absolute Focus + Chris Votek: Santoor, tabla, and cello come together for traditional Hindustani raga. @ Sierra Madre Playhouse – 4:00 PM

🎷Ques in the City Jazz Concert Fundraiser: The Blue Breeze Band and John Tirabasso Community Youth Jazz Ensemble perform to support local scholarships. @ Pasadena City Hall – 5:00–10:00 PM

🎶Music Meditation Medicine with Soul Force Project: Alma Cielo, Paul Livingstone, and Neelamjit Dhillon perform meditative ragas at sunset. @ Arlington Garden Pasadena – 7:00 PM

🎤Lotus Juice – Player One US Tour: The voice behind music from the Persona series brings his blend of hip-hop, rock, and storytelling to the stage. @ Lodge Room (Highland Park) – 7:00 PM

THANKS!

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