The Pasadena POPS Rusnak Summer Series takes flight tonight, Saturday, June 21, with “Broadway Legends from Gershwin to Sondheim,” a musical journey through Broadway’s golden age performed under the stars at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. The concert marks the beginning of the orchestra’s summer season, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. for pre-concert picnicking and the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Set against the lush and lovely backdrop of the peacock-studded Arboretum, the outdoor en plein air venue provides an enchanting setting for the celebration of American musical theater.
The 127-acre botanical garden transforms into an al fresco concert hall, allowing audiences to experience live orchestral music in a natural amphitheater surrounded by exotic flora and the venue’s famous resident peacocks.
A Musical Journey Through Broadway History
Under the baton of Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein, the orchestra will perform selections spanning nearly a century of Broadway excellence. The program features Gershwin classics including “I Got Rhythm” and “‘S Wonderful,” alongside selections from Stephen Sondheim’s sophisticated catalog and contemporary Broadway hits from “West Side Story,” “Into the Woods,” “Wicked,” and “Hamilton.”
Feinstein, who has served as Principal Pops Conductor since 2012 following the passing of previous conductor Marvin Hamlisch, brings his expertise as a five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer known as “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook” to the podium. “I love doing it and I love the challenge,” Feinstein has said of his role with the orchestra. “Every time I put together a new concert, I learn so much and I discover more music. It’s been a constant, joyful discovery of musical riches.”
Broadway Stars Join the Celebration
The June 21 performance features two acclaimed Broadway performers alongside the Pasadena POPS orchestra. Tony nominee Liz Callaway, known for her roles in “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Cats,” brings her distinctive vocal artistry to the evening’s repertoire. She is joined by Joshua Henry, a three-time Tony Award nominee recognized for his powerful performances as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton” in Los Angeles, as well as his starring roles in “Carousel,” “The Scottsboro Boys,” “Violet,” “Porgy & Bess,” and “American Idiot.”
The collaboration between orchestra and soloists promises to showcase the rich tapestry of American musical theater, from the sophisticated jazz harmonies of the Gershwin era through the complex rhythms and rhymes of contemporary Broadway composition.
Ticket Information and Seating Options
The Arboretum’s unique setting offers concertgoers a choice between intimate table seating with fine linens and casual lawn seating on the venue’s expansive grass field.
For more budget-conscious attendees, General Admission Lawn seating is available at $35 for adults and $15 for children under 12, with free admission for children under two. The lawn area requires guests to bring their own chairs or blankets, as no seating is provided in this section.
Season subscriptions offer significant advantages, including discounts of up to 30% off regular ticket prices, priority seating before single tickets become available to the general public, free ticket exchanges for other concerts in the series, and access to priority parking options.
Parking and Venue Information
For those attending the June 21 performance, the Arboretum closes early at 3:30 p.m. to prepare for the concert, reopening exclusively for ticket holders at 5:30 p.m. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours with one brief intermission.
Three parking options are available for concertgoers: Arboretum parking exclusively for table seating subscribers at $25 per concert (or $150 for the full six-concert series), parking at Santa Anita Park for $20 per concert with complimentary shuttle service to the Arboretum main gate, and regular parking for $20 per concert for non-subscribers. Accessible parking is available at the main entrance for those with California-issued DMV Handicap Placards.
“The feeling of anticipation and joy bubbling up in all of us is palpable as we prepare to return to the experience of sharing live music,” Feinstein has observed about performing at the Arboretum. “I have missed the connection of creating acoustic sound with an audience present, because as grateful as I am for virtual music-making, it is simply not the same as hearing live music played by a symphony in a beautiful natural setting.”
A Season of Musical Diversity Ahead
The June 21 concert launches a six-performance summer series that continues through September 6, featuring diverse musical themes. The complete Rusnak Summer POPS Series includes:
- June 21: Broadway Legends from Gershwin to Sondheim
- July 12: Moonlight Melodies: An Evening with the Crooners
- July 26: Queens of Soul
- August 9: The Music of Bond. James Bond.
- August 23: Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles
- September 6: Feinstein’s Favorites
The Pasadena POPS at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. Saturday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35-$729. For more information visit:
www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org/rusnak-summer-concert-series-2025
