Arts & Entertainment

Free Community Day

Musical Theatre West presents Community Connects: “In the Belmont Heights,” a free, family-friendly block party celebrating the vibrant Latinx and Chicanx cultures that help shape Long Beach.

Inspired by Musical Theatre West’s upcoming production of “In The Heights” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the event brings the spirit of the musical into the neighborhood with an afternoon of live music, salsa dancing lessons, hands-on instrument making, interactive art activities, games, and cultural workshops led by local artists and community organizations.

Taking place tomorrow, 2-5 p.m., at Musical Theatre West’s headquarters, 4350 E 7th St., the event transforms the space into a lively community gathering filled with music, movement, and creativity. Experiences include:

• CSULB Salsa Club – Learn Latin rhythms and salsa dancing
• Martín Espino – Hands-on instrument-making workshops
• Los Calicubanos – Live Afro-Cuban/Latin jazz and salsa music
• Tacos Uziel – Authentic street food and tacos for purchase
• Aquarium of the Pacific – Interactive ocean-themed activities
• Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) – Showcasing art celebrating Latinx culture and creativity
• Historical Society of Long Beach – Explore connections between Long Beach and Washington Heights
• Friends of the Long Beach Public Library – Free bilingual books for families to take home
• Slim Reaper Light Show – Local artist Slim Reaper creates a digital display highlighting HSLB’s educational findings and the history of In The Heights at MTW
• This event is FREE and open to the public, and all ages are welcome. For the latest updates and more information, visit musical.org/community.
• Tickets for Musical Theatre West’s upcoming production of In The Heights are available at musical.org.

About Musical Theatre West

The story of Musical Theatre West is the 74-year journey from a group of volunteers performing in a high school auditorium to one of the largest and most respected theatrical production companies in Southern California. Utilizing professional talent, and producing regional and even world premiere musicals while continuing to honor the tradition of classic musical theatre, MTW is the largest arts producer in the Long Beach area. The company continues to receive critical acclaim and national recognition – and many performers who cut their teeth on the MTW stage have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and in television and film. Just as importantly, stage and screen veterans now come to Musical Theatre West to perform, finding it to be one of the friendliest and most fun venues to work in. A key aspect of the company is its dedication to education, and the Education and Outreach Programs of Musical Theatre West bring the joy and magic of musical theater to over 20,000 children each year through special morning performances, traveling shows and school assemblies, and the Summer Youth Conservatory. Musical Theatre West has a mission to enrich the community with Broadway-quality productions, preserve musical theatre as a unique American art form, and expose people of all backgrounds to the excitement of musical theatre.