Long Beach Playhouse Announces its Collaborative Season

For the past several years, the Long Beach Playhouse has offered its upstairs Studio Theater, along with its prop and costume shops, to individuals and theater groups to mount their own shows. There is a nominal cost and tickets sales are split between the presenters and the Playhouse. The runs vary from one night to two weekends. This year's season offers comedy, drama, hip hop, inspiration and the annual New Works Festival.

"We're a community theatre and this is one of the ways we fulfill our mission. The Playhouse meets new directors and actors and the audiences who come to see the shows get to know the Playhouse. Audiences love it and so do we," said Madison Mooney, Playhouse Executive Director. "We have resources individuals and small theater companies don't necessarily have, like a theater, a costume shop, even a ticketing service."

"We look for creativity and diversity in choosing the partners for the Collaborative Season. And we are thrilled to lend our support, for the fourth year, to an annual fundraiser from Held2gether for the WomenShelter of Long Beach," said Sean Gray, Artistic Director for the Playhouse. "This year we're starting the season a month earlier and expanding the offerings from ten shows to 12. I enjoy the Collaborative Season, it's eclectic and it helps artists, what more can we ask?"

In addition to outside groups, three of the offerings are from the Playhouse. In February 2019, the Playhouse reaches a milestone: 90 years offering live theater to the city of Long Beach. This year's Staff and Friends Cabaret is a fundraising birthday party that celebrates the milestone and showcases the talents of the staff and their friends. Previous years have included puppets and a bagpiper. It's always an entertaining evening, this time with birthday cake.

In March, the Playhouse takes on a 24-Hour Theater production. It's a unique theatrical experience: from concept to production in 24 hours. No time to second-guess, obsess or overthink anything, it's a whirlwind of creativity and the result is always a lot of fun.

The season closes with one of the Playhouse's signature programs, the New Works Festival. This 28-year-tradition is a competition in which playwrights submit their unproduced plays for review. The New Works committee reads all of the submissions (this year nearly 130 plays), and chooses the two best to go forward with staged readings.

Following is the full list of this year's offerings including a description and pricing. Tickets can be purchased on the Playhouse website.

1. MIRACLE ON ANAHEIM STREET

Company: Held2Gether & LBP

Dec. 1 @ 8pm, 2018.

Tickets: $20

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/miracle-anaheim-street/

Description:

Long Beach Playhouse and Held2gether, Improv for Life are teaming up for the 4th Annual MIRACLE ON ANAHEIM STREET, a holiday variety to show to benefit the WomenShelter of Long Beach (WSLB). Long Beach's premiere comedy troupe, Held2gether will perform a dozen holiday themed comedic improv scenes, sketches and musical numbers to ring in the holiday spirit and celebrate WSLB's great mission.

2. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Company: Alethia Theater

Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13 @ 8pm, Dec. 9 @ 2pm 2018.

Tickets: $15

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/its-a-wonderful-life/

Description:

One Christmas Eve, an angel, desiring to earn her wings, stops George Bailey before he jumps off a bridge and walks with him from childhood to this moment in time. Together, they learn what makes a wonderful life, and that no one is a failure who has friends.

Company Statement:

Alethia Christian Theater aims to provide young actors with the opportunity to enrich and cultivate their God-given artistic talents. Our goal is to tap into the unique abilities of our actors and facilitate their continuing growth in their artistic skills. To this end, we carefully select plays that enrich the learning experience of our actors and impart values of truth to our audience.

3. HEROES OF THE WEST

Company: Up & Coming Actors

Dates: Jan. 11 & 12 @ 8pm, Jan. 13 @ 2pm, 2019

Tickets: $15

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/heroes-of-the-west/

Description:

HEROES OF THE WEST is a campy, feminist comedy that revolves around protagonists Betsy and Daisy. The two young women become apprentices to the town hero Hank, who they soon realize is a narcissistic, attention seeker. Under these conditions, the trio must find a way to take down evildoer Toothnose.

Company Statement:

Up & Coming Actors (501C3) provides resources for under-represented artists to become prepared professionals in the creative world.

4. LOOKING UPON VENUS/ BLACK PHOENIX

Company: The CRayProject

Dates: Jan. 18 & 19 @ 8pm, 2019

Tickets: $15

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/looking-upon-venus-black-phoenix/

Description:

LOOKING UPON VENUS/ BLACK PHOENIX is an evening length production; exploring the beauty, soul and essences of the black WOMAN and "BLACK MALE EXCELLENCE". A great representation of beauty, strength and resilience while unfolding all of the societal notions place upon this particular group of people.

Company Statement:

CRay Project is a Black empowerment movement that allows artist to have a platform to be themselves. We tackle controversial topics and topics that need awareness. CRay Project has many umbrellas; we have expertise in dance, music, film and more. We believe in giving our community both RAW and educational art. But most importantly working together to build our community as Black people through different art forms.

5. FISTFUL OF IMPROV: A COMEDY IMPROV SHOW

Company: Fistful of Improv

Dates: Jan. 26 @ 8pm, 2019

Tickets: $7

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/fistful-of-improv-a-comedy-improv-show/

Description:

Born and bred on the streets of Long Beach, A Fistful Of Improv, have been regularly performing together for 7 years. Using the parameters of the show "Who's Line is it anyway?", Fistful uses short form improv comedy to create a show based entirely on audience suggestions and participation.

Company Statement:

Just trying to change the world, one laugh at a time...

6. LOVING CUPID

Company: Aragon Music

Dates: Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9 @ 8pm, Feb. 3, 10 @ 2pm, 2019

Tickets: $25

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/loving-cupid/

Description:

Cupid's journey to true love.

It is deliciously ironic that Cupid, the universal icon and God of love -has never experienced love. Thus, love's a commodity Cupid dispassionately distributes until he meets the mortal Diana Rose. In loving Diana, Cupid experiences the unique joy that only true love can bring.

Company Statement:

Colonia Theatre Productions (CTP) is an independent theatre company that showcases established and emerging multi-cultural theatre. Its founder, Luis Aragon, is a composer and playwright who has co-written 2 musicals and composed a third musical. Aragon is president of Teatro Mascara Magica, a San Diego common ground theatre company that has presented multi-cultural plays and musicals for over 30 years.

7. STAFF AND FRIENDS CABARET: 90TH BIRTHDAY KICK-OFF FUNDRAISER

Company: LBP, Madison Mooney producing

Dates: Feb 16 @ 8pm, 2019

Tickets: $20 Regular

$35 VIP

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/staff-and-friends-cabaret-90th-birthday-kick-off-fundraiser/

Description:

The Staff, Volunteers, and Friends are coming together again to raise some money for LBP while having fun onstage! Come see songs, scenes, dances, and maybe even a bagpipe! Making this year's event even more special is the celebration of our 90th Birthday! Come for the performances, stay for the Birthday Cake!

8. MGM IN CONCERT

Company: P3 Theatre Company

Dates: Feb 22, 23 @ 8pm, Feb. 24, @ 2pm, 2018.

Tickets: $25

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/mgm-in-concert/

Description:

MGM IN CONCERT is a musical tribute to the wonderful musicals produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Other studios were producing musicals, but none could compare to MGM. New songs and standards from legendary original musicals: Singing in the Rain-American in Paris-Gigi. Wonderful Broadway shows were brought intact to the screen: Annie Get Your Gun-Showboat-Kiss Me Kate and many, many more. It was said MGM had more stars working for them than you could find in the heavens!

Company Statement:

Passionate: Provide an enriching and educational experience for all.

Progressive: Foster groundbreaking new and existing works for the entire community, without bias.

Pragmatic: Present theatrical works that will inspire, enlighten, and contribute to a harmonious and inclusive community.

9. HELD2GETHER: SKETCHES ELEVEN

Company: Held2gether

Dates: Feb. 28, March 1, 2, @ 8pm, 2019.

Tickets: $15 Regular

$10 Preview

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/held2gether-sketches-eleven/

Description:

Eleven dangerously original comedy sketches, fit to rob the laughter from your person.

Company Statement:

Held2gether, Improv for Life was created to bring out each individual's greatest potential through the power of improvisation. We believe the benefits of improv strengthen every part of our lives.

10. RULE MY WORLD

Company: Karole Foreman & Joey Molina, Producers

Dates: March 8, 9, @ 8pm, March 10 @ 2pm, 2019.

Tickets: $25

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/rule-my-world/

Description:

RULE MY WORLD is a modern retelling of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Set in a dystopian future, it incorporates diverse musical genres such as spoken word, pop, R&B, Latin, Techno, and Hip-Hop. The show was adapted by local award-winning actor and writer, Karole Foreman and Emmy Award winning composer, Allan Phillips.

Company Statement:

Karole Foreman is interested in making art that makes a difference in people's lives, in collaborating with other artists to create pieces that dissolve our illusion of separation from one other and, in general, using our artistic super powers for good.

11. LBP 24 HOUR THEATRE: THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM

Company: LBP, Alex Shewchuk & Jesse Bosworth producing

Dates: March 23 @ 8pm, 2019.

Tickets: $10

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/lbp-24-hour-theatre-third-times-the-charm/

Description:

Join us for an exhilarating evening of theatre. Witness the work of exhausted writers, frantic actors and impulsive directors as they strive create the debut performance of a show that will never be seen again.

12. LBP NEW WORKS FESTIVAL 2019

Company: LBP New Works Committee producing

Dates: March 29 & 30 @ 8pm, 2019.

Tickets: $10

Ticket Link: http://www.lbplayhouse.org/show/lbp-new-works-festival-2019/

Description:

The annual festival nurtures emerging and established playwrights to develop new scripts. Reading 100+ scripts a year, the New Works Literary Committee chooses two top plays to receive a staged reading with critical feedback from professional theatre critics and audience talk back.