{"id":84722,"date":"2025-01-23T07:50:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T15:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/hi-lo\/?p=84722"},"modified":"2025-01-23T07:52:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T15:52:06","slug":"introducing-a-new-column-theater-news-this-week-whats-on-near-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/art\/introducing-a-new-column-theater-news-this-week-whats-on-near-you","title":{"rendered":"Introducing a new column: Theater News. This week: What\u2019s on near you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anita W. Harris has reviewed theater around Long Beach for more than 10 years. Starting today, she’ll bring us an occasional column about the local theater scene. Whether you’re new to it or a longtime lover of the stage, we hope it will be helpful \u2014 and shine a spotlight on some of our city’s many talented artists. Look for it most Thursdays. Or sign up<\/a> for our Eat See Do newsletter to get it in your inbox.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach is lucky in so many ways \u2014 including its many live theaters: There\u2019s an option for everyone, possibly right around the corner from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve never been to a live performance, you\u2019re in for a treat. I think of theaters as communal, welcoming spaces where a cast of actors and hard-working crew \u2014 costumers, light and sound technicians, scenic designers, directors, makeup artists, stage managers and, of course, playwrights \u2014 gather to tell a compelling story right in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n Link<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many venues offer discounted tickets for seniors and students, or \u201crush tickets\u201d shortly before each performance when you can buy unsold seats for less. You can also purchase a subscription for multiple shows at a discounted price, and theaters often offer lower-priced tickets for preview shows, when the cast or crew might be working out some technical issues before the show fully opens. (I have to say, I\u2019ve never seen a bad preview.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As to what to wear, be comfortable but respectful of others seated near you and the work that went into putting on the show. My personal rule is no jeans in the theater, but that\u2019s just me \u2014 I bet you look great in yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And most theaters offer concessions \u2014 drinks (including alcoholic) and candy that you may even be able to take to your seat, just ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s on this month at a theater near you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach Playhouse <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Long Beach Playhouse at 5021 E. Anaheim St. often begins each year with an Agatha Christie mystery at its downstairs Mainstage Theatre, and this year is no exception with \u201cThe Murder of Roger Ackroyd\u201d continuing through Feb. 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
The mustachioed Hercule Poirot in a scene from Long Beach Playhouse’s production of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.” Photo by Michael Hardy Photography.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Christie\u2019s novel was considered a masterpiece when it was published in 1926 and features the fastidious, mustachioed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. \u201cNo one will foresee the shocking twist,\u201d says the Playhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Playhouse\u2019s more edgy upstairs Studio Theatre is featuring collaborations with other theaters this month: \u201cEleanor\u2019s Story: An American Girl in Hitler\u2019s Germany\u201d from Jan. 24 to 26 \u2014 based on a real memoir \u2014 and \u201c9\/10ths\u201d from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, comprised of nine 10-minute scenes that together make a \u201cwild ride,\u201d according to the Playhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking is free in the lot behind the theater and on side streets. For tickets, call 562-494-1014 or visit LBPlayhouse.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach Shakespeare Company <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

William Shakespeare\u2019s historical tragedy \u201cRichard III\u201d is on stage now through Feb. 8 at Long Beach Shakespeare Company\u2019s Helen Borgers Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of its thematic season of \u201cSo this is love<\/a>?\u201d the play centers on Richard, the hunchbacked Duke of York, who \u201cmasterfully\u201d plots to seize England\u2019s throne by betraying nearly everyone around him, including his wife and brother. (Sounds like a piece of work.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For tickets, call the box office at 562-997-1494 or visit LBShakespeare.org<\/a>. Parking is free on Atlantic Ave. and surrounding streets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming soon!<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned to this column for upcoming February productions, including \u201cJersey Boys\u201d at Musical Theatre West, acclaimed Black playwright August Wilson\u2019s \u201cThe Piano Lesson\u201d at Long Beach Playhouse and a British invasion at Cal Rep as UK-based Frantic Assembly creates what they call \u201ca highly physical\u201d version of Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Tempest\u201d set in Los Angeles during climate change and social isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can\u2019t wait!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you realize just how much theater is thriving in Long Beach? Longtime reviewer Anita W. Harris can be your new guide. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":84725,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32337],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[32310],"class_list":["post-84722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","tag-theater-news","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84722"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84733,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84722\/revisions\/84733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84722"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=84722"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=84722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}