BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center
California State University, Long Beach
6200 Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90815
Box Office 562.985.7000
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Years Won: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 (Best) 2019 (Favorite) 2020 (Best)
The Carpenter Center just celebrated its 25th season! Here’s a look back at how this award-winning theatre came to be. Named for CSULB alums Richard and Karen Carpenter of the pop music duo the Carpenters, the theatre was inaugurated by Richard Carpenter, whose support also included a rich collection of Carpenters memorabilia on display in the Center’s lobby. Built in 1994, the theatre is modeled after the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Uncommonly spacious, the theatre offers a perfect view of a stage built for dance performances, musical productions, and concerts large and small. They even put the audience directly on the stage for their cabaret shows, giving fans an intimate one-of-a-kind experience with artists like the legendary Davis Gaines and the spell-binding Storm Large!
Looking forward, the Center continues to engage and enrich audiences throughout Southern California and beyond, with performances that now also include exclusive online arts experiences. Visit carpenterarts.org to learn more.
“Although live performances in the theatre are currently paused, when we can gather together again to celebrate the arts, the Carpenter Center will to continue to deliver the vibrant, eclectic experiences you’ve come to expect from us. Whether you’re a subscriber, or haven’t yet attended an event at the Carpenter Center, it’s the place to be to experience the thrill of a live performance.”
“To Long Beach’s resilient community of engaged, arts-minded enthusiasts of the performing arts—thank you for voting us Best Performing Arts Venue!”
— Executive Director Megan Kline Crockett.
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