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.

Terrible. The people here are so mean. I came here around 9pm and asked a simple question to a…read moreceramics class and the instructor was so mean and arrogant. DO NOT spend your money taking a ceramics class here.

Driven by this quaint looking theater hundreds of times, and wondered what they produced. As if…read morethe Daily Breeze read my mind, they ran a review on the most recent offering: "The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby." I immediately jumped online and purchased tickets. After being greeted by friendly helpful faces, we stepped into an open air lobby complete with a few cozy lounges. Grabbed a couple of bags of M&Ms (which you can take inside, along w/ your beverage - most seats even have cup holders!) and "lounged" a bit before the stage door opened. Nicely cast, well written, great sets, effective costumes, superbly acted, and seamless direction. There's a meet the cast after - nice touch. Plenty of free parking in the area, La Capilla (decent for SBay Mexican) literally across the street, two clean restrooms, and a perfect little snack bar (where you can get your M&Ms!). Love supporting local theater and was worth every penny of the $30 admission. This play is guaranteed to make you laugh, tug @ your heart, and appreciate the little things (and people) in life that we either miss or take for granted - "Can't see the forest for the City." If I close my eyes, I can smell the pines and hear the chirps of a bluebird...

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.

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.

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!

Very condensed version of the entertainment industries basic method…read more Nancy Gomez and Chiro are two amazing people who organizes the productions. The kids learn something and has loads of fun.

Starlight productions offer many classes. From tap to vocals, the entire staff is super friendly. I…read morerecently did a production (All Shook Up) and I became so attached that I cried when Ms. Tiffany Maisonet left. Sign up now!!!

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!