More than 300 workers will clock in at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium each week starting Tuesday, Aug. 18, when "America's Got Talent" returns for its Season 21 live broadcasts.
The five-week run, which continues through Wednesday, Sept. 16, puts lighting technicians, staging crews, wardrobe staff and other production workers on the payroll at the historic venue. Co-executive producer Meg MacGregor, a 19-season AGT veteran, told Pasadena Weekly the show has filmed in Pasadena for roughly a decade across different production rounds.
"We are so lucky and privileged to be able to be in Pasadena. ... What makes Pasadena great to me is the community," MacGregor said.
The economic ripple extends beyond the auditorium walls. MacGregor noted that the venue's location allows audience members to dine at nearby restaurants and visit local businesses before each broadcast, turning a TV taping into a full evening out. The Civic Auditorium's attached hotel also houses contestants arriving from around the world.
What's different this season
The show features 44 acts competing live this season, drawn from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada and cities across the United States. MacGregor said the season offers "a really broad range of different talents that we haven't had before."
Because AGT showcases comedians, magicians, dancers, acrobats and specialty acts rather than a single category, the crew must reconfigure staging and technical elements for every consecutive performance. MacGregor described that constant changeover as one of the show's biggest production challenges.
Two competitors already carry massive online followings: dancer Sando has drawn more than 229 million views on AGT social media accounts, and 16-year-old guitarist Nene Royal from Phuket, Thailand, has topped 314 million views.
Free tickets for residents
Admission to the live broadcasts is free. Attendees must register in advance at on-camera-audiences.com/shows/americas-got-talent. Before each taping, audience members can participate in countdown activities, win prizes and take photos with judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Mel B and Sofía Vergara. Terry Crews returns as host.
Performance episodes air Tuesdays and results shows air Wednesdays on NBC, with both streaming on Peacock.
Upcoming in Pasadena
- Saturday, Aug. 15: Lao Tizer Band (jazz), Levitt VIBE Music Series, 6 p.m., Memorial Park Bandshell, 85 E. Holly St. Free.
- Saturdays: Pasadena Certified Farmers' Market, Victory Park, 8 a.m. to noon. Up to 60 vendors; accepts EBT.
