Arts & Entertainment

‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Long Beach Playhouse

Each year since 2012, the Long Beach Playhouse mounted a production of Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol. Attending the production has become a part of many families’ holiday tradition and that their hearts are warmed by this beloved story of a man transformed from a selfish curmudgeon to a kind-hearted benefactor.

“While we stay true to the story, we choose different directors each year and encourage them to bring their own creativity and vision to the production,” said Sean Gray, Playhouse Producing Artistic Director.

Gray continued, “This year I asked Joy Arzaga to direct the show. I liked her ideas and sensibilities about the similarities between class divides in Victorian England and Charles Dickens’ concern about the harsh conditions imposed on the poor in that era. Joy talked about the social inequality of the time and the ways that remains relevant today. We both felt the message of hope in challenging times was an important theme”

“I don’t want to give anything away, “said Playhouse Executive Director Madison Mooney. “But there is a Santa Claus suit currently under construction in Christina Bayer’s costume shop upstairs. And I’ve heard there may be a scene set in New York City.

“Holiday traditions and celebrations take many forms in a city as diverse as Long Beach, it takes creativity and fresh ideas to do the same show 13 times without becoming predictable. This year’s show is going to be wonderful start to finish!”

The 12-member cast is a mix of actors who are making debuts and who are returning to the Playhouse. Those making their debuts are Alexandra Rae, Trina Estanislao, Samantha Hardy, Kaylie Jackel, Carissa Klaus and Ava Rae. Returning to the Playhouse are Scott Ruiz, Mark Carlin, Tod Walker, Benjamin Rasmussen and Alan Bornemann.

“A Christmas Carol was published 181 years ago and is still bringing joy and inspiration to audiences,” said Mooney. “Come and see the show. We promise you’ll be glad you did!”

The show opens Dec. 7 and runs through Dec. 22, with performances on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

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

Free Concert Series

If you missed Musica Angelica’s first free community concert in October, you’ll want to make sure to mark your calendars for the other three this season, all held in Long Beach Public Libraries.

“We are pleased to bring these back to the community after last year’s success,” said Matthew Faulkner Musica Angelica’s executive director. “We believe that musical arts should be accessible to everyone and the local libraries are perfect hubs for these experiences.”

Each concert in the series features a performance from a soloist or small ensemble from Musica Angelica playing period baroque music with historically accurate instruments. The musicians also share information about the music, its composers, instruments and the context of the Baroque period. All ages are welcome.

The free concerts are just one part of the many outreach and educational activities Musica Angelica coordinates, including music education with the Long Beach Unified School District throughout the city. The community concerts are made possible in part through funding from the Port of Long Beach. All performances start at noon.

• Saturday, Dec. 7 – Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway
• Saturday, Feb. 1 – Los Altos Neighborhood Library, 5614 Britton Dr.
• Saturday, April 13 – Michelle Obama Library, 5870 Atlantic Ave.

For more information, visit https://www.musicaangelica.org and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. There is still time for you to donate to Musica Angelica’s $50,000 Matching Challenge Grant from the Colburn Foundation. Every dollar donated is doubled through this opportunity.

Now in its 32nd season, Musica Angelica is firmly established as Southern California’s preeminent historical performance ensemble. Led by Music Director and world-renowned organist, Martin Haselböck, the ensemble has toured internationally to widespread acclaim.

Musica Angelica musicians play on authentic instruments of the period, or carefully crafted replicas. The ensemble performs its own series of concerts in Long Beach and Los Angeles and is in demand as a collaborative ensemble performing alongside LA Opera, the LA Master Chorale, Long Beach Camerata Singers Pacific Chorale and Long Beach Opera.

Concert Looks at Change

As adults are adapting to significant change today, it’s easy to forget that younger people also face significant change. So, “Change” will be the theme for the winter concert by the Long Beach Youth Chorus. The community is invited to hear them on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., at Grace First Presbyterian Church.

“Our chorus has faced recent changes in a number of important ways,” said Stan DeWitt, founder and interim artistic director of the seven-year-old chorus. “We’ve grown dramatically but our most recent Artistic Director Stevie Hirner, accepted a position at the University of Montana. So, we’re focusing on helping our members adjust with music that is about how to do just that!” Tickets are available at www.longbeachyouthchorus.org for $10.

The audience can expect to hear some classics such as “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” a humorous song about renaming an entire city., as well as Queen & David Bowie’s hit song “Under Pressure.” “I’ve chosen a program explicitly to create learning about how to deal with the inevitable changes throughout life,” explains DeWitt, “and the singers are responding with enthusiasm.”

Founded in 2017, the Long Beach Youth Chorus aims to provide a wide range of growth experience for children ages 7-18. They form several ensembles, divided by age, and learn to read music and perform in a variety of venues. “These varied experiences provide real growth opportunities for youth who often don’t have such musical opportunities in schools here,” explained DeWitt.

DeWitt is a highly acclaimed composer, performer and adjudicator of choral music throughout the region. His own background includes both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from CSULB. For more information about the performance and the Chorus, visit www.longbeachchorus.org.

Act Out Theatre Opens New Headquarters

Since 2012, the Act Out Theatre Company has helped transform the lives of over 400 youth and families in Long Beach and throughout Southern California. Committed to providing high-caliber performance arts and creative enrichment opportunities, their tuition-free program has served participants ranging in age from 7 to 70, becoming a unique hybrid of youth and community theatre.

To keep up with its expanding programming, the Act Out Theatre Company has opened its new headquarters at 3299 Walnut Ave. in Signal Hill. The 3,500 sq. ft. facility will serve as rehearsal and arts workshop space, with offices and storage. As Act Out calls this new facility home, Founder and Executive Director Travis Wade states “We are immensely grateful to the City of Signal Hill for welcoming us as we continue our outreach to traditionally underserved youth and families throughout the greater Long Beach area and prepare for our 2025 season”.

Closing out the 2024 season is Act Out’s production of the award-winning musical, Matilda in December. With a cast and crew of over 70 people, Act Out will present Matilda to public audiences on Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. Performances will be held at the Hamilton Middle School Auditorium, 1060 E. 70th St. Ticket sales are open for Matilda online at www.actoutlb.com/tickets.

Act Out is excited to announce their upcoming season as they anticipate additional growth and expanded performance opportunities. Their 2025 season will feature exemplary shows, including “West Side Story” in Spring 2025, “Little Women” and “Les Miserables in Concert” in summer 2025, and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Annie” in the fall.

Audition information will be available on their website www.actoutlb.com. With sponsors such as the City of Long Beach, the Arts Council for Long Beach, the Port of Long Beach, the Genesis Inspiration Foundation, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, the LA County Department of Arts and Culture and many more, the Act Out Theatre Company has been recognized as a premiere non-profit organization benefitting the entire community, with hopes to continue their work throughout 2025.