2025 Season

Masala Dabba

august 27 - September 14, 2025

By Wendy Graf

Directed by

Previews $42
Thu, Fri, Sat: $54
Sun: $57
Opening Night: $57
Dinner Package: $99
Subscribers Dinner Package: $52

Post-show talkback with the cast!
September 7

It's a great thing when you read a play and can't put it down. Characters jump off of the page as though standing in the room speaking to each other. A beautiful story.
Vince melocchi, playwright

SUMMARY

AWORLD PREMIERE

Secrets, lies and unresolved conflicts play out against a background of familial memories of food and cooking in Masala Dabba, a deeply felt family drama where food is love, loss and a portal into the past. Long buried truths surface through stories inspired by each of the spices in a grandmother’s masala dabba, an Indian spice box.

Though Masala Dabba focuses on an Indian/African American family, all families can see themselves in the stories about the past, culture, identity and the choices we make.

By Wendy Graf

Playwright

Wendy Graf is an award-winning playwright whose plays have been produced throughout the country and internationally. Recent plays include: Wednesday’s Child; Exit Wounds (Gold Medallion 1st place winner Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle New Play Initiative); Unemployed Elephants – A Love Story (Stage Raw Recommended Top Ten; L.A. Times Pick of the Week, multiple Critics Choice) Please Don’t Ask About Becket (prod 7-9/16 "Graf’s emotionally astute drama peels away layers of pathology with surgical skill”-Los Angeles Times); All American Girl (Stage Raw Recommended Top Ten/2015 nom Playwriting and Solo performance; LA Times Pick of the Week; LA Weekly “GO!” StageSceneLA 2015 Outstanding Solo Performance Production; Bitter Lemons 2015 Ten Best); Closely Related Keys Best World Premiere Plays of 2013/14; Best Production Drama/Intimate Theater 2013/14 StageSceneLA; NAACP win/nominations); No Word in Guyanese For Me (2012 GLAAD Award Outstanding L.A. Theater, HELEN HAYES AWARDS Recommended); Behind the Gates; Lessons (L.A. production dir by Gordon Davidson); Leipzig (LADCC nomination; Garland award/Playwriting; Dorothy Silver finalist); The Book of Esther (San Fernando Valley Artistic Directors nominations including Best Play; ASK Theater Projects Grant Award); Bethany/Bakol (Attic Theater One Act Winner, produced September 2009)and her newest, A Shonda and The Cross and the Saber.

Dinner Package at L'Opera

We offer this affordable package in conjunction with L’Opera Ristorante one of Long Beach’s finest restaurants. For only $99 a person (plus $2 convenience/handling fee), you will receive a 3-course prix fixe dinner and a ticket to a production. Dinner and a show – does it get any better than that?

Some restrictions may apply. Does not include tax, tip or additional food or beverage. 20% gratuity automatically applied at restaurant.

Please call 562.436.4610 to make your reservations or Click here to select your seats and input the following discount code accordingly when prompted: “LODINNER”

*Dinner packages cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers.*

Dinner reservations are for 5:30 pm for the evening performances except on Sundays. Dinner on Sundays is at 4:30 pm.
If you would like to request a different reservation time please complete the box with “remarks” on the “Personal Information” form.
You will receive a confirmation email with your purchase and a separate confirmation email from us that includes your restaurant confirmation number.

To learn more about L’Opera, you can visit their website at www.lopera.com.

First Course (Select One)

MINESTRONE (ve v gf)
Seasonal Vegetables, Herbs (vegetable broth)

MESSALINA (gf upon request)
Romaine, Shaved Parmigiano, Anchovy Filet, Garlic Crostini, Homemade Caesar Dressing
(dressing contains raw egg)

Second Course (Select One)

CAPPELLACCI DI ZUCCA (ve)
Homemade Ravioli Stuffed with Butternut Squash, Ricotta; Spicy Marinara, Brown Butter Sage Sauce, Shaved Parmigiano
(contains small traces of pine nuts & walnuts)

POLLO PARMIGIANO (gf upon request)
Breaded Chicken Breast, Basil Pesto Marinara Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmigiano; Penne, Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce & Baby Vegetables

Third Course

PANNA COTTA (gf)
Italian Milk Custard, Frangelico; Fresh Fruit & Light Berry Sauce

Dinner Package at Michael's on Naples

Don’t forget ICT’s scrumptious dinner package! We offer this affordable package in conjunction with the wonderful and delicious Michael's on Naples. For only $99 a person (plus $2 convenience/handling fee), you will receive a 3-course prix fixe dinner and a ticket to a production. Dinner and a show – does it get any better than that?

Some restrictions may apply. Does not include tax, tip or additional food or beverage. 20% gratuity automatically applied at restaurant.

Please call 562.436.4610 to make your reservations or Click here to select your seats and input the following discount code accordingly when prompted: “MNDINNER”

*Dinner packages cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional offers.*

Dinner reservations are for 5:00 pm for the evening performances except on Sundays. Dinner on Sundays is at 4:30 pm.
If you would like to request a different reservation time please complete the box with “remarks” on the “Personal Information” form.
You will receive a confirmation email with your purchase and a separate confirmation email from us that includes your restaurant confirmation number.

To learn more about Michael's on Naples, you can visit their website at www.michaelsonnaples.com.

First Course (Select One)

BURRATA E PROSCIUTTO
Local burrata with prosciutto di Carpegna and
carta di musica cracker
or
CAVOLFIORE
Roasted cauliflower, salsa verde, fried capers,
cauliflower purée

Second Course (Select One)

CAPESANTE
Seared Diver scallops, fregola sarda,
toasted almonds, pomegranate
or
MAIALE ALLA MILANESE
Breaded pork chop Milanese style, carrot puré,
raw carrot-frisée salad

Third Course

ZEPPOLE
Ricotta frittes, cinnamon sugar, caramel sauce
or
TORTA DI MANDORLE
Almond cake, whipped mascarpone, toasted almonds

Ticketing Policies and Information

Contact the box office
Tickets may be purchased online, but feel free to call or stop by to purchase your tickets too - we're happy to help! Call us at 562.436.4610 or visit the ICT Box Office, available Monday – Friday from 9:00AM through 5:00PM. You can also email us with inquiries at ict@ictlongbeach.org.
Group sales
We offer attractive discounts for groups of 10 or more individuals. Groups get a minimum of $10 off each individual ticket, so prepare to SAVE 20-41% off regular ticket prices. Awesome! (We know.) Student groups save even more! Good seats, personalized service, plus an opportunity to add a dinner package to your fun evening or afternoon on the town. Call or email Denis for more details at (562) 495-4595, extension 106 or denis@ictlongbeach.org
Discounts
Chamber Discount
All Chamber of Commerce members receive $5 off each ticket, limit 2 tickets.**

Student and Senior Discounts
Full-time students 24 and under and seniors over the age of 65 get $5 off each ticket.

**Please note that all discounts are only available in advance through the ICT Box Office. Discounts are not available in combination with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. Special Offers do not apply to Season Subscription prices.
Theatre Location and parking
ICT in the Beverly O'Neill Theater
at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center
330 East Seaside Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
(at intersection of S. Hart Place)
Parking: $15
Seating Chart