The following is a curated roundup of weekend events in Long Beach published every Wednesday on the Hi-lo/Long Beach Post. Have an event to share? Email [email protected] with “Things to Do” in the subject line.
Performance arts abound this weekend, with the premiere of Musical Theatre West’s “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and the return of Baroque orchestra Musica Angelica to the stage. We’ve also found some noteworthy shopping opportunities, such as a Hello Kitty pop-up, and the return of a sprawling tamales festival.
Get to scrollin’!
MUSICAL THEATRE WEST’S “RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA” (Friday – Sunday)
Musical Theatre West is premiering its final show of the season with “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” on Friday, Dec. 2, the musical rendition of the classic pauper-turned-princess fairytale first written for television by legendary composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein in 1957.
The theatre company’s version of the popular TV musical will follow the format of the Broadway play, which was created in 2013, and includes several new characters—even a sympathetic stepsister—but has all the iconic musical numbers such as “Impossible” and “In My Own Little Corner.” Our Millennial readers would most certainly remember the performances by pop singer Brandy and Whitney Houston in Disney’s 1997 film.
Musical Theatre West is pulling out all the stops for the production, with stunning costumes, set designs and a stellar cast, many hailing from Broadway. Performances will run on various dates through Dec. 18. There will also be a special ASL-interpreted performance on Dec. 9. Tickets range between $20-$120. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
“Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will be performed at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at the Cal State Long Beach Campus at 6200 E. Atherton St. Note: Parking is not included.
HELLO KITTY CAFE POP-UP (Saturday)
This traveling Hello Kitty business is stopping in Long Beach Saturday, Dec. 3, meaning Long Beach-ers, you get first dibs on all those cute and adorable Hello Kitty merchandise and desserts.
Shop Hello Kitty shirts, plushies, pillows, enamel pins, thermoses and more. And also desserts like cookies, madeleines and mini-cakes.
And for those of you who somehow missed the cultural phenomenon that is Hello Kitty, all you need to know is that it’s a super famous character created by the Japanese company Sanrio that’s now come to include a whole family of cute, or kawaii, characters like frogs, bunnies and pandas. Basically, kids—even some adults—go nuts over it.
The truck will be parked at 2ND & PCH, near Sephora, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click here for more information.
2ND & PCH is at 6400 Pacific Coast Highway.
LONG BEACH SHAKESPEARE’S “A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES” (Saturday & Sunday)
The fine folk of the Long Beach Shakespeare Company are performing a musical production of “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4 at the Helen Borgers Theatre.
Thomas’ work was not originally created for the stage but as a poetry work about Christmas through the perspective of a young boy. The poem has been adapted into a play and a TV show since it was published in 1955 becoming another heartwarming—albeit less well-known—classic to enjoy during the season.
Tickets for the Shakespeare Company’s production cost $23 for general admission or $13 for students. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Helen Borgers Theatre is at 4250 Atlantic Ave.
HOLIDAY MARKET AT TRADEMARK BREWING (Saturday)
If perusing local businesses at a local brewery with a local beer in hand sounds like the sort of shopping experience you can get behind, then this holiday market at Trademark Brewing Saturday, Dec. 3, will be the place to be.
Fifteen small businesses will be setting up shop at the brewery, selling handmade goods, art, jewelry and plants. And of course, you can enjoy a beer or two from the brewery while you shop. The event is free to attend, but those who RSVP can enter a raffle to win a special prize.
Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Trademark Brewing is at 233 E. Anaheim St.
MUSICA ANGELICA’S A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS (Saturday)
Returning for its 30th season, Musical Angelica, the Long Beach orchestra that performs compositions from the Baroque to the early Classical Era, will be kicking off its season of shows on Saturday, Dec. 3, with one of the company’s most popular performances, A Baroque Christmas.
The show’s program features music that strikes a strong Christmas chord from seven Baroque and Classical composers including Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn. Tickets for the concert range from $58-$80, however, those who’d like to splurge may also purchase tickets to a pre-show VIP gala for $250 including concert tickets.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Musica Angelica’s Baroque Christmas will be at Beverly O’Neill Theater at 300 E. Ocean Blvd.
2nd ANNUAL LONG BEACH INTERNATIONAL TAMALES FESTIVAL (Sunday)
Now in its second year, the Long Beach International Tamales Festival will be a daylong celebration, honoring the art, flavors and diversity that is the tamale with regional takes on the tender dish. And all in one place.
From noon to 7 p.m. at Long Beach City College, attendees can devour tamales and other Latin-inspired cuisines from local and regional vendors and restaurants. The event also promises tequila tastings, live Latin music, Aztec dance performances and a tamale-eating contest.
Tickets for the festival cost $15 and may be purchased online. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Long Beach International Tamales Festival will be at the Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway.
SPONSORED BY THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
AQUARIUM HOLIDAYS (Saturday & Sunday)
Aquarium Holidays kicks off on December 3 with the Holiday Treats for the Animals event. In celebration of the holiday season, Santa Diver will be delivering an ocean of gifts to the Aquarium for its animals, including the sea lions and fish, during Holiday Treats for the Animals event on December 3 and 4.
Aquarium Holidays begins with this festive weekend and continues through December 23 featuring festive décor, shopping, snowfall in the Great Hall, appearances by Santa Diver, and a gingerbread house display. On weekends December 3 through 18 the Aquarium will have photo opportunities with Santa and a snow play area. Also during the first weekend of Aquarium Holidays (Dec. 3 and 4), the Aquarium will host Kwanzaa and Hanukkah storytelling.
Advance reservations are required. For more information, call (562) 590-3100 or visit aquariumofpacific.org.
For more information and tickets click here.
Aquarium of the Pacific is at 100 Aquarium Way.
SPONSORED BY THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC’S FIRST WEDNESDAYS
LEARN ABOUT MAGELLANIC AND GALAPAGOS PENGUINS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH DR. CAROLINE CAPPELLO (Wednesday, Dec. 7)
This FREE event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, December 7 features wildlife ecologist, Dr. Caroline Cappello. An immersion in photos and stories of penguins from Argentina and Ecuador. As a conservationist with a doctorate from the University of Washington, Capello specializes in the ecology of penguins. When not in the office, she can be found boating along the coasts of the Galápagos Islands in search of breeding penguins or living with over 200,000 Magellanic penguins in their colony at Punta Tombo.
This event will include a complimentary holiday drink and cash bar cocktail hour, music, holiday card making and paint-a-fish activity. The talk will take place in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater, with the rest of the evening set to be in the Pacific Visions Art Gallery. Reservations are required and may be made online or by calling 562-590-3100.
This program is sponsored by:
The Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown
Stephen and Brenda Olson
Ralph and Hazel Osborn and Lois J. Roork Trust
Aquarium of the Pacific is at 100 Aquarium Way.
SPONSORED BY THE BELMONT SHORE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
BELMONT SHORE CHRISTMAS PARADE (Saturday)
The spectacle of lights and glitter will promenade through the 15-block seaside business district on Saturday, Dec. 3. Organized by the Belmont Shore Business Association, thousands of families watch the parade each year, getting a sentimental feeling as they wave at the more than 100 elaborately decorated floats and walking entries — including Santa, in his festooned sleigh atop a fire engine, as the grand finale.
Among the high school marching bands, drill teams, elected city leaders and local beauty pageant titleholders, there are clear crowd favorites that return year after year, representing a who’s who of local businesses and organizations.
For more about the 1.2-mile parade, taking place from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 between Livingston and Bay Shore Avenue, including the parade lineup, visit BelmontShore.org. The event also will be streamed live on that website.