June 3, 2026
Upcoming POPS season includes tributes to John Williams, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John,
the Rat Pack and the Music of Motown
June 20 – August 29, 2026
Pasadena, CA – The Pasadena POPS and Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank announce the 2026 Rusnak Summer Concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. The five concert series will run from June 20 to August 29, 2026 with a guest artist lineup boasting an impressive roster of Broadway credits including Morgan James, (Godspell), Chester Gregory and Shayna Steele (Hairspray), Scarlett Strallen (Mary Poppins), Hugh Panaro (Phantom of the Opera), Valerie Perri (Evita), Grammy Award-winning Jazz songstress Carmen Bradford, and the electrifying triple-threat of Craig A. Meyer. The POPS summer season offers something for every music lover with an exciting mix of sound from Hollywood, Motown, the Rat Pack, Elton John, and culminating with Larry Blank’s Broadway extravaganza paying tribute to legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
For his inaugural season at the helm of the POPS, Maestro Blank will kick off the summer on June 20 with his Star-Spangled Salute to the Movies, paying tribute to two masters of Hollywood music- John Williams and Marvin Hamlisch. This opening night program will spotlight the talents of the Pasadena POPS orchestra, with epic scores from Williams’ Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Superman and E.T. The silky vocals of Broadway and recording artist Morgan James will bring Marvin Hamlisch’s nostalgic soundtracks to life with “Nobody Does it Better” and “The Way We Were.”
The summer heats up on July 11 with the return of the spellbinding Shayna Steele for Dancin’ in the Street: The Music of Motown. Steele will be joined by Broadway star Chester Gregory (Hairspray, Dreamgirls) and Terron Brooks, whose vocals have backed up Stevie Wonder and Somkey Robinson among others. This dynamic trio will bring fire to Motown hits “I’ll Be There,” “My Guy,” “I Feel Good,” “Superstition” and so much more. Then, harken back to the Golden Age of Vegas on July 29 for A Toast to the Rat Pack, with Jazz royalty Carmen Bradford, crooner Todd Murray and famed Sinatra interpreter Steve Lippia bringing you songs made famous, by Sinatra, Dean Martin and Ella Fitgerald, with “Come Fly with Me,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” “Lady is a Tramp” and more.
The music, costumes and charisma of the Rocketman will come to life on August 15 when Craig A. Meyer takes the stage for Remember When Rock Was Young: The Elton John Experience. Meyer got his start touring with Franki Valli and Barry Manilow, who calls him “one of the most talented people I have ever worked with.” His high-energy show brings unforgettable flair to chart-topping hits from Benny and the Jets and Tiny Dancer to Candle in the Wind and Crocodile Rock that will have audiences dancing in the aisles.
Resident Pops Conductor Larry Blank closes the season on August 29 with an insider’s journey through the world of legendary Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Phantom of the Opera’s Hugh Panaro and Evita’s Valerie Perri will bring two of Webber’s most popular shows to life, along with songs from Cats, Sunset Blvd, and music from Webber’s contemporaries – Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Schwartz. This Broadway spectacular will be a season finale you won’t want to miss!
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’t 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 – each option carries on the tradition of picnic-dining with your family and friends to the backdrop of the San Gabriel Valley’s 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 Julienne or Bacchus Kitchen, two full-service beverage centers, or a variety of food trucks.
Subscribers may purchase pre-paid onsite parking at the Arboretum, and all concertgoers can purchase guaranteed and convenient parking at Santa Anita Park, with complimentary non-stop shuttle service to the Arboretum’s 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 pasadenasymphony-pops.org/tickets or at the Arboretum on concert days.
- What: The Pasadena POPS 2026 Rusnak Summer Concert Series; Larry Blank, Resident Pops Conductor
- When: June 20, July 11, July 25, August 15, August 29. Concerts start at 7:30pm. Gates open at 5:30pm.
- Where: The LA County Arboretum | 301 N Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007
- Cost: Tickets start at $38
- Dining: Gates open at 5:30pm for picnicking. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink or pre-order from onsite food vendors.
- Parking: Table subscribers have the opportunity to purchase onsite Arboretum parking. Single ticket holders may purchase guaranteed and convenient parking at Santa Anita Park, located just across Baldwin Ave, with complimentary non-stop shuttle service to the Arboretum’s main entrance for $20.
Larry Blank
Conductor
Larry Blank is one of the most prolific and sought-after composers, conductors, and orchestrators in the entertainment business today. His work has been presented all over the world, including some of Broadway’s most successful musicals, Carnegie Hall, and top television and film projects.
He was the Music Director/Conductor and/or vocal arranger for many shows on Broadway and in Los Angeles including They’re Playing Our Song, Evita, Sugar Babies, La Cage Aux Folles, Phantom Of The Opera, Onward Victoria, Copperfield, Colette, A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music. He has been nominated three times for both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for his orchestrations in The Drowsy Chaperone, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and with Marc Shaiman for Catch Me If You Can. Larry received a Drama Desk Nomination for orchestrations for A Christmas Story and Honeymoon in Vegas.
Larry contributed to the orchestrations for both the stage and film production of The Producers, the film Chicago and is a regular conductor and arranger for BBC RADIO 2 Friday Night Is Music Night in the UK. Larry is also the Music Supervisor and Orchestrator (along with Mark Cumberland) for the Olivier Awards in London.
Blank has worked with top talent from varied fields of the entertainment world, notably as personal conductor to Michael Crawford. He has also worked with Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Bernadette Peters, Kelsey Grammar, Christine Baranski, Roberta Flack, Pete Fountain, Peabo Bryson, Sally Kellerman, Nancy Dussault, Marc Shaiman, Jerry Herman, Ann- Margaret, Davis Gaines, Bette Midler, George Benson, Placido Domingo, Randy Newman, Trisha Yearwood, Tom Scott, Quincy Jones, Michael Bolton, John Raitt and Diana Rigg.
Blank’s background includes orchestrating and arranging songs for South Park and was Music Supervisor and Orchestrator for Jerry Herman’s movie, Mrs. Santa Claus starring Angela Lansbury and Charles Durning. Some of the films he lent his talent to include The Kid, Kiss The Girls, The American President, Forget Paris, City Slickers II, The Net, That¹s Entertainment III, North, I¹d Do Anything, and Stuart Saves His Family. Blank’s music can be heard on the animated feature films, Cats Don’t Dance and All Dogs Go To Heaven as well as the 101 Dalmatians Christmas Special.
Mr. Blank’s television work includes orchestrating and composing music for several of the Grammy Awards and Academy Award shows as well as numerous television movies and shows. Most recently Larry orchestrated and conducted FX’s Fosse/Verdon and Dolly Parton’s latest project Christmas On The Square for Warner Brothers.
Mr. Blank has guest conducted most of the orchestras throughout the world, including The San Francisco Symphony, The New York Philharmonic, Western Australia Symphony Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Palm Beach Pops, Auckland Symphony, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Boston Pops, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Symphony, New Orleans Symphony and Toronto.