I went for the Glass, he went for the Kafka…read more May 5. While apparently the rest of the city was freely downing Cinco de Mayo tacos and tequila, we attended the final performance of the production of the opera In The Penal Colony at The Studio Theater CSULB. This is a fine small auditorium, well planned and comfortable. That comfort is essential for full attention to be given to the many aspects, somber and sober, of this excellent (with caveat) production. First, the raison d'être for my attending. I find that this opera is one of Philip Glass' most stunningly beautiful. The string quintet, though mounted out of sight, was the engine for this brilliant study of a killing "machine". The strong voices of tenor Doug Jones and baritone Zeffis Quinn Hollis were superb. I consider this an important work well developed and well measured by conductor Andreas Mitisek. I would not want to engage in criticism out of my realm. The book of Kafka's short stories is bedside awaiting me to pick it up. Somewhere along the line in the twentieth century, opera went slightly mad in its desire to stage productions that meet modern needs. (Next season's King Arthur [as a comic book superhero] by Henry Purcell in collaboration with whimsically juvenile-loving Musica Angelica arouses much curiosity. Get ready kids.) Kafka wrote of inhumanity and absurdity of humans over a hundred years ago. The added text from the student's ensemble personal incarcerations diminished that theme. There was an important point to make, no question, but youth personalized stories led to unanswered questions and reduced their message. Corral students freedom of speech, really? Really that's the kid's sugar treat. Poor staging revolved around stomping students many with muddy line delivery. Stage direction to place them behind a stark curtain (à la Julie Taymor, à la wayang kulit) and silent for ultimate expressiveness was inspired. Poorly developed as a Greek chorus but when given the opportunity to act, Morgan Pimental, John E. Pizzini, Matthew Limas and especially Mark Oliver ably shone through the ponderous choreography.

Long Beach Opera is a small company. Size doesn't matter. Most of the voices are good and the…read moreorchestra is stronger than their size would indicate. Their venue (the Terrace Theater) does not have the best acoustics, but they are doing edgier productions that what you see at the neighboring Los Angeles Opera. I am a fan.

The venue is old and needs some minor renovations. This place seats 500 on a steep slope, so be…read morecareful going to your seat. There are snacks usually at intermission. There is ample parking.

We love this place. It is located right in Torrance in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. It is…read moreperfect. Parking is not only free, it is easy. I am disabled and was able to have my husband drive me right to the front and drop me off. He then parked himself and we met at the front. This is an all volunteer staff and they are lovely. They will help you find your seat or buy what you want. They have beer and wine and snacks. You can have them in the lobby or in their adorable outdoor seating error. I don't think you can take in anything but water, I just don't recall. They also have soda and all their snacks are in the cute logo bags. You can tell the volunteers are proud of this place and they should be. There is not a bad seat in the house. The seats are comfortable and the entire space is spotless. You can even go outside if you need a break or there is an intermission. We took out grandson to the see The Bill Withers Songbooks and it was amazing. The sound was perfect. The singer and his band were just great and he sounded like Mr. Withers. He also did some of his own music and it was great. Getting in and out is easy. The patrons are nice. The staff is the best, There is nothing not to like so you must go. Use their website or Google TOCA and you will find a list of upcoming events. The area is safe, it is all just wonderful.

I visited here over the weekend for a dance competition and everything was overall pretty nice…read more There's plenty of parking and when you walk in the lobby is nice and bright. The bathrooms were clean with plenty of stalls and the backstage area was well maintained. The theater itself has lots of seating and is quite comfortable, however, the seating rows are very long with no breaks, so basically if you're sitting in middle seats, you have to walk past so many people on either side of you to try to get out. This would be a nightmare if there was an emergency or anything.

Wonderful experience at this venue to see the Hot Chocolate Nutcracker…read more Very helpful staff to assist with seating. Venue appeared clean. Plenty of free parking.

You absolutely have to see a film at the Old Town Music Hall!!!!…read more We went for my partners birthday and it was so exciting to see the 100 year old Wurlitzer in all its glory. We saw a rare Gloria Swanson silent film along w a talk by a brilliant film historian. Every show opens with a little performance but we were lucky enough to see a silent film which means that the organist live scores the entire film just as it would have been done in the 20s ! Such a special experience, and a must for any fans of music, film, and LA history.

This theater was incredible! I will never be able to enjoy a regular commercial theater again after…read moreexperiencing this vintage theater. The staff was friendly, helpful, and all wore outfits to match the movie (Superman). Their concession stand is very reasonably priced ($3 per item) with delicious popcorn. They create a welcoming atmosphere by explaining interesting facts about the movie and having the audience join in during a sing-along. Also, the live organ show was one of a kind! Any seat is a good one, as the theater is small and intimate. I purchased some merchandise to remember my experience and will be returning again. Great for a date night or family event. I would love to explore the walkable downtown area more too.

I had heard from numerous friends that the Met Opera in HD in movie theaters was an amazing…read moreexperience so I decided to try it out with a little known opera, Luisa Miller by Verdi, that I had heard broadcast live on the radio last weekend. I was especially interested because Placido Domingo was singing (at age 79) and the music sounded beautiful. Much to my surprise , I was quite disappointed in the entire experience as follows: 1- I resented all the Met commercials before the opera started. I didn't pay $27 to be subjected to this!; 2- The sound was only just OK, with the orchestra sounding much better than the singers, who sounded a bit artificial and miked; 3- It seemed not much better than watching it at home on PBS TV; 4- There was no commentary during the intermission as happened on the radio; 5- It all looked so flat. Perhaps the Met should consider 3D to make it more real? 6- It can in no way replace actually being at the Met. Of course, for those who can't be in NY this is the only way BUT From now on I will continue to go to the Met so see opera live.

Opera at the opera house is a grand experience…read more Opera at the movie theater presented on a live HD-feed from the Met in NYC is an insiders experience to the opera. For fractions of what it costs to actually attend the opera, we were able to see everything close up... so close you could see what stage make-up looks like and every tear and sweat drop from the performers faces. The camera follows the maestro on stage at the beginning of each act... and during intermissions there are segments that show backstage movement as well as interviews of the cast. Live. In real time. If you're an opera fan... or a theater fan, these events: "The Met Live in HD, " are a definite must.

This dance school has been declining ever since it changed owners a few years ago. They definitely…read moretreat this as more of a business and less a school. They have sadly lost a lot of their best dancers. They treat their dancers as assets/revenue generators vs students. There are a lot of hidden fees and very poor communication to parents besides bills and recommendations for additional 1:1 (more $$) lessons for their kids. While some of the teachers are great and kind, a couple of unkind teachers have proven to be sour apples and have driven many students away. Very sad.

My granddaughter takes 3 classes at this studio. She loves all her instructors and the studio is…read morevery clean and well organized for dance lessons. All classes that I attended were on time from start to finish. I highly recommend

Volta, my dear, you vaulted our experience to new heights!…read more The wonder of human movement is constantly celebrated by Cirque Du Soleil and this contemporary show had a hip, new edge to it with great music and incredible talent. Still featuring their incredible live musicians, this show is a mesmerizing treat. Suitable for all ages, the performers of Cirque Du Soleil never cease to amaze me at the wonders of the human body. I loved this show, as much as O in Las Vegas. This show is tied for my favorite Cirque Du Soleil's.

Easy four stars. Cirque Du Soleil is back in my good graces after going to the last tent show in…read moretown, Amaluna which was a bore-fest. Volta rocked it from start to finish. The two solo comedy filler acts went on way too long, the washing machine bit, and the beach bit, but the guy put everything he had into them. Lots of work for not much punch. The rest of the acts were fantastic. They were all a lot of fun to watch and the live singing that went along with it created a wonderfully ethereal ambiance. I loved it. Here's a good tip: There really aren't any bad seats so even if you are way in the back you really aren't that far back. That being said, I was seated in section 204. It was close to the center pole and obstructed my view a little bit. You would be much better off sitting in the center part of either section 203 or 204 so your view will not be obstructed. I posted the seating chart in my review if you want to check it out. Sitting off to the sides will not detract from your wonderful experience. As I said, the seats are all good. You can generally find a good deal on tickets during the week from Goldstar and other vendors of discount tickets. I got my tickets directly from Cirque Du Soliel when they were having a black Friday sale. I wanted to change my ticket but there's a $15 charge and I would have to pay full price. There's a $2 and $11 service fee on tickets. No way to avoid it. Parking is $25. I knew that. I need to figure out a place to leave my car and walk. Beating the parking fee isn't easy to do around there though. The restrooms are usually good but this time the doors would not shut on several that I tried, and the restrooms weren't as clean as they usually are. It's pricey for snacks and drinks. A bottle of water is $6. This really is a fun show. My friend that went with me and loved it so much she is going back to see it again. If I can get a super good deal on tickets, I might go too!

So happy to have found the Aurora Theater. Wanted to find a venue for a small covid safe birthday…read morecelebration, where we could have a movie night for our family. With our Disney+ account, the owner Charles was able to set up for us a completely private screening of the new Raya and the Last Dragon film. The independent play house seats 40-50, but was the perfect size for the 10 of us to spread out and be socially distanced, yet feel together. The inside of the theater is beautiful, with vintage seating from the 1940s. The price was affordable, as they are running a special rental price of $20/person for 3 hours. Charles was great to work with. He put so much work into his theater, and his passion for it shows. He is flexible and open to ideas. If you are looking for a safe and unique place to have a movie or game night with your group, I would highly recommend this theater!

The Aurora Theater is the perfect spot. We had a small screening and Charles was so kind and…read moreaccommodating. He mDe our experience smooth and seamless. Great communication! I highly recommend

Attended another holiday show production ("Steam Powered Rocket Ride to the Moon") at the Garage…read moreTheatre, continuing the story started last year with 'Terror at the Pike". It had many of the same actors, the ability to throw tomatoes at the villans, and free ice cream during intermission. My wife and I had a good time.

My husband and I came to watch the call list and loved the experience. The vibes were intimate,…read moreraw, and talented ! We hope to visit again soon.