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.

Not a large theater but a nice one nonetheless!! The staff who work there are super helpful!…read more Theater should be a more community experience - and with just over 800 seats, I couldn't ask for much more.

Hardworking staff. They are so considerate of the many theatergoers who were searching for the…read morecorrect theater where their event would be held. Administration, make signs so that people can head in the right direction.

"Lend Me A Tenor" was a fabulous show, it was so hysterical, with great acting and perfect timing…read morefrom the actors. The operatic singing scenes was pretty amazing!! Denis, their Theater Manager took wonderful care of my group, with the best seats, and we all enjoyed the show. I am going back Thursday night to see it again, that's how funny it was! Holly Jeanne, who plays Julia was just exceptional, she's probably been on TV, between how funny and animated she was and we especially loved her gorgeous glitzy gown. We looked forward to every scene she was in coming onto the stage. Caryn D, Artistic Direct/Producer really out did herself with this show, it will be a hard show to top! I've already purchased a group of seats for, "Tick, Tick....Boom!" That show also looks wonderful! This theater is so upscale and decorated like a real Broadway style theater.

ICT review Share the love! Hold open auditions! Lend out one…read moreof your theatres for artists to workshop, have year round after school theatre camps, anything! The space is beautiful and empty 90% of the time. That is just not great leadership. I share your frustration that thousands of community artists in Long Beach have nowhere to practice their craft, while the AD and her condescending side kick act like ICT is Broadway. The plays are decent. The actors vary. The direction of every play feels all the same somehow; though they claim to have guest directors. I did some digging. The theatre was a gift from her friend at the time; the mayor. They used to be in a much smaller space. I respect that they are theatre people who worked their way up. I don't respect how little they pay their employees with absolutely no benefits or even the perk of being able to use one of their stages. There was also nothing in place to keep employees during Covid, so after years of working for them, all artists and teaching artists were just cut off with no notice and no plan to sustain them. Artistically, it would be so great if they stopped using Michael Donovan to cast every damn show. The accents he coaxes from actors are just painful. And yes, get some new blood in the mix, both acting & directing! Oh and by the way caryn, if you love artists so much; let them use the space!!!!

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.

$10 for parking and all of the toys seem to be $20. Either bring lots of cash or bring copious…read moreamounts of Toy Story toys for your kids. They've really got a good gig going here to make some loot. The show was great... For a kid. I do however think it was MUCH too long. There's only so much I can take personally. (it also weirds me out when I see parents that are totally in the zone with these sort of things...) We left at around 1:50 from a show that started at noon, it was still going when we left. Note of caution with kids that are sensitive to sounds or light: this is a VERY loud show. Consider bringing earplugs or muffs if your child's hearing is an issue. As for light flashing sensitivities, there is a lot of changing colors and flashing lights (as well as toys that made me wish I was in a coma rather than seeing them.) keep these precautions in mind.

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.

What an amazing idea and performance by them at Stroll & Savor on 2nd Street…read more The latest show is Joseph and the amazing Dreamcoat I'm going

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.