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 :)

Broadway Talent right here that's for sure! We make the long drive every time Musical Theatre West…read moreputs on a new show and once again, it was absolutely worth it. The Buddy Holly Story is a spectacular tribute to one of Rock N Rolls most legendary pioneers, and this production was nothing short of electric and astounding From the moment the lights dimmed, we were completely transported into Buddy's world. The actor playing Buddy could be his twin!!! The musical tells the inspiring and bittersweet story of Buddy Holly's meteoric rise from a young, rebellious Texan to a trailblazing star who changed music forever. What makes this show so special is not just the energy of the iconic hits "Everyday", "Peggy Sue", "Oh Boy" - but the heart behind it all. It's a powerful reminder of how much he accomplished in such a short life. The cast was phenomenal - truly Broadway caliber. The actor portraying Buddy was a revelation: pitch-perfect vocals, magnetic stage presence, and musicianship that gave me goosebumps. Every member of the ensemble brought the era to life with authenticity and spirit. And the final concert scene? The entire audience was on their feet, clapping and dancing - no exaggeration. EVERYONE! Musical Theatre West never disappoints, but this one was especially unforgettable. We're devoted fans, and even though we live far away, we wouldn't miss a single show. The quality, heart, and talent in every production keep us coming back again and again. Once we discovered Musical Theater West 2 years ago we make sure to never miss the production - Sounds of Music, 42nd Street, Million Dollar Quartet, Into The Woods, you name it! Thank you so much If you're on the fence - go see it. It's not just a musical, it's a celebration of life, music, and the kind of timeless spirit that lives on through Buddy Holly's legacy. MTW has done something truly special here! Looking forward to see Book of Mormon and Chicago or Great Gatsby perhaps? Thank you so so much for your talent, dedication and work from all of us!

I just saw Man of the Mancha last night at the Carpenter Center. If the show is OK, I did not…read moreunderstand the following points: 1- On the booklet which was provided, there is not one word on the story (which is not simply Don Quixote). Why didyou not include anything? 2- There is no screen with Closed Captions which could help to understand the plot. 3- On the other hand, there were three signs language users, on a corner of the stage. Are there so many deaf people going to a Broadway show? I will not go anymore to a show organized by Musical West and will not recommend it.

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!

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.

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.

We hired comedian Scott Wood for our Christmas dinner. Scott was Amazing and so funny. I laughed…read morethe entire time. He even got a at standing ovation. He was clean and engaged with the audience. Made my event so successful. Thank you Scott My communication with Steve Jameson, the coordinator, was easy and he always responded quickly. I highly recommend the comedy machine. Pam Byers

It was the perfect choice for hiring a comedy machine for My 8 years old daughter's birthday…read more Magician arrived on time, the theme was appropriate for 8 years old kids, and the magician kindly let the kids take photos with him. The kids and parents both had a great time. I am definitely requiring them for 9 years old my daughter's birthday party again. Oh! I am not sure that they have different acts though...

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

The Buddy Holly Story is now playing at the Carpenter Center. All the actors are talented and play…read moremusical instruments. The songs are very memorable. They elicit audience participation which makes it even more relatable and appealing.

Good talent for the shows. Nice variety of shows. ADA seating available. Seats trail upwards for…read moreclear viewing. Parking can be a little challenging with tight spacing. Pay for parking through app with your car license number. Concessions available and bathrooms. EXTREMELY cold at every show so come prepared in your attire with a jacket.

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.