Carpenter Performing Arts Center is a live performance venue on the California State University, Long Beach campus. This guide covers ticket purchasing, parking, directions, and practical details for planning a show visit.
- Location: 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90815.
- Parking: paid parking is available in Lot G12, with the Palo Verde North Parking Structure as another option.
- Before showtime: the lobby typically opens one hour before the performance.
Where the Carpenter Center is
The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center sits at 6200 E. Atherton St. on the CSULB campus in Long Beach. It is about a 10-minute drive from Royal Inn Motel Long Beach.
If you are pairing the performance with downtown, getting around downtown Long Beach can help you plan that part of your visit. The center is also a destination in its own right for performances on its calendar.
Checking the performance calendar
The Carpenter Center presents a changing program of performances, so check the venue’s calendar for current show listings before choosing a date. Artists, programs, prices, and dates can change.
For season-show tickets, buy through the venue’s website or its authorized ticketing partner, Tix. The venue does not authorize ticket resellers. Each ticket price includes a $4 service fee, whether you buy online, by phone, or in person; any discount applies only to the base ticket price.
You can call the Ticket Office at 562.985.7000 Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Its hours may change, and it is closed on holidays.
Tickets, seating, and venue access
The lobby typically opens one hour before showtime. For Carpenter Center season performances, the in-person Will Call window opens one hour before the performance, and the Box Office is cashless.
For mobility access, Row A is available to patrons who use mobility devices and cannot navigate stairs; it is reached by an electronic lift inside. The venue recommends Row H for patrons wishing to avoid stairs. Rows F, G, and J require only minimal stair use, and there is no patron elevator.
Accessible parking is available first-come, first-served in Lot G12 and requires a valid CSULB parking permit. An ADA sidewalk connects the elevators in the Palo Verde North Parking Structure directly to the Carpenter Center entrance.
Sign-language interpreters can be arranged on request; give the venue four weeks’ notice. Assistive listening devices are available to borrow at no charge, with a driver’s license or similar ID required. Outside food and drinks are not allowed in the theater, though refreshments are sold in the lobby. Photography and videography are not allowed during performances.
Latecomers are seated at an appropriate time at the back of the theater if open seats are available.
How do you get to Carpenter Performing Arts Center and park?
Drivers using either direction of the 405 can follow the venue’s directions to Lot G12. Parking is paid, and fees are set by CSULB Parking and Transportation Services.
- From the 405 South: Exit at Palo Verde, turn right onto southbound Palo Verde, then turn right onto Atherton Street after Stearns. Take the first left onto campus into Lot G12.
- From the 405 North: Exit at Palo Verde, turn left onto southbound Palo Verde, then turn right onto Atherton Street after Stearns. Take the first left onto campus into Lot G12.
You can buy event parking through ParkMobile for an event within the next 30 days, or use the pay stations on the pavilion in front of the center.
The pay stations accept Mastercard and Visa, but not cash, Discover, or American Express; have your vehicle’s license plate number ready. Check the official site before you go for current parking details and Ticket Office hours.
If you are arriving by air, the route from Long Beach Airport to Royal Inn Motel Long Beach covers that leg of your trip.
FAQs
Where is Carpenter Performing Arts Center?
It is at 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90815, on the California State University, Long Beach campus.
Where can you park for a performance?
Paid parking is available in Lot G12 in front of the theater. The Palo Verde North Parking Structure is another option, with an ADA sidewalk from its elevators to the entrance.
Can you buy tickets at the venue?
The venue directs customers to buy season-show tickets through its website or authorized ticketing partner, Tix. The in-person Will Call window opens one hour before season performances.
Are assistive listening devices available?
Yes. You can borrow one at no charge during a performance, but you must provide a driver’s license or similar ID.