We didn't know what to expect, and we're very impressed. This immersive show is very well done, the…read moreactors are really into their characters, the LA theater was the perfect location to set the ambience, and there was so much details put into the decor. First, you go into this waiting area where the host and some cast members start off the story before taking you into the first maze. It's completely dark at times which really adds to the spookiness and then, when you can see, there's danger lurking behind the crevices. Next you're at the bar area where there's a small room with the show that we missed because no one explained there was a show going on so we were hanging at the bar, trying unsuccessfully to get a drink, checking out the lounge area, checking out the telephone booths and the restrooms. Right before they try to usher us to the next maze was when we realize there was a mini show so we asked if we could stay and watch it, and they said no which is very annoying given the price and lack of instruction. The next maze was just as good and included a dark area where you get squished for a few seconds. It leads to a short walk upstairs that's outside Where are you then enter into a theater show and take seat. It was a great ending and very well done. Unfortunately, the staff kept trying to push us along and I understand why however we were only in there for maybe 40 minutes and even missed the mini show at the bar area so it's very expensive for less than an hour. Also, upon exiting there was merchandise being sold, and only one staff member, so it was moving slowly. Meanwhile, the other staff kept trying to get us to leave even though we said we were waiting to buy merchandise. We had a great time and thought it was very well done, but would've enjoyed it more if we were actually allowed to be there for the full hour. The area outside is sketchy and there isn't a parking lot dedicated as mentioned on their website, you have to just find your own parking and walk over. Lots of homeless and everything stinks outside. I even saw a guy pooping in the alley. Not that this is any fault of the show but you just need to be aware.

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic! I had no expectations for this event but from the moment we got…read morethere to the moment we got out, we couldn't stop smiling! Part haunted maze, part immersive theater, this was a great first year for this event. The staff and performers were amazing and it was really great to see how they utilized the space. There were definitely some things that could be ironed out (some spaces seemed like there were ideas left on the table, like one of the rooms that was just full of video screens) but otherwise super happy to have tried this out. The story was also kind of hard to follow but the scares were there! There is currently a discount code going on (AOL25) so if you are curious, definitely try this out!

Amazing. Such a fun event. Classy, sexy and sophisticated. Hope they come back soon look forward…read moreto seeing these incredible ladies again soon.

Saw the Lalas in Detroit in a ballroom full of chairs. The chairs were the small metal kind with…read moreminimal padding and lined up touching each other so you were touching your fellow audience members. Not huge deal but not what was expected. The stage was raised 2-3 feet so unless you are in the first few rows, you end up watching the show in the large screens on both sides of the stage. Unfortunately, it got worse from there. The show was Disappointing, and not real burlesque. This is simply a non-nude strip show. Real burlesque is about subduction and teasing an audience, not ruff gyrations in fancy costume, with an expensive light show, a fog machine and blaring music. Although the show had about 10 different scenes, none were original or creative. All were a cliché, the Carman Miranda with the fruit skull cap, dominatrix in black shiny vinyl outfit, sexy secretary with black rim glasses, sequence belly dancer outfit with vails that get pulled down and that turns into cowgirls with a western song playin, down to the bride with Billy Idols white wedding playing. The music is to loud, to the point the speakers distort the sound. The songs chosen are the same used in every strip show and topless bar TV show and movie scene depicting stripping. The sad part is this show had the potential to be good given the production value and obvious costs spent on costume and lights alone. The best description I can give is, this is what a 14 year old boy thinks burlesque is. It's not, it's ladys gyrating and waving their asses in the air. No sudction, no teasing, just scantly clad lady, who are not really sexy. The dancer who acts as an MC asking the audience to yell louder for her fellow dancers. If you want to see a strip show without going to a strip club, then this shows is for you. If you want Burlesque, save your money and wait and see Dita von Tease or someone similar. I have seen many Burlesque shows, from the Dirty Show performances to The Empire Strips Back, to local theater production style shows put on is unused factory's to local theaters. All were better then this, even if they did not have expensive costumes and light show. If you want a strip show go to your local strip club. If you want burlesque, this show is not, skip it.

Never been a part of a show like this. Packed house where everybody is happy to be there and you…read morecan't even tell who's a newcomer and who's been here here before. Wine and beers sold in the bar for cheap. And an area to sit down in what they turned into a bar. Good vibes all night mainly because the host energy will do that to you. Time flew by from 8pm til whenever it ended.

This was a really fun show! Loved that everyone got a different colored wristband to show their…read morerelationship status. I had fun being assigned as "wingman" and helping people mingle. The show was also funny and very entertaining. There's a couple of things that sort of left me with a strange taste in my mouth. We sat next to one of the male contestants, and when one of the guys got called up to the stage, he ran down the aisle and they fist-pumped. I asked him how they knew each other and he said they did another dating show like this before. So it made me wonder if these good looking guys just go on the "LA dating show circuit" to hook up with girls. It made me wonder what their actual intentions are. Maybe I'm overthinking it. But I'd like to see guys up there who genuinely want to find a partner. I know there are plenty of them out there. The other strange thing was after the show, we're all mingling and the bachelorette is talking to everyone else except the guy that she picked as the winner! And she was even talking to the guy that she eliminated, like for the rest of the night. So it just made me wonder what the contestants are even looking for. I also didn't like that all the guys wrote sexual poems. Again I feel like the show can find guys that actually have romantic intentions and aren't just looking for a hook up after the show.

Attended another holiday show production ("Steam Powered Rocket Ride to the Moon") at the Garage…read moreTheatre, continuing the story started last year with 'Terror at the Pike". It had many of the same actors, the ability to throw tomatoes at the villans, and free ice cream during intermission. My wife and I had a good time.

My husband and I came to watch the call list and loved the experience. The vibes were intimate,…read moreraw, and talented ! We hope to visit again soon.

I took a chance to buy tickets for this one night show coming from NEw York city from performers…read moreand founders, Jen Jamula and Allison Goldberg that was held at the Wework office. This was nice interactive show where audience participation is mandatory for the show to work where people share their breakup texts and those that do get a free shot! It's pretty amazing what people say to break up. Some are hilarious , while some are just what on earth did that come from?! Is this guy coming out of an 18th century novel because who talks or texts that way?! All in all it was an entertaining show and it came with wine ! Bottoms up for those bad dates where you need to laugh it up or drink up to was away the bad memories! They did use one Viral text breakup they found on the web that went viral and showed us it on the screen while they read it out. It was way too funny http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/virals/11239867/You-were-rude-to-my-cat-the-funniest-break-up-text-ever.html The two ladies made the Time Out New York's 2014 list of "Top 10 Funniest Women In NYC." I think their last performance in the SF Bay Area will be at Palo Alto's Lucie Stern Theatre Aug. 18 as part of the TheatreWorks New Works Festival. So go catch them for an all new show and concept I think. Check their website form more details!

Allison's show is an energetic tour de force into relationships and dating, filled with laughs and…read moreexcitement and insights into how (not) to break up by text. The night was full of raucous laughter, hilarity, and yes, shock and amazement at how some people behave. Fortunately, the shaming is done with minimal malice and maximum realness. We're all flawed, but we can be better, and How To Break Up By Text does a great job at not just acknowledging that, but living it and showing us how. Highly recommended!

I went for the Glass, he went for the Kafka…read more May 5. While apparently the rest of the city was freely downing Cinco de Mayo tacos and tequila, we attended the final performance of the production of the opera In The Penal Colony at The Studio Theater CSULB. This is a fine small auditorium, well planned and comfortable. That comfort is essential for full attention to be given to the many aspects, somber and sober, of this excellent (with caveat) production. First, the raison d'être for my attending. I find that this opera is one of Philip Glass' most stunningly beautiful. The string quintet, though mounted out of sight, was the engine for this brilliant study of a killing "machine". The strong voices of tenor Doug Jones and baritone Zeffis Quinn Hollis were superb. I consider this an important work well developed and well measured by conductor Andreas Mitisek. I would not want to engage in criticism out of my realm. The book of Kafka's short stories is bedside awaiting me to pick it up. Somewhere along the line in the twentieth century, opera went slightly mad in its desire to stage productions that meet modern needs. (Next season's King Arthur [as a comic book superhero] by Henry Purcell in collaboration with whimsically juvenile-loving Musica Angelica arouses much curiosity. Get ready kids.) Kafka wrote of inhumanity and absurdity of humans over a hundred years ago. The added text from the student's ensemble personal incarcerations diminished that theme. There was an important point to make, no question, but youth personalized stories led to unanswered questions and reduced their message. Corral students freedom of speech, really? Really that's the kid's sugar treat. Poor staging revolved around stomping students many with muddy line delivery. Stage direction to place them behind a stark curtain (à la Julie Taymor, à la wayang kulit) and silent for ultimate expressiveness was inspired. Poorly developed as a Greek chorus but when given the opportunity to act, Morgan Pimental, John E. Pizzini, Matthew Limas and especially Mark Oliver ably shone through the ponderous choreography.

Long Beach Opera is a small company. Size doesn't matter. Most of the voices are good and the…read moreorchestra is stronger than their size would indicate. Their venue (the Terrace Theater) does not have the best acoustics, but they are doing edgier productions that what you see at the neighboring Los Angeles Opera. I am a fan.

I can't believe no one's put up a review for this show sooner. Lost Moon Radio describes itself "as…read morethe rock 'n' roll comedy bonanza that Live Comedy LA named its 2009 Show of the Year." I describe it as fucking awesome. But perhaps you're looking for something more specific than that... Lost Moon Radio is set around Jupiter Jack who is a DJ floating in space. There are talk segments, songs, commercials, etc. They are presently on their 7th episode. If you're in the mood for a taste of what they have, you can check out their website. It has been a long time since I have laughed to the point that my face hurts, but these folks managed it. Except that joke about the pandas. I did not care for that. Also, afterwards, there super awesome band hosts live band karaoke. There's a large selection and they take requests for future performances. If you haven't seen them yet, shame on you.

Lost Moon Radio is the most brilliant and hilarious show I've seen all year, and I watch a lot of…read morecomedy. The format (radio show) is novel, the narratives and metanarratives tight, and the music really clever. If you're intelligent, you'll love this show! And if you're not intelligent, the show will make you!

Circus Vargas is one of the last of the old time circuses, it is fun, not pricey and a great time…read morefor everyone. There are so few left, you should go while you can. They don't use animals and have not for years, they just offer family fun and laughs. The circus moves around from town to town so just go to their website and fine out when they will be near you. They have everything, clowns, trapeze artists, motorcycles, great acts, jugglers and just funny guys. It is very talented people working for little pay to keep their dream alive and entertain you. The place is always clean and they have so much food to offer and you won't go broke. They have toys and there is just not a bad seat in the house, the tent is not that huge anymore. This is just as good as Cirque without the pretense. It is just fun. Please go and take your grandkids. I doubt there will be a traveling circus like this in 20 years, so do it and have the best time.

I haven't been to a circus in a long time. Honestly, I hate clowns a lot and would probably be…read morescared if I saw one. My bf got tickets for Circus Vargas for veterans so we decided to go. Everything was so cool to watch and the performances were awesome. We had so much fun and really enjoyed this circus. I was happy there were no clowns. Overall, really liked this circus and would definitely come back again next year.