Arts & Entertainment

Heathers The Musical

At the Long Beach Playhouse thru Nov. 16, 2025

Heathers The Musical is darkly delicious satire based on the teen-comedy movie of the 1980s and takes high school angst to new heights. Veronica Sawyer, a smart but awkward high schooler, joins the elite, powerful clique of popular girls, known as the Heathers, in the hopes of escaping social ostracism.

Heather Chandler, a snob with tyrannical tendencies, leads the clique at Westerberg High. Veronica’s best friend, Martha Dunnstock, is an innocent victim of the clique’s cruelty, which Veronica ignores to fit in. When she falls for a new student, J.D., their shared disdain for the Heathers takes an unexpected turn that includes revenge, murder and a plot to blow up the school.

Madison Mooney, Playhouse executive director, said, “One of the reasons Heathers is so popular is that most people, when they think back to their teenage years, can relate to the desire to be one of the popular kids in high school, in some cases, at almost any cost.

“Heathers takes the social hierarchy of teenage girls to the extreme. It’s a dark comedy with catchy songs and memorable lyrics. It’s perfect for our Studio Theatre audiences.”

It’s a large cast with 17 people and a mix of returning and debuting performers. Returning actors are Arystaysha West, Quinn Vann, Alana Ruhe, Kelsey Weinstein, Tess Holder, Amanda Webb and Milo Cote.

Making their debuts are Harper O’Loughlin, Kacey Oschack, Journie Ma-Johnson, Zavier Davis, Joseph Park, Emiliano Curiel, Mitchell Dambrowski, Caleb Miller White, Sylene Fontamillas and Teddy Larkin.

Ticket Prices – Friday: Adults are $25, Seniors $20 and Students $20; Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $30, Seniors $25 and Students $20. Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1.

Well, Hello Dolly!

Put on your Sunday clothes, because Dolly is coming to Long Beach! Musical Theatre West (MTW) will close out its 2025 season with one of Broadway’s most beloved hits, Hello, Dolly! Set to dazzle audiences for select times though Nov. 2, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, this iconic musical comedy promises to be the season’s crowning jewel. Tickets are available today at musical.org.

“Closing out a season always calls for something big, and there’s nothing bigger than Dolly,” said Paul Garman, executive director of Musical Theatre West. “This show is Broadway at its best filled with humor, heart and some of the most iconic music ever written for the stage. Our audiences are in for an unforgettable finale.”

Bursting with wit, charm and show-stopping dance numbers, Hello, Dolly! follows the larger-than-life matchmaker Dolly Levi as she sets out to arrange the romantic affairs of New York’s elite, while plotting a match of her own. With unforgettable Jerry Herman songs including “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and the iconic title number, this Tony Award-winning classic is a joyous celebration of love, laughter and the indomitable spirit of one legendary woman.

Making the production even more special, Tami Tappan Damiano returns to the MTW stage as the incomparable Dolly Levi. Much like Dolly herself, Tami is “coming home to Long Beach,” marking her first performance with MTW in over a decade. A beloved presence in past productions such as “Singin’ in the Rain (2001),” “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (2002),” “Crazy for You” (2003), “Guys & Dolls” (2005), “Never Gonna Dance” (2006), “The Full Monty” (2007) and “Spamalot” (2012), Tami stepped away from the stage to raise her family. Now, with her child grown, she will make a triumphant return in one of Broadway’s most iconic roles, a true homecoming for both the actress and the character.

Tickets start at $20 and 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.

Free Concert Series

Musica Angelica’s free community concerts return Oct. 18 at Long Beach’s Dana Branch Library. There are five free concerts scheduled for the season throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles.

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 follow-up with a discussion and Q&A session about the music, its composers, instruments and the context of the Baroque period. The event also includes ticket discounts, and a ticket giveaway to an upcoming concert. All ages are welcome.

At the first library presentation on Oct. 18, there will be a special discount offered (promotional code) on tickets to Quattrocento that same evening in Long Beach or Oct. 19 in Los Angeles (winners’ choice).

“The intention of our free community concerts is to make the music and artform of historically informed performance available to everyone in our community,” said Matthew Faulkner, Executive Director of Musica Angelica, “We aim to enlighten and educate our audience about baroque music using period instruments that replicate the sound of this music as it was originally heard 300 years ago.”

The theme of the premiere concert is “Italian Baroque” and features Associate Artistic Director of Musica Angelica Gonzalo Ruiz (Oboe), Concertmaster Cynthia Roberts (Violin) and Principal Cellist Alexa Haynes-Pilon (Cello) performing selections from the Italian Baroque repertoire.

• Saturday, Oct. 18, at 12 p.m. – Dana Neighborhood Library, 3680 Atlantic Ave.
• Saturday, Nov. 8, at 12 p.m. – Billie Jean King Main Library, 200 W. Broadway
• Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at 12 p.m. – Harte Neighborhood Library, 1595 W. Willow St.
• Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 12 p.m. – Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
• Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 3 p.m. – The Wende Museum (reception to follow), 10808 Culver Blvd, Culver City

For more information, visit https://www.musicaangelica.org.

Matt Axton at DiPiazza’s

Matt Axton, son of legendary singer-songwriter Hoyt Axton, honors his father’s legacy while carving his own path. He’s coming to Long Beach on Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. at DiPiazza’s.

Axton’s music lineage is undeniable. Father Hoyt Axton wrote ubiquitous hits that include Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World” and “Never Been to Spain,” Steppenwolf’s “The Pusher,” and Ringo Starr’s “The No No Song.”

And his family legacy goes vem deeper. His grandmother, Mae Boren Axton, co-wrote Elvis Presley’s first No. 1 hit “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Matt’s own musical journey is both a tribute to his rich musical legacy while staking a claim as a unique singer-songwriter in his own right. Having grown up surrounded by music with constant musical visitors at home, and while traveling on the road with his dad, Matt is carrying on the family tradition with his own style of country-infused Americana music.

Matt Axton & Badmoon, John Surge & the Haymakers, The Twang Danglers, DiPiazza’s, Oct. 25, 8pm, advance tickets $7, $10 at the door.

More info at: mattaxton.com

Tickets available at dipiazzas.com. 5205 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach.

Bass Leads Miami Choral

Long Beach Camerata Singers Artistic Director, Dr. James K. Bass, has been appointed artistic director of Seraphic Fire, the acclaimed Miami-based vocal ensemble. Bass will assume the new role beginning with the 2026 season, while continuing his artistic leadership of Camerata.

Founded in 2002 by Patrick Dupre Quigley and Joann Shulte, Seraphic Fire has earned a reputation as one of America’s premier professional chamber choirs, celebrated for its vocal precision, innovative programming, and stylistic versatility. With 15 critically acclaimed recordings and multiple Grammy nominations, the ensemble is a mainstay of the national classical music scene. Bass takes the helm as Seraphic Fire enters its 25th anniversary season.

A nationally recognized conductor, educator and performer, Bass currently serves as professor and director of Choral Studies at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. He is also program director of the Professional Choral Institute at the Aspen Music Festival and School. A graduate of the University of Miami, Bass received the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance in collaboration with conductor JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and has been recognized with several other nominations throughout his career.

Since his appointment in 2017, Dr. Bass has transformed the Long Beach Camerata Singers into one of Southern California’s most dynamic and artistically ambitious choral organizations. Under his leadership, Camerata’s pro-core ensemble has grown significantly in both size and artistic caliber. He has also expanded the organization’s educational outreach, launching programs for Pre-K through high school students and establishing a paid internship for emerging college-age artists. Additionally, he is the founding director of Catalyst, Camerata’s all-professional a Capella chamber ensemble, now in its fourth season.