Night On Broadway

So much fun! I went last year and this year!
the lines were awful this year! and the fast tracking for people in the neighborhood was confusing and unorganized.
But all the performances i saw were amazing!
I will go next year!

LA HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER!
I seriously wouldn’t consider living anywhere else in the world, because there’s always so much to do and see in LA, and some at very little to no cost! Night On Broadway is just one of the events that I had the privilege of experiencing recently which helped me appreciate living here even more.
Night on Broadway is an event hosted by Los Angeles City Council member José Huizar, in an effort to revitalize Broadway’s 7 historic theaters. It happens one night a year featuring pop-​up shops, food trucks, and musical and stage performances in the theaters and surrounding areas. Its basically a huge block party with theater quality performances and shows happening around the clock. If it wasn’t for this event, I wouldn’t have stepped foot into some of LA’s most gorgeous theaters. I was completely blown away by the Los Angeles theater that hosted the Lucent Dossier Experience. This theater is probably one of the most gorgeous and elaborate theaters I have ever seen. I was also able to catch The Clouds Below at the Palace theater, and Zen Arts at the Orpheum theater. It was a night filled with entertainment that I would have gladly paid for. If you haven’t yet experienced Night on Broadway I would highly recommend it for those who love performing arts!
Tips*
–Park far away and walk or take public transportation. The traffic is insane when they close off 5 blocks in downtown
–arrive early to take full advantage of what the night has to offer. I didn’t get to see a lot of the performances since I came late
–bring cash for drinks and food
–the schedule of events is posted ahead of time so plan accordingly for acts and shows you want to see. There’s lines for everything but they let you in in waves so the wait is no more than 20 – 30 minutes.

Awe! Downtown LA (DTLA) in the roaring 20’s… a time of flappers and fedoras, mayhem and debauchery, the birth of Mass Culture, and three-​quarters of the American population visited a movie theater every week. It was the peak of construction of the Broadway Theater District, spanning from 3^rd to 9^th Street, the first and largest historic theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with 12 movie palaces. With the rise of movie production, DTLA became the movie capital of the world.
The 20’s and 30’s was a time, Los Angeles experienced a massive growth spurt, both in population, becoming the fifth largest city in the US, and in architecture. Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights premiered at the Los Angeles Theatre. This 1931 French Baroque style theatre was modeled on San Francisco’s Fox Theater, and has a seating capacity of almost 2,000. The Palace Theatre, based on a Florentine early Renaissance palazzo design with brick façade and multi-​colored terra-​cotta swags and four panels depict the muses of vaudeville; music, song, dance, and drama. This 2,200 seat capacity theatre includes a second balcony, however, it is currently not in use.
Unfortunately, the years that followed WWII, the district started to decline. Movie goers headed to Hollywood and Westwood for first run movies. Anglo moviegoers moved to the suburbs, leaving room for the Latino population to rise.
In an effort to save the Broadway Theater District, «Last Remaining Seats,» a preservation and restoration effort started by The Los Angeles Conservancy commenced in 1987. Each summer the doors of these historic theatre’s doors open up to the public playing old movies and continues today.
Now in its seventh year, «Night on Broadway,» an annual one day event held in the heart of The Broadway Theater District celebrates Councilmember Jose Huizar’s «Bringing Back Broadway» This 10-​year plan is to revitalize the Historic Broadway corridor. The purpose is «to provide economic development and business assistance; encourage historic preservation; reactivate Broadway’s historic theaters and long-​underutilized commercial buildings and increase transit and development options by bringing the beloved streetcar back to downtown Los Angeles with Broadway as the spine for the route.»
The day of the event, Broadway Street is closed off to motor vehicles from 3^rd Street, at the Million Dollar Theatre to the Ace Hotel, just south of 9^th Street. Avoid the cluster traffreak and hop on the Metro or other form of public transportation. Folks mossy down the street, stopping to grab grub from a food truck, dancing in the streets to the music from a live band or Silent Party Headphones, or standing in line to see the next act at one of seven historic theatres.
Those with a Smartphone can download the Night on Broadway mobile app. to get the latest updates on acts, artists, and activities. With so much going on over a six block span, the app. helps plan your route.
A NOTE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS:
For an event of this size, I was pleasantly surprised at how well organized it was, and not overly crowded, with the exception of the zip ties on the doors of the porta potties when we first arrived. Not sure if they ever unzipped them, just thought it was kind of odd. And to see Ozomatli bustin’ their jam on stage was… well, good times were had.
Can’t wait till next year!!!

How is it that we didn’t know about NOB before? Done annually in the end of January and hands down one of the best events put up in DTLA! This is an excellent opportunity for locals to check what Broadway has to offer! 7 theaters run short performances all night long (like every hour from 5 pm to 10 pm) and you get a chance to see them for FREE!
I was more stoked to see the theaters themselves as they are significant to LA historical, cultural and architectural heritage. Los Angeles theater, with is grandor and chic, impressed us most of all. Million Dollar Theater was showing a burlesque performance, and that was unexpected :) We super enjoyed live music at the two main stages and loved loved loved the silent disco party on Broadway and 5^th!
Tons of food trucks, artists showcasing their work, kids corner, live music, virtual reality experience, photo booths, and soooo much more on this amazing stretch of Broadway! Bravo LA! We will definitely be back next year!

I attended the event in 2015 and again in 2016. The Viva Arts show was my favorite so far. Also loved the aerial arts acts each year.
2016 was bigger and definitely better organized overall. One exception. The stage set up in the street near Grand Market was poorly placed. It was too close to Million Dollar Theatre, one of the larger venues, which lead to bad foot traffic and poorly organized lines in that area.
2015 had some more comedy and magic. I missed that this year. 2015 also had a theatre group do an excerpt from a musical. Missed that too. One change I’d like to see: some audience guidance. Tell people not to use their phones. The led glow is really distracting.

I celebrated my birthday with a Night on Broadway and I’d give 10 stars if I could. What an amazing night! Everything was perfect, from the entertainment to the overall good vibes and fun atmosphere.
My wife and I took the train to Pershing Square and walked a block to this free event, which was on Broadway between 3^rd and 8^th Streets. We congratulated ourselves for taking public transportation: not having to sit in traffic and not having to worry about finding/​paying for parking was the perfect way to start the festivities.
We arrived early so we could eat at Guisado’s, right around the corner from the event. This was a win-​win all around: we got to eat at a long-​time Bookmarked spot (it lived up to the hype!) and it was more satisfying than standing in a long line at one of the many overpriced food trucks.
The event kicked off at 5pm and we walked toward the main stage on 3^rd, checking out the various community organizations, ongoing art projects, and vendors. It was a family-​friendly event, so my brother and his daughter also took the train in and we all met up. It wasn’t crowded at all, which made it easy for us to see and do a bunch of different things.
We got free clown noses and took our pictures at the Cirque du Soleil booth, we got info from the Friends of the LA River, and we got down at the silent disco party. The silent disco was a blast! Our daughter had told us about the silent parties she’s attended at college and we wanted to see what it was all about. Basically, everyone wears a set of wireless headphones linked to the DJ and dances to the music like any other nightclub, but the music is only blaring away in your ears and not disturbing non-​participants. It looked funny to the passers-​by, but none of us cared. We were too busy dancing the night away.
I loved seeing all of the old theaters open for shows; there’s so much history here and it was a shame that the venues had become so dilapidated over the years. Thankfully, Councilman Jose Huizar’s efforts to revitalize the area have resulted in the theaters re-​opening for an amazing Night on Broadway.
There were a lot of firsts for me on this night:
1. Dancing at a silent disco. Besides Ozomatli, this was my highlight of the night.
2. Seeing Ozomatli. One of my favorite bands (quintessential LA!) that I’ve somehow never seen until this night. Awesome show!
3. Watching a chessboxing match. Exactly what its name says: alternating rounds of boxing and chess-​playing. Weird in a cool way.
4. Taking a salsa lesson. Actually, I’ve taken little freebie dance lessons like this before, but never in the middle of the street.
5. Going to a Mac Sabbath concert at the Tower Theater. A band dressed up as evil-​looking Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and the Hamburglar playing Black Sabbath songs with fast-​food-​related lyrics? Yes, please! The band had problems with the sound system and the acoustics weren’t meant for classic heavy metal, but it was still hilarious.
6. Eating at Guisado’s. Note to self: write five-​star review ASAP.
7. Getting my and my wife’s picture in the L.A. Times (and their Instagram)! Thanks to all of the Unilocalers who pointed this out. We could not have asked for a better souvenir of such a spectacular evening.
I can’t wait for next year.
Highly recommended.
Epilogue: the next day we read reports that 60,000+ people were at the event. While it did get crowded as the night wore on, it never felt stifling or claustrophobic, thanks to all of the theaters being open and all of the live street entertainment. People were constantly moving on to whatever caught their eye or ear. It did help (a lot) that we got there early so we didn’t have to wait in long lines for anything, but there was enough going on that you could just bounce around whenever you were stuck in one place for too long.

My wife and I just happened to be in DTLA to try to take advantage of Museum Free-​for-​All. Thanks to the world’s slowest server at Café Gratitude (part of DineLA), we didn’t get to MOCA in time, and the line for The Broad was ridiculous, so we had to admit defeat. While crossing Broadway at Grand Park, we heard music playing a couple of blocks away. «Why don’t we check it out?»
Yes, the Night On Broadway. It more than made up for missing the museums. Keep in mind that we are not locals, and many of the attractions in the area were completely new to us, like Grand Central Market and the theaters. We had a blast checking out the different events. I didn’t catch the name of the band playing in the Kid’s Zone, but they were rocking a Stevie Wonder classic, and they were great. We weren’t intimidated by the line at the Tower (which moved pretty quickly) to see Mac Sabbath, and they pretty much made my night. They must be seen to be believed.
Afterwards, we got a drink at Clifton’s and then got a late dinner at Ramen Hood in Grand Central Market. Success!
We only got to check out a small part of what NOB had to offer. We are definitely going to return next year. Thanks, Councilman Huizar! Suggestion: make sure that Grand Central Market’s 100 year anniversary is honored in 2017.
Tip: download the NOB app here. Be prepared!
Best regards, Broadway.

(Attended 01÷30÷16 SA @ 5:00pm-11:00pm): The neon lights were bright this night on Broadway!
I happily volunteered the first two years of Downtown Los Angeles’ «Night On Broadway», a celebration of the ongoing revitalization (8 years running) of the historic Broadway Theater District. This event was an extension of the «Bringing Back Broadway» initiative sparked by Councilmember Jose Huizar to reintroduce the glorious Golden Age of Hollywood during its infancy and reconnect all Angelenos — new or old — to the city’s legendary heritage and history. Would this native Angeleno return for future acts and be among a city of unknown stars!?:
THE EVENT
A FREE evening for all-​ages (and pets, too!) filled with art, culture, entertainment, food, landmark gazing, mingling, music, and people-​watching on a stretch of road open only to pedestrian traffic as you literally roamed Broadway St. The jewel of the event were the seven iconic theatres which were open and hosted various entertainment offerings. Here’s a collage of the evening:
Theatre At Ace Hotel — Live bands: James Fauntleroy.
Orpheum Theatre — Musical: «Zen Arts Presents: The Last Night».

Tower Theatre — Live bands: Mac Sabbath.

Globe Theatre — Game Show: «Rebel Bingo».
Palace Theatre — Live band & dance troupe: «The Clouds Below w/​Dancers by Flipz Entertainment.

Los Angeles Theatre — Acrobatic eroticism: Lucent Dossier Experience.
Million Dollar Theatre — Burlesque: Million Dollar Cabaret.
Festival Stage — Live bands: Aloe Blacc.

Ferris Wheel —
Chessboxing —
Art Installation —
Service — The traffic situation that surrounded the entire area was a major clusterfuck! With the suffocating congestion of all that was DTLA there really wasn’t an easy solution to this puzzle of one-​way streets, horrid drivers, an inexplicable absence of proper street closure and directional signage, and the lack of trafficking presence on the roads. Once you arrived at the event, there were more than enough informed volunteers («Ask Me!»), energetic vendors, excited movie palace helpers, and an obvious esprit de corps of law enforcement officers. With crunched crowds and long lines, all was maintained without incidences.
Parking (Free this instances; Varies) — Volunteers parked for FREE. Otherwise, a ton of parking options in and around the general vacinity with rates that ranged from $ 5.00-$ 20.00 based wholly on the distance and time you arrived. Bicyclists had a free bike valet
. Another option was a driving service like a taxi, Lyft, or Über and be dropped off. Going Metro was another option that dropped off at nearby Pershing Square.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience — A stretch of Broadway St. that ran from 3^rd St. to Olympic Blvd. filled with food trucks, sponsor/​vendor booths, art installations, outdoor stages, and some tables and chairs for eating and resting. Plenty of natural lighting until the evening brought electric lighting via street lights, vendors, and local businesses. Large viewing monitors were at the Festival Stage which also doubled as your music for the night.
Attire — Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip-​flops. I highly recommended a long-​sleeve top for the evening.
Overall, Night On Broadway was a wonderful community collaboration that got people to explore this storied street, the chaotic city, and its burgeoning businesses. Sadly, there were signs of decaying buildings and the unfortunate homeless. But, these harsh truths played an important role in this story about rebirth. Remember, this was the City of Angels… I found total value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $ 0.00; no tip required). And, in general my credit card of choice was accepted… AMEX! 5.0 STARS

This was my first time attending this event it was a great experience loved OZOMATLI theres a outside stage where they have bands then they have 6 theaters you could visit with different events going on in them we got there around 8:00 in the evening and parked ½ a block away parking $ 20 if u don’t want to walk blocks away for the parking so we whent in the first theater million dollar it was beautiful you could feel the history in there in all the theaters on Broadway st I believe have that feeling when you walk in we didn’t get to visit all of them BC the lines where crazy long to get in I think it may be better to go early right after the event starts it may not be as crazy long lines to get in the theaters besides that they have other things going on the street art, vendors, food trucks, ferris wheel, kids section its a free event wish it was done more often and not just every year had fun will be back next year

Some of LA’s most beautiful gems are opened to the public and on display during this annual free event. And by «gems» I’m speak of the the first and largest historic theater district in the country. The Twelve movie palaces along the six block stretch of Broadway is the highest concentration of such theaters in the world. Most Angelenos don’t know about it. Councilman Jose Huizar is responsible for the ‘Bringing Back Broadway’ initiative and this event.
We were so impressed with just about everything there, it seemed to be a very well organized evening. ‘Night on Bway’ had something for everyone — live bands, solid entertainment in seven historic theaters, gourmet food trucks, a Ferris wheel, lots of street vendors, and even a silent disco party (this is a must see). LA officials and the police did a great job keeping the event safe. We were there for over six hours and we didn’t see one dust-​up or issue; it was a safe, family friendly environment. We will definitely be back next year!

Happened to be in the neighborhood so we decided to go check it out.
A lot of people. We parked near Grand Central Market for$ 10. Did a lot of walking. Thank goodness my boots are comfortable!
Heard different types of music, saw many food trucks (lines were super long on some of them), free samples of a drink we ended up buying, photo opportunities, art, Ferris wheel, and many booths.
It was a great way to spend the evening.

FREE EVENT!
Get here early if you want to check out the theaters! The lines were long to get in, but they were letting folks inside by waves. Most of the highly anticipated events were happening in the theaters; concerts and shows. Make sure to grab a booklet with all the schedules if you make it next time around.
Food trucks and tons of vendors were lined up along the street of Broadway Avenue from 3^rd Street to Olympic Boulevard. The streets were entirely closed off from 3^rd Street to 7^th Street. It’s a great walk and lots to explore from those few blocks.
Live music and DJs were blasting music through the event. People were dancing and having a good time on the streets! You really get a good grasp of how diverse LA is; it’s quite fantastic!
Parking lots were available through out area, averaging a $ 10 fee.
I would not recommend bringing your children or pets to this event; a lot of the areas were packed like sardines and not everyone is considerate of your little ones. I saw a couple of dogs with high stress levels walking around with their owners, poor things.
Till next time, I’ll see you at the opening!

I stumbled into this free street event while I was in downtown yesterday for the Free Museum Day. Sure, Unilocal e-​mailed me about it and got some info in their newsletter (which I love), but I was too busy with work to look into it.
It was fun, spontaneous and cool to attend such an event like A Night on Broadway.
What a great idea! Thanks to the organizers, hope you’ll do it again next year.
Broadway is blocked for traffic and transformed into a fun area with a ferris wheel in the middle of the it, with games and lots of activities for kids, stages with concerts, historic theaters that open their doors (some I never got the chance to explore, they were never opened, so this was great!), some offer free shows, artists everywhere, who were painting, creating, showcasing their art, sharing. It was great to see that local artists are supported.
It goes on for blocks and blocks: food trucks with great choices for food (couldn’t resist), cool institutions representing with their own booths: Unilocal,LA River, LA Opera, etc.
Art exhibits on the street, some popping up temporary inside spaces that are empty, ready for lease, or downstairs, inside the Palace Theater. 3-​D galleries, photography, local artists and vendors.
I go to downtown every couple of months, even more often and I was surprised to discover that they try to make the area better, and succeeding, renovating cool buildings, opening them for classy spaces, modern, fun restaurants and stores. It was great to discover new restaurants and explore an area I’ve been going for more than 10 years. I always saw the beauty of the historic buildings in downtown, I’m glad they’re turned into spaces and areas that we can enjoy more. They are re-​vitalizing the area, hope Jose Huizar and his team will keep doing a good job, the area needs it!
Great energy and vibe all around. Cool activities for everyone, whatever your age is. Unfortunately you can’t do all the activities they list in the the event’s program. Good problem to have. We used the subway, which I recommend in the future. No need to worry about parking.
One of the best times we had in a while. An event like Night on Broadway makes you happy to live in LA.

We had a BLAST from start to finish at Night on Broadway! It was a great (and wallet-​friendly) way to celebrate my hubby’s birthday!
To avoid traffic and parking fees, we took the Metrolink from Rancho Cucamonga to Union Station, then hopped on the Metrorail to Pershing Square, which is the heart of DTLA, and very close to Night on Broadway. On weekends, a ticket is $ 10 and good for the Metro transportation system! We already knew we had our money’s-worth as we took the San Bernardino Line and raced past the poor souls sitting in traffic on the 10 Freeway.
We got to the event a little early so we could eat tacos for dinner at Guisados. (I’ll tell you about that deliciousness in a different review.)
As the event wasn’t officially open yet, we casually walked up and down Broadway to get a preview of what fun stuff was in store and we got our game plan ready for the evening. (And we also took this opportunity to pity the drivers who were stuck in traffic on the nearby side streets.)
(1) Silent Disco: You give a picture ID in exchange for headphones that are linked to the live DJ. It didn’t take long to work up a sweat from dancing! The surrounding passers-​by could see people moving, but couldn’t hear the music. (What a great marketing move, right?) We were having so much fun, we didn’t even notice a photographer had taken our picture for the LA Times! Cost:$ 0
(2) Chess-​Boxing: What an interesting concept! Exercising the body and the brain! The participants would box a round, then play a round of chess. They were taking donations to give to the winner’s chosen charity. Super cool event! Cost:$ 0,bit we gave a small donation.
(3) Mac Sabbath @ Tower Theater: This was the birthday boy’s choice since he likes Black Sabbath. Councilman Jose Huizar spoke briefly before the band opened with their first song. It was obvious the theater was beautiful in its heyday; the architecture was beautiful, but the paint was peeling from the ceiling. But Huizar is working to revive this historic building, along with the others on Broadway. Cost: $ 0
(4) Salsa Lesson: I forgot to mention that we took a salsa dance lesson before heading to Tower Theater. Dance teachers guided through the steps and we had a fun time! Cost: $ 0
(5) Ozomatli concert: We walked to the opposite end of the event to see this native Los Angeles band and we were not disappointed. Crowds gathered in the street in front of the stage to view an awesome show! At the end, the band members came down into the crowd to perform for their adoring fans. Cost: $ 0
Our night ended with a train ride back to Union Station, then back home. I definitely recommend this event because it’s SO MUCH FUN and it’s FREE!

Night on Broadway is one those events you must visit. Fortunately it happens once a year and a rarity that a large section of Broadway is closed off for a massive block party. In its 8^th year in the making, the event keeps growing more and more popular with the city. This year was no exception as hordes of people hit the streets of Broadway. But what makes it truly special is the opening of all the historical theaters in one of the largest theater districts in the country.
Surprisingly through out the year, many of these theaters are only opened briefly for special events. But to have them all open at the same time at night is amazing. Neon lights glisten the streets with a magical feel and people explore old Broadway. It brings back the old and the new of what may come in the future.
Angelenos are very fortunate to have these theaters still intact. Although some theaters may have needed repairs, there is hope that this district will survive and cast a glow over the horizon once more.
Craziest part of this event is its absolutely free to attend. Some of these theaters were used to host the Oscars or première Chaplin films during the golden era. As for the foodie or bar seekers, the event is within stepping distance to local watering holes. Each theater host several performances throughout the night. Live bands echo through the streets as it draws crowds from all over this great city.
This is a spectacular event that shouldn’t be missed as it only happens on one night per year. So for the curious or adventurous type, this is the perfect night to hit up a bit of awesome history and excitement. Plus it makes you look good that you know the cool spots in town.

This is one of the most amazing events I’ve attended since landing in California. Local flavor doesn’t do it justice. Where else can you sample the theatre district, gain access into the majority of the venues free and enjoy a small peek at the shows, music and events that make Los Angeles, well — Los Angeles. For a few hours, Broadway was closed down. Open only to pedestrian traffic and let me tell you, there was an immense amount of people crowding the streets and sidewalks. Adults, children, dogs and even the occasional transient individual out to enjoy the evening. The weather was beyond perfect, slightly cool, a little overcast and no humidity. Where else can you see a ferris wheel located smack in the middle of an intersection.
The event was promoted to introduce and provide exposure to the Theatre District. The vendors, event staff and law enforcement did a wonderful job of ensuring a pleasurable time for all. Unilocal was of course well represented. Parking was not a challenge at all. I arrived promptly at 6pm and parked in the Pershing Square underground garage for $ 7.00. Plenty of parking was available and then it was a short walk up the hill to Broadway. There were 6 theaters that opened their doors to the public, an outside stage where live performances were taking place and food trucks galore.
The lines for the theaters were long, there was a considerable amount of walking required and the crowd was packed like sardines in certain areas. This is par for the course, as this is DTLA. We walked all the way to Olympic Boulevard and honestly it didn’t seem that far. We persued the art exhibits, partook in a lovely dinner at a restaurant (review forthcoming for Maccheroni Republic) and overall had a wonderful time. The energy was contagious, bringing out the best in Angelenos. I was thrilled to see a large community event in this district, hopefully many more to follow.

All the gorgeous old theaters were open and each one had a different kind of show: musicals, cabaret, burlesque, bands performing and on and on. Broadway was closed to cars from 3^rd to 7^th and the streets were lined with vendor and smaller shows. Of course the food trucks were there and most of the restaurants and shops were open. It was super crowded with families and people of all ages.

Great we all know how putting lipstick on a pig works out. However, the main things going on for this stretch are still bradbury bldg, grand central market and now clifton’s cafeterua reopening. Pretty decent variety of foodtrucks were at the event and for once got something for a checkin

A Ferris wheel, live music, live art and displays, educational trucks, food trucks (savory & sweet) vendors with goodies and lots of people. I even saw a jewelry stand! Great event and nicely organized. Although it’s been going on for 8 years, this is my first one. I highly recommend taking the Metro, getting dropped off a little before Broadway if you are Ubering, park bike with valet bike area and/​or if possible, walk. The traffic is horrible! However if you park on the outskirts, there’s plenty of cheaper parking and it’s a short fun walk. Grand Central Market is also open so even more good food to enjoy during this event. Some small shops are open along the way. Come down and have fun in downtown! P. s.- Bring a jacket too, because it’s chilly.

Four stars for bringing this festival back, 3 for the long long lines. We’ve seen performances in these theaters before, so we didn’t want to wait in lines to zip in and out. I dig that councilmember Huizar is kicking ass at bringing events to this district. So overdue! It was a nice way to spend the evening and mix with the many fine people that make LA what it is. I love seeing us all come together.
Heard parking was rough, but we Ubered and didn’t have any problems. Left early because even the line to get a drink at Clifton’s was long. Luckily, Water Grill (and countless other places) are a stone’s throw away. Overall, it was great seeing our fellow inhabitants of this great city come together and mix it up. Moreover, an even better way to revisit some of our DTLA favorite restaurants. Looks like another perfect day. I love LA!