Growing up in the South Bay, Torrance Cultural Arts Center became near and dear to my heart. When I…read morewas younger I took different classes dance classes here. I remember taking ballet as kid and modern dance as a teen. I also took a workout class when I was in college. I always appreciated the large and spacious dance studios where the classes were held. Now that I'm older I've also come to appreciate Torrance Cultural Arts Center as a venue. I've been to several different festivals here such as the Japanese Matsuri Festival and Lunar New Year festival. This spot is perfect for the community to get together and like how each festival is able to have many different booths. I also love how there is a stage area both outside and inside. I've also attended the Torrance Firefighters' Annual Spaghetti Dinner here. This is another great event at this spacious venue. Despite it being quite a popular dinner, there''s plenty of room for all to enjoy an evening out. Torrance Cultural Arts Center is great! Whether it be for classes or community events or festivals, this spot is perfect for small or large gatherings.

This is an amazing venue with staff that really goes above and beyond to make sure your event…read moreplanning and event so smoothly. I like the layout of the courtyard, different halls, outdoor stage and seating, restrooms and the ADA Accessible parking lot. Restrooms were very clean and trash was removed throughout the day. This facility has so many possibilities for any type of event. You can rent out portions of it or the whole venue. We were hosting a Hawaiian Music Festival and it was an ideal space for us. Our guest truly enjoyed the experience. Joanne Kato was an absolute treasure of a resource the day of the event. She was so helpful and went above and beyond to help us in anyway we needed.

I visited here over the weekend for a dance competition and everything was overall pretty nice…read more There's plenty of parking and when you walk in the lobby is nice and bright. The bathrooms were clean with plenty of stalls and the backstage area was well maintained. The theater itself has lots of seating and is quite comfortable, however, the seating rows are very long with no breaks, so basically if you're sitting in middle seats, you have to walk past so many people on either side of you to try to get out. This would be a nightmare if there was an emergency or anything.

Wonderful experience at this venue to see the Hot Chocolate Nutcracker…read more Very helpful staff to assist with seating. Venue appeared clean. Plenty of free parking.

First time to "2nd Story" Theater as there are 3 theaters under one roof (Main is Hermosa Beach) so…read moreit can be a bit confusing. The theater we were in was small, cramped, uncomfortable seats and visually could not see the stage too well. Parking is difficult to find as well. We found a residential spot .3 miles away which wasn't too bad but you need to pay attention to the signs. There were some closer spots (if you could grab one) but only 2 hour parking that I saw and our production was 3 hours long. Not sure I'd be back for any more.

I've seen one show but am going to more. Charming facility…read moreand the stage is the perfect size for smaller, intimate theater. Great vibe, perfect family entertainment- All the talent no- attitude.

We love Family Theater! It's such a wonderful program and always so incredible to see them perform…read more Suzanne , Craig and team do a phenomenal job at welcoming all and growing young performers. The shows are always fun to watch...my son loves this program! So lucky to have them teaching our kiddos!

My daughter has been doing this program since she was 3 and now she is 10. This program has yet to…read morefail us. The directors/owners: Suzanne and Craig are the most heartwarming amazing people. They also complete so much In so little time and the choreography is amazing if it weren't for Family Theatre my daughter would have never been where she is today!

The venue is old and needs some minor renovations. This place seats 500 on a steep slope, so be…read morecareful going to your seat. There are snacks usually at intermission. There is ample parking.

We love this place. It is located right in Torrance in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. It is…read moreperfect. Parking is not only free, it is easy. I am disabled and was able to have my husband drive me right to the front and drop me off. He then parked himself and we met at the front. This is an all volunteer staff and they are lovely. They will help you find your seat or buy what you want. They have beer and wine and snacks. You can have them in the lobby or in their adorable outdoor seating error. I don't think you can take in anything but water, I just don't recall. They also have soda and all their snacks are in the cute logo bags. You can tell the volunteers are proud of this place and they should be. There is not a bad seat in the house. The seats are comfortable and the entire space is spotless. You can even go outside if you need a break or there is an intermission. We took out grandson to the see The Bill Withers Songbooks and it was amazing. The sound was perfect. The singer and his band were just great and he sounded like Mr. Withers. He also did some of his own music and it was great. Getting in and out is easy. The patrons are nice. The staff is the best, There is nothing not to like so you must go. Use their website or Google TOCA and you will find a list of upcoming events. The area is safe, it is all just wonderful.

Working with Billy Gallo at Manhattan Actor Studio was a game changer for my son. He came in with a…read moredream of becoming an actor, and within 10 months, with Billy's guidance, that dream became a reality and he is an actor! The VIP Experience Package set us up for success. Billy provided weekly thoughtful, quality material that expanded my son's range and growth. Billy also helped us think through social media content , guided us on the right at-home self-tape equipment, and even took the time to help me understand the audition process. We now have the right assets to put in front of agents and casting directors - headshots and several professional reels to choose from. What truly sets Billy apart is the relationship he builds with his students, his teaching style is both motivating and structured, helping young actors build confidence. I highly recommend Manhattan Actor Studio VIP package for anyone serious about launching or advancing an acting career.

An actors actor teaching the art of being, while holding nothing back. Professional and passionate…read moreabout the craft, Billy brings out the best in his actors.

Came here to see in the heights. To locate initially a little hard. Theater was quaint and not a…read morebad seat in the house.

Having grown up in Torrance, I've been to El Camino College many times for many reasons, including…read moreas a student. My very first visit was as a small child, for the Saturday afternoon children's matinee in the 2054 seat Marsee Auditorium. For just 10 cents(!!) we were able to watch a great movie (often Disney) and have a really fun afternoon! I have returned for numerous performances since, including to see entertainment legends: Victor Borge and Bob Hope, but I digress. This was my first time to the smaller, 353 seat Campus Theatre. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/el-camino-college-campus-theatre-torrance?include_review_link=True&userid=Jcbj338NjXtSiqvK3LYghQ My mom asked if I wanted to join her for a performance of the Stephen Sondheim musical "Into the Woods". I had seen it before, but it's been years and as my mom isn't getting any younger, spending more time with her is always a good thing. As we lined up to enter the theater, the ushers in their nicely pressed black slacks and white long sleeve shirts, were very helpful and almost insistent about showing each person to their seat. The theatre looks as if it's been "refreshed" recently, as the paint and upholstery on the seats, along with the carpet on the floor looked new. The seats were comfortable too. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/el-camino-college-campus-theatre-torrance?select=gmhXevW-0WCsX6Cln1Thaw OVERALL: Everything about the performance was quite good and very professional, especially when you consider this is a community college. From the live orchestra, to the lighting, the set and props, to the sound, but especially the performers, just awesome! 5 stars!

The Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center is such a great venue if you appreciate a smaller, intimate…read moreconcert experience. With only about 450 seats, there really isn't a bad seat in the house, and they consistently bring in fun and entertaining acts. On Saturday, 05/09, we caught Daybreak, a tribute to Barry Manilow, and it was a blast. The lead singer mentioned several times that he was battling a cold and wasn't thrilled with his vocal register that night, but honestly, I thought he sounded very good. The group is based out of Florida, so having them come through town felt like a real treat. They played all the hits, the frontman even has a resemblance to Barry, and you could tell that when fully healthy, his pipes can absolutely hit every note. Really fun evening, great crowd, and another reminder of why this venue is such a hidden gem in the South Bay.

The Norris Theater has been showing wonderful plays, musicians, tribute bands for decades. I…read morerecently saw the incomparable Sharon Owens perform as Barbra Streisand. She nailed Barbra. Her look, her hands, her voice, her singing. If you have a chance to see Ms Owens, do not hesitate. She is magnificent. I have seen Barbra live 4 times and as I told Sharon Owens, her performance was remarkable

Review #957 2026-021…read more Fantasia Family Music: Director: Susan Brown Technical Director: Evan Brown Parking: free public lot (enter from 11th Pl., lot is on right past Alano Club & Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library) My son's saber fencing buddy, AK, invited us to see his 1st performance with Fantasia Family Music as the "March Hare" (Act 2, Scene 7: Mad Tea Party) at the Hermosa Beach Community Theatre. He's been in other performances elsewhere. His dad is a musician, so maybe that's an inspiration for his creative arts passion? We arrived early, but wasn't aware of the free lot in the back (though it was likely full for the performance or taken up by tennis players) until after the show. We spent the next 20-mins. circling around & around, hoping someone would leave a street parking spot. We finally found a free spot on 9th St. off Ardmore Ave., by the time we arrived, we missed 15-mins. of the show. Aaaugh! We didn't have the playbill so I wasn't sure if we missed his friend's initial queue (luckily he wasn't on until after intermission). It was quite obvious after a few minutes that the kids' performance caliber was top notch!! I just wished we would have made it on time to watch the opening curtain/beginning! ＼(｀0´)／ It was only $20/ticket, that I wouldn't mind a repeat but this was the last show. I'm somewhat familiar with the story, but it's been decades since I read the book. All the scenes were marvelous (though we missed the Prologue & Scene 1 so can't comment on that), but the Mad Tea Party's Unbirthday & I'm Late reprise (Scene 7... yeah, I'm biased because of our friend), Seeing Red's Painting the Roses Red & Simon Says (Scene 8; "Simon Says" replaced the croquet tournament story in the book) were standout scenes. I particularly loved the Cheshire Cat 1; she really hammed it & made it her own IMO. I found out after the show that she's a fellow student at HES with my son, & also discovered his 4th grade classmate was in the play as the King of Hearts. We sat in the back & couldn't see (their faces) very well. Fantasia Family Music really put on a fantabulous production! They're South Bay's original student led performing arts organization that's nonprofit & dedicated to youth theater. I loved that they're inclusive of all who are interested in the creative arts regardless of skill level or prior experience. If there were newbies with the "bug" to perform, it wasn't noticeable because every performer were immersed in his/her role. Several performer parents played a part in the theatre crew as backstage crew & make-up assistants to help ensure success. Hermosa Beach Community Theatre is 502-seat theater that's located east of the Hermosa Beach Community Center, often used by youth musical theatre groups, dance productions, & other variety shows for local residents to experience the joys of cultural arts. It has a spacious stage to hold a large number of performers, box office, decent lobby area (hang out with the performers after the show), & restrooms (around the corner of the box office). There's a couple of stalls & sinks in the women's restroom so hold the liquids, especially if it's a packed house! According to other reviewers, there's a concession stand (wasn't available for this play); I'm assuming you can eat & drink in the lobby, or just outside of the theater during intermission. The City of Hermosa Beach/Community Theatre has a Monthly Calendar (https://www.hermosabeach.gov/our-government/recreation-community-resources/community-theatre) to see what's current for that month. I didn't grow up going to the theatre or had any interest in "acting"performing (though I did sing 3 years as a soprano in chorus & played the violin in orchestra in elementary school, earning 1st chair in a few performances). But I love the Hermosa Beach Community Theatre for their affordable tickets to local, nonprofit, & youth-focused productions! Curiouser & curiouser... I would definitely come back again! Wouldn't you?

What a charming little theater! I was invited to see a show here, and I couldn't get over how cute…read morethe place is. It's the perfect venue for plays and dance recitals, with plenty of seating to accommodate a large audience. They have a box office, a concession area, and a surprisingly spacious stage! The play I saw was Beauty and the Beast, and it was absolutely adorable. You could really tell the children put in a lot of hard work. Parking was convenient, with both a lot and street parking options available.

Having joined POPs when it first began, I can truthfully say that it is solely responsible for all…read moremy theatrical knowledge. The staff is amazing, the choreography is always fantastic, and the overall quality of the shows is superb. The kids are always nice and welcoming and POPs strives to be free of any cliques or friend groups. I was always in the Mainstage group (the 12+ age group), but becoming friends and mentors to the rising stars group (next younger group) was not unheard of. The older kids would help do the backstage work for the younger kids shows which was nice. Not to mention, POPs students are always very supportive of their friends, seeing them in shows with other youth theater companies (something students from other companies sadly don't often do in return). All in all, POPs was a truly great opportunity and fun group to perform with. --Brian Liebson, POPs alumni

Love Pops!! I have had students throughout the years who have participated in their many great…read moreprograms! They offer students incredible training and performance experience, and they are such an important part of the South Bay community! Highest recommendations!