Long Beach Playhouse Sets 88th Mainstage Season

On September 24, the Long Beach Playhouse opens its 88th Mainstage Season. This year's season is a journey of self discovery, adventure, and fun.

"The Mainstage is a place we get to revisit classics, take family friendly adventures, and have some good old fashioned American Musical Theatre fun," said Andrew Vonderschmitt, executive and producing artistic director.

"The works this season range from the silly, to the dramatic, and there'll be some song and dance too," Vonderschmitt continued. "Fences, is considered August Wilson's best work, while Hound of the Baskervilles is Doyle's most recognized Sherlock Holmes mystery, and our closing musical is Guys and Dolls is a crowd favorite. It's a season filled with offerings of the highest caliber."

2016/17 Mainstage Season
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, F. Andrew Leslie
Is a gigantic, supernatural canine plaguing the Baskerville family? Or is there, perhaps, a more earthly fiend at the cause of the grisly deaths that seem to curse their ancestral home? Only the great detective, Sherlock Holmes can unlock the clues to solve this terrifying series of crimes. Perhaps the most famous and popular of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mysteries, this gripping tale has been entertaining readers, play-goers, and film buffs for over a century. Dr. John Watson enlists the aid of his friend and colleague to discover the mystery before any more murders can bring down the House of Baskerville.

Don't Dress for Dinner, Marc Camoletti, Robin Hawdon
Bernard is planning a romantic weekend with his mistress in his charming convertEd French farmhouse, whilst his wife, Jacqueline, is away. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook to prepare gourmet delights, and has invited his best friend, Robert, along to provide the alibi. What could possibly go wrong? Everything! Mistaken identities, secret relationships, betrayals and wardrobe malfunctions create an evening of hilarious confusion as Bernard and Robert improvise at breakneck speed to save their friendship, Bernard's marriage, just a touch of their planned gourmet dinner and a shred of their dignity in this hilarious and innocently bawdy bedroom farce.

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Returning for its fifth incarnation at Long Beach Playhouse, this quick-paced, highly theatrical re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic tale will delight the entire family. In 19th century England, the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future show Ebenezer Scrooge the poverty of his material wealth and the blessings that come with generosity. Can they convince him to change before it's too late? Come spend time with the characters you've come to love - Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and of course the irascible miser himself. This production will be the Christmas party needed to set you and your loved ones on the path to holiday cheer.

A Murder is Announced, Agatha Christie Adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon
"A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 29th, at Little Paddocks, at 6:30 p.m." So reads a personal ad in the local paper that draws an assortment of friends and relatives to Miss Blacklock's Victorian house for the evening. Is this a game? A joke? Or something more ominous? As the lights go out, an apparent robber enters and a shot rings out, what follows in one of Christie's most fast-paced and witty mysteries for the stage. Join amateur sleuth, Miss Marple, as she provide the final solution at some risk to herself in a dramatic confrontation just before the final curtain.

Rumors, Neil Simon
At a large, tastefully appointed Sneden's Landing townhouse, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Eight of his closest friends, gathering for a posh 10th anniversary dinner party, must do their best to discover if this was a botched suicide attempt, a marital squabble, or an attempted robbery; and then do their best to cover up the truth from the authorities, the public and, most importantly, each other. There is nothing more appropriate to an election year than Neil Simon's hilarious political farce. Mistaken identities, social mishaps and physical slapstick will keep you rolling in the aisles as the truth gets buried deeper and deeper.

Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, Phil Willmott
Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure of pirates and castaways is cleverly adapted in this new re-telling. Join Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver on their quest for buried treasure and high-seas adventure. This swashbuckling stage adaptation brings out all the comedy and adventure of this ever-popular story, while changing many of the familiar characters allowing a more multi-gendered cast in this traditionally testosterone filled epic. Be prepared for sword fights, plank walking, and maybe even a parrot. Come re-visit your childhood and climb aboard The Hispaniola for thrills, chills and plenty of laughs.

Fences, August Wilson
During the days of segregated professional baseball, Troy Maxson is a star in the Negro leagues; but, by the time Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier, Troy is too old to advance to the Pros. Embittered by his past, he now works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. As his past affects his job, his relationships, and possibly even his son's goals of playing professional sports, the audience is treated to a glimpse inside the pained life of this exceptional man - the regrets, struggles and meager achievements that mold him into the man he has become.

Guys and Dolls, Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
This classic of American Musical Comedy introduces us to the world of famed writer Damon Runyon. Set in his mythical New York City, we meet Nathan Detroit, the organizer of the "oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York;" his long-time suffering fiancé, Adalaide; his cronies, Sky Masterson, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, and Rusty Charlie; straight laced missionary Sarah Brown and an assortment of gamblers, racketeers, and showgirls that will keep your sides aching and your toes tapping. Enjoying classic songs, you'll travel from the sewers beneath Times Square to the nightclubs of Havana to a New York Mission, just to arrive at everyone's inevitable happy ending.

Season tickets are available now, ranging from $86 for Students and $170 for Opening Nights. Single tickets will be available for purchase August 15th.

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, CA, 90804, right 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. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm & Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees only. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.lbplayhouse.org or call 562-494-1014.

Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $24.00, seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00Friday: Adults are $20 and students $14.00 (What are we doing w/ seniors on Fridays?) As a trial for this season, The Playhouse is lowering ticket prices for its Friday shows hoping to even out the demand across the weekend performances. General admission for Saturday and Sunday performances will continue to be $24, and reduced to $20 for Friday nights.

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