Welcome to Theater News, a regular column by longtime reviewer Anita W. Harris. Look for it most Thursdays. Or sign up for our Eat. See. Do. newsletter to get it in your inbox.
As summer winds down, fall is heating up with local theater and music events, including the Carpenter Performing Arts Center’s upcoming lineup of speakers, musicians and dancers, beginning in September.
Elizabeth Gilbert — bestselling author of “Eat, Pray, Love” and “Big Magic” — kicks off the season on Saturday, Sept. 19, talking about how chasing your purpose can actually hinder your creativity and freedom.
Gilbert will also answer audience questions afterward, perhaps making this a perfect excuse for a book-club field trip.
Then plug into low-key hip-hop vibes when Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter — and booklover! — Bilal graces the stage Thursday, Sept. 24 with a blend of soul, funk and jazz music.
“Fresh material and fan favorites showcase an innovative artist at the height of his powers,” the Center says, adding that Yaya Bey will open the show with songs from her new contemporary R&B album “Fidelity.”
Experience soulful music of a different kind on Sunday, Sept. 27 with Live from Laurel Canyon — a tribute band bringing the harmonies of folk singer-songwriters Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
The show will feature hits such as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Teach Your Children” and “Helplessly Hoping,” along with the stories behind the songs.
And round out September with jazz by vocalist Tierney Sutton and pianist Tamir Hendelman on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1 as they jazzily reinterpret songs by various artists such as George Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Peggy Lee and Paul Simon.
Don’t forget to add on dinner with your ticket! Enjoy a three-course meal before the show for a “perfect mid-week treat,” according to the Center.
October brings music by jazz singer Gretchen Parlato on Friday, Oct. 2; a new show of songs by Broadway cast members called “The Doo Wop Project: Echoes of the Street” on Sunday, Oct. 4 — perfect for musical-theater lovers; and gospel, jazz and soul singer Mumu Fresh on Friday, Oct. 16.
Dance completes the month on Saturday, Oct. 24 with the all-female Sa Dance Company’s “RISE” — an Indian American dance experience told in four movements that the Center calls “a celebration of courage, transformation and the unbreakable bond that unites us all.”
“Follow the journey of an Indian woman — her youthful dreams, the weight of societal expectations, the strength to overcome adversity and the hope that emerges through faith and sisterhood,” the Center says.
Executive director Megan Kline says the season is one of their most diverse, and that the Center is keeping existing subscription pricing the same as last season to help “make live entertainment affordable for everyone.”
The Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located on the CSULB campus at 6200 E. Atherton St. Parking is $10 in lot G12 in front of the theater. For tickets and showtimes, call the box office at 562-985-7000 or visit CarpenterArts.org.