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    Long Beach Performing Arts Center

    3.1 (15 reviews)

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    Reviews With Photos - Long Beach Performing Arts Center

    Alice A.

    Located in the center of downtown Long Beach on Ocean Blvd. the Long Beach Performing Arts Center is a lovely venue. The venue does have a parking structure underground that we could not figure out how to get there so we parked next door at the Aqua Building. They have public parking underground for $10 and it actually worked out great because getting out after the show was a breeze compared to everyone else who parked at the venue. Came here on a Saturday for the Bill Burr comedy show. We arrived early and the doors don't open until 7pm. It was nice they had patio furniture set up with heating lamps, two outdoor bars, and two food trucks. So we grab some drinks and sat in their lawn area while we waited very nice set up in front of the theater by their fountain. At 7pm they let you inside but you can't go into the theater room for another hour. Inside you will find the restrooms downstairs and a full bar. On the main floor they have three bars spread out, a concession stand for snacks and coffee. At 8pm they start letting everyone in the theater room very organized and I like that. The staff members at the doors were very friendly at all times. Overall the show was great and worth the wait to get it in!

    Lily N.

    Lovely performance for The Nutcracker. The costumes were very pretty. I don't remember much of the story to it and I swore some parts were missing from what I know of it as a child. Other than that, I enjoyed the perfomance from beginning to end and would definitely recommend coming to see this before Christmas. We went on Saturday, the 23rd of December and while there were a lot of people there, there was still quite a number of seats available since the theater was quite big. Remember to research where to park before you come here, there is a parking structure which we didn't know about and ended up parking further. Also use the restroom before the play starts, the line was really long for the ladies restroom during intermission.

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    6 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Great venue to watch your daughter dance!! Love the location and the amenities around the arena. Thank you Starpower for picking it!

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    Terrace Theater

    Terrace Theater

    3.5
    (149 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This was my first visit to the Long Beach Terrace Theater to see Joe Satriani and Steve Vai touring…read moretogether as the SatchVai band. The venue has its own multi-story parking lot which is very easy to access, and only charges $15. We arrived thirty minutes before the show, and there was no line to enter the parking lot with many parking spaces available. After a very short walk across the garage and going up a one-story staircase (there is also an elevator), we were on the ground level with the theater. Unfortunately, you have to walk all the way around the large fountain area to reach the security checkpoint and entrance. There was no line and we passed through quickly. Luckily, after the show, you could walk directly to the garage without having to go around again. The theater seats around 3,000 people and has floor, loge, and balcony sections. It is very clean and has a modern feel. The main lobby is spacious and has high ceilings. There are bars on all levels, and some basic food items downstairs. There were also a few food and drink spots in front outside. The concert hall has very high ceilings and is also very modern. We sat on the floor in the second row. The seats were padded and comfortable, and the spacing between adjacent seats and between rows was good. The view of the performers was amazing. There was a large projection screen behind the stage, with various video playing throughout the show. There was some fog on the stage, and the lighting was good, but nothing exceptional. Sitting so close is great for pictures and videos, and you're oblivious to the other 2,900 people in the theater. It almost feels like you're getting a private performance. However, the sound can be hit or miss depending on the performers' preferences and venue's audio setup. The main speaker arrays here hang directly over the first few rows in front of the stage. For the opening band, we couldn't hear any of the guitars at all. Joe played almost completely through his on-stage amps only and the sound was perfect. Steve's mix was half through his amps and half through the main speaker arrays. We could hear his guitar, but not nearly as well as Joe's. It's not the venues fault, the sound is usually optimized for the majority of the theater, and the first few rows may suffer. The opening band was Animals As Leaders. I've seen them a few times over the years as an opener for Steve Vai. They are an instrumental guitar focused band with the unique characteristic that both guitarists use eight-string guitars which gives them a unique sound. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai started out the main show together. They are two of the greatest rock guitar legends to ever play. They played a few original songs together that they co-wrote, followed by both individual and joint performances of a dozen of their popular songs. Steve's unique three-neck Hydra guitar made an appearance. There was also an encore with cover versions of Rock and Roll and Born to be Wild. I've seen Joe 25 times and Steve seven times, and I'll continue to go to every show when they are in town. In between the opening band and the main show, we immediately went to use the ground level restrooms which are downstairs. The lines were already extremely long. On a whim, we went upstairs and the restrooms on both sides initially had very short lines. After only five minutes, the upstairs lines also started to get long. Go upstairs fast and you should have a much shorter wait. The show was great and I really liked the venue. It's modern, clean, and comfortable, with various amenities. The sound mix was a mixed bag sitting in front, but it wasn't the venue's fault. If you want the best chance of a good sound mix, don't sit up front. Parking was very convenient and very affordable. I would definitely come see a show here again. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

    I attended the long beach grand prix performance concert which Lupe FIASCo performed on Friday…read more04.17.2026 @6:30pmsh. It was an outside concert. The thing that stood out was the nice courtyard decor of water fountains. The vibe radiated as the fountains were sparkling, giving the ambiance of a fresh cool entertainment settimg. The outside really looks cool at night because of the lighting structure. I have been here many times before. Experiencing both indoor and outdoor venue entertainment. Just to name a few.. Jokoy, air supply, 90s old school R&B funk jam , Franki Valli and the list goes on. Its not very big inside, in comparison to Crypto or the inglewood forum but it does its job. Stadium seating could use some work if they decide to remodel in the future. Its a clean place with great acoustics. The only negative thing I have to say is the sale of alcoholic beverages! The venue shuts down completely early. Like 9pmsh! Unacceptable for an entertainment venue. I recommend watching concerts or any type of events in this area. Plenty of parking in the parking structure and surrounding businesses nearby. Long Beach is beautiful.

    Photos
    Food stalls
    Food stalls
    Terrace Theater
    Terrace Theater

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    Carpenter Performing Arts Center

    Carpenter Performing Arts Center

    4.4
    (101 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Love this theatre. There is never a bad seat in the house. Parking is easy and you can pay at the…read moremeter or online - how convenient!!! TIP: Ladies, go to the restroom BEFORE the performance instead of intermission. Trust me, the line moves quickly and there is plenty of time before the show. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat had a more contemporary story line. Great concept. Excellent cast, voices and choreography. Costuming and wigs were on point. Exiting the parking lot was very easy and in no time at all. Can't wait to return to this theatre again. Ok, bye.

    Why I will not be returning to the Carpenter's Center of the Performing Arts and to any Musical…read moreTheatre West Productions, or for that matter to any Live Theatre in SoCal. I will find other forms of entertainment. Before I tell the why of my first sentence. I want you to understand that for 22 years I had season tickets to a live theatre in Glendale till they went under due to Covid and owners' divorce. I've have seen a lot of live theatre what happened at the Carpenter Center is the last straw. Goodbye live theatre. First the Actors, Actress, and Musicians. Thank you for sharing your talents. As a person who can miss all the notes all the time, I truly appreciate your talents and abilities. I hold the Producers and Directors responsible for the Show. As for the Carpenter Center, Musical Theatre West, and other places and production companies. I'm done. When you advertise you are doing "Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or any other production this is what I expect to see. If you are making a new adaption of the play, let everyone know before they spend their hard-earned money. This visual experience is part of the performance. Your new adaption was for the most part very poor. As my mother of 85 said, "I kept closing me eyes hoping it would change." I laughed, yet never having been to a "Chip and Dale" review it's the only thought that came to my mind to describe what was being presented. Last note Bruno Mars is not a King, sorry, a very disappointing part of the performance. You didn't want Elvis okay, then use a King... Michael Jackson, the king of pop or James Brown the king of Soul. I just love the Pharaoh as Evlis.

    Photos
    First time seeing this band, so excited!
    First time seeing this band, so excited!
    Carpenter Performing Arts Center
    Carpenter Performing Arts Center

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    The Lalas Burlesque

    The Lalas Burlesque

    4.6
    (30 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    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.

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    The Lalas Burlesque
    The Lalas Burlesque
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    Long Beach Playhouse: Mainstage & Studio Theatres

    Long Beach Playhouse: Mainstage & Studio Theatres

    4.3
    (121 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I drive by this theater weekly and never realized it was there. Local theater is a unique…read moreexperience and it's intimate. Beyond grateful to be invited to a local production (yes, we paid for our tickets), as this was the first time experiencing theater in a setting like this. The actors are from our local and surrounding communities. Tickets are affordable and supporting local artists/talent is important. I appreciate a great night of entertainment!

    Congratulations! I found a theater that beat the Pantages in discomfort! I know its an old venue…read morebut these are the worst seats I have ever had the displeasure of sitting in for so long. By the end of show my behind hurt, my knees hurt. It was just awful. This is also the first time in my many years of show going I saw (and heard) people leaving during intermission due the discomfort of the seats. One lady even screamed in the narrow passage way to I assume the rest of her party (MY KNEES CANT TAKE ANYMORE). Her husband then said yeah Im running her home and ill be back. This was my first time going to this theater so my first impressions were good at first. Staff seemed personable. We went to see August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean. I have never been to a theater in a U shape before. I have decided I dont care for it. There were so many times where I didnt know what was going on because the actors back was to me. I dont know if there was a kiss, a nose snuggle, who knows. My partner also point out that in one scene on our side we saw that one actor was rubbing anothers foot. This was how the piece came back from the dark. He pointed out that the folks on the other side had zero clue because they just saw her back. He also pointed out how much wasnt really used and the set could have been "pushed back" for better viewing and I agree. I also found it distracting for me to see the audience across, folks were laughing and speaking in times that didnt call for it and for someone like me who is ever observant it was a distraction. Final complaint the smoke machine was too much for me. It literally made me start coughing. The people I was with also said it got to them in other ways. The sound was good, lighting good. If I am invited back to a performance at this place as I was this time, I would have to see the run time of the piece. This piece went on for almost 3 hours and oh how could I forget started close to 20 minutes late! Just not cool man. As a first time goer it made me wonder if this is the norm for this theater and would have to keep that in mind as well.

    Photos
    Costumes Display
    Costumes Display
    04/2026 Harvey: Nurse Kelly
    04/2026 Harvey: Nurse Kelly
    04/2026 Harvey: The Dowd Family Mansion (top) & Chumley's Rest (bottom)

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    04/2026 Harvey: The Dowd Family Mansion (top) & Chumley's Rest (bottom)
    Musical Theatre West

    Musical Theatre West

    4.2
    (13 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    Just saw a preview production of Evita…read more Wonderful. Great staging an an amazing cast. Leads were first rate. Corus super. Do yourself a favor and support this amazing Theater Company Congratulations to Paul Garmen. He has been producing for 64 years. He looks amazing. What is your secret Paul

    Why I will not be returning to the Carpenter's Center of the Performing Arts and to any Musical…read moreTheatre West Productions, or for that matter to any Live Theatre in SoCal. I will find other forms of entertainment. Before I tell the why of my first sentence. I want you to understand that for 22 years I had season tickets to a live theatre in Glendale till they went under due to Covid and owners' divorce. I've have seen a lot of live theatre what happened at the Carpenter Center is the last straw. Goodbye live theatre. First the Actors, Actress, and Musicians. Thank you for sharing your talents. As a person who can miss all the notes all the time, I truly appreciate your talents and abilities. I hold the Producers and Directors responsible for the Show. As for the Carpenter Center, Musical Theatre West, and other places and production companies. I'm done. When you advertise you are doing "Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or any other production this is what I expect to see. If you are making a new adaption of the play, let everyone know before they spend their hard-earned money. This visual experience is part of the performance. Your new adaption was for the most part very poor. As my mother of 85 said, "I kept closing me eyes hoping it would change." I laughed, yet never having been to a "Chip and Dale" review it's the only thought that came to my mind to describe what was being presented. Last note Bruno Mars is not a King, sorry, a very disappointing part of the performance. You didn't want Elvis okay, then use a King... Michael Jackson, the king of pop or James Brown the king of Soul. I just love the Pharo as Evlis.

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    Musical Theatre West
    Ready for the Big Fish
    Ready for the Big Fish
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    E Hula Mau

    E Hula Mau

    4.8
    (4 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    A Labor Day Weekend Tradition!!! ...well, except for 2010. But imagine three full days of hula…read moredancers, Hawaiian culture, food, shopping, and did I mention the hula dancers? ;D Oh, let me clarify...hula dancing wahine AND kane! (women AND men) and let me tell you, when the kane come out to dance, you hear a lot of hoot and hollering from the audience. I'm just sayin ;D I've been attending E Hula Mau for as long as I've been a hula dancer (2003). The hula halaus that participate are hardcore! Some of them have even competed at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii. That's the largest, most prestigious hula competition in the world! E Hula Mau is like the Merrie Monarch of the mainland showcasing the mainland's talented hula studios. Friday night features the solo performances. Saturday features Kahiko (ancient style) and Oli (chanting). Sunday features 'Auana, the modern style. As a spectator, if you are determined to watch every single entry in the competition, be prepared for: - Sitting for a large chunk of the day. - Loud, screaming cheering from the crowd supporting their favorite hula groups. - Auditorium air conditioning. Bring a sweater. - Crying. Lots of crying, especially if you are so moved by the beauty, story, and dancing of the hula dancers. Bring tissues. Like most Hawaiian events, you are bound to run into lots of people you know from other halaus at E Hula Mau, especially if you support many hula events. Just give a hug and kiss on the cheek to spread the good mana! :) If you are a hula dancer and have the opportunity to compete in E Hula Mau, I highly recommend it! If your halau is anything like mine, you will have the most emotional, character-building, aloha-filled experience that will only bring you and your hula 'ohana closer together. I was lucky to have danced in the Wahine Division with Kekaiulu Hula Studio in 2010. Woot woot!!! If you survive the entire weekend, you'll have so many good memories of hula girls and/or guys dancing in your head! ;D ALOOOOOOOOOOHA!!! :D :::flashing the shaka sign:::

    This is home away from home for me, seeing and feeling and smelling the Aloha spirit in downtown…read moreLong Beach. I never miss an opportunity to attend this event. Growing up in the islands, almost every day was a bbq. My dad would bust out the hibachi and grill everything. Pass by the Safeway on Pali and Vineyard and you see the smoke, that's no fire, it's a fundraiser for Huli huli chicken! Manapua (though on the manini side), malasadas, spam musubi, shave ice, lilikoi juice, island plants, snacks, books, music, beauty products, flowers for your hair.....ahhhhh it's all there! I am glad they did away with the scripts cause that was too many steps to have to get them, then redeem, then stand in line, etc....the prices for the plate lunch are not too bad but I was disappointed there was no mac salad and portions were more mainland then local portions, lol.... Come out and cheer your favorite halau and talk story with the ohana.

    Photos
    E Hula Mau
    E Hula Mau
    E Hula Mau

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    Long Beach Performing Arts Center - opera - Updated August 2026

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