{"id":81433,"date":"2026-06-03T19:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=81433"},"modified":"2026-06-03T19:01:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:01:02","slug":"pasadena-pops-announce-2026-rusnak-summer-concert-series-at-the-la-county-arboretum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=81433","title":{"rendered":"PASADENA POPS ANNOUNCE 2026 RUSNAK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT THE LA COUNTY ARBORETUM"},"content":{"rendered":"
Upcoming POPS season includes tributes to John Williams, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John,
\nthe Rat Pack and the Music of Motown<\/em>
\nJune 20 \u2013 August 29, 2026<\/em>\n<\/div>\n

Pasadena, CA<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The<\/strong>\u00a0Pasadena POPS\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank\u00a0<\/strong>announce the\u00a02026 Rusnak Summer Concert series<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0Los Angeles County Arboretum<\/strong>. The five-concert series will run from\u00a0June 20 to August 29, 2026\u00a0<\/strong>with a guest artist lineup boasting an impressive roster of Broadway credits including\u00a0Morgan James,\u00a0<\/strong>(Godspell)<\/em>, Chester Gregory and Shayna\u00a0Steele<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(Hairspray)<\/em>,\u00a0Scarlett Strallen\u00a0<\/strong>(Mary Poppins<\/em>),\u00a0Hugh Panaro<\/strong>\u00a0(Phantom of the Opera),\u00a0<\/em>Valerie Perri\u00a0<\/strong>(Evita<\/em>), Grammy Award-winning Jazz songstress\u00a0Carmen Bradford<\/strong>, and the electrifying triple-threat of\u00a0Craig A. Meyer<\/strong>. The POPS summer season offers something for every music lover with an exciting mix of sound from\u00a0Hollywood, Motown, the Rat Pack, Elton John,<\/strong>\u00a0and culminating with Larry Blank\u2019s Broadway extravaganza paying tribute to legendary composer\u00a0Andrew Lloyd Webber.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For his inaugural season at the helm of the POPS, Maestro Blank will kick off the summer on\u00a0June 20<\/strong>\u00a0with his\u00a0Star-Spangled Salute to the Movies<\/strong>, paying tribute to two masters of Hollywood music \u2013\u00a0John Williams<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Marvin Hamlisch<\/strong>. This opening night program will spotlight the talents of the Pasadena POPS orchestra, with epic scores from Williams\u2019\u00a0Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Superman<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0E.T<\/em>.<\/strong>\u00a0The silky vocals of Broadway and recording artist\u00a0Morgan James\u00a0<\/strong>will bring Marvin Hamlisch\u2019s nostalgic soundtracks to life with\u00a0\u201cNobody Does it Better\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0and \u201cThe Way We Were.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The summer heats up on\u00a0July 11\u00a0<\/strong>with the return of the spellbinding\u00a0Shayna Steele<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0Dancin\u2019 in the Street: The Music of Motown<\/strong>. Steele will be joined by Broadway star\u00a0Chester Gregory<\/strong>\u00a0(Hairspray, Dreamgirls<\/em>) and\u00a0Terron Brooks<\/strong>, whose vocals have backed up Stevie Wonder and Somkey Robinson among others. This dynamic trio will bring fire to Motown hits \u201cI\u2019ll Be There,\u201d \u201cMy Guy,\u201d \u201cI Feel Good,\u201d \u201cSuperstition\u201d and so much more. Then, harken back to the Golden Age of Vegas on\u00a0July 29<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0A Toast to the Rat Pack<\/strong>, with Jazz royalty\u00a0Carmen Bradford<\/strong>, crooner\u00a0Todd Murray<\/strong>\u00a0and famed Sinatra interpreter\u00a0Steve Lippia<\/strong>\u00a0bringing you songs made famous, by\u00a0Sinatra, Dean Martin<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Ella Fitgerald<\/strong>, with \u201cCome Fly with Me,\u201d \u201cAin\u2019t That a Kick in the Head,\u201d \u201cLady is a Tramp\u201d and more.<\/p>\n

The music, costumes and charisma of the Rocketman will come to life on\u00a0August 15<\/strong>\u00a0when\u00a0Craig A. Meyer<\/strong>\u00a0takes the stage for\u00a0Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Experience<\/strong>. Meyer got his start touring with Franki Valli and\u00a0Barry Manilow<\/strong>, who calls him \u201cone of the most talented people I have ever worked with.\u201d His high-energy show brings unforgettable flair to chart-topping hits from\u00a0Benny and the Jets<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Tiny Dancer<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0Candle in the<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Wind<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Crocodile Rock<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0that will have audiences dancing in the aisles.<\/p>\n

Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank<\/strong>\u00a0closes the season on\u00a0August 29<\/strong>\u00a0with an insider\u2019s journey through the world of legendary Broadway composer\u00a0Andrew Lloyd Webber<\/strong>.\u00a0Phantom of the Opera<\/em>\u2019s Hugh Panaro and\u00a0Evita<\/em>\u2019s Valerie Perri<\/strong>\u00a0will bring two of Webber\u2019s most popular shows to life, along with songs from\u00a0Cats, Sunset Blvd<\/em><\/strong>, and music from Webber\u2019s contemporaries \u2013\u00a0Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Schwartz<\/strong>. This Broadway spectacular will be a season finale you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/strong><\/p>\n

All concerts are held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, located at 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA. Grounds open for picnicking and dining at 5:30pm and performances begin at 7:30pm. Don\u2019t miss the best outdoor dinner party in town with spacious circular table seating with fine linens, or lawn seating for those who want to bring a blanket \u2013 each option carries on the tradition of picnic-dining with your family and friends to the backdrop of the San Gabriel Valley\u2019s premier orchestra! Among many venue amenities, concert goers can enjoy pre-ordered gourmet box dinners for on-site pickup just steps from their table from\u00a0Julienne<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Bacchus Kitchen<\/strong>, two full-service beverage centers, or a variety of food trucks.<\/p>\n

Subscribers may purchase pre-paid onsite parking at the Arboretum, and all concertgoers can purchase guaranteed and convenient parking at\u00a0Santa Anita Park, with complimentary non-stop shuttle service to the Arboretum\u2019s main entrance. Season subscriptions and single tickets, starting at $38, are now on sale and available by calling the box office at (626) 793-7172, online at \u00a0pasadenasymphony-pops.org\/tickets<\/a>\u00a0or at the Arboretum on concert days.<\/p>\n

2026 Rusnak Summer POPS Series Calendar<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Star Spangled Salute to the\u00a0Movies<\/strong>
\nWith a Special Tribute to John Williams<\/strong>
\nJune 20, 2026<\/p>\n

Larry Blank,\u00a0<\/strong>Resident Pops Conductor
\nMorgan James<\/strong>, soloist<\/p>\n

Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank kicks off the season with epic scores from\u00a0Superman, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Arc, Star Wars<\/em>\u00a0and a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch with \u201cNobody Does it Better,\u201d \u201cThe Way We Were\u201d and more Hollywood blockbusters for an unforgettable evening celebrating American film music.<\/p>\n

Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown<\/strong>
\nJuly 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Larry Blank,\u00a0<\/strong>Resident Pops Conductor
\nTerron Brooks, Chester Gregory & Shayna Steele<\/strong>, soloists<\/p>\n

Get ready to groove to the Temptations, Supremes and Stevie Wonder for this soulful celebration of legendary Motown artists. Hits like\u00a0My Girl, I Feel Good\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Superstition\u00a0<\/em>will have you singin\u2019 and dancin\u2019\u00a0All Night Long.<\/em><\/p>\n

A Toast to the Rat Pack<\/strong>
\nJuly 25, 2026<\/p>\n

Larry Blank,\u00a0<\/strong>Resident Pops Conductor
\nCarmen Bradford, Steve Lippia<\/strong>\u00a0& Todd Murray<\/strong>, soloists<\/p>\n

Step back into the golden age of swing with the timeless hits of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald in a dazzling evening of swagger, smooth vocals and big band with:\u00a0My Way, Come Fly with Me, I\u2019ve Got the World on a String, Come Rain or Come Shine, Lady is a Tramp<\/em>\u00a0and more.<\/p>\n

Remember When Rock Was Young<\/strong>
\nThe Elton John Tribute<\/strong>
\nAugust 15, 2026<\/p>\n

Larry Blank,\u00a0<\/strong>Resident Pops Conductor
\nCraig A. Meyer & band<\/strong>, guest artists<\/p>\n

A spectacular theatrical experience capturing the Rocketman\u2019s music, costumes and charisma. From\u00a0Benny and the Jets\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Tiny Dancer<\/em>\u00a0to\u00a0Candle in the<\/em>\u00a0Wind and\u00a0Crocodile Rock,\u00a0<\/em>this high-energy show brings his chart-topping hits to life with unforgettable flair.<\/p>\n

Music of the Night: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Friends<\/strong>
\nAugust 29, 2026<\/p>\n

Larry Blank,\u00a0<\/strong>Resident Pops Conductor
\nHugh Panaro, Valerie Perri & Scarlett Strallen<\/strong>, soloists<\/p>\n

The season closes with an unforgettable evening of drama, passion and iconic melodies from Broadway\u2019s legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and his contemporaries \u2013 Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Leonard Bernstein and more. Hits from\u00a0Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita,\u00a0West Side Story, Les Mis<\/em>\u00a0and will have you singing your favorite showtunes.<\/p>\n

IF YOU GO:<\/strong><\/p>\n