In The News: RENT featured in The Beachcomber

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

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

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

Tickets Now On Sale for RENT

Tickets Now On Sale

Landmark is pleased to announce that tickets for our upcoming production of Jonathan Larson’s RENT are now on sale.

Tickets Now On Sale

Now through Sunday, October 2, you can get 20% OFF Opening Weekend tickets with Landmark’s early bird special.

To get the tickets you can enter the code “EARLYBIRD” before selecting your seats to receive the promotional price on any seat in the house.

This offer is only good for Opening Weekend tickets.

Use this link to automatically apply the code and grab tickets today.

Long Beach Gives – special Rent Promo!

A Note to Our Beloved Patrons:

As we have continued to rebuild our company post-pandemic, we ran up against a number of factors that prevented us from hosting a fundraising Gala over the summer as we’d planned to, and now our time and labors are focused wholeheartedly on our upcoming production of Rent. As a result, the Long Beach Gives event is Landmark’s only fundraising event for 2022 and we truly need to make the most of it. 

This is your chance to make your donation count DOUBLE due to the donation match we’ve secured this year. Help us continue to bring inspiring, heartfelt and community-oriented theatre to Long Beach for years to come.

As a special THANK YOU, when you give $100 or more through
Long Beach Gives, you’ll receive a promotional code good for 50% off
2 tickets for any Opening Weekend performance of Rent!

Our heartfelt thanks to you for giving to Landmark Theatre through Long Beach Gives, and we’ll see you at the show!

Early Giving has started!

Long Beach Gives 2022 early giving launches today and we would love for you to join in! Long Beach Gives is a 24-hour online giving day that will take place on Thursday, September 22nd, but you can donate as early as today for it to count towards the ultimate goal!
Together, we can reach the goal of raising $1 million to support the work of 222+ nonprofits in our Long Beach community. 

Early Giving: September 15-21st

Day of Giving: September 22nd

Rehearsals have begun for Rent

First Rehearsal of Rent

We’re still about six weeks out from the opening of Landmark’s production of Rent, but the excitement is palpable in and around our theatre and rehearsal space at First Congregational Church in downtown Long Beach.

The first read-through/sing-through with our full cast took place Saturday, September 10 and we had chills as we listened to this exceptional group of actors from across Southern California mounting this iconic show for the very first time together. We are thrilled to see this transformational show begin to take shape, and we know you’ll have chills too when you experience it live this Fall. Sets are already being constructed offsite by our incredible set construction team, and the band has been hired, as it wouldn’t be a Landmark show without live musical accompaniment! The Sound and Lighting teams have been contracted and are designing systems that will enhance and elevate your experience of this remarkable production.

First Rehearsal of Rent

Whether you’re seeing Rent for the first time or the 50th time, you must come out and join us for our most exciting Fall production yet! Performances begin October 21st and run each weekend evening through November 6th. Watch out for tickets going on sale soon on lblandmark.org!

REVIEW: “Working, A Musical” Takes on Real Life

A wonderful review today in the Press Telegram and Grunion Gazette. Here are excerpts:

With the first beats of the opening number, they have you. The powerful vocals produced by this cast are worth the price of admission alone. A small cast of 13 manage to sound like 30, filling the First Congregational Church sanctuary in a thrilling way.

Sean McMullin, The Grunion, June 7, 2022

And more details about the production:

Director Megan O’Toole has assembled, from her resources at First Congregational Church and beyond, a team suited to tell these stories. This production, like so many other community theater, college and high school productions, is the true home for these stories. This is the reason it endures.

Small theatre companies that have wonderful talent equipped to play regular folks are rare. Here it rings true. On Broadway and regionally, it struggles to find what comes so easily to performers who hold down jobs in addition to performing.

It is well and truly on display in the number “If I could have been,” a lament about the path not taken. Those of us of a certain age know what that feels like — the wondering what could have been, if only.

Embracing this theme completely was standout Lisa Bode, whose channeling of the Millworker, and powerhouse vocals, skillfully and easily breaks your heart. It isn’t all longing however, the jubilant performance of Fast Food Worker by Capone X. Walker is as delightful as Walker’s smile is infectious.

As an ensemble, this collection of folks of all ages, ethnicities and shapes and sizes creates the feeling of an authentic cross section of our city.

Sean McMullin, The Grunion, June 7, 2022

Read the full review online here: https://www.presstelegram.com/2022/06/07/showbuzz-working-a-musical-takes-on-real-life/