Cue the lights, it’s time for a special evening! Honored leaders and welcomed guests gathered for the 37^th Annual International City Theatre Encore Celebration on October 12, 2022. The Pacific Ballroom in Downtown Long Beach glowed with beautiful lights, smiling faces, and excited honorees.

Congratulations to the wonderful James Ackerman Crystal Arts and Humanitarian Award Recipients:

• Dr. Minnie Douglas (LBCC Hall of Fame Inductee)
• Lyn & John Pohlmann
• Renee Simon
• Long Beach City College

Long Beach City College received this award in recognition of its critical role in sustaining a vibrant and diverse arts culture, along with ICT and many others. Superintendent-President Dr. Mike Muñoz gave enthusiastic remarks, thanking ICT and congratulating the other honorees.

ICT’s Founding Artistic Director and Producer, Shashin Desai, was LBCC’s Chair of Theatre, Dance, and Film when he and the LBCC’s President Emeritus, Dr. Beverly O’Neill, supported a dream together to create a professional theatre on campus to train students to give them home after completing their education. The idea was born and began at LBCC. With thorough training in LBCC’s Performing Arts program, students are fully prepared to continue refining their talents in post-secondary institutions or to work professionally in the arts. Student performers are springboarded into successful careers after receiving excellent training from LBCC faculty members.

The International City Theatre boasts an incredible 37 years of award-winning, professional theatre, including 450+ awards, 182 productions, and 88 premieres.  ICT also holds 6 educational outreach programs: Performing Arts Classroom Teaching (PACT), Internship Program, Summer Youth Conservatory, Students to Stage, Free Saturday Family Theatre Series, and Senior Outreach.

To learn more about ICT, please click here.

To learn more about LBCC’s Performing Arts program, please click here.

To support LBCC programs, please click here to donate today.