{"id":88767,"date":"2026-04-30T11:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/?p=88767"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:30:41","slug":"theater-news-music-performances-perfect-for-mothers-day-songs-by-sondheim-and-two-jazz-vocalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/eat-see-do-2\/do\/theater-news-music-performances-perfect-for-mothers-day-songs-by-sondheim-and-two-jazz-vocalists","title":{"rendered":"Theater News: Music performances perfect for Mother\u2019s Day \u2014 songs by Sondheim and two jazz vocalists\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to Theater News, a regular column by longtime reviewer Anita W. Harris. Look for it most Thursdays. Or\u00a0sign up<\/a>\u00a0for our Eat. See. Do. newsletter to get it in your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mother\u2019s Day falls on Sunday, May 10 this year, and what better way to treat Mom than a theatrical musical event. Here are three options to consider \u2014 Broadway-inspired singing at the Long Beach Landmark Theatre and two jazzy performances at the Carpenter Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Songs by Sondheim<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim wrote some of the most iconic songs for Broadway shows such as \u201cCompany,\u201d \u201cInto the Woods,\u201d and \u201cSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Long Beach Landmark Theatre is presenting a celebratory revue of the composer\u2019s work in a show called \u201cSide by Side by Sondheim\u201d<\/strong> beginning Friday, May 8, at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach \u2014 a venue well suited to Sondheim\u2019s intricate harmonics, which are sometimes interestingly dissonant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Sondheim\u2019s lyrics, including those he wrote for \u201cWest Side Story,\u201d are known for capturing both the emotions and psychology of a show\u2019s characters, often with witty wordplay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Rehearsal photo of the ensemble cast of Long Beach Landmark Theatre’s “Side by Side by Sondheim.” Photo courtesy of Megan O’Toole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than two dozen performers will sing and perform about 30 of Sondheim\u2019s songs, directed and choreographed by Megan O\u2019Toole, with music directed by Curtis Heard. Both O\u2019Toole and Heard helped shape the Landmark\u2019s vocally powerful \u201cJagged Little Pill<\/a>\u201d last November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith wit, warmth and soaring musicality, Sondheim\u2019s songs shine as a joyful tribute to connection, love, and the shared human experience,\u201d the Landmark says, \u201cfilling our beautiful historic space with music that soars to the rafters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds like a perfect experience for Mom (and you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long Beach Landmark\u2019s \u201cSide by Side by Sondheim\u201d runs May 8 to 17 at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Ave., with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets and information, call the box office at 562-366-0085 or visit <\/em>LBLandmark.org<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two jazz vocalists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If jazz is more your mom\u2019s thing (or yours), two upcoming performances at the Carpenter Center may be just the ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singer Luc\u00eda<\/strong> will perform on Tuesday, May 5 at 8 p.m., combining traditional American jazz with the warmth of Latin folk, including songs from her forthcoming new album. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the show, the Carpenter Center will configure its stage to \u201ccabaret\u201d mode, featuring tables and chairs on the stage less than 40 feet from the artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her quartet, Luc\u00eda will \u201chonor her cultural roots while also bringing her luminous voice to new interpretations of jazz favorites,\u201d the Carpenter Center says. \u201cShe moves between English and Spanish, blending jazz standards with Latin repertoire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then for a completely different jazz flavor on Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7, both at 7 p.m., the Carpenter Center will feature Emmy-nominated trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III<\/strong> in a show called \u201cThe Magic of Manhattan.\u201d<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Jazz trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III, who will perform on May 6 and 7 at the Carpenter Center. Photo by Matt Baker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Benack\u2019s jazz lineage runs deep \u2014 his father played saxophone and clarinet, and his grandfather was a trumpeter and bandleader.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With table seating on the stage for this show as well, Benack will perform Big Apple songs such as Billy Joel\u2019s \u201cNew York State of Mind\u201d and Frank Sinatra\u2019s \u201cNew York, New York.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSavor a night out to the soundtrack of New York City\u201d the theater says, with an \u201celegant, jazz-inspired journey highlighting songs and artists that defined Manhattan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wait, there\u2019s more! You can add on a three-course dinner<\/a> to enjoy at your table with Benack\u2019s performance on either night. Sounds like a transporting experience for Mother\u2019s Day, date night or just a solo treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Carpenter Performing Arts Center is at 6200 E. Atherton St. on the Cal State Long Beach campus. Parking is available in front of the theater. For tickets and information, call 562-985-4274 or visit <\/em>CarpenterArts.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s Broadway-inspired singing at the Long Beach Landmark Theatre and two jazzy performances at the Carpenter Center.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":88768,"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":[32367],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[32310],"class_list":["post-88767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-do","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88767","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=88767"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88775,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88767\/revisions\/88775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88767"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=88767"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=88767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}