I have done improv at places around LA and none are as fun, supportive, fun, and really help you…read moregrow as playful stage. I have even told other disabled actors and they are jealous of this completely accessible space. I feel like a lot of people go to improv schools as a springboard and people need to stop looking for that in their careers and get on a surfboard and enjoy the ride, Richard is an incredible teacher will help you handle the waves and make sure you enjoy the ride but you will come back as a better surfer or whatever it is you want to get out of your experience at playful stage. I often hear stories of former famous improv people or mentors who say I had to do work study, I had to get scholarships, or do payment plans. I have been offered some things that put a dent in other places but I have had to make hard choices of not going to a school or program because of money. Richard is the first school/person to say I don't want you to miss out because of that and I understand lets do a payment plan. He is also very kind about missed classes, how you are feeling that day, or even what is going on in your life I think with other places this can add pressure and they don't care about these things to have someone who just really understand hey you love this but life is hard sometimes is incredible. Its an fun learning growing community building space and I am so grateful for Richard and this community for all it has given me.

I've been taking classes at Playful Stage for about two years and can't recommend it enough!…read moreRichard creates a fun, supportive, and welcoming environment for everyone. There's always something fresh happening, whether it's a new class or a creative drop-in. My improv skills have grown so much since joining, and no matter the class, I've always felt comfortable and had a great time. (Danceprov really is no experience required!) If you're even slightly curious about improv, this is the perfect place to start.

Many, many months ago (pre-Covid) I went to Mayor Garcia's "state of the city" address. Such a…read moregreat venue and really professionally organized! Before the speech, there were free hot dogs and drinks in the courtyard. Dozens of Long Beach businesses and organizations were tabling and passing out free tchotchkes and brochures. Then everyone was directed inside to hear the Mayor speak. Mayor Garcia is an inspirational speaker and his presentation was well prepared and interesting. He definitely grabbed everyone's attention and took us on a great ride. He is very charismatic and smart. These last 6+ months of Covid, I continue to be impressed by his leadership and communication. I feel lucky that we've had Mayor Garcia in charge and feel hopeful that he'll take us thru to the other side.

Terrace Theater in Long Beach has great views from all seats. We were very disappointed in the…read morerestrooms. They didn't build enough restrooms for the capacity of this theater. The lines were extremely long and each restroom had only 3 stalls! The show started after intermission, and there were still 15 people in the restroom line!! The parking is ok, but the attendants didn't know where handicapped parking was located. They directed us into the wrong level and my crippled Mom had to walk long distances, up and down elevators and escalators on a walker to get to the entrance. Logistically, this place is a frustrating mess for handicapped people!

Charles was incredibly patient, informative and supportive. He helps you visualize the character in…read morean inspiring way while giving you the freedom to add your own flair! Thank you Charles!

A great place to build skills, uninhibited performances, explore craft!!! This is the second…read moreworkshop I have taken and I love every element of them. Excited for next workshop!!! Come join the fun!!!

This was my first visit to the Long Beach Terrace Theater to see Joe Satriani and Steve Vai touring…read moretogether as the SatchVai band. The venue has its own multi-story parking lot which is very easy to access, and only charges $15. We arrived thirty minutes before the show, and there was no line to enter the parking lot with many parking spaces available. After a very short walk across the garage and going up a one-story staircase (there is also an elevator), we were on the ground level with the theater. Unfortunately, you have to walk all the way around the large fountain area to reach the security checkpoint and entrance. There was no line and we passed through quickly. Luckily, after the show, you could walk directly to the garage without having to go around again. The theater seats around 3,000 people and has floor, loge, and balcony sections. It is very clean and has a modern feel. The main lobby is spacious and has high ceilings. There are bars on all levels, and some basic food items downstairs. There were also a few food and drink spots in front outside. The concert hall has very high ceilings and is also very modern. We sat on the floor in the second row. The seats were padded and comfortable, and the spacing between adjacent seats and between rows was good. The view of the performers was amazing. There was a large projection screen behind the stage, with various video playing throughout the show. There was some fog on the stage, and the lighting was good, but nothing exceptional. Sitting so close is great for pictures and videos, and you're oblivious to the other 2,900 people in the theater. It almost feels like you're getting a private performance. However, the sound can be hit or miss depending on the performers' preferences and venue's audio setup. The main speaker arrays here hang directly over the first few rows in front of the stage. For the opening band, we couldn't hear any of the guitars at all. Joe played almost completely through his on-stage amps only and the sound was perfect. Steve's mix was half through his amps and half through the main speaker arrays. We could hear his guitar, but not nearly as well as Joe's. It's not the venues fault, the sound is usually optimized for the majority of the theater, and the first few rows may suffer. The opening band was Animals As Leaders. I've seen them a few times over the years as an opener for Steve Vai. They are an instrumental guitar focused band with the unique characteristic that both guitarists use eight-string guitars which gives them a unique sound. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai started out the main show together. They are two of the greatest rock guitar legends to ever play. They played a few original songs together that they co-wrote, followed by both individual and joint performances of a dozen of their popular songs. Steve's unique three-neck Hydra guitar made an appearance. There was also an encore with cover versions of Rock and Roll and Born to be Wild. I've seen Joe 25 times and Steve seven times, and I'll continue to go to every show when they are in town. In between the opening band and the main show, we immediately went to use the ground level restrooms which are downstairs. The lines were already extremely long. On a whim, we went upstairs and the restrooms on both sides initially had very short lines. After only five minutes, the upstairs lines also started to get long. Go upstairs fast and you should have a much shorter wait. The show was great and I really liked the venue. It's modern, clean, and comfortable, with various amenities. The sound mix was a mixed bag sitting in front, but it wasn't the venue's fault. If you want the best chance of a good sound mix, don't sit up front. Parking was very convenient and very affordable. I would definitely come see a show here again. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I attended the long beach grand prix performance concert which Lupe FIASCo performed on Friday…read more04.17.2026 @6:30pmsh. It was an outside concert. The thing that stood out was the nice courtyard decor of water fountains. The vibe radiated as the fountains were sparkling, giving the ambiance of a fresh cool entertainment settimg. The outside really looks cool at night because of the lighting structure. I have been here many times before. Experiencing both indoor and outdoor venue entertainment. Just to name a few.. Jokoy, air supply, 90s old school R&B funk jam , Franki Valli and the list goes on. Its not very big inside, in comparison to Crypto or the inglewood forum but it does its job. Stadium seating could use some work if they decide to remodel in the future. Its a clean place with great acoustics. The only negative thing I have to say is the sale of alcoholic beverages! The venue shuts down completely early. Like 9pmsh! Unacceptable for an entertainment venue. I recommend watching concerts or any type of events in this area. Plenty of parking in the parking structure and surrounding businesses nearby. Long Beach is beautiful.

A Labor Day Weekend Tradition!!! ...well, except for 2010. But imagine three full days of hula…read moredancers, Hawaiian culture, food, shopping, and did I mention the hula dancers? ;D Oh, let me clarify...hula dancing wahine AND kane! (women AND men) and let me tell you, when the kane come out to dance, you hear a lot of hoot and hollering from the audience. I'm just sayin ;D I've been attending E Hula Mau for as long as I've been a hula dancer (2003). The hula halaus that participate are hardcore! Some of them have even competed at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii. That's the largest, most prestigious hula competition in the world! E Hula Mau is like the Merrie Monarch of the mainland showcasing the mainland's talented hula studios. Friday night features the solo performances. Saturday features Kahiko (ancient style) and Oli (chanting). Sunday features 'Auana, the modern style. As a spectator, if you are determined to watch every single entry in the competition, be prepared for: - Sitting for a large chunk of the day. - Loud, screaming cheering from the crowd supporting their favorite hula groups. - Auditorium air conditioning. Bring a sweater. - Crying. Lots of crying, especially if you are so moved by the beauty, story, and dancing of the hula dancers. Bring tissues. Like most Hawaiian events, you are bound to run into lots of people you know from other halaus at E Hula Mau, especially if you support many hula events. Just give a hug and kiss on the cheek to spread the good mana! :) If you are a hula dancer and have the opportunity to compete in E Hula Mau, I highly recommend it! If your halau is anything like mine, you will have the most emotional, character-building, aloha-filled experience that will only bring you and your hula 'ohana closer together. I was lucky to have danced in the Wahine Division with Kekaiulu Hula Studio in 2010. Woot woot!!! If you survive the entire weekend, you'll have so many good memories of hula girls and/or guys dancing in your head! ;D ALOOOOOOOOOOHA!!! :D :::flashing the shaka sign:::

This is home away from home for me, seeing and feeling and smelling the Aloha spirit in downtown…read moreLong Beach. I never miss an opportunity to attend this event. Growing up in the islands, almost every day was a bbq. My dad would bust out the hibachi and grill everything. Pass by the Safeway on Pali and Vineyard and you see the smoke, that's no fire, it's a fundraiser for Huli huli chicken! Manapua (though on the manini side), malasadas, spam musubi, shave ice, lilikoi juice, island plants, snacks, books, music, beauty products, flowers for your hair.....ahhhhh it's all there! I am glad they did away with the scripts cause that was too many steps to have to get them, then redeem, then stand in line, etc....the prices for the plate lunch are not too bad but I was disappointed there was no mac salad and portions were more mainland then local portions, lol.... Come out and cheer your favorite halau and talk story with the ohana.

We hired comedian Scott Wood for our Christmas dinner. Scott was Amazing and so funny. I laughed…read morethe entire time. He even got a at standing ovation. He was clean and engaged with the audience. Made my event so successful. Thank you Scott My communication with Steve Jameson, the coordinator, was easy and he always responded quickly. I highly recommend the comedy machine. Pam Byers

It was the perfect choice for hiring a comedy machine for My 8 years old daughter's birthday…read more Magician arrived on time, the theme was appropriate for 8 years old kids, and the magician kindly let the kids take photos with him. The kids and parents both had a great time. I am definitely requiring them for 9 years old my daughter's birthday party again. Oh! I am not sure that they have different acts though...

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.

What a cool art space / community gathering spot that hosts a variety of events. Came out to…read moresupport 2 of my favorite dark wave artists. Small intimate venue. Security and staff were a little disorganized checking tickets and searching people. It was hard to tell where the line was forming. The front part of the venue was hosting a small art show. Small bar towards the back and plenty of clean restrooms. No place to sit inside , but that's ok, danced the night away anyways. Decent size stage, good sounds and atmosphere. Street parking nearby or pay a few extra bucks for one of the parking garages down the street. Would definitely come back for another event.

Went to the Art of Bloom here today and it was pretty cool. There were just three rooms but it was…read morenice and air conditioned. Recommend coming here for the next digital exhibit.

With performing arts continuing to struggle to maintain its presence within our culture, its great…read moreto see the creation of this brass ensemble in our community. I've attended a couple of their local concerts...the musicians are impeccable and overall production is outstanding. I highly recommend attending their concerts and continuing to support the arts in our local community!

I went their most recent concert, and wow! Just wow! I'm a fan of wind band music, but this…read moreconcert was the most enjoyable event of its type that I have been to in a long time. Great ("accessible") selections, and some selections new even to me that I had to find out more about. All played spectacularly. Bravo! Do not miss your next chance to attend one of their concerts.

Love this theatre. There is never a bad seat in the house. Parking is easy and you can pay at the…read moremeter or online - how convenient!!! TIP: Ladies, go to the restroom BEFORE the performance instead of intermission. Trust me, the line moves quickly and there is plenty of time before the show. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat had a more contemporary story line. Great concept. Excellent cast, voices and choreography. Costuming and wigs were on point. Exiting the parking lot was very easy and in no time at all. Can't wait to return to this theatre again. Ok, bye.

Why I will not be returning to the Carpenter's Center of the Performing Arts and to any Musical…read moreTheatre West Productions, or for that matter to any Live Theatre in SoCal. I will find other forms of entertainment. Before I tell the why of my first sentence. I want you to understand that for 22 years I had season tickets to a live theatre in Glendale till they went under due to Covid and owners' divorce. I've have seen a lot of live theatre what happened at the Carpenter Center is the last straw. Goodbye live theatre. First the Actors, Actress, and Musicians. Thank you for sharing your talents. As a person who can miss all the notes all the time, I truly appreciate your talents and abilities. I hold the Producers and Directors responsible for the Show. As for the Carpenter Center, Musical Theatre West, and other places and production companies. I'm done. When you advertise you are doing "Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or any other production this is what I expect to see. If you are making a new adaption of the play, let everyone know before they spend their hard-earned money. This visual experience is part of the performance. Your new adaption was for the most part very poor. As my mother of 85 said, "I kept closing me eyes hoping it would change." I laughed, yet never having been to a "Chip and Dale" review it's the only thought that came to my mind to describe what was being presented. Last note Bruno Mars is not a King, sorry, a very disappointing part of the performance. You didn't want Elvis okay, then use a King... Michael Jackson, the king of pop or James Brown the king of Soul. I just love the Pharaoh as Evlis.