Beam all of us up, Carpenter Center. We want in.
Famed Star Trek and social media superstar George Takei is slated to share the memories and insights from a life that has been anything but ordinary on November 12 at 8:00PM at the Carpenter Center at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB).
His appearance kicks off the Carpenter Center’s Wit and Wisdom series, which will also include resident expert of all things vintage Americana, Charles Phoenix.
“Headliners like Patty LuPone, Jose Feliciano, John Cleese, Paula Poundstone, and George Takei are among the unbelievable lineup the Carpenter Center has for 2016-17,” said Lee Adams, the Carpenter Center’s external communications coordinator.
Perhaps best known for his portrayal of the beloved Mr. Sulu in the Star Trek TV series and movie franchise, his talk will also delve into his status as a recent social media phenomenon, with over 8.9 million “likes” on Facebook and 1.8 million followers on Twitter.
He’s even the star of his own YouTube series, It Takeis Two, with his husband Brad Takei—originally a star of the 1960s that has found renewed stardom in this evolving age of technology, communication and entertainment.
Cosmopolitan named Takei “One of the Internet’s 50 Most Fascinating People,” and a documentary (To be Takei) released at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival chronicled the many ups and downs of his life.
Although Takei has experienced overwhelming popularity and success, his youth was a time of unprecedented hardship for Japanese Americans. Takei, along with 120,000 other Japanese-Americans, spent years behind barbed wire in internment camps. The unforgettable experience, merged with his staunch activism for the LGBTQ community, will provide a unique perspective for the Long Beach audience.
Takei’s most recent endeavor is based upon his memories of internment. His recollections inspired the Broadway musical Allegiance, in which he costarred with the Tony Award winning Lea Salonga. The musical premiered at the Old Globe theater in San Diego last year, and will play at select theaters across the country on December 13.
Single tickets: $60/$53 for subscribers. For tickets or more information, visit CarpenterArts.org or call the Carpenter Center Ticket Office at (562) 985-7000. The Wit and Wisdom series is made possible in part by Season Media Partner KPCC 89.3-FM.
The Carpenter Center is located at 6200 East Atherton Street.
Above, left: Photo courtesy of George Takei.com.
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