Arts & Entertainment

‘Steel Magnolias’ at the Long Beach Playhouse

Steel Magnolias is the consummate play about the ways women come together for friendship, support, gossip, humor and a soft place to land when their hearts are breaking. The six women represent life stages, roles in society and ability to survive tragedy by leaning on one another. The play centers around a newlywed, her mother, a recent widow, a wealthy curmudgeon, an outsider who may or may not have shady past and the owner of the beauty shop where their life stories play out.

“Many have seen the movie. It came out in 1989 but the story is timeless”, said Madison Mooney, executive director for the Long Beach Playhouse. “People who’ve only seen the movie are surprised to find that the play only has six characters, all women. And it takes place entirely in the Truvy’s beauty shop.”

The six Southern women, Ouiser, M’Lynn, Annelle, Truvy, Shelby and Clairee, are friends with subtleties somewhat defined by age and what life has dealt them. Clairee and Ouiser are the elders of the group and longtime friends. While recently widowed Clairee is optimistic and looking for fun, Ouiser describes herself as having been in a very bad mood for 40 years.

Annelle and Shelby are young. Annelle is escaping a bad marriage and Shelby is just entering one that promises perfection. M’Lynn is married and lives in a big house. Truvy is married and lives with her sometimes-unemployed husband in a house next to the beauty parlor. Still, they are best friends, Southern to the core, they are beautiful and strong, like steel magnolias.

“I wanted a play that centered on women and highlighted their strengths. This show explores the ways women experience life as a cycle of birth, death, rebirth and ultimately victory over circumstances,” said Sean Gray, producing artistic director for the Playhouse. “And I knew just the woman to direct it, Phyllis Gitlin.”

Gitlin is a theater teacher at Orange Coast College and has directed more than 40 shows Long Beach and Orange County. In 2023, Gitlin directed The Diary of Anne Frank at the Playhouse. Gitlin took a heart-wrenching and difficult story and found the humanity in the characters. It was one of the best shows of the season.

The show’s six-member cast is a mix of returning and debuting actors. Returning actors are Sarah Green, Andrea Stradling, Phyllis M. Nofts and Roxy Payne. Making their debuts are Katrina D. Richard and Gloria Moen.

Mooney says, “This show paints a picture of eccentricity in the small-town South that will have your heart singing and breaking. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you might even buy a ticket to see it again. It’s that good!”

This production of Steel Magnolias is partially sponsored by the Port of Long Beach.

Special Events for This Play

Pay what you can Thursday, May 15 – the community can see this production for whatever they can afford

Ten Dollar Preview Friday May 16 – all tickets are $10

Opening Night Champagne Reception with cast on May 17 – Tickets are $35, Sponsored by the Port of Long Beach

Ticket Prices

Thursday and Friday: Adults $25, Seniors $20 and Students $20.

Saturday and Sunday: Adults $30, Seniors $25 and Students $20.

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

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, across from the Long Beach Recreation Golf Course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday 3-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-2 p.m. on scheduled matinees.

One Woman Show

The Garage Theatre in Long Beach presents its first one-woman show, “The Call List,” May 2 to 24. Written by Brian James Polak, it stars Bekah Martinez and is directed by company member Diana Kaufmann in her directorial debut.

In “The Call List,” we meet Samantha Fisher, a dispirited legal assistant alone in the office on a Friday evening. She is tasked with phoning a list of strangers to inform them that a client has died. In between calls she must juggle the demands of her volatile boss and an impending family crisis. This dark comedy explores the complexities of death, professional obligation, personal crisis and human connection with a unique blend of humor & poignancy.

The one-woman format presents difficult challenges for an actor; they must drive the entire narrative and engage the audience without the support of an ensemble cast. Fortunately, Brian James Polak’s script presents a varied spectrum of themes and emotions that allow for complex characterization and storytelling.

Bekah Martinez navigates the emotional landscape of the script with skill, authenticity and charm. Martinez’s nuanced portrayal expresses the strength and vulnerability of her character, resulting in a captivating experience. Some theatergoers may recognize Bekah Martinez from season 22 of ABC’s reality series, “The Bachelor.” Her experience there set the stage for her current success as an influencer and podcaster.

Attendees are cautioned that this performance includes explicit conversations about suicide and death. It is intended for mature audiences only.

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

Silent Film Showcase

The Catalina Museum for Art & History presents the 38th Annual Avalon Silent Film Showcase, one of the longest-running celebrations of silent film in the world. This year’s event spans two days, Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, offering rare screenings, live music and expert commentary in two iconic Avalon venues.

On May 16, the showcase begins under the stars at the Catalina Museum’s Ackerman Family Amphitheater with a special 3-D screening of “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954), the final film in Universal Pictures’ legendary monster series. Film historian and 3-D expert Eric Kurland will present rarely seen production photographs and introduce the film, highlighting its place in cinematic history. Complimentary 3-D glasses are included with admission and are yours to keep. Tickets for the May 16 event cost $10.

The showcase continues on May 17 at the historic Avalon Casino Theatre, the iconic Art Deco landmark built in 1929 by William Wrigley Jr. In honor of the 100th anniversary of a cinematic milestone, the museum will screen “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925), starring Lon Chaney. The film will feature the world premiere of a newly commissioned score, performed live by acclaimed composer Michael D. Mortilla and a talented ensemble of musicians. Tickets for the May 17 event are $20 for members, $25 for non-members and $10 for children.

Providing historical and technical context, Randy Haberkamp, retired Executive Vice President of the Library, Archive and SciTech at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will join Kurland in introducing both films and discussing their lasting influence and innovation.

Together, these two films offer a rare opportunity to experience the origins and legacy of genre-defining horror, celebrated in one extraordinary weekend of cinema on Catalina Island.

For more information about the 38th annual Silent Film Showcase and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.catalinamuseum.org/calendar/event/4784767.