Here Come The Cows opens February 10.

GO-FAME Youth Theatre Company announces its 3^rd annual melodrama production, Here Come the Cows (or Never Say “Moo” in Mesa),written by Tim Kelly and directed by Dale Jones. The show features local youth ages 8-18 and includes an old-fashioned olio revue of song, dance and comedy!

In the grand tradition of western melodrama, Here Come The Cows has heroes to cheer, villains to boo with the added bonus of a “genuine” cattle stampede live on stage! What could be more fun? Audience participation is encouraged, making for an interactive theater experience. So come meet the townspeople of Mesa, AZ where it is so hot the cows are producing evaporated milk and the chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs. 

Read the rest of Here Come The Cows: Western Melodrama Takes the Stage at the GO-FAME Studio

Romeo and Juliet

“Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.”
–Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1

Uncontrolled passions destroy the lives of children and parents, lovers and fighters in this timeless story of love and death. Set in late 14th Century Italy, LBSC’s production features beautiful costumes, live music, dancing, and exciting swordfights. The lyric poetry is skillfully delivered by the ensemble cast. A feast for the eyes and ears!

Previews only $5.00 Feb 17, 18, and 19. Performances Feb 24 thru April 1, 2012 at Richard Goad Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807.

Ticket Cost: $20 General and $10 for Students. For tickets and info visit LBShakespeare.org or call 562-997-1494.

Read the rest of 3rd Annual Inspiration Vintage, Fashion, Art & Kulture Show Kicks Off With Preview Party

Read the rest of Let The Good Times Roll at First Fridays in Bixby Knolls February 3rd

Read the rest of Arts Council for Long Beach Accepting Nominations of Artists & Arts Leaders for Distinguished Arts Awards

Read the rest of Cal Rep Questions Authority With ‘Quills’ a Sadistic Fable

The deadline for submitting poetry for the Urban Ocean Festival contest is April 6.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is now accepting entries for its second annual Urban Ocean Poetry Contest, which is held in conjunction with the Aquarium’s Urban Ocean Festival.

Southern California’s Urban Ocean is home to unique marine habitats and animals, a wide variety of recreational activities, industrial and commercial activity, and more than 20 million residents that live along the coast between Santa Barbara and San Diego. Surfers, fishermen, container ships, whales, and many other types of marine life and human activity must share this part of the ocean.

The Urban Ocean Festival will be held May 5 and 6 this year. The festival includes art exhibitions, mural painting, educational activities, and Urban Ocean boat cruises.

Poems submitted must have an Urban Ocean theme and be no longer than 300 words or thirty lines (including empty lines). Three cash prizes will be awarded in each of four age categories: high school students (grades 9-12), young adult (ages 18-25), adults (ages 26-61), and seniors (ages 62 and up). First prize winners will receive $150, four Aquarium tickets, and four Urban Ocean Poetry Cruise tickets. Second prize winners will receive $100 in addition to the Aquarium and cruise tickets, and third place winners will receive $75 plus the tickets.

The deadline for submitting poetry for the contest is April 6. Winners will be announced at the Urban Ocean Festival, where they will read their poem during a special awards ceremony.

For contest rules, guidelines, and additional information, click here.

As previously announced, Davis Gaines will play the role of Don Quixote (Cervantes). Mr. Gaines performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera more than 2,000 times for more than five million people during his run on Broadway, in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, where he received the Bay Area Critics’ Award for Best Actor. Mr. Gaines returns to MTW after his role as Richard Henry Lee in MTW’s 2010 production of 1776. Lesli Margherita will play Aldonza. Margherita is the winner of London’s Olivier Award for her performance in the West End production of Zorro. In addition to the Oliver, Ms. Margherita just won an Ovation Award for her turn as Lilli Vanessi/Kate in Kiss Me, Kate at Reprise! She was last seen on the Musical Theatre West stage in Anything Goes.

Read the rest of The Cast of MTW’s Man of La Mancha Announced

Gabriel Iglesias

Get ready for a barrel of laughs when Comedy Central Live presents the “Gabriel Iglesias Stand-Up Revolution Tour.”The comedian brings his unbelievably witty stand-up show to SMG-Managed Terrace Theater in Long Beach on Thursday, May 3rd at 7:00 PM. This is an Icon Entertainment production.

Read the rest of The “Gabriel Iglesias Stand-Up Revolution Tour” Headed to Long Beach May 3rd

Let’s face it, a career that you can create on your own terms, on your own turf (yes, you can do voice-overs at home!), with almost no overhead and the potential to make lots of money, is tantalizing!

Read the rest of Such A Voice Class To Provide Participants an Opportunity to Learn About a Career in Voice-Overs

Directed by Denis McCourt, this light-hearted romance between a straight-laced lawyer and an impetuous free spirit begins where most romantic comedies end, bringing reality and humor to the life that happens after two people fall in love and get married.

Read the rest of Long Beach Playhouse Invites Community to Pay-What-You-Can Night on Thursday

Quinn draws from her experience at Bullocks in newest novel of fashion intrigue.

Darlene Quinn’s newest novel, “Webs of Fate” (www.darlenequinn.net), takes readers into the high-fashion retail scene of mid-1980s California for mystery, romance and high-level corporate power plays.

“Webs of Fate” is a prequel to “Webs of Power,” Quinn’s 2009 National Indie Excellence Award winner, and “Twisted Webs,” a 2011 Indie Award and International Book Award for Fiction/Literature winner. Her latest web of deceit and intrigue, published in October, earned a Readers Favorite Award for General Fiction before it hit the stores.

The tale’s protagonist is Ashleigh McDowell, who fans already know as a main character in the first two novels. She’s a high-level executive in Human Resources at Bentleys Royale, a tony department store where top-selling employees earn 24-karat gold-plated associates’ badges studded with diamond chips. 

Read the rest of Prequel in High-Fashion Mystery Series Remembers Author’s Tumultuous Time at Bullocks

Self-produced and digitally released by Z, the 7-track album embraces their progressive Pop and Hip Hop sound.

Best-known as the premier live band for Hip Hop icon Nas, Z, formally known as Mulatto, announces their new Pop/Hip Hop album “ARIZE – The Prequel”. Self-produced and digitally released by Z, the 7-track album embraces their progressive Pop and Hip Hop sound and is available as a free “name your price” music download on their website http://www.iBelieveinZ.com.

“The Promise” is the album’s leading single; a mid-tempo track with lyrics that affirm patience and tenacity, sung by lead vocalist Eddie Cole. A four-minute music video for “The Promise” infuses Z’s website, Bandcamp, and Facebook pages. “ARIZE – The Prequel” is the first music project launched under the band’s new name. 

Read the rest of Long Beach Band ‘Z’ Debuts With New Name, New Album — And It’s Free

Read the rest of ICT Welcomes Tony Award-Winning God of Carnage January 27th

Photo by Kelly Kathleen Ness

Treat your loved one to a romantic evening of soulful jazz at the Terrace Theater/Long Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Celebrate the month of love with Rainbow Promotions’ Valentine’s Day Concert which features performances by distinguished artists Gerald Albright, Norman Brown and Boney James. Tickets are available for the performance and the VIP Dinner Package.

Read the rest of Jazz Greats Gerald Albright, Norman Brown & Boney James to Share The Stage at the Terrace Theater

An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the Toy Story gang to fans and families in this all-new, high-energy ice spectacular. Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, everyone’s favorite characters are hitting the ice in this sensational live production.

Read the rest of Disney On Ice presents Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 3 at the Long Beach Arena

With the Long Beach Ballet celebrating its 29th Anniversary, this Holiday Classic boasts a full symphony orchestra, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on stage pyrotechnics, and a cast of over 200. The enchanting scenery was created by former Disney designers Elliot Hessayon and Scott Schaffer, the detailed costumes designed by Australian artist Adrian Clark, and special effects by renowned magician Franz Harary.

Read the rest of Long Beach Ballet to Perform The Nutcracker at the Terrace Theater This Weekend

Black and White Art Show, Linus Art Gallery

Linus Galleries of Southern California will have an open reception on December 9, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at their Long Beach/Signal Hill art gallery. The theme of the art show is “Black and White,” presenting not just photography, but all two-dimensional monochromatic artwork.

Linus is the brainchild of fine art photographer Linnea Lenkus. Lenkus created her art galleries in her studios as a way to help artists she admires show their work to a Southern California audience. “I was frustrated with what I saw in many art galleries, and I knew that there were many artists out there who share my vision about art and were not getting seen. This is my way of adding to the art world. Their vision is my vision,” Lenkus said. 

Read the rest of Things Really Are Black and White at Linus Art Gallery

With all that went wrong during the shoot, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) student Leah McKissock found it ironic that the song for the music video she was directing was called “Nothing is Wrong.”  Despite all the trials and tribulations, however, the final product has paid off…in a big way.

McKissock, 22, a senior film and electronic arts major, has been awarded the grand prize of $50,000 in the OnVidi.com Student Film Contest for her 2-minute, 22-second music video entry featuring Israeli artist Mika Ben-Yami as the best overall submission in the competition.

“I was very shocked and excited when I was told I won the grand prize in the OnVidi contest,” said McKissock, who will complete her CSULB bachelor’s degree at the end of this fall semester.  “Although the week prior I had been getting some e-mails from the contest staff informing me that I was among the finalists, it never seemed possible that I could win the grand prize and $50,000, especially with a music video.” 

Read the rest of Music Video by CSULB Student Wins Grand Prize (and $50K)

Read the rest of Green LB Presents: 3rd & Elm Holiday Craft-A-Round

Photo by Kin Mun Lee

Long Beach Community Foundation (LBCF) and Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP) are moving forward with the revival of public access for Long Beach. The Public Access Digital Network (PADNET) being managed by LBCAP will allow locally produced programs to air on local cable channels and through podcasts on the Internet and mobile devices. An Advisory Board of community members and partners is being formalized, and a public meeting for interested producers will be held on December 13 at 4:00 pm at LBCAP’s offices (3012 Long Beach Blvd). This producers forum will provide information on how programs can be submitted for broadcast.

Read the rest of Producers Forum to Keep Revival of Public Access Project Moving Forward

Heather Nelson and Zach Woodlee choreographer and co-producer of the TV series Glee

Brianne’s Basics , a local charity craft business, was featured at The IndiExhibit booth at the 2011 American Music Awards Gifting Suite, hosted by GBK Productions,on November 18 and 19 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. And now everyone has a chance to own the display piece, a one of a kind Rachel Berry (Glee) amigurumi doll!

Read the rest of Local Charity Crafter Raffles 2011 American Music Awards Gifting Suite Display Piece for Charity

“Good stories need truth and it’s in those moments of honesty that performers and audiences bond. When storytellers are brave, we see how meaningless our superficial differences are.” –Aussietheatre.co

Fresh from the Melbourne Fringe Festival, The Found is proud to present Daniel Kilby’s acclaimed solo show: “The Things I Learned In High School.” Daniel was told a lot in high school, like where Yugoslavia is, and how being gay made him evil…when, in fact, it made him oddly popular. In this hilarious and engaging cabaret show, Daniel explores the coping mechanisms we develop in high school that form our adult personality disorders. After escaping high school, Daniel went on to study at the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music, the National Theatre Drama School and Swinburne University. Don’t miss this multi-talented performer in the one and only U.S. engagement of “The Things I Learned In High School.”

Read the rest of Daniel Kilby’s “The Things I Learned In High School” One Night Only at The Found Theatre

Read the rest of December First Fridays Promises Tree Lighting, Blessings, Carolers, Art, Music, and More!

Read the rest of Youth Theatre Winter Workshops at Long Beach Playhouse Begin December 3rd