Long Beach Playhouse: Mainstage & Studio Theatres

I love this theatre!
Conveniently-​located in a busy neighborhood.
Their own free parking lot, adjacent to the theatre.
Down the street (walking distance) from two great before-​event restaurants.
Happy folk at the will call.
Lounge area for before-​event sippy-​cup drinks.
Nice waiting areas.
Happy docents.
Intimate setting.
Thursdays before performance=pay-what-you-can last dress rehearsal.
Fridays before performance=half-off ticket.

I have been to many of the plays here at the Playhouse and have never been disappointed. The Main stage has plays for all ages while the upstairs Stage deals with adult themes and not recommended for children usually.
Looking forward to a night of laughs and expression that leads to good dialogue with others.

If you happen to be a fan of live theatre I suggest you give the Long Beach Playhouse a try. I have been enjoying performances at The Playhouse for a number years. I have yet to be disappointed with a performance and look forward to attending many more seasons.
*Parking is available at the Playhouse as well as easily accessible street parking.
**A bar is located inside with limited snacks and a variety of drink options, alcohol and non-​alcohol.
***Coffee is served in tiny coffee cups at intermission.

The 2016 Unilocal 500, Review #015:
The layout in the main theater is outstanding. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. I liked that they had concessions just outside the main lobby, as well.
We found parking on the adjacent street after arriving early but, not early enough to park in the lot behind the theater.
Note: The play I went to see was George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. This cast was amazing. Truly amazing.

First time watching a play here. We saw the show Pygmalion and it was incredible! Their acting is superb and had me wanting to see more and wishing the show didn’t end. It was like watching a live studio recording that was flawless and believable!
The ticket price for this venue is quite fair and well worth it.
If I can give an constructive criticism about the place it would be in regards to their bar. The selection is Candy and Chips, Soda and alcohol. Was hoping for something with a little more substance as I experienced at other performance places. Nachos, hot dogs, fruit, etc.
The performance we watched was called Pygmalion. Again, great acting and had my attention the whole time loving it!

Theatre is simply what cannot be expressed by any other means; a complexity of words, movements, gestures that convey a vision of the world inexpressible in any other way.
— Eugene Ionesco
If you’re a lover of the fine arts you know there is no better to experience it than through a small and intimate performances. Sure the big name productions are quiet amazing at times; but I feel that all too often the elaborate sets, backgrounds and costumes; albeit stimulating to the senses, fail to tap into on one very important facet of the audience… the imagination.
This is where small theater company with a good creative director has to figure out how to not only work with limited props but also invoke the audience to use their imagination… and if properly executed then voila the magic of theater has been achieved.
My husband and I are huge fans of small theater and for whatever reason we always seemed to overlook Long Beach Playhouse. During the Christmas Season we usually go see the Nutcracker, but this year my husband suggested we break with tradition and see something new/​different.
He saw that LB Playhouse was going to be performing A Christmas Carol so agreed to give it a try. Initially I tried purchasing tickets on-​line and the site automatically gives you «best available» seats, but after referencing the seating chart I decided to call and see if I could get very specific seating… my husband had issues I shall not delve into :)
The playhouse has parking in the rear but on a full house you might end up parking in the surrounding streets which isn’t much of a problem.
They had a «bar» where snacks and drinks are available prior to and during intermission. The seating is in a U shape configuration surrounding the stage.
The seats are older but I don’t recall being uncomfortable which is a good thing. For our show we had front row seats, although in this theater front row is not necessary to enjoy the show. I think any seat would do just fine.
As far as the show went, I think the actors did a good job with their performances. Only issue I had was that acoustics were a bit lacking and the performers do not use microphones so they really need to project their voice. When music is playing it’s very difficult to hear them speaking, I figure an easy fix would be to simply lower the volume but I don’t know if the solution is actually that simple.

Overview: The Long Beach Playhouse is an amateur to semi-​professional level playhouse located in east Long Beach that has two theaters that operate simultaneously giving patrons the option of a more intimate and more amateur play in the upstairs «Studio» theater or a larger and typically more upscale production in their downstairs theater.
The Play: I saw an amateur performance of «Bat Boy: The Musical» and was severely disappointed. I don’t want to hurt the feelings of any of the actors or producers involved in the production of the show so I will not go into any details. I have seen and loved amateur shows in the past and this one was sadly the only one I didn’t enjoy.
The Venue: The upstairs studio seats are comfortable, but the theater could be sloped more steeply as tall patrons in front can definitely be an issue. I’d estimate the studio theater seats around 100 people. The box office is friendly and efficient but the bathrooms could use more lights. The sound system/​amplification is also OK but the lack of a real drum-​set in the Studio Theater is immediately noticeable. We had no issues parking in the theater’s private lot but but the day we went was near the end of the Bat Boy run. I can see parking being a big problem on opening nights.
Conclusions: I really wanted to love the Long Beach Playhouse but seeing their production of Bat Boy: The Musical has turned me off of theater for a few months. I’ll be back for sure but I’m going to choose the next show I see much more carefully.

As a casting director, I have had the pleasure of watching 1000s of actors so when I see someone special, I stop in my tracks. Brendan Kane (Mercutio et al) stood out as that one in a million actor in the play, R & J presently on stage. Brian Brennen as Juliet was convincing in this most unusual role for a male. Bravo to both men and the entire cast and crew.

Intimate venue. Seems to be a great spot for actors just beginning their career. Didn’t realize LBP has been around over 85 years.

Came here to see Death Of A Salesmen and loves the small theatre. Seats are elevated so you’re looking down at the stage like an amphitheatre. The actors left it all on the stage it was a great performance. The venue had a good bar and excellent waiting room areas. I got discounted tickets but will return for another show.

Cute small venue. Great acting and very entertaining. I will definitely be coming soon and would definitely recommend. get your tix early though!

My friends and I came here to watch «A Christmas Carol» and we loved it! We were able to find street parking just around the corner and walk over about 15 minutes before the play started. I also printed my tickets out online, which was very convenient. They have a nice size lobby with a few tables and chairs, so you can relax before/​after the show or during intermission. We enjoyed the mulled wine at the concession stand and the piano playing during intermission. The seats are around the main stage and they’re comfortable and have enough room for me, but may not for someone who is very tall. It’s a very intimate setting and they did a great job. We’ll definitely come back for another show.

Fun community theater. Saw 39 Steps (great cast and quite entertaining) on the first floor theater (there is also an upstairs theater). Parking is plentiful out back. They feature a beer and wine bar before the show (with $ 1 off with tickets) and you can take beverages into the theater.
All the seats are awesome (we went to four shows to watch the amazing female performer — Madeleine H and sat in as many seats.
Comfortable seating, a great show and fun venue. Visit Crooked Duck before or after for a great meal.

It’s hard to believe I’ve lived in the LBC for hundreds of years and never been to the LB Playhouse. One of our neighbors suggested that we go and so it be. The performance was a comic version of Hitchcock’s «The 39 Steps» performed by four actors playing several different parts.
This theater is incredibly intimate and there is not one bad seat in the joint. Wait. I take that back. One of our friends was sitting next to someone with horrible body odor and moved to our section at intermission. So your comfort level depends on your surroundings.
You can bring your drinks with you into the theater. Yes, you read that correctly. Sit in your seat and pound some booze. They don’t let you do that at Segerstrom Hall.
The tickets are very reasonably priced. I think it was less than $ 55 for two of us which included a service charge. This is community theater. The actors were their own stage hands. But you’re sitting so close to the action you feel as though you’re a part of it at times.
The crowd is heavily geriatric and who can blame them for the price? We had an wonderful experience and plan to return for future performances.

I’m a huge fan of community theater and this venue definitely knows how to play to it’s strengths. I saw Fiddler on the Roof in the main theater (there is a smaller black-​box upstairs — haven’t seen a show yet but WILL see 12^th night!) and the theater itself is wonderful. It’s a ¾ thrust with a very long narrow stage. It makes for interesting blocking, but you definitely feel more involved as an audience member.
Another bonus? Before the show and during intermission you are allowed to have drinks at the bar! And you can bring them INTO the show!
The shows are fun, the casts are a delight to watch, and the audiences are just as lovely as the location & casts! I’m definitely coming back to see other shows and can’t wait to see some shows upstairs!
There is a parking lot in the back, but street parking in the area is easy too! Make sure you book tickets in advance, as it IS assigned seating! And there are DEFINITELY seats that are better than others, just due to the layout of the theater.

First time coming here to see the Christmas Carol play in the MAIN stage, the ‘largest’ theater with about 200 compacted seats. This theater is so small and packed; that I wasn’t feeling comfortable touching someone else’s shoulders and arms. Although it is small, the size does not affect the performance of the show from each perspective, you can capture the whole play. Whether you’re in the front, and even in the back, you’re going to be able to see everything that is happening.
Prices of the tickets are originally $ 24, but $ 12 if you have a school identification card: D (or I think it also depends on the day you chooses) There is a lobby and museum/​drink area to hang out at. There is also a pianist who will play instrumental songs in the background. As for the staffs, they are very hard-​worker and easy to talk to! Excellent place to watch plays and support Long Beach Performing Arts!

Came here to see Avenue Q. This is my third time seeing the show. Truthfully this is by far the smallest theatre I’ve seen this show in. But I don’t feel that it affected the show at all.
Now lets be honest, its a small theatre and if you’re trying to compare this to something you’ve seen at the pantages or some other big production then stop right there. This is apples to oranges.
I loved the small cozy feeling of this production the actors were great, and the musiciabs were awesome.
Take this small theatre for what it is and give it a chance.
I would definitely be back to see something here again.

The theater –itself– is small in a good way (every seat is an excellent one). I’ve seen a few shows here, now, and it seems like the pool of acting talent they draw is… widely variable. In any given show, I’ve been blown away by the talent of some of the actors, and blown away by the mediocrity of others. They generally don’t seem to have much money to spend on sets or effects, which is too bad but unsurprising… this generally doesn’t detract that much from the shows, but I wouldn’t see any more musicals from them until I’ve been promised that they have hired at least –one– real musician, rather than all the music coming from speakers playing terrible midi-​quality versions of the instrumentals. (Seriously. Into the Woods, my favorite musical ever, was pretty much ruined by that. Maybe they have, though? This was a whole season ago.)
They also really need to hire at least a couple more people to man their phones/​email. I’ve had difficulty sometimes getting ahold of anyone to convert season tickets into defined seats.

I’ve heard good things over the years about «The LB Playhouse» but this was my first time here. It turns out they have two different theaters, the larger 200 seat «Main stage» on the first floor and the smaller 98 seat «Studio» up the very (early) 70’s concrete and metal staircase.
There is a somewhat large lobby area downstairs with a snack bar, tables, chairs, etc. It’s a nice area to chat while waiting for the theater doors to open.
The «Studio» is a traditional rectangle shape with the stage at one end. Our 8 seats were 4 each in the 1^st & 2^nd rows on the right. It is always nice to be «up close & personal» with the performers.
The performance was: A Midsummer Night’s «Gay» Dream. At this point I WAS going to try and be clever and write this bit about the play in Shakespearean English, but OMG it would have taken me MONTHS, so never mind.
UGH, I do not like Shakespeare and will never make this mistake again! I COULD understand the individual word they were saying, but had no idea what in the f*** they were talking about! After a while I gave up on the dialog and just watched what was going on. There were some humorous bits here and there with the gay theme and all, but UGH it was EFFING Shakespeare.
But this review is about the theater and not the performance we saw.
OVERALL: It’s a nice local theater and I will now take a closer look at other performances here that are NOT Shakespeare.

I seriously love this place. I came for the first time a few years back when they had a «choose your own price» night for one of the plays in the upstairs theater (there are two different «auditoriums» within the theater: the studio theater and the mainstage theater, I’m still unsure which is which but I’ve been in both).
Anyway the upstairs theater is pretty big, comfortable seats, nothing fancy, but impressive for a community theater. The downstairs/​lobby level theater is much smaller and feels like a high school theater, which only adds to the kitchy experience of the whole thing.
You can purchase tickets online or at the box office (up the ramp to the left side of the building when you first walk in) and just show up a few minutes before the show time. The lobby has a beer/​wine bar and some tables if you want to mingle beforehand, really casual setting.
Check for shows on their website, and especially check for the week of opening night for «pick your own price» tickets. Regular tickets aren’t expensive anyway, but I find myself more prone to checking out weird plays like «Four Clowns» when I’m paying a couple grande Starbuck’s worth for my ticket.
Most recently, we saw the closing night of Little Shop of Horrors which has been a favorite live play of mine since I was a kid. Thoroughly impressed with the acting, singing, props and overall experience.