Arts & Entertainment

Call Me Mary Juana

Prepare for political satire, over-the-top musical numbers and pure theatrical hysteria with “Reefer Madness: The Musical” in the Studio Theatre, through Nov. 15. An unlikely musical comedy inspired by an earnest 1936 public service film of the same name, this raucous spoof takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana. USA Today describes it as a “delightful romp that reaches highs of intoxicating goofiness,” and it is guaranteed to spark hysterical laughter without a bad case of the munchies.

Featuring a book and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and book and music by Dan Studney, the show follows the tragic – and wildly exaggerated – downfall of clean-cut, wholesome teenagers Jimmy Harper and Mary Lane. After being lured into the treacherous “Reefer Den” by a group of unscrupulous pushers, their lives spiral out of control in a whirlwind of jazz, madness and musical chaos. It’s an addictive, hilarious, highly stylized musical romp with sly, satirical political commentary that will leave you wanting more.

Sean Gray, producing artistic director for the playhouse, said, “The original movie’s point wasn’t only to warn people about cannabis; it was a not-so-subtle attack on Black musicians and Mexican laborers, and resulted in prisons disproportionately filled with people of color.

Rovin Jay directs the show. He has directed several popular shows for the Playhouse, including “The Piano Lesson,” “The Gem of the Ocean,” and “Sister Act.” In his program notes, Jay points out the narrator is more interested in instilling fear in his audience than informing them. And that it’s easy to laugh at it in a 1930s lecture hall. It’s harder when his rhetoric sounds like the morning news.

The 12-member cast includes a mix of returning and debuting performers. Returning are Teddy Larkin, Kacey Oschack, Derek Rubiano, Jennifer Harmon, Vincent Gomez and Carole Louise. Debuting performers are Domonic Tracy, Alex Pierdant, Ashley Rowlett, Olivia Kusick, Josie Larkin and Liliana Schoenke.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562)-494-1014, option 1.

‘Man of No Importance’

Winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, “A Man of No Importance” is the second celebrated collaboration from Tony Award winners Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the acclaimed creative team behind Ragtime.

Set in Dublin in 1964, the musical follows Alfie Byrne, an unassuming bus conductor whose heart holds secrets he shares only with his imagined confidant, Oscar Wilde. Inspired by his love of poetry and theatre, Alfie sets out to stage an amateur production of Wilde’s Salome in his local church hall. When the production faces unexpected opposition, Alfie is forced to confront the prejudice, shame and fear that have shaped his life, discovering the courage it takes to live authentically.

Filled with warmth, humor and one of the most beautiful scores in contemporary musical theatre, “A Man of No Importance” is a rare gem in the canon of musical theatre; a deeply human story about friendship, community, compassion and the transformative power of theatre. Both intimate and uplifting, it reminds us that the greatest acts of courage often begin with simply allowing ourselves to be seen. And at its heart is a joyous love letter to making art.

Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company presents this story in the historic sanctuary of First Congregational Church of Long Beach, bringing an additional resonance to a musical about faith, judgment, acceptance and belonging. In a story where a love once considered unspeakable struggles to find its voice, Landmark tells Alfie’s story in a sacred space committed today to welcome and affirmation.

With a professional live orchestra, a soaring Irish-inflected score, warmth, humor and tremendous heart, “A Man of No Importance” celebrates love, art, community – and the seemingly ordinary people who quietly make our lives something more.

This production runs from Oct. 16 through Nov. 1, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.. Sunday, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. and Sundays Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $30 to $60, including fees and are available for purchase online.

‘Little Women’ at MTW

Some stories belong to every generation. This fall, Musical Theatre West (MTW) will close its 2026 Season of Dreams with Little Women, bringing Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of family, ambition, love and growing up to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach Nov. 6–22.

For generations, readers have found pieces of themselves in the March sisters: independent and ambitious Jo, romantic Meg, gentle Beth and spirited Amy. Since its publication more than 150 years ago, Little Women has moved from the page to film, television and the stage, while its story of four sisters finding their own paths in the world continues to resonate with audiences young and old.

MTW brings that familiar story to life through a sweeping musical adaptation featuring a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. At the center of the story is aspiring writer Jo March, whose determination to make a life on her own terms propels her beyond the comforts of home while the four March sisters navigate love, loss and the changes that come with growing up. Filled with humor, heart and a soaring musical score, the production offers longtime fans and audiences discovering the March family for the first time a new way to experience Alcott’s enduring story.

“There’s a reason people have loved Little Women for generations. Many of us see ourselves in these characters- in their dreams, their relationships, their heartbreaks and their love for one another,” said Paul Garman, executive director and producer of Musical Theatre West. “It’s a story that parents and grandparents can remember reading or watching when they were young and now share with another generation. We couldn’t think of a more meaningful story to bring audiences together and close out our 2026 season.”

But MTW isn’t waiting for the curtain to rise to begin celebrating the world of “Little Women.” In honor of National Book Month, the organization is taking the story beyond the stage with a series of free Community Connects events throughout Long Beach, inviting the community to experience the novel through local history, film, literature, music and conversation. MTW’s Community Connects program is designed to create accessible opportunities for people of all ages to engage with theatre outside of a traditional performance setting.

On Saturday, Oct. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m., MTW will partner with Friends of the Long Beach Public Library for a Little Women Read-Aloud at the Michelle Obama Library. Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy and Laurie will step off the page through character readings and musical performances, offering families and readers another way to experience Alcott’s characters ahead of the musical’s opening.

The month concludes Sunday, Oct. 25 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Sixth Church of Christ, Scientist with a “Little Women” lecture led by theatre scholar, educator and director Stacee Tweedlie Willis. The discussion and audience Q&A will explore the novel’s history and themes, its journey from literature to musical theatre, and the differences between Alcott’s original book and its stage adaptation.

Together, the events offer audiences multiple ways to revisit, or discover for the first time, a story that has endured across generations before seeing the March sisters brought to life on the MTW stage.

Tickets 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.

Rocktober at the Regency

The Long Beach Music Museum is bringing its collection and celebration of Long Beach’s rich musical heritage to the Hyatt Regency Long Beach with a special “Rocktober @ the Regency” pop-up museum experience through Oct. 31.

Located at 200 South Pine Avenue in Long Beach, the monthlong pop-up will invite visitors to discover music, artists, stories and cultural history that helped shape Long Beach’s distinctive musical legacy. Guests will have the opportunity to explore music-related artifacts and exhibits while experiencing the history and culture behind the city’s vibrant music scene.

The Rocktober at the Regency event will also feature opportunities for live music, exhibitions and receptions every Friday with planned live music from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., along with food and beverages, adding to the celebration of Long Beach’s diverse musical culture.

The Long Beach Music Museum is presented as a program of the Long Beach Blues Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, bringing together community organizations dedicated to preserving and celebrating the city’s musical heritage.

The pop-up museum is free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Oct. 31 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Friday receptions will be hosted from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.