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HIGHWAYS PERFORMANCE SPACE

1651 18th Street (18th St. Arts Center complex)
Santa Monica, CA 90404



Review: MASTER HAROLD...AND THE BOYS at Geffen Playhouse


by Evan Henerson - April 21, 2026

The Southland has had its share of memorable Fugard stagings, and the newly-opened revival of “MASTER HAROLD” at the Geffen Playhouse boasts an impressive roster of artists and creatives – onstage and off – who bring this tale vibrantly to life....

Review: AMERIKA OR, THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED - an Open Fist and Circle X co-production


by Harker Jones - April 16, 2026

The MVP of the show is the dynamic Oqalile Tshetshe, who has a star-making role that he inhabits with complexity, depth, and grace....

Review: Revamped MEAN GIRLS Musical Debuts at La Mirada Theatre


by Michael Quintos - April 15, 2026

Now having its Southern California regional production, MEAN GIRLS - THE MUSICAL continues performances at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through May 3, 2026. Produced by McCoy Rigby Entertainment, this fun, high-energy, youthfully-targeted new iteration of the 2018 stage adaptation o...

Review: TEEN BEAT LIVE: 80S MOVIE MIXTAPE at CineVita


by Melissa Heckscher - April 15, 2026

TEEN BEAT LIVE is an immersive musical ode to the 80s that's a must-see, whether or not you’ve ever used a rotary phone, worn a Walkman, or unfolded the boy-toy poster from a Teen Beat magazine....

Review: BLUE KISS at Ruskin Group Theatre


by Shari Barrett - April 14, 2026

Brilliantly directed by Mike Reilly, Casey Morris and Carolina Rodriguez are both impeccable in their roles as teacher and student, with Rodriguez’s Susan a true master at emotional game playing....

Review: ENGLISH at Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts


by Evan Henerson - April 13, 2026

ENGLISH isn’t so much a play about the power of words as it is about the inextricable and very complicated bonds between language, culture and identity....

Review: IN THE HEIGHTS Returns to Musical Theatre West


by Michael Quintos - April 13, 2026

Bursting with contagious rhythm, irrepressible heart, and an abiding sense of community pride, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning 2008 original Broadway musical IN THE HEIGHTS remains one of the most vibrant and emotionally resonant contemporary musicals to emerge from the early 21st century. F...

Preview: 'IT ENDS WITH GUINEA PIGS' at The Elysian


by Anna Jensen - April 10, 2026

“It Ends With Guinea Pigs” opens this weekend in the Elysian’s intimate 40-seat Vault space. Playwright-performer Diana Gitelman takes the audience on a path that begins with a minor parenting problem, the care and feeding of two high‑maintenance guinea pigs, and then winds its way through g...

Review: THE BOOK OF WILL at Torrance Theatre Company


by Shari Barrett - April 09, 2026

With a cast of ten actors portraying more than 26 characters, it was bold choice for the intimate theater. But thanks to Perloff’s direction and choice of actors, anyone with the slightest interest in Shakespeare will find the play and its characters captivating....

Review: DIAVOLO’s ESCAPE is a Gravity-Defying Celebration of Human Creativity


by Melissa Heckscher - April 07, 2026

DIAVOLO’s ESCAPE, running at L'Espace DIAVOLO in DTLA through June 14, isn’t really dance—and it’s not quite Cirque either. It’s a thrilling, intimate, and deeply human piece of live theater that feels impossible to replicate....

Past Shows

From Emmett Till To SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art | 2026 Encore
From Emmett Till To SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art | 2026 Encore
Feb 20

A live performance benefit on FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2026 @ 8 pm to support Highways Performance Space, due to drastic arts fund cuts to nonprofits.

From Emmett Till To SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art
"From Emmett Till To SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art"
Oct 11

Special live event of revered performance artists, musicians & visual artists to support Santa Monica's famed Highways Performance Space, while marking two Civil Rights milestones

From Emmett Till to SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art
Oct 11

From Emmett Till to SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art features a collective of performance and visual artists commemorating the 70th anniversary of...

Market Demographics
Market Demographics
Jun 13 – Jun 14, 2025

How are our identities sold to us—and to each other?

Void Decryption ERROR
Void Decryption ERROR
Nov 1 – Nov 2, 2024

Cruz's experimental evening-length work brings you into a reality that flickers like a glitch—a cryptic blend of dance, visual art, live-streaming, and film where the

Highways 35th Birthday! Featuring Sean Dorsey Dance
Highways 35th Birthday! Featuring Sean Dorsey Dance
Jun 7 – Jun 8, 2024

Highways Performance Space proudly celebrates 35 years of groundbreaking performances with an exclusive event, Highways 35th Birthday!, featuring Sean Dorsey Dance and honoring The Los...

Highways presents: It Must Be Him: A Genderful Musical Memoir
Highways presents: It Must Be Him: A Genderful Musical Memoir
Sep 15 – Sep 16, 2023

Highways Performance Space presents the World premiere of Michael Kearns’ sixteenth solo show, It Must Be Him: A Genderful Musical Memoir, on Friday, September 15...

Highways Presents: 4th Annual Film Maudit 2.0
Highways Presents: 4th Annual Film Maudit 2.0
Jan 12 – Jan 22, 2023

The fourth edition of Film Maudit 2.0, a showcase and celebration of outré films, takes places January 12-22, 2023 in Los Angeles and online.This year, Film Maudit 2.0 features over...

American Standard
American Standard
Sep 19 – Sep 28, 2019

Highways Performance Space presents American Standard: A Story of Enough, written by and starring Lilly Bright. Directed by award-winning soloist performer, Valerie Hager, American Standard...

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