Looking for a date idea in Los Angeles that’s a little different from the usual dinner and a movie? My husband and I spent Halloween exploring Downtown LA, and it turned into such a fun date! The Walt Disney Concert Hall and the LA Phil was at the center of it all, with three incredible performances shows, beautiful architecture and plenty of nearby places to explore along the day.
Here’s how we spent our day!
We packed three incredible performances into one Halloween day, each offering something completely different! From a classic silent film accompanied by the concert hall’s beautiful pipe organ to a new musical and a Marvel movie with the full LA Phil (LA Philharmonic) performing live! It was fabulous!
A Halloween Triple Feature at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Our first event was a screening of the classic 1920 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, accompanied by the concert hall’s incredible pipe organ. Unlike the later performance with the full LA Phil, this screening featured a live organist playing the music right there on the stunning, one-of-a-kind organ. If you haven’t seen it, the organ itself is a work of art, with its unique design and thousands of pipes.
Watching this classic silent-era film while hearing the organist perform live was such a cool experience. The music adds so much atmosphere and really brings the film to life. It was also fun to experience a completely different kind of performance in the same beautiful venue. It’s definitely something you don’t get to experience every day!
Later that evening, we returned for a special Halloween double feature.
First up was a world premiere concert preview of Headless, a new musical from Academy Award-winning composer and director Michael Giacchino, along with collaborators Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson. The musical puts an unexpected spin on Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Instead of simply retelling the familiar ghost story, we get Ichabod Crane’s point of view. Here’s the twist: Ichabod is actually a ghost himself telling his side of what really happened in Sleepy Hollow. It’s a fun new take on a story many of us already know.
And here’s a fun connection: Michael Giacchino is also the director of Marvel’s Werewolf by Night, which was the next part of our evening!
I had actually watched Werewolf by Night on Disney+ before, but it had been a while since I’d seen it. The films stars Gael García Bernal as Jack Russell, this Marvel Halloween special is so much fun! It’s suspenseful, has some great scares, and captures that classic Halloween atmosphere perfectly. But watching it again with the LA Phil performing the score live was a completely different experience. And let me tell you, hearing the orchestra play the Marvel opening theme was AWESOME!
You really feel like you’re listening to the actual movie soundtrack. One of my favorite things was looking away from the screen for a moment and watching the musicians play. Seeing all those instruments come together to create the music you normally hear in a movie is such a cool experience. It’s one of those things you really have to experience in person.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall Is an Experience in Itself
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the LA Phil, and even if you’re not a regular concertgoer, it’s absolutely worth visiting. The building was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, and it’s a work of art in itself. Those sweeping stainless-steel curves make it one of the most recognizable buildings in Los Angeles.
The architecture is stunning, the interior is beautiful, and the acoustics are incredible. Honestly, it feels like there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Make sure to take some time to explore the building, too. There’s so much more to see than just the performance space.
One of my favorite spots is A Rose for Lilly, the gorgeous rose-shaped fountain tucked away in the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s Blue Ribbon Garden.
It’s such a lovely little getaway in the middle of downtown. The fountain pays tribute to Lillian Disney and her love of roses, gardens, and Royal Delft porcelain. It’s a beautiful spot to hang out, take a breather, enjoy the views, and snap a few photos.
While you’re there, take a walk along the concert hall’s stunning stainless-steel facade. The curves and reflections make such a great backdrop for photos, and there are so many interesting angles to capture.
Make a Day of It in Downtown LA
One of the best parts about planning a date at Walt Disney Concert Hall is that there is so much to do within walking distance. You can easily turn one show into a full day or evening exploring DTLA.
Here are a few stops we added to our date! We first took a stroll through Grand Park, where there were Día de los Muertos altars set up for the holiday. We then stopped by The Broad. Admission is free, making it an easy addition to your day. Walk-ins are welcome but we reserved a time-slot on their website. From there we walked over to Grand Central Market for dinner and enjoyed checking out all the different food options before heading back to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for our evening event!
The LA Phil offers such a variety of performances, from orchestral concerts to movie screenings with live music. If you’ve never experienced a film with a live orchestra, I definitely recommend giving it a try. It’s a completely different way to enjoy a movie you already love.
So the next time you’re looking for something fun to do with your partner, put Walt Disney Concert Hall on your list. Make a day of it, explore Downtown LA, visit the garden, enjoy a great meal, and experience something new together.
Thanks to the LA Phil for hosting our visit!
