In an effort to expand efforts in showcasing diversity and timely social issues—and offer free tickets—Cal State Long Beach’s Theatre Department will produce and present Celebration: LGBT Rainbow Cabaret that will use song, dance, and spoken word to present different aspects of LGBT history.
The piece—part of Theatre Chair and Artistic Director Anne D’Zmura’s Affinity Series launched last year—is a pairing between CSULB MFA graduate and current faculty member Alexandra Billings and undergraduate Richard Rodriquez.
Consisting of an entire crew of undergraduates under the direction of Billings and Rodriguez, Celebration’s hopeful purpose, though LGBT-specific, supersedes an appeal to one audience only.
“By looking at the history of the LGBT community, we can give others the strength and confidence to continue to speak out in support of a community that has not had much representation until recently,” said Rodriguez.
Billings, a long-respected theatre and cabaret performer (and former Long Beach Post writer), will serve dual duty: not only will she be directing with Rodriguez, she’ll be hosting—and with all the honesty Billings always gives in her performances (as the first transgendered woman to play—wait for it—a transgendered woman on television, she admittedly owns that right).
To finish the Affinity season on May 11, a collaboration with the Carpenter Center’s Arts for Life will pair students and community members as they present a special Mother’s Day devised performance of Questions for My Mother. Shortly following, faculty member Andrea Caban will perform her one-woman show, Questions My Mother Can’t Answer.
The event begins at 8PM and is located in the University Theatre on the CSULB South Campus, accessible via E. Campus Drive. Paid parking is located outside the Theatre Arts building in Lot 7. For information regarding reserving seats, please contact the box office at 562-985-5526. For all other information, please call 562-985-4500. https://www.facebook.com/events/390259267777998/
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