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.

The Torrance Cultural Center has several buildings located near the Torrance main library. The…read moreJames Armstrong Theatre is just one of them. There are other halls that are available for rental if you want to have a wedding or some kind of function. They have a beautiful Japanese garden located on the north side of the center. The only drawback I have regarding the Torrance cultural center is that the Armstrong Theatre needs to have their chairs and some of the facilities renovated. The piano that sits in the green room needs re-tuning or replaced. The auditorium chairs in the Armstrong desperately needs new furbishing other than that, it's a great place to come see a local performance of the local groups in the area. The Torrance cultural center would've had a five star review for me if the facilities were kept in better working order.

Wow, what a hidden gem! Frequent theaters throughout So Cal, this one is a step above. The lobby is…read moreso architecturally interesting, the staff is so nice and the stage set was truly first class. The actors were great and just a really fantastic experience.

I love this local theater company that one of its directors introduced me to. Seating is 40+ people…read moreonly, so don't dilly dally or you might not get the seats you want. Ample street parking; good local restaurants within walking distance; wine for $8 "contribution". Shows are cute and the year end show is in the bigger Torrance Theater, but give his place a go. Good for a first date!

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.

Plentiful of parking, so don't worry. This place is a community based area and it's quite lovely…read morehere to see family members all together with their love ones. I attended a play; Nutcracker. The place is not the biggest but it's pretty clean! Clean restrooms and kind staffs.

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.

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

I've been coming to this dance studio for a while now, and it's hard to put into words how much…read morethis place means to me. From the very first class I took, I met incredibly talented people who have become true friends. The community here is supportive, caring, and always uplifting. Dancing has become therapeutic for me, and thanks to this studio, I've even had the chance to experience what it feels like to dance on a world‑class stage through their amazing programs. Being part of this studio is something I'll carry with me forever. a core memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life

This studio has honestly been life-changing for me. I always wanted to learn how to dance, and this…read moreis the place that finally gave me the confidence to do it. I feel so much healthier, and the community here is so friendly. There's a great variety of styles, and the overall environment is welcoming whether you're newer to dance or more experienced. There are so many amazing instructors, but I try to never miss a class with Hanna (hip-hop). Her energy is so high and positive that it's honestly therapeutic. She's an incredible teacher who breaks down choreography in a way that makes it feel doable, even when it's challenging. I also really enjoy Loups (hip-hop) -- he's hilarious, great for fundamentals, and somehow always drops the best life advice. Also a special shoutout to Elm (hip-hop), Yuki & Brooke (K-pop), Maoka (house), and Adrianna (jazz funk) -- their classes are so much fun as well. One thing I really appreciate is their community app where they post the class videos. It is so helpful for looking back to see your progress and figuring out how to improve. It's right next to a KBBQ spot with a tiny lot that fills up fast, so I recommend street parking. If you've ever wanted to learn how to dance, this is the place to start! First class is free!

Many, many months ago (pre-Covid) I went to Mayor Garcia's "state of the city" address. Such a…read moregreat venue and really professionally organized! Before the speech, there were free hot dogs and drinks in the courtyard. Dozens of Long Beach businesses and organizations were tabling and passing out free tchotchkes and brochures. Then everyone was directed inside to hear the Mayor speak. Mayor Garcia is an inspirational speaker and his presentation was well prepared and interesting. He definitely grabbed everyone's attention and took us on a great ride. He is very charismatic and smart. These last 6+ months of Covid, I continue to be impressed by his leadership and communication. I feel lucky that we've had Mayor Garcia in charge and feel hopeful that he'll take us thru to the other side.

Terrace Theater in Long Beach has great views from all seats. We were very disappointed in the…read morerestrooms. They didn't build enough restrooms for the capacity of this theater. The lines were extremely long and each restroom had only 3 stalls! The show started after intermission, and there were still 15 people in the restroom line!! The parking is ok, but the attendants didn't know where handicapped parking was located. They directed us into the wrong level and my crippled Mom had to walk long distances, up and down elevators and escalators on a walker to get to the entrance. Logistically, this place is a frustrating mess for handicapped people!