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.

Im a Long Beach Local. This convention center has never done me wrong. Carshows, motorcycle…read moreshows, anime shows, comicon shows and recently the Long Beach Grand Prix which occurred this last weekend. There is plenty of parking on the outside as well as parking in other surrounding business areas. Its not hi tech but its clean and it does its job when showcasing the theme. Overall, the workers are friendly and bathrooms are acceptable. I recommend any event that has show cases or entertainment here. Dont expect a Crypto, Intuit or Sofi feeling. It just simple. Great car show in this area.

+ Huge, well-maintained convention center. + Grateful for…read morethe various free, nearby street parking, only 2-3min walk away. At other convention centers, the nearest free street parking can be 15min walk away. + The Center is well-equipped with numerous AV equipment and furniture, ready to serve a wide variety of events. Reminds me of my old Ops Crew work-study job. + Various restrooms spread throughout the entire complex. . The event and layout were mostly well-organized. Things proceeded pretty smoothly. - People handing out sketchy free CDs aggressively. (I thought what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas~)

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.

So happy to have found the Aurora Theater. Wanted to find a venue for a small covid safe birthday…read morecelebration, where we could have a movie night for our family. With our Disney+ account, the owner Charles was able to set up for us a completely private screening of the new Raya and the Last Dragon film. The independent play house seats 40-50, but was the perfect size for the 10 of us to spread out and be socially distanced, yet feel together. The inside of the theater is beautiful, with vintage seating from the 1940s. The price was affordable, as they are running a special rental price of $20/person for 3 hours. Charles was great to work with. He put so much work into his theater, and his passion for it shows. He is flexible and open to ideas. If you are looking for a safe and unique place to have a movie or game night with your group, I would highly recommend this theater!

The Aurora Theater is the perfect spot. We had a small screening and Charles was so kind and…read moreaccommodating. He mDe our experience smooth and seamless. Great communication! I highly recommend

I highly recommend attending the Symphony's POPS Series where the symphony collaborates with other…read moreartists to present a very upbeat community style performance. The venue has allowed for attendees to bring in their own food and drinks which is nice. There is also sections reserved for those who want to get up and dance. I have attended the 80s Rock event as well as the Earth Wind and Fire show and both were very entertaining. The support staff was very welcoming and accommodating as well.

November 18, 2023…read more It is uncomfortable for me to lower my rating since the hard working, hugely competent orchestra is not the problem I have with last night's program. The dancers from the Long Beach Ballet gave a stunning performances for Bernstein's Fancy Free. The three choices preceding the ballet sounded hopeful but maybe the mix simply didn't work for me. I'm a fan of creative twentieth/twenty-first Century composition. Yet to my untrained ear, nothing seemed to gel or perhaps they were too cohesive. Expecting to hear something delightful from the opera Treemonisha, it seemed a dull yet hinting-at-greatness overture. Joplin dull? Never. Were the program to have an inclusive piece that invited inventive themes, it might work but the result for me was hoping this movie background music would be over fast. There were more empty seats than last season. I hate to see that happen.

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.

Attended a tribute band for The Eagles and it was so wonderful! The band was amazing and the venue…read moretotally packed. The ushers are always so friendly there and always helpful in finding your seats. The band did have a technical issue at the beginning which delayed things but they filled the time by sharing jokes.

My family and I saw In The Heights tonight at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center and it was…read moregreat! The performing arts center is beautiful. There's lots of parking, which is nice. You pay for parking by downloading an app. I think we paid $10. It was really cool to see the different displays of The Carpenter's grammy awards and musical instruments. They also had a bar and snacks open before the play and at intermission. The stairs in the theater are pretty steep and there's no elevator/escalator, so just be advised. The seats have spacious leg room, which is suuuuper helpful! We loved our experience here and will be back :)

My Acting Studio's Foundation Level One class, taught by Charles Tintendo, Fall 2022 - it was…read moreexactly what I needed: Before taking My Acting Studio's Foundation Level One, I had taken a few foundation-level acting classes before this. One class for stanislavski method through city academy, one class through Cal State Long Beach's theater program, and one class for Voice Acting 101 through Closing Credits (highly recommend that last class for *voice acting* technique, but not necessarily becoming good at *acting*). My Acting Studio's foundation level class is the best one - by far. Charles cares, and he is competent. He cut straight to the heart of what was holding me back. Only 3 weeks into the class, and I was feeling a big difference in my auditions. Through Charles' direction and my supportive peers, I gained the confidence to get out of my own way, to be myself - on, and off the stage. This is coming from someone who already had acting experience. I had written, directed, and acted in short films, voice acted in audio dramas, and was fully comfortable performing on stage. I should also say I had a great set of classmates. So supportive. It really helped. Even made a few friends. My class was full of newcomers to acting and those with experience like me. We all seemed to get a lot out of this class. So, if you think you got a handle on this acting thing, or you just want to see what its all about, Charles Tintendo's Foundation Level One class at My Acting Studio might be just what you need. Thank you, Charles

A great place to build skills, uninhibited performances, explore craft!!! This is the second…read moreworkshop I have taken and I love every element of them. Excited for next workshop!!! Come join the fun!!!

Volta, my dear, you vaulted our experience to new heights!…read more The wonder of human movement is constantly celebrated by Cirque Du Soleil and this contemporary show had a hip, new edge to it with great music and incredible talent. Still featuring their incredible live musicians, this show is a mesmerizing treat. Suitable for all ages, the performers of Cirque Du Soleil never cease to amaze me at the wonders of the human body. I loved this show, as much as O in Las Vegas. This show is tied for my favorite Cirque Du Soleil's.

Easy four stars. Cirque Du Soleil is back in my good graces after going to the last tent show in…read moretown, Amaluna which was a bore-fest. Volta rocked it from start to finish. The two solo comedy filler acts went on way too long, the washing machine bit, and the beach bit, but the guy put everything he had into them. Lots of work for not much punch. The rest of the acts were fantastic. They were all a lot of fun to watch and the live singing that went along with it created a wonderfully ethereal ambiance. I loved it. Here's a good tip: There really aren't any bad seats so even if you are way in the back you really aren't that far back. That being said, I was seated in section 204. It was close to the center pole and obstructed my view a little bit. You would be much better off sitting in the center part of either section 203 or 204 so your view will not be obstructed. I posted the seating chart in my review if you want to check it out. Sitting off to the sides will not detract from your wonderful experience. As I said, the seats are all good. You can generally find a good deal on tickets during the week from Goldstar and other vendors of discount tickets. I got my tickets directly from Cirque Du Soliel when they were having a black Friday sale. I wanted to change my ticket but there's a $15 charge and I would have to pay full price. There's a $2 and $11 service fee on tickets. No way to avoid it. Parking is $25. I knew that. I need to figure out a place to leave my car and walk. Beating the parking fee isn't easy to do around there though. The restrooms are usually good but this time the doors would not shut on several that I tried, and the restrooms weren't as clean as they usually are. It's pricey for snacks and drinks. A bottle of water is $6. This really is a fun show. My friend that went with me and loved it so much she is going back to see it again. If I can get a super good deal on tickets, I might go too!

This is the first and will be the only place I will ever want to do a singing telegram with. I…read morecalled last minute on Valentine's Day morning expecting to hear they didn't have anymore bookings, but they did! I'm so glad too because this was the highlight of the day. She arrived right on time & had everyone at my fiancé's job recording the performance! She showed up in the pink monkey suit playing a small guitar & sang 2 songs. They provided a pink stuffed monkey to match the costume & a letter from me to my fiancé. I didn't get to choose the songs but they were still great nonetheless. I highly recommend using their services when you want to make someone's day. I wasn't sure who was more pink, the monkey or my fiancé from being so surprised!

I can't wait until I can use them again! When you're…read moretrying to pull off a secret Teacher Appreciation gift that involves 33 10-year-olds, their parents, school rules and regs and a teacher that deserves nothing but the best (who happens to have an ever-changing schedule), it's asking a lot. Oh, and did I mention that I came up with this idea less than a week before we needed it to happen? Thank you Justeen! We asked for a chicken witty and entertaining enough for our super fun and intelligent teacher, that the parents would laugh at AND that the kids would enjoy, and you definitely pulled it off! Chuck, you are a phenomenal chicken!!! All I had to do was make a phone call and then fill out the email questionnaire and Chuck tailored our presentation just for us! It was fun and you personalized it just enough. It never sounded like you were reading a script or doing the same tired old act. Upbeat and fun...even at the last minute. When the schedule changed at the very last minute, I was afraid they wouldn't be able to make it happen, and I worried about an increased fee since all we had to work with was our donation money. Not a problem. They were completely accommodating, no extra fee, and they kept in contact with me every step of the way. Chuck arrived just as planned and everything went off without a hitch. I will absolutely use A Class Act again. Chuck tells us he does 40 different characters, and I can't wait to see some more. He's very talented, polite and patient. This really is a class act service!