Arts, Eats & Events
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Latest in Arts, Eats & Events
AFTER 60 YEARS, DOES IONESCO’S ABSURDISM FEEL A BIT DADA-DODDERING?
Craig Johnson and Robbie Danzie bring poignancy to an old couple's look back at their lives in "The Chairs," the more accessible of a twin bill of early plays by dada/absurdist playwright Eugène Ionesco---including his first, "The Bald Soprano"---at The Garage Theatre through June 8
“MACHINAL”: LB PLAYHOUSE UNEARTHS—AND HONORS—A TREASURE
"Machinal" is playwright Sophie Treadwell's 1928 expressionistic telling of a woman's struggle to find her way in a world she experiences as cold and absurd. Theatre critic Greggory Moore says it's the best thing he's seen at the LB Playhouse. Cold, absurd and Greggory Moore? We're in!
LOLA’S MEXICAN CUISINE TO CELEBRATE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ON CINCO DE MAYO
Five years ago, the restaurant across the street from the Art Theatre—the space was a constant succession of grand openings and quiet closing for places that drew their specialties from across the food spectrum—became Lola’s Mexican Cuisine. Only five years ago? Exactly five years ago, says owner Luis Navarro, whose calendar confirms that Lola’s opened [...]
DAVID WEIDMAN: MR. MIDCENTURY IS AGAIN AN ARTIST FOR OUR TIME
The groundbreaking silkscreen techniques and designs that David Weidman introduced during the Eisenhower presidency are still shaking the earth today. On May 4, the ninetysomething artist will be in Long Beach for a meet-and-greet (and show-and-sell) at In Retrospect on Retro Row.
“THE THUGS:” IDLE MINDS MAKE ONE DEVIL OF A GOOD PLAYGROUND
Adam Bock's bizarre black comedy, "The Thugs," touches on nearly every weary observation about modern life---a variety of topics and characters and depth and silliness that adds up to everything that Cal Rep does best. On the Queen Mary through April 30.
HAVE-A-GREATER EARTH DAY WITH PEDAL, SOLAR & MUSICAL POWER
It's Earth Day, dedicated to the proposition that people really should remember not to shit where they eat---at least on one day each year, and we've come up with a short list of fun and healthy things to do, which we hope you won't poo-poo.
A CHORUS LINE: SEEKING JUSTICE FOR GREATEST MUSICAL EVER
"A Chorus Line" is promoted as the greatest musical ever, but true or not, the question is what Musical Theatre West does with whatever it is. The answer is on stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center through April 28.
IF SLAPSTICK TICKLES YOUR FUNNYBONE, SEE “A FLEA IN HER EAR”
"A Flea in Her Ear" is the kind of farce the Long Beach Playhouse knows how to do from years and years of doing it. If it's the kind of production you like to see, go see it. Through May 11.
TOLDJA SO: DOWNEY SENDS SMOKE SIGNAL TO HOOKAH LOUNGES
Downey officials seem to be tempering their enthusiasm---and the easy approval process---for hookah bars and cigar lounges in its downtown, which GreaterLongBeach.com totally predicted in February when one hookah club offered free admission to women wearing lingerie. Just sayin'.
OBSERVATION BAR ON QUEEN MARY: MORE PAST WOULD BE A BLAST
The Observation Bar on the Queen Mary is commonly promoted as a "blast from the past," but if GreaterLongBeach.com contributor Bill Cwiklo were to blast the place for anything, it would be for not sufficiently honoring more of its past.
“MASTER CLASS” IS NEXT-BEST THING TO MEETING MARIA CALLAS
Maria Callas was one of the most galvanizing figures in opera history, and in International City Theatre's production of "Master Class," Gigi Bermingham gives the great diva all the crazywonderful she is due. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through April 14.
“A VISIT WITH FATHER SERRA” AT FOREST LAWN
Father Junipero Serra, the beloved Franciscan padre best known for leading the establishment of Spanish missions in California, never quite gets his due as a plunderer. How does he feel about that? You can ask him Thursday when Forest Lawn presents "A Visit With Father Serra" at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
SPRING AWAKENINGS: CSULB CAST BRINGS LIFE, BUT THERE’S NO PURPOSE
Even enthusiastic and deftly executed performances by the CSULB Players couldn't sufficiently sharpen the script of the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakenings" so that its lines and lyrics could convincingly make its points. Playing through arch 30.
ROBOTS GET IN GEAR AT LB ARENA TODAY THRU SATURDAY
Robots built from a pile of parts by teams of high school kids will do battle on the floor of the Long Beach Arena from Thursday to Saturday in the regionals of the Robotics World Championships. Go! It's free!
“for colored girls…” IS AN AFFIRMATION FOR US ALL
Forget about the Tyler Perry film version, to feel the power of "for colored girls ...," you've gotta get back to the source of the 1974 Obie Award-winning play by Ntozake Shange---and it's at the Manazar Gamboa Theatre (behind Homeland Cultural Center) through March 24.
