The LA Phil announced the full lineup for its 2025 summer season at the Hollywood Bowl Tuesday morning, with big names like Hugh Jackman, Juanes, Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross included in the schedule, along with a concert rendition of “Jesus Christ Superstar” that will have Cynthia Erivo cast against gender type in the musical’s title role.
Jackman will perform on the season’s official opening night, for one night only (June 17). “Jesus Christ Superstar” will get a three-night stand (Aug. 1-3).
Other popular artists headlining the Bowl this summer include Earth Wind & Fire (for the annual fireworks spectacular July 2-4), Rhiannon Giddens (June 18), Juanes (July 16), John Fogerty (July 6), Miss Ross (July 25-26), King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Aug. 10), a reunited Alabama Shakes (Aug. 13), current Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee Lauper (Aug. 29-30), Josh Groban (Sept. 5-6), Air with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Sept. 21), Big Thief (Sept. 27) and John Legend (Sept. 28).
The Bowl’s summer bill also includes Herbie Hancock, Damian and Stephen Marley, Dave Koz, a double-bill of Hiatus Kaiyote and Snarky Puppy, the Latin alternative collaborative project Astropical, Chicago, SiR, WizKid, a double-bill of Charlie Wilson and Babyface, a Minnie Riperton tribute and an ’80s-themed quadruple bill of Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young. The previously announced Roots Picnic on June 8 will feature Lil Kim, Method Man & Redman, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, Raekwon, E-40, Goodie Mob and Havoc of Mobb Deep.
(The LA Phil lineup of stars at the Bowl does not include the so-called rental shows for big acts put on by outside producers, which are announced separately.)
On the symphonic front, Gustavo Dudamel will be back for his 16th season at the Bowl, conducting eight performances in August with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
Film music crossover will again be celebrated with live-to-picture performances of John Williams’ scores for “Jaws” (July 5) and “Jurassic Park” (Aug. 8-9), conducted by David Newman and Dudamel, respectively, on top of the annual clip-filled “Maestro of the Movies” tribute to Williams (Aug. 22-24), with Newman at the helm.
Another top film composer, Alexander Desplat, will get a spotlight moment (Jly 15), conducting a program of excerpts from film scores ranging from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” and “The Shape of Water” to his ongoing work with Wes Anderson (July 16).
The Blue Note Jazz Festival, which replaces the Playboy Jazz Festival of yore, will take place June 14-15 and include sets by De La Soul, Grace Jones, Willow, the Isley Brothers, Stanley Clarke, Keyon Harrold and many others.
Among other less pop-leaning performances, the Bowl will feature Angélique Kidjo and Yo-Yo Ma (Aug. 28), Wynton Marsalis with the LA Phil (Sept. 9), “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” (July 11-12), the Marcus Miller-music-directed “Black Music Soundtrack V” (Sept. 10) and the annual “Sound of Music” sing-along (Sept. 20).
Single ticket sales for most shows begin at the Bowl box office May 6. But, of course, there will be opportunities to buy subscription or group packages well prior to that date, along with a few shows that have earlier individual on-sale dates.
New subscriptions and group sales for select individual concerts both went on sale Tuesday morning, concurrent with the lineup announcement. “Create your own” packages go on sale March 25 at 10 a.m. PT.
The Roots Picnic Experience went on sale last week. Tickets for Jackman’s opening night performance go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. The Alabama Shakes show goes on sale Feb. 28. Tickets go up for the Blue Note Jazz Festival on March 4. And for everything else, for those who want individual tickets and not a package, it’ll be a two-and-a-half-month wait till May 6, when everything is up for grabs to the general public.