Arts & Entertainment

Community Connects

Musical Theatre West (MTW) has launched Community Connects, a new series designed to bring the magic of live theatre beyond the stage and into the community. Through interactive experiences, educational opportunities and special events, Community Connects invites audiences of all ages to engage with the arts in meaningful and accessible ways.

Community Connects kicks off on Saturday, March 8, 2-4 p.m. at MTW’s headquarters in Reiner Rehearsal Hall, beginning with a special storybook reading featuring characters from the upcoming production of Into the Woods. Families and theatre lovers alike are invited to step into the world of Into the Woods and enjoy interactive crafts and activities in partnership with Bay Shore Neighborhood Library and the Aquarium of the Pacific, creating a truly magical and immersive experience.

Experience the magic of storytelling as beloved fairy tale characters come to life, with actors from Into the Woods reading the very stories their characters are based on. Children will be transported into a whimsical world of adventure and imagination, helping to ignite a passion for reading and creativity in the hearts of the next generation.

“We’re thrilled to start our new Community Connects series with an exciting event to promote literacy and engage the Long Beach community,” said Paul Garman, Executive Director and Producer at Musical Theatre West. “These free events will tie into a show or education program that we have running and we are so excited to kick it off with this reading day. Into the Woods is all about the power of storytelling and we think this event is the perfect way to highlight that.”

Adding to the fun, local organizations will have booths set up with themed crafts and resources, including origami. A food truck will be onsite with tacos for purchase, as well as a bounce house for children. This unique gathering will be an unforgettable opportunity for families to engage with stories and each other in a supportive, family-friendly environment. 

For more information and to sign up for the event, visit musical.org/events/community-connects/. For those wishing to get involved or learn more, please reach out to courtney@musical.org.

Don’t Miss August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

Can you transcend the past? In August Wilson’s masterpiece, The Piano Lesson, Feb. 22 – Mar. 22 at the Long Beach Playhouse, the past is a ghost that haunts a Black family’s dreams of a better life. It’s the Great Depression and Boy Willie has come north to Pittsburgh to see his sister, Bernice, with an opportunity to buy some land down home in Mississippi.

He wants her to sell the family’s antique piano. But it is more than just a musical instrument; it’s a testament to the family’s rise from slavery, carved with the images of their ancestors. As the siblings contend with each other, can they escape the lives of their forefathers and put to rest the ghosts that still haunt them?

Info: www.lbplayhouse.org

Sinatra, Elvis and More

On Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m., Long Beach Symphony presents the timeless sounds of music’s greatest legends in Sinatra, Elvis and More! by Matt Mauser, performing at the Long Beach Arena.

Under the baton of Music Director Eckart Preu, Mauser – renowned for his captivating interpretations of classic hits – will take audiences on a nostalgic journey through the music of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bill Withers, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Ricky Martin, Bobby Darin, Lou Rawls and more.

From Sinatra’s smooth swing to Elvis’s electrifying rock ‘n’ roll, this unforgettable evening will have audiences singing along to timeless favorites, including “Come Fly With Me, Fly Me to the Moon,” “The Best Is Yet to Come,” “Strangers in the Night,” “It’s Not Unusual,” “Beyond the Sea,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and a few special surprises. With orchestrations by Pete Jacobs and the power of a full symphony orchestra, these beloved songs will be reimagined in a grand, orchestral setting.

Info: www.longbeachsymphony.org.

DVBBS Headlines Friday Concert at Grand Prix

Internationally renowned DJ duo DVBBS takes the stage Friday night, April 11, at the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The Friday Concert, presented by Acura, will take place on the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center Terrace Plaza at 6:30 p.m., is free to Friday ticket holders and promises an epic night of music, lights and adrenaline-pumping fun. Space at the plaza is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Known for their high-energy performances and chart-topping hits like “Tsunami,” “La La Land” and “Not Going Home,” DVBBS will bring their signature beats to the iconic Long Beach event, setting the tone for an unforgettable weekend of world-class racing and entertainment.

Formed in 2012 in Toronto, Canada, DVBBS, composed of brothers Christopher van den Hoef and Alexandre van den Hoef, have built a strong discography, which has collectively garnered the group platinum sales in nearly a dozen countries and billions of streams to date. DVBBS has collaborated with artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Aloe Blacc, Steve Aoki, 2 Chainz, Johnny Orlando, Juicy J and Belly, among others. They have performed across the world’s top festivals including Lollapalooza, EDC, Ultra Music Festival and many more.

DVBBS commented, “Being a part of this 50th anniversary celebration is such an honor. I know we will be watching with excitement all day – this one will go down in history.”

“We’re excited to have DVBBS headline our Friday night concert and bring their incredible energy to the Grand Prix,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. “This year’s event is a celebration of 50 years of racing in Long Beach and we look forward to kicking off the weekend with a performance that fans won’t forget.”

Friday’s racing activities include practice and qualifying sessions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, GT America Powered by AWS and the unique Historic Formula Exhibition, featuring cars from the three racing eras at Long Beach – Formula 5000, Formula 1 and Indy Car – racing together for the first time. The first round of the invitational Super Drift Challenge will also take place that evening.

Friday Acura Grand Prix ticket prices start at $54 (“all-in” pricing) for a general admission ticket, or customers can choose a three-day ticket for $215 that includes Saturday and Sunday reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock passes, super photo tickets and a wide variety of hospitality packages. Continuing a longstanding policy at the Grand Prix. children 12 years and under can get free general admission with a ticketed adult.

Fans can select and pay for their 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the ticket hotline, (888) 827-7333.