Theater/Arts: Broadway hitting the beach in September
Grunion columnist Willie Plaschke writes about all things theater and arts in Long Beach. The Terrace Theater in Long Beach is set to host a series of touring Broadway productions starting in September. The inaugural season will include four shows, including "The Cher Show," "The Book of Mormon," "Come From Away," and "Champions of Magic." These shows are being brought to the city by MagicSpace Entertainment. The New Works Festival will return to the Helen Borgers Theater, home of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, and will showcase new one-act plays, full-length dramas, and scenes in various stages of development. Tickets for each show can be purchased at the Terrice Theater Plaza.
प्रकाशित : 10 महीने पहले द्वारा Willie Plaschke में Entertainment
If you love Broadway, prepare for some big news: The Terrace Theater is set to host a series of touring Broadway productions in the heart of Long Beach starting in September.
This inaugural “Broadway at the Beach” season, brought to our city by MagicSpace Entertainment, offers four fun shows right out the gate:
• Sept. 14-15: “The Cher Show,” a Tony-winning musical that tells the story of the singer, actress and icon known simply and dazzlingly as Cher. With 35 hits — and nearly as many Bob Mackie gowns — this show promises to be an exciting celebration of everything Cher.
• Nov. 19-20: “Come From Away,” a heartfelt musical based on the true story of a small town in Newfoundland that welcomed 7,000 stranded travelers on 9/11. Celebrate the best of humanity (and the best of Broadway) through this powerful, critically acclaimed production.
• Feb. 4-5: “The Book of Mormon,” a truly hilarious and surprisingly meaningful show that has been hailed as the best musical of this century by The New York Times. It’s a must-see for fans of irreverent comedy and high-quality theater in general.
• May 1-2: “Champions of Magic,” which is known as one of the most successful magic shows in history, featuring mind-bending illusions and high-energy entertainment.
“Broadway at the Beach brings some of the top talent and creativity from Broadway to our city’s most iconic theater and entertainment center,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a recent press release. “These incredible shows add to the cultural richness and vibrancy that defines our amazing city.”
And you don’t have to wait until September to partake in these cultural riches. Broadway at the Beach will joing the community for a vibrant Pride Month kickoff party at the Terrace Theater Plaza from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 30, woth one of the cast members from “The Cher Show” set to perform. (While Long Beach already celebrated its Pride week earlier in may, Pride Month is celebrated nationally in June.)
For each show, guests are encouraged to arrive early to the Terrace Theater to enjoy the preshow experience on the plaza.
For ticket information for this new Broadway season, visit BroadwayLongBeach.com.
The New Works Festival will return once again to the Helen Borgers Theater, home of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company and a cadre of other wonderful theater practitioners.
This two-week theatrical event will showcase new one-act plays, full-length dramas and scenes in various stages of development.
Here’s the line-up for this summer’s New Works Festival:
• “Out of the Woods,” by Robert Weibezahl, at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 2. Synopsis: A modern-day fable inspired by the Orpheus myth, “Out of the Woods” offers a tender and thought-provoking look at life and love — and the choices we make in pursuit of both.
• “Behind the Scenes,” by Maren English, at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2. Synopsis:erformances: Angela and Jeff are ready to dive into unknown territory of a first date, each hoping to find someone to share their life with. This play explores the nerves and excitement that come with the start of something new.
• y Ophir Mash, at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Synopsis: Samuel, a medieval soldier, returns from war expecting a warm embrace from his wife, Joan, only to discover she has embraced women’s empowerment instead.
• “Penelope,” by Baylee Shlichtman, at 3 p.m. June 8 and 8 p.m. June 9. Synopsis: Princess Penelope of Sparta has avoided marriage for years by challenging her suitors to a foot race rigged to ensure their failure. Enter Odysseus, a self-proclaimed scoundrel confident he can win Penelope’s heart. This Greek myth retelling is a romcom about daddy issues, drowning and occasionally awful disguises.
• y Rena Patel, at 8 p.m. June 8 and 2 p.m. June 9. Synopsis: Four coffee-addicted, quick-witted friends navigate espresso machines, relationships and South Asian societal expectations, all while pursuing a better understanding of happiness.
The Helen Borgers Theater is in the charming Bixby Knolls neighborhood at 4250 1/2 Atlantic Ave. General admission tickets are $25, with student tickets available for $15.
For tickets, information and directions to The Helen Borgers Theatre, visit LBShakespeare.org or purchase directly at the box office in person.
विषय: Theater