Vijay Gupta Discusses New Memoir "Restrung"

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

Acclaimed violinist and author Vijay Gupta, noted for his wide-ranging artistry and visionary community engagement, takes the stage at Sierra Madre Playhouse on Friday, June 12, 2026, 8:00 PM, for an intimate and inspiring evening of storytelling and music. Designed as both a book release and concert to celebrate his memoir Restrung, which releases June 9, Gupta blends a compelling musical performance with candid reflections about his path through music and beyond. Tickets ($35) include a copy of the book.

Gupta is a former member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a MacArthur Fellowship awardee, and founder of local nonprofit Street Symphony, which brings world class music to people experiencing homelessness. His new memoir Restrung is the story of Gupta’s transformation – professional, personal, and spiritual – through music. Gupta shares his earliest memories as a child prodigy with his Bengali-American family, his burnout and collapse as a classical musician, and how playing music with the community on Skid Row became not a cure, but a practice of return.

His remarkable artistry is then showcased in a live performance with Gupta playing works that resonate with introspection, rhythmic vitality, and emotional transparency, reflecting his own unique journey embracing resilience, creative reinvention, advocacy, and belonging.  

The program, part of Sierra Madre Playhouse’s inaugural authors series, concludes with a Q&A and book signing, providing an opportunity for audience members to connect directly with Gupta.

For tickets ($35; includes book) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
New Music
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
$35
Email:
info@sierramadreplayhouse.org
Phone:
(626) 355-4318
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Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

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Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.