Arts and Cult Guide: Los Angeles - November 2026

After a very long hiatus working on other stuff for LA Theatre, I am back with a little bit of a rebrand. Instead of LA Theatre Guides - it's Arts and Cult Guides Los Angeles. The name change came from wanting to cover more than just theatre, and expand on what I want to share with you all.

Along with the rebrand comes some new vibes as well - I will be primarily focused on what I am calling "Indie" theatre. I am no longer using the term "intimate theatre" or "99-seat theatre" and will be calling it indie theatre. If you don't like it, well you don't have to call it that, and also you don't have to read my blog.

For those of you happy to expand your theatre vocabulary, I am focusing the term "indie theatre" on small venue, experimental, new, or innovative stuff.

It doesn't mean I won't feature ever see shows at the big companies, or main stages, it just means they have to be a little more interesting to get featured on this list. Shows are in order of when they close!

*shows with asterisks are produced by companies that have signed the LA Anti-Racist Theatre Standards, encourage your favorite company to sign the standards today! Companies that have signed the standards get prioritized on these roundups!

The Dark Library: H.G. Well's The Time Machine created by After Hours Theatre Company*

Now until November 15th

An immersive cocktail experience where the novels of HG Wells come to life.

Why I am seeing it: This is my husband's theatre company, I've already seen this show maybe 5 or 6 times and genuinely love it.

HOWEVER - I am listing it here because I will be hosting my first ever theatre going group to see this show, we will get a block of tickets at a discount rate, see the show together, and then have some drinks and discuss the show after. If you are interested in joining my theatre going group - make sure to sign up for the email list!

Night Watch created by The Bee's Knees

Now until November 15th

You’ve been assigned to a surveillance van parked in a remote lot. The monitors are live and a voice on the walkie is ready to guide you. Your task? Watch closely, follow protocol, and make it to morning.

Why I am seeing it: More incredible friends making incredible immersive theatre that extended a little past spooky season. I saw a very early workshop of this show and loved it, I was supposed to see the second version of the show at the La Jolla Playhouse Without Walls festival but couldn't make it, so third time is the charm to see this fully developed, fully terrifying, show that is fully in a van.

I didn't mean to have both my husband's show and my friends' show back to back but they both close November 15th and I genuinely think more people should see these shows.

Ghost Songs by David Melville at Independent Shakespeare Company*

Now until November 22nd

Curiosity gets the best of young Cat when a trunk stuffed with sinful reading material lands in the Puritan girl’s home. Enter Agnes, Cat’s housemaid who’s returned from the American Colony with a furtive past. Unlocked by Agnes’ worldly wisdom, the wide-eyed teen quickly finds herself swooning over the romance, drama, and poetry of Shakespeare’s words — forbidden under the thumb of England’s new religious rule. But when her beloved, secret scripts are to be destroyed, there’s more than ink and paper to be saved. Can the pair disobey Cat’s father, their country, and their God to preserve the plays?

Why I am interested: I have really been loving ISC's new shows in the past few seasons, and am very interested in the concept of the show. ISC has done a lot for the community and I am excited to support them doing something new like a musical.

at the very bottom of a body of water by Benjamin Benne at Boston Court Pasadena*

Now until Novemerb 29th

Every week, Marina returns to the same fish store, buys a catfish, and makes soup—a quiet, methodical act masking devastating grief. But when her usual fishmonger suddenly vanishes, her fragile routine shatters and Marina is forced to confront the wreckage of her carefully constructed world when something unexpected breaks through: the stirrings of romance and a tidal wave of magic. Paper cranes begin to fly, and Marina enters uncharted, terrifying waters. Is the unraveling of her comfort a curse, or the beginning of something wondrous, wild, and entirely new?

Why I am interested: I saw Benne's play Alma at the Kirk Douglas and absolutely loved it. Added with the magical realism, it is a play the definitely has me interested.

Confederates by Dominique Morisseau at the Fountain Theatre

Now till December 13 

Two Black women separated by more than 150 years confront race, gender, power, and the institutions determined to define them in Dominique Morisseau's fiercely funny and provocative Confederates.

Why I am interested: The Fountain theatre has new leadership and I am interested to see what they bring to the community and think how they takle this show will be a good indicator.