Arts & Entertainment

Million Dollar Quartet at Musical Theatre West

Rock ‘n’ rollers listen up… Four timeless musical legends will take to the stage in Long Beach this April! Southern California’s premier theatre company, Musical Theatre West (MTW), is opening the doors to its second show of the 2024 season, Million Dollar Quartet.

Pulling back the curtain on the legendary jam session between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, this musical packs a score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country chart-topping hits, performed live on stage by Broadway-caliber actors and musicians. MTW’s production of Million Dollar Quartet will run for a limited time, April 12 - April 28, with an official opening night celebration on Saturday, April 13th. Tickets start at $20 each and are available by phone at (562) 856-1999 or online at musical.org.

“After the success of our electrifying season opener, 42nd Street, we’re looking forward to captivating our audiences in a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll history that is Million Dollar Quartet,” shared Paul Garman, executive director and producer for Musical Theatre West. “Our hope is to invigorate our diverse community’s passion for music by transporting them to an era that gave birth to some of the greatest talents and hits in musical history.”

Inspired by the legendary recording at Sun Studio in Memphis, Million Dollar Quartet dramatizes  the impromptu jam session that became a pivotal moment in rock ‘n’ roll history when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins gathered on the evening of Dec. 4, 1956. This famous meeting of the musicians helped define rock ‘n’ roll, thus Million Dollar Quartet offers viewers entertaining moments of humor and poignancy as the four musical legends interact and inspire one another onstage. Audiences can expect to be dazzled as they rock down memory lane to over twenty sensational hits including “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” and “I Walk the Line.”

At the core of Musical Theatre West’s rendition of Million Dollar Quartet, lies a dynamic fusion of talent. This impressive cast will be performing all of the music live on stage, without the need  for an orchestra in the pit for this production. LJ Benet channels the essence of Elvis Presley, while Garrett Forrestal embodies the energy of Jerry Lee Lewis. Will Riddle captivates as Carl Perkins, and David Lee Elkins brings the iconic Johnny Cash to life. Their extraordinary musical talents, combined with Tim Seib’s direction and David Lamoureux’s musical guidance, promise to bring an unforgettable experience to audiences, immersing them in the electrifying world of 1950s rock ‘n’ roll.

Musical Theatre West’s production of Million Dollar Quartet will premiere at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on select dates, April 12 – April 28, 2024, with a special ASL-interpreted performance on Friday, April 19. Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase by phone at 562-856-1999 or online at musical.org. Fees may apply. Student rush tickets for $15 are available at the Box Office one hour prior to showtime, with a valid student ID. More information, a full line-up of performances, and additional details can be found at https://musical.org.

Winkler Shares His Wit and Wisdom

The charming and hilarious Henry Winkler appears at the Carpenter Center on Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. The Emmy Award-winning actor, author, producer, and director shares humorous anecdotes and inspirational lessons from his life and storied career, including his struggles with undiagnosed dyslexia, and behind-the-scenes stories of his life on screen.

“Henry Winkler is a treasure,” says Executive Director Megan Kline Crockett. “Fans know him as the epitome of cool as ‘The Fonz’ on Happy Days and for his delightfully quirky roles on Arrested Development and HBO’s Barry. I can’t wait for audiences to experience firsthand his comedic sensibility and be inspired by his gratitude and generosity.”

Winkler’s appearance also includes a post-appearance book signing. A limited number of copies of his New York Times bestseller Being Henry will be available for purchase.

Tickets: $65, available at carpenterarts.org.

Hat Box

The Garage Theatre proudly kicks off their 24th season with the World Premiere of “Hat Box,” a dark comedy written and directed by Lola Binks.

What happens when boredom turns into rage? When four polygamist sister-wives learn their Prophet (and shared husband) is opening a beautiful embassy to greet visitors from the East, all hell breaks loose in their gilded cage. He needs a hostess, and it will go to his favorite wife… whoever that may be. There can be only one. There will be blood. God help them.

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Hat Box playwright, Lola Binks, was renting an apartment in a historic polygamist “back house” in Salt Lake City, UT. On summer evenings, she would sit in the courtyard and look up at the windows of the historic home, contemplating the lives of the former residents.

What were the experiences of the women and children who had lived in “her” home, connected in marriage to one man. How much of it was faith and how much was coercion? How much was survival and how much was choice? Did these wives hate each other? Did they love each other? “Hat Box” is Binks’ attempt to explore the possibilities of many wives feeling many ways about their shared home. 

“Hat Box” opened March 15 and runs Thursdays through Saturdays, March 23 and April 4–20.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; shows begin at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices are $35 for opening/closing night (includes post-show reception); $25 general; $20 for students, seniors, teachers, and military. All Thursday performances are 2 for 1 when you use the promo code “twofer.”

Tickets may be purchased online at www.thegaragetheatre.org/onstagenow or at the box office 30-minutes prior to each night’s performance.

Located in downtown Long Beach, The Garage Theatre is a black box theatre, founded in the belief that independent non-commercial theatre is vital to the future of the art form. They are run by a collaborative ensemble that strives to create a diverse body of work, take artistic risks and uncover social and human truths, and are committed to reaching a new theatre audience by producing affordable works in a unique voice.

Later in the 2024 season, The Garage Theatre audiences can look forward to seeing

• “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” by James Cameron Mitchell, July 12 – August 3
• “In the Blood” by Lori Parks, Sept. 13 – Oct. 12
• “Steam-Powered Rocket Ride to the Moon” by Jamie Sweet, Nov. 15 – 23 and Dec. 5 – 21.

For more information, visit http://www.thegaragetheatre.org/onstagenow or call The Garage Theatre at (562) 283-3732.

Boogie All Night

On Saturday, May 4, Long Beach Symphony and Classical Night Fever will blast out some of the best disco tunes from the 70s. Audiences at the Long Beach Arena will re-live those days as they boogie to the groove of Barry White, The Commodores, KC and The Sunshine Band, Bee Gees, the Village People, and Donna Summer.

Bring your best platform shoes and moves! Classical Night Fever, dubbed “The Ultimate Disco Party band,” will bring the vocals and disco’s characteristic beat of the drums, as guest conductor Roger Kalia and the power of your Long Beach Symphony enlarge the euphoria that made disco such a popular genre. 70s costumes and hair styles are encouraged for this groovy disco extravaganza!

Audiences will enjoy Long Beach Symphony’s unique offering of a full symphony concert with a guest band, dance floors at the sides of the stage, and the socially engaging indoor picnicking that welcomes home-brought favorites or pre-ordered catering.

A night of dancing and killer music comes to the Long Beach Arena on Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for picnics in stadium seating or tables on the arena floor. Tickets start at $30. Purchase tickets at https://aabn.short.gy/0TizVN. For more information, visit https://longbeachsymphony.org/ or call (562) 436-3203, ext. 1.