Mark your calendars for two noteworthy autumn events, courtesy of Long Beach City College: the exhibition \u201cThrough Lens and Story,\u201d and the Fall 2026 Dance Ensemble in Concert.<\/p>\n
First, \u201cThrough Lens and Story\u201d showcases photographs and personal reflections by first-generation Latino community college students. The exhibit, on view from Thursday, Nov. 5, to Dec. 5 at the LBCC Art Gallery, 4901 E. Carson St., grew out of doctoral research by Jos\u00e9 Ibarra-Virgen at Arizona State University.<\/p>\n
In that research, student participants documented moments from their everyday lives, using photography and written narratives as a starting point for conversations about mental health, stigma, identity and family expectations.<\/p>\n
Rather than speaking about these moments tangentially, \u201cThrough Lens and Story\u201d creates space for LBCC students to speak for themselves directly.<\/p>\n
The resulting photographs and written reflections explore experiences that can be difficult to articulate \u2014 but through photography and personal narratives, these students felt safe enough to share their experiences.<\/p>\n
The exhibit will open with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, with a closing reception and artist talk from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 5.<\/p>\n
The project includes \u201cAnaloging in a Digital World: A Zine-Making Workshop,\u201d a 90-minute guided session from 1 to 2:30p.m. Dec. 3 at the LBCC Art Gallery.<\/p>\n
Drawing on zines\u2019 roots in social movements and accessible, personal storytelling, the workshop invites participants to transform a single sheet of paper into a \u201cVision Zine\u201d exploring their values and their stories.<\/p>\n
For more information, go to lbcc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dance Ensemble<\/p>\n Speaking of stories \u2014 but in a different mode \u2014 Long Beach City College\u2019s Dance Ensemble will bring faculty, student and guest choreography to the stage this weekend with their fall 2026 concert.<\/p>\n This three-performance series brings together choreography by LBCC faculty and students, alongside guest choreographer Jose Costas, for a showcase of story as movement. Led by professor Martha L. Z. Pamintuan, the executive producer and artistic director, the concert features work by an accomplished group of faculty choreographers, including Jeff Hendrix, Marie Hoffman, Kiara Kinghorn, Jermaine McGhee, Jessica Torres and Pamintuan herself.<\/p>\n Student choreographers Brianna Camacho, Clarissa Cardenas, Angel Delgado and Maki (Marithea) Yamuta also contribute original work, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the next generation of dance artists alongside established faculty.<\/p>\n The ensemble\u2019s collaborative approach highlights the breadth of dance at LBCC, where performers and choreographers bring their individual perspectives to a shared stage.<\/p>\n The Fall 2026 Dance Ensemble in Concert will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the auditorium at LBCC\u2019s Liberal Arts Campus, Building J, 4901 E. Carson St.<\/p>\n For more information, go to onthestage.tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Garage Theatre<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned melodrama: a dastardly villain, a hero in need of cheers and an audience ready to throw tomatoes.<\/p>\n The Garage Theatre, 251 E. Seventh St., is bringing all that and more to its 2026 season finale, \u201cScruples, Scrutiny, Scrufflepicklewickle, & Sabotage! Or \u2026 The New Amusement Park in Town,\u201d a holiday event that, in the words of the theater, has absolutely nothing to do with the holidays.<\/p>\n Written and directed by Jamie Sweet, the family-friendly production transports audiences to 1955, when a new amusement park in town (as well as the infamous nemesis Ian Sidious) threatens the livelihoods of local heroes.<\/p>\n This is, indeed, Garage Theatre\u2019s annual Holiday Melodrama and Ice Cream Social, so audiences are invited to embrace the traditions of the genre: cheer the hero, boo the villain and throw tomatoes at the stage.<\/p>\n A free ice cream social at intermission adds extra fun to the proceedings.<\/p>\n With its deliberately absurd title and interactive theatrical antics, \u201cScruples, Scrutiny, Scrufflepicklewickle, & Sabotage!\u201d promises an unconventional outing for children of all ages.<\/p>\n The showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 7 p.m. Saturdays from Nov. 13 to 21 and Dec. 3 to 12, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees on Nov. 21 and Dec. 5. There are no performances on the Thanksgiving weekend.<\/p>\n