Hours earlier than downtown Los Angeles headed into its sixth evening beneath curfew orders imposed by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, dozens of opera and theater followers funneled into the Music Middle on Sunday afternoon to catch matinee performances of L.A. Opera’s “Rigoletto” and Middle Theatre Group’s “Hamlet.”
The reveals came about simply sooner or later after hundreds of “No Kings” demonstrators flooded the streets to protest immigration raids throughout town. Middle Theatre Group had canceled its Wednesday evening efficiency of director Robert O’Hara’s world-premiere adaptation of “Hamlet” earlier than officers introduced a curfew exemption on Thursday for ticket holders of indoor occasions and performing arts venues downtown such because the Music Middle. Saturday’s matinee and night performances of “Hamlet” have been additionally canceled in anticipation of the protests. No performances of “Rigoletto” have been canceled and L.A. Opera’s “Renee Fleming and Friends” occasion came about on Saturday evening.
On Sunday afternoon, except for a handful of police vehicles sprinkled all through the world, there wasn’t a lot of a regulation enforcement presence and no protests have been occurring, which made many attendees really feel extra relaxed about coming downtown.
Forward of the “Rigoletto” present, we spoke to ticket holders about whether or not they hesitated about coming to the Music Middle and downtown Los Angeles and the way they really feel about supporting the humanities even in instances of battle. Their responses have been flippantly edited for size and readability.
Gabe Acero of South Pasadena and Sam Pancake of Jefferson Park
Gabe Acero, left, and Sam Pancake arrive on the Music Middle in downtown Los Angeles forward of Sunday’s matinee efficiency of L.A. Opera’s “Rigoletto.”
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
Pancake: I’ve by no means seen “Rigoletto” reside and I haven’t been to the L.A. Opera although I’ve been [in L.A.] since 1987. I’ve been to the Mark Taper and Ahmanson lots of of instances, however by no means to the opera. I’m right here as a result of my nephew turned 21 and although he’s a punk rock, heavy steel dude, he actually likes the opera. I used to be going to carry him right here for his birthday on Thursday, however he felt bizarre about coming down right here.
I’ve no worry. I’m previous. I don’t care anymore. I’ve lived by all of the riots, strikes and protests. I’m homosexual. I’ve been marching since 1987 for one million totally different causes, so I modified it to as we speak as a result of he was involved concerning the curfew after which he nonetheless didn’t come. So I introduced Gabe, my good good friend, who can be a theater man.
Acero: My father is a safety guard on the Federal Constructing and I informed him I used to be coming right here, and he was like, “Oh, that’s closed.” And I’m going, “No it’s not. 1) That’s only a nighttime thing. 2) That’s changed. Ticketed events are still allowed because they want the arts to happen.”
It’s simply humorous that there’s this dichotomy of like somebody you’d assume is within the thick of it and so they don’t even know what’s occurring within the space with guidelines and what’s occurring.
How usually do you come to downtown L.A.?
Acero: I’m normally downtown at the least each Friday. I am going to Precinct on a regular basis.
Pancake: I’m down right here usually. I am going to the theater. I’m an actor and I do know quite a lot of actors. [Gabe] is a prosthetic make-up artist, so we’re on this planet of performing and theater. As an actor, nothing will cease me from doing theater and attending theater.
Do you might have any plans after the present?
Pancake: I believe we’re going to go eat afterward.
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities, that are nonetheless attempting to get well from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood strike and the current wildfires?
Pancake: To indicate them, the performers and the artists, that we’re right here for them. Then the flip aspect, it’s like I respect it when individuals present up for my stuff, so it’s a give and take and I’m blissful to be part of it.
Acero: That’s theater. You go there for a aid from the actual world. It’s kind of an escape.
Muriel Asch and Arlene Block of Laguna Woods 
Muriel Asch, left, and Arlene Block on the Music Middle on Sunday.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
Asch: I really like the opera. In our neighborhood, there was a bus organized to carry us up right here, so we did it. I went to the protest yesterday. It was so thrilling and we have been all cheering and saying, “No kings.”
Block: We felt like this might not be within the space the place there are quite a lot of protesters and that it might be completely secure to return on down.
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities?
Asch: I believe they carry your spirits. I imply although it is a miserable opera, the music is thrilling and I do know I’m going to shed a tear on the finish.
Block: We get uninterested in speaking about politics and worrying about it, and this is a chance to get away from it.
Are you doing something after the present?
Block: No [laughs]. We’re getting on the bus to take us again residence.
David Johnson of Palos Verdes 
David Johnson stands outdoors the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on the Music Middle on Sunday.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
I completed preaching a sermon, modified my garments after which got here down right here for the present. I’m a social justice pastor, so principally whenever you carry me into your church, I’m going to speak about present occasions. The title of my sermon was “This is God’s world, we’re just living in it.” Keep in mind in 1865, we have been searching for freedom and in 2025, we’re nonetheless searching for it.
I’m an avid opera goer. I really feel that extra individuals of colour ought to go to the opera. They assume that we’re not included, however we’re included, it’s simply that now we have to indicate up. Additionally, I’m an enormous Verdi fan so something Verdi writes, I’m going to go see it.
Had been you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests?
You’re speaking to a person of religion. I didn’t really feel threatened coming downtown as a result of I understood the trigger. I believe the people who find themselves feeling threatened coming downtown are individuals who don’t perhaps agree with the trigger. They’re taking a look at an excessive amount of CNN, and CNN is simply [showing] what they need you to see. However no, I don’t really feel nervous in doing that. These individuals have a proper to be on the market. I don’t imagine within the violence half, however violence is gonna occur it doesn’t matter what type of protest. The American Revolution had violence. I felt that our present administration was overdoing it and I simply handed by [some] Marines however there’s no person within the streets.
Kathleen Hougesen of Hollywood and Jan Kelley of Studio Metropolis 
Kathleen Hougesen, left, and Jan Kelley earlier than a matinee manufacturing of “Rigoletto” on Sunday on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
Kelley: My husband performed a efficiency of “Rigoletto” about 15 years in the past with an opera firm in Chinatown.
Kelley: I had full belief that it was going to be OK. The “No Kings” protest was yesterday, so I simply figured particularly for those who arrive early sufficient, I figured it wouldn’t be an issue. I hadn’t heard of any of the protesters being on the bottom on the Music Middle.”
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities?
Hougesen: Properly, I’ve season tickets. I’ve for a few years. I am going to the L.A. Philharmonic and the L.A. Opera.
Kelley: I believe the humanities are what hold lots of people going. They uplift all people. My late husband began an orchestra in 1965, the Palisades Symphony. He died a couple of yr and a half in the past, however the orchestra continues. It’s an all-volunteer orchestra and I’m nonetheless concerned with it and I’m an energetic cellist. Additionally, a few of these individuals misplaced their houses so it provides them a way of continuity and friendship. Simply enjoying music collectively could be very crucial to so many individuals.
Kristen Giles of Pasadena 
Kristen Giles of Pasadena outdoors the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Sunday.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
We simply love to do issues within the metropolis. If something sounds attention-grabbing, we’ll go test it out.
Had been you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests?
Not likely and the freeway was clear once we got here down so we weren’t actually involved.
How usually do you come downtown?
About as soon as a month to go to the Ahmanson and the Mark Taper. I attempt to see no matter is enjoying.
Are you planning on doing something after the present within the space?
Our plan was to return early and benefit from the pavilion earlier than the present. It’s a college evening.
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities?
It’s vital to take a step again and pause, and get in tune along with your feelings or expertise one thing new and inventive earlier than you return into the world as a result of it would shift your perspective. It’d change your mindset. So I believe it’s vital, it doesn’t matter what’s occurring in L.A., to help the humanities. If we would like an artwork scene right here, now we have to patronize it.
Jason Roblee and Steven Lass of Lake Gregory 
Jason Roblee, left, and Steven Lass on the Music Middle on Sunday.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
Lass: We reside within the mountains and have been bored. We’ve each grown up in Southern California, and L.A. just isn’t scary. You may be in a nasty place on the improper time, however that may occur anyplace.
Roblee: They did cancel our brunch reservation although. Once we have been driving by, we noticed some boarded-up buildings.
Had been you nervous about being in downtown L.A. amid the protests?
How usually do you come downtown?
Roblee: A pair instances of yr, largely for actions.
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities even throughout instances of strife?
Roblee: The artists have to make a residing and the theater has by no means been a spot to get wealthy. It’s vital. It’s culturally vital and we take pleasure in it, so it’s a must to help it. Take it away and life is boring.
Kareem and Amy Zoque of Chino Hills 
Amy and Kareem Zoque of Chino Hills earlier than a matinee efficiency of “Rigoletto” on the Music Middle on Sunday.
(Kailyn Brown / Los Angeles Instances)
Why did you need to come to the present as we speak?
Kareem: We got here to the opera final yr and that was our first time, and we thought let’s go once more in the summertime. We’re academics.
Had been you nervous about coming to downtown L.A. as we speak?
Amy: I didn’t really feel nervous as we speak. I figured it was in the course of the day. I used to be type of curious to see the [freeway] off-ramps and all that stuff, however I wasn’t nervous.
Kareem: I used to be a little bit bit nervous as a result of I’m the motive force. As we obtained nearer and into town, I felt a little bit bit extra relaxed. I didn’t get nervous as a result of I noticed vehicles have been shifting, however I noticed police vehicles lined up above the freeway and so they had closed some off-ramps. However then as I type of pulled off and I didn’t see any exercise, I felt extra relaxed. We sat down. We ordered a beer. I really feel prefer it was a little bit quiet once we obtained right here.
For me, it was like I’ve the tickets. Even going again to issues which have occurred prior to now, like 9/11, you simply type of don’t need to be roaming round in worry. I’m going to reside my life and if I’ve to show round for some cause, then I simply flip round, however I’m going to maneuver on and get issues again to regular. The sooner we do issues with out worry, the sooner issues can type of transfer on.
How usually do you come to downtown?
Kareem: A couple of instances a yr.
Are you doing something after the present?
Kareem: We’re doing a Father’s Day dinner close to our residence.
Why do you assume it’s vital to help the humanities?
Amy: Our daughter is a senior in school and she or he’s within the arts. She does musicals and theater, so it’s type of been part of our household. And we’ve gone to reveals on the Pantages and on Broadway, and we’ve simply at all times loved them. I do know they work actually exhausting and so they don’t make quite a bit, whether or not they’re on stage or they’re the stage crew.
Kareem: In my household, it’s type of been like a solution to bond each since we’ve been collectively by relationship and marriage. My godfather’s son grew up within the theater and nonetheless works as an expert within the arts and he’s at all times working exhausting, so we attempt to help them. We don’t know any of those individuals, however we take pleasure in it.
