The beloved Christmas film Love Actually just turned 20 years old on Nov. 6, and the live adaptation knows the milestone is something to celebrate.
In 2003, the Richard Curtis-directed romantic comedy warmed the hearts of audiences with the tale of the intermingling lives of Londoners during the holidays. With Christmas Day approaching, nine intertwined people navigate family, love and loss. It stars Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightly, Colin Firth Liam Neeson, Martin Freeman, Laura Linney, Andrew Lincoln, Martine McCutcheon, Billy Bob Thorton, Bill Nighy and Alan Rickman.
Bringing the magic of the movie to the stage, Love Actually Live tells the story of the original movie through a multimedia concert of live performances, clips from the film and more. This year, it will return to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 22 to Dec. 30.
In honor of the 20-year anniversary, the run will feature an all-star cast that includes Grace Kinstler, American Idol season 19 finalist; Chris Mann, The Voice season 2 finalist and 2020 musical parody video phenom; Emmy Award nominee for Disney’s High School Musical and frequent Disney soundtrack featured artist, Drew Seeley; recent star of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, Cheyenne Isabel Wells; RIAA Gold recording artist Rex Smith; two-time Emmy Award winner and four-time Grammy-nominated artist B. Slade and Madison Taylor Baez, America's Got Talent Season 17 Golden Buzzer winner and star of Showtime’s vampire series Let The Right One In and Netflix’s Selena: The Series.
The cast also includes Broadway veterans Austin Lesch and Doug Kreeger; recording artist James Byous; recording artist and performer Tomasina Abate; Broadway, TV and recording artist Ruby Lewis; recording artist, songwriter, and member of girl group Citizen Queen Nina Ann Nelson; actor, singer and voiceover artist Alkaio Thiele; American Idol season 4 finalist Anthony Fedorov and ensemble members Darrell Morris Jr., Brayden Gleave, Parissa Koo and Audrey Cymone.
Love Actually Live is a collaborative production between The Wallis and For The Record and presented by Universal Theatrical Group. Transforming the theater into an immersive cinema, the adaptation transforms Love Actually into a three-dimensional world that blends film and live-action performance with reimagined soundtrack songs like “Christmas Is All Around,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Trouble With Love” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” Since its 2018 debut, the show has welcomed nearly 45,000 people.
Tickets are on sale now for Love Actually Live and sell for $69 to $119 for Nov. 22 to 28 previews and $79 to $139 for all performances starting Nov. 29. Purchases can be made online or by calling 310-746-4000.
The Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts is located at 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd 90210.
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Photography by: Rob Latour
