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The Spring of Sondheim

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The Spring of Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim, one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, passed away in November of 2021 – but his presence is looming large throughout Southern California this Spring.

Sondheim’s career began in the 1950’s as the lyricist for West Side Story and spanned nearly 7 decades of prolific and groundbreaking work in the musical theater.

This spring in the Los Angeles area, audiences can experience a broad range of Sondheim’s work, punctuated here in Long Beach by Landmark’s upcoming production of Assassins, opening at the end of April.

Productions in the LA area

There are a multitude of opportunities to experience Sondheim this Spring, including right now. Pasadena Playhouse is the anchor, with their 6-month “Sondheim Celebration”, that includes productions, concerts, and events.

Note: Pasadena Playhouse created a wonderful primer for audiences: An Audience’s Guide to Sondheim

Sunday in the Park with George

Sunday in the Park with George at Pasadena Playhouse

This production closes this weekend, so you’ll have to hurry… but it’s well worth it. This is a rare chance to see Sondheim’s gorgeous show about George Seurat and the “art of making art”. The Pasadena Playhouse production has received glowing reviews and is a perfect show for their stately and majestic theater.

Into the Woods

Into the Woods at The Ahmanson

This June, direct from Broadway, the critically acclaimed and much beloved production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning triumph is coming to the Ahmanson with its Broadway stars to boot. This revival has been getting raves since it started as a limited engagement a few years ago.

A Little Night Music

A Little Night Music at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse continues its Sondheim Celebration with the Tony-winner for Best Musical –  A Little Night Music.This show, which includes the ever-famous “Send In The Clowns”, is a sumptuous, sexy, laugh-out-loud masterpiece. The Pasadena production will be running on a similar timeline as Landmark’s own…

Assassins

Landmark will extend the SoCal focus on Sondheim by bringing this powerful Sondheim work to Long Beach, opening April 28. Inside the frame of an all-American, yet sinister, carnival, Assassins illuminates the stories of a number of historical figures who attempted (successfully or not) to assassinate American Presidents. After a major revival in New York last year, and with yet another American Presidential election cycle on the verge of ramping up, this production could not be more timely and the issues more current.

Tickets on sale next week! Stay tuned for updates…

And… Into the Woods!

Our Artistic Director Megan O’Toole is currently directing Into the Woods at Wilson High School. The show runs March 23-25th at 7pm and March 26th at 2pm at Wilson High School and tickets are available at the door.

Into the Woods at Wilson High School

Landmark performers to appear in ‘Oliver Button is a Sissy!’

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Landmark is very proud to be partnering with The South Coast Chorale for ‘This is Me’ featuring ‘Oliver Button is a Sissy!’.  Landmark performers will be featured in a portion of the Concert.  Join us on Saturday March 11, as we share music and personal stories as they relate to love and acceptance. At the Beverly O’Neill Theater, Downtown Long Beach, 2:30 pm -OR- 7:30 pm.

Tickets sales through these links help to support Landmark’s mission to bring quality theater to heart of Long Beach:

Saturday March 11

The Beverly O’Neill Theater

Get Tickets: 2:30pm
Get Tickets: 7:30pm

The performance will feature Landmark performers Megan O’Toole, Lisa Bode-Heard, George Carson, and Richard Martinez.

Landmark Announces Open Call for Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins

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Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company has announced an open call for Stephen Sondheim’s ASSASSINS, Directed by Megan O’Toole with Musical Direction by Curtis Heard.

Auditions will be held on February 25 & 26. All details can be found on the auditions page of the Landmark website.

This is a fully staged production, with professional live orchestra. 
This is a volunteer theatre performance. 
Reimbursement/Per Diem will be offered for all roles.

Anyone interested in receiving notification of auditions with Landmark can sign up here.

In the News: Press Telegram and Grunion Gazette feature RENT in “Things to Do” as show enters final weekend

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Landmark has been featured in this week’s Grunion Gazette and Press Telegram as the show prepares to enter its final weekend. In “The Showbuzz” feature, Landmark’s production is outlined along with Landmark’s mission to produce shows that are relevant to the city of Long Beach and that resonate with our local community.

As always, Landmark is dedicated to telling stories that reveal the human condition and resonate within the current social climate, which falls squarely in line with First Congregational Church’s passion for social justice.

– Sean McMullen, Grunion Gazette, Nov 10, 2022

Having experienced a global pandemic the effect of which on the performing arts cannot be understated, and with their 108-year-old theater space dwarfed by brand-new housing construction reaching ever-upward in both size and price, Landmark is uniquely positioned to tell this story with what they say is a personal and current perspective.

O’toole and Dysart say they are convinced that audiences will be profoundly moved, whether seeing the show for the first time, or seeing it again from this new vantage point. This will be the last weekend for theater-goers to find out if they are right.

– Sean McMullen, Grunion Gazette, Nov 10, 2022

Read the full article online at https://www.presstelegram.com/2022/11/09/the-showbuzz-landmark-theatre-finds-rent-relevant-in-downtown-long-beach/

In the News: Beachcomber Q&A with Landmark’s Megan O’Toole

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Landmark’s Artistic Director Megan O’Toole was interviewed by the Beachcomber, talking about the current production of RENT and Landmark’s emergence as an artistic institution in Long Beach.

I recently conducted an interview, via email, with the Landmark Theatre Company’s artistic director, Megan O’Toole and the theatre’s marketing director, Jay Dysart. Ms. O’Toole also directs the company’s current production of “Rent.” Here’s what their collaborative interview had to state regarding the Landmark Theatre Company and its reopening after closing down in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

– The Beachcomber, Ben Miles, Nov 4, 2022

In The News: RENT featured in The Beachcomber

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RENT has been featured in the Beachcomber in advance of the opening on October 28. Here are a few excerpts:

Long Beach Landmark Theatre Company is proud to present their next musical production: “Rent” by Jonathan Larson, featuring emerging local performers and a live orchestra. Originally written as “theater for the MTV Generation, “Rent” is a modern pop version of the classic Puccini opera “La Bohème,” retelling the story about young artists in a big city searching for their voice, and their future.

The Beachcomber

Read the Full Article here: Beachcomber Community News

In The News: RENT in “Things to Do This Weekend” in LB Post

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Landmark’s production of RENT has been featured in the Long Beach Post’s “Things to do This Weekend” in their Hi-Lo Arts & Entertainment section.

Long Beach’s Landmark Theatre Company, is returning to the stage with its production of “Rent” Friday, Oct. 21 at First Congregational Church.

For the production, Landmark has enlisted a talented group of local and regional actors to bring to life the popular Broadway rock musical version of Puccini opera “LaBohème,” which reimagines the classic story about young artists in a big city searching for their voice and their future.

Long Beach Post

Read the Article here: Things to Do in Long Beach This Weekend

Performance Cancellation & New Dates

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Opening Weekend Performances Cancelled

Unfortunately, due to a Covid outbreak within the company of Landmark’s production of RENT that was scheduled to open tonight, this weekend’s schedule of performances has been cancelled.  We are heartbroken that our amazing company of actors and artists will not be able to open this show tonight, as this week of rehearsals has been tremendously exciting.  But this difficult decision is in the interest of the health and safety of our company and our audiences.

Additional Week added

We have extended our run for an additional week.  RENT will now open on October 28 and run through Sunday November 13.

Information for Ticket Holders

If you are a ticket holder for opening weekend, we hope you can still join us for RENT and our team is standing by to assist you with one of the options below.

  • Exchange Your Tickets – Simply email us at [email protected] with your preferred new show date and our team will exchange your seats for the closest possible seating match and email you your new tickets.
  • Request a Refund – We are happy to refund your order – just email us to let us know you’d like this option and we will process the refund right away.

Optionally, you can leave us a message by phone at 562-366-0085

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