Arts & Entertainment

‘Hangmen’ at Playhouse

In “The Hangmen,” at the Long Beach Playhouse through Sept. 26, corrosively funny black comedy filled with dramatic tension, award-winning Irish playwright Martin McDonagh opens with a 1963 prologue showing British executioner Harry Wade at work, hanging a man who dies proclaiming his innocence and cursing Harry.

The show flashes forward two years, and we learn Harry is the second-best hangman in England, where hanging is about to be abolished.

“McDonagh’s talent for bringing a group of people together, putting them in a situation that guarantees tension and letting it play out with humor, tragedy, and plenty of unexpected twists and turns is on full display in Hangmen’,” said Sean Gray, producing artistic director. “And what better place than a pub owned by the country’s second-best hangman could there be for cronies, media, family, a malicious stranger, a maligned assistant hangman, and the country’s best hangman could there be to get caught up in a drama that plays out over two days and comes to a shocking conclusion.”

Madison Mooney, Playhouse executive director adds, “Audiences love McDonagh’s plays. We’ve done several over the years, and they always get great reviews from audiences and critics. And his shows are perfect for our Studio Theatre which has a reputation for shows with an edge.”

Grey selected Carl daSilva to direct the play. daSilva is a Playhouse favorite and directed 2024’s “Pillowman,” also by McDonagh, which was one of the most popular shows of the Studio Season.

Of Hangmen, daSilva said, “Although the play is rooted in a specific historical moment, its questions are strikingly relevant. Who has the authority to decide guilt? How much faith should we place in systems that are created and maintained by flawed human beings? And what happens to those whose identities are built upon institutions that no longer exist?”

The 11-member cast includes returning performers, Noah Wagner, Trevor Hart, Karl Schott, Amanda Karr, Allen Sewell, Floyd Harden, James Rice and James Matthis. Making their debuts are Dina Hagler, Kolby King and Ari Hagler.

Mooney added, “Hangmen is a perfect show for closing out the summer season. This is a show that audiences will laugh, gasp, and find themselves thinking about it long after they leave the theatre.”

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

The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 2 p.m. on scheduled matinees.

Q Film Festival

The 33rd Long Beach Q Film Festival, one of the longest running LGBTQ+ film fests in the U.S. kicks off Thursday, Sept. 17 at The Honda Pacific Visions Theater at The Aquarium of the Pacific with a gala reception, drinks available for purchase and free popcorn. Reception starts at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 8 p.m. The documentary “Give Me the Ball!” is about local Long Beach Legend and Icon Billie Jean King.

It will then move on to the historic Art Theatre.

Billie Jean King is synonymous with an unrelenting pursuit of equality for all athletes in sports – no matter what the personal cost. With charismatic narration from the legend herself, “Give Me the Ball!” is an unflinching and intimate story of King’s fight to win for herself and those that followed – on and off the court.

Join us for this homecoming screening, with a special taped message from Billie Jean King for our Long Beach Community. It will be preceded by the short film “Kiloran Bay” starring Alan Cumming and executive produced by Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

Other feature films include the award-winning Cannes film “The Little Sister,” best picture winner at the Venice film fest “On the Road” with 13 Ariel Nominations (Mexican Oscars), fresh off its best picture win “Test,” Spain’s award winning “Maspalomas, “Free Beer Tomorrow,” Pan-Asian “10s Across the Borders,” and queer horror film “CAMP.”

The closing night film by Emmy-winning director Jeffrey Schwarz, “Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders,” brings his signature story-telling flair to this gripping chapter of Queer history where true crime, moviemaking and LGBTQ+ resistance collide.

Robert Cano, the founder and programmer of the Long Beach Q Film Festival states “This year has been challenging for our entire queer community, but when we show up for one another and lift up our fellow community members in solidarity, we can make lasting progress. Our ability to combine powerful storytelling with love and celebration is, quite simply, queer joy magic.”

As the 2nd largest LGBTQ+ cultural event in Long Beach, it features narrative films, documentaries, shorts, special tributes, parties, Sunday brunch, performances plus Q and A’s. The festival reaches thousands of community members and serves as a cultural event dedicated to sharing stories about the LGBTQ+ community.

For full film schedule and film descriptions, and the latest film fest info, visit www.qfilmslongbeach.com.