The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage — Attraction in Santa Monica

On April 27, 2025, I attended Ellis Hall’s “Ambassador of Soul” concert at The BroadStage in Santa Monica. What should have been an evening celebrating Black musical heritage instead exposed a much older problem: venues eager to profit from Black culture while quietly marginalizing Black and Brown patrons.

I have lived directly across the street from The BroadStage for 15 years. I know this community well. I attended expecting to be welcomed as a neighbor. Instead, while speaking in a normal conversational tone — fully consistent with the ambient noise of the venue — my Latino friend and I (I am Black) were approached by a white staff member and told to “keep it down.” Meanwhile, white guests around us spoke, laughed, and moved freely without interruption. The selective enforcement was unmistakable.

This was not a lecture, a poetry reading, or a classical recital demanding silence. It was a soul concert — a genre born of vitality, connection, and human expression. Yet somehow, our presence, no louder than the room itself, was treated as a disturbance needing management.

The BroadStage advertises itself as inclusive. What unfolded made it clear that inclusion here is conditional. Black artistry is welcome on the stage; Black and Brown guests, it seems, are tolerated only if they remain silent and invisible.

The BroadStage may excel at optics. It fails at respect. For anyone who values cultural integrity — or who simply expects to be treated with basic dignity — there are better places to invest your time and trust. The surface here is polished, but what lies...

The Broad Stage is located in the heart of Santa Monica near Santa Monica College. It is actually part of the college, but not on campus and funded by various sources, including donation.

The Broad is beautiful. The design is stunning. Parking is free in their lot, which is a gem for Santa Monica. the exterior is lovely. They have a great box office and now and again you may be able to get tickets at the last minute, but don't count on it. Buy them on line though their website. The tickets are reasonably priced.

The interior is also wonderful. They have concessions, but they are pricey and there is not a great selection.

The place is small and seats maybe 500 people, I am not sure. There is not a bad seat in the house, but the seats are not staggered as they should be and there is not enough rise between sections, so you will have a hard time seeing if the person in front of you is even an inch taller than you. They really should have known better and the person who designed it needs to get a clue before he designs seating for other venues. This is a real negative of this place, but their offerings are so great that we grin and bear it.

The Broad has opera, chamber music and other types of new music. They bring in new operas and they take chances and who ever picks the schedule is doing a great job.

We just saw an opera there, by Beethoven, but updated for today's world. It was brilliant and Beethoven would have been proud. Sometimes they have Q&A after a show, stay for that. It is great.

We will be...

I had the privilege of handling the video production and photography for Celebrating Sophia Loren: The Italian Icon on November 22, 2024, at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. The venue is simply stunning, with its modern architecture and intimate setting providing the perfect backdrop for such a glamorous and memorable event.

The Broad Stage team was highly professional and accommodating, making the entire production process seamless. Their attention to detail and dedication to excellence helped ensure that every moment of this tribute to Sophia Loren was captured flawlessly.

It was an honor to document such an iconic evening, and I would highly recommend The Broad Stage to anyone seeking a top-tier performing arts venue in Santa Monica. The ambiance, staff, and technical support here are unmatched.

If you’re planning an event or simply looking for an unforgettable performance experience, The Broad Stage is the place to be!

My production company Coldea Productions and the crew loved the way the location staff worked with us and the accessibility of the venue is great! One of the best Stages...