Arts & Entertainment

New Works Festival

After two successful 2025 readings with Tony Award-winning talent, Musical Theatre West (MTW) is pleased to announce the three new musicals that will be featured as a part of their 2026 New Works Reading Festival are “A Collectible Sensation,” with music and lyrics by Amy Engelhardt and book and lyrics by Arianna Rose; “Miss Hysteria,” with music and lyrics by Ben Zeadman and book and lyrics by Laura Schein; and “Zapata: A Folklorico Superhero Musical,” with music, lyrics and book by Jesse J. Sanchez.

The three new musicals will be featured as part of the invite-only reading festival on Sept. 18-19.

“As we prepare for our 75th year of sharing our passion for musical theatre, we are so excited to usher in the next generation of musicals that make up the next 75 years of Musical Theatre West.” said Paul Garman, executive director/producer for MTW. “These three pieces celebrate many different aspects of the human experience and speak to multiple different audiences, and we’re so proud to be a part of their developmental journey.”

“Zapata: A Folklorico Superhero Musical” recently had its world premiere at the Zach Theater, after receiving the Frank Young Production Grant from the National Alliance of Musical Theatre. Previously, the musical had development residencies/workshops at Live & In Color, Teatro Vivo’s Austin Latinx New Play Festival, and The Orchard Project, in addition to a workshop reading at the Zach Theater and a commission from the TYA/USA BIPOC Superhero Project.

The songs from “Miss Hysteria” premiered in 2023 at the FNAM’s Musi-Cal at Bourbon Room Hollywood, which was followed by a workshop with the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop with Stephen Schwartz. The show won the ASCAP Foundation Lucille & Jack Yellen Award later that year and continued its development as a part of the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove Residency at Goodspeed. In 2025, the piece was a finalist for the Eugene O’Neill NMTC and earlier this year, the show’s creators were named Dramatists Guild Fellows and had a staged reading with the Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals.

Beginning as the play “The Equivalent of Sensation,” written by book writer and co-lyricist Arianna Rose, “A Collectible Sensation” brought on composer and co-lyricist Amy Engelhardt to turn the piece into a musical after winning several awards. The musical has had a reading at Rough Cuts, Nautilus Music Theatre, and a workshop at The University of Minnesota/Duluth, concluding in three public readings at The Depot, presented by Dunbar Hofmann Productions LLC.

The piece was a finalist for the 2024 Kleban Award for Libretto and the 2025 Tru/Streaming Musicals Reading Series, NYC, and a semi-finalist for the 2025 Circle in the Square Theatre School Musical Theatre Residency, the 2023 Eugene O’Neill New Musical Theatre Conference, and the 2023 Normal Avenue NYC Nap Series.

MTW’s New Works Program began in 2021 and spawned from participation in Inclusion Media Company’s “Raise Your Voice Playwriting Competition.” Since then, MTW has produced five 29-hour staged reading festivals, with the goal of providing writers of new musical theatre an opportunity to see their work on its feet and receive an audience’s feedback. To learn more about the MTW New Works Program, visit https://musical.org/events/new-works/.

Tickets for the final production in MTW’s 2026 Mainstage Season, “Little Women,” are on sale now. For more information, visit musical.org or call (562) 856-1999.

LBFF: Lights, Camera ...

The Long Beach Film Festival (LBFF) is pleased to unveil the full lineup for its inaugural festival weekend, bringing together independent filmmakers, emerging voices and movie lovers for two days of screenings, conversations, and special events. The festivities kick-off with an Opening Night Party aboard the Queen Mary on Friday, August 28, followed by two full days of cinema at the Art Theatre of Long Beach, August 29–30.

The festival spans four feature films and four curated short-film programs, with stories ranging from dark comedy and horror to science fiction, drama and deeply human stories of second chances. Throughout the weekend, screenings will be complemented by filmmaker Q&As, panel conversations and programming in the LBFF FilmLounge, giving audiences the opportunity to meet filmmakers, hear the stories behind their work and continue the conversation beyond the screen.

The weekend begins Friday, August 28, with the LBFF Opening Night Party aboard the Queen Mary. From 6 to 9 p.m., guests will walk the red carpet inside one of Long Beach’s most iconic landmarks for an evening celebrating the filmmakers, artists and community behind the city’s newest film festival. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson will join the celebration to share a few words and lead a special toast marking the official kickoff of the inaugural festival.

On Saturday, August 29, the festival moves to the Art Theatre of Long Beach for its first full day of screenings. The day begins at noon with “Out of This World,” a collection of five short films exploring different worlds, dimensions and some of life’s biggest questions. At 3 p.m., writer, director and actor Emily Robinson, known for Eighth Grade, brings “Ugly Cry” to the screen. The darkly comedic feature follows an actor whose “ugly cry” costs them their dream role and sends them spiraling down a dangerous path toward perfection.

Saturday evening continues at 6 p.m. with “Again Again,” written, directed by and starring Mia Moore and executive produced by Lilly Wachowski. The film follows Agatha, who has spent 10 years reliving the same day in a torturous time loop, only to unexpectedly wake up to something even more frightening: a brand-new day.

Closing Saturday night at 9 p.m. is “Nightmares on 4th Street,” a 90-minute collection of eight horror shorts promising campy fun, scares and plenty of reasons to keep the theater lights on a little longer.

The festival returns Sunday, August 30, beginning at 11 a.m. with “The Pursuit of Happiness,” a collection of six short films examining change, risk and the forces shaping modern life around the world. At 1:30 p.m., LBFF brings the story home with “Rescued,” written, directed by and starring Long Beach filmmaker DJ Hale. The feature follows a homeless man who finds the motivation to turn his life around after a stray dog befriends him and refuses to leave his side.

At 4:30 p.m., “21st Century Problems” turns its attention to the complications of modern adulthood, with seven short films exploring love, friendship and life in times of crisis through stories ranging from comedic to dramatic.

The inaugural screening program concludes Sunday at 7 p.m. with director Danny Madden’s “Downbeat.” The feature follows a troubled drummer who moves in with his sister in Boston and rediscovers his passion through street performing, only to find his newfound stability threatened by his own reckless choices.

Beyond the screenings, LBFF is creating opportunities for audiences to engage directly with the people behind the films. Filmmaker Q&As and panel conversations will take place throughout the weekend, while the LBFF FilmLounge will serve as a gathering place for filmmakers, industry professionals and festivalgoers.

The festival is also making room for its youngest future filmmakers. On Sunday, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., LBFF StoryLab will invite children ages 8-12 into the FilmLounge for a hands-on introduction to filmmaking. Young storytellers will explore camera basics, visual storytelling and how filmmakers turn an idea into something audiences can experience on the big screen, with an emphasis on creativity, confidence and finding their own storytelling voice.

Festivalgoers can experience LBFF in several ways. Individual screening tickets begin at $10, while the $75 All Festival Pass provides unlimited access to screenings Saturday and Sunday. The $150 VIP Pass offers the festival’s most complete experience, including all film screenings, Friday’s Opening Night Party, the Saturday Soiree, Festival Afterparty, panel talks and other FilmLounge events. All festival passes include complimentary popcorn at the Art Theatre.

Weekend festival passes are available now. To purchase tickets and learn more visit www.longbeachfilmfestival.org. Follow @longbeachfilmfest on social media.

California Turkish Festival

The Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California (ATASC) is proud to announce the return of the 5th Annual California Turkish Festival on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Shoreline Aquatic Park.

Following the success of previous years, the festival is expected to welcome more than 5,000 visitors from across Southern California for a full day of authentic Turkish culture, delicious cuisine, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.

Guests can enjoy a wide variety of traditional Turkish specialties, including doner, kebabs, gozleme, baklava, vegetarian dishes, Turkish coffee, desserts, and more. The festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the flavors, hospitality, and traditions of Türkiye in a lively waterfront setting.

The entertainment lineup will feature performances by Ilhan Ozulu, AKM Turkish Music Choir, San Diego Turkish Music Chorus, belly dancer Laman Museyava, Group Anatolia Turkish folk dance, DJ Volkan Duygun, and master of ceremonies Ozgur Turkgenc, creating a festive atmosphere throughout the day.

Families are invited to enjoy complimentary children’s face painting and traditional henna art, making the festival a fun experience for visitors of all ages.

Admission is free, and everyone is invited to join this colorful celebration of Turkish culture, music, food, and community.

For more information, visit  www.atasc.org.