Eat, Pray, Love Author Elizabeth Gilbert Takes Aim at “Purpose Anxiety” in Appearance at CSULB’s Carpenter Center on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m.
For immediate release
August 26, 2026
LONG BEACH, CA — Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic, kicks off the Carpenter Center’s 2026-2027 season on Saturday, Sept 19 at 8 p.m. with a talk exploring “Purpose Anxiety.” With her fresh perspective on life, loss, and purpose, Gilbert reveals how following a life and career that chases impact and legacy can be a barrier to leading a creative, connected, and fulfilling existence. Through stories, humor, and her radical candor, Gilbert lays out how to see our lives in a new light.
Gilbert’s appearance at the Carpenter Center follows the 2025 publication of her latest memoir, All the Way to the River, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and instant New York Times bestseller. Gilbert’s books have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, with Eat, Pray, Love spending two-hundred weeks on The New York Times bestseller list as well as becoming a film starring Julia Roberts.
Gilbert began her career as a magazine journalist, writing for Spin, GQ and The New York Times Magazine. Her debut story collection, Pilgrims, was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Her TED Talk on creativity has been viewed more than 22 million times.
A Q&A follows Gilbert’s talk. A limited number of signed copies of All the Way to the River, are available for purchase online alongside tickets, as well as available at the event. (Gilbert will not be signing at the event.)
Event Details
An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert
When: Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach, CA 90815.
Tickets: Starting at $59 at carpenterarts.org.
Additional ticketing information is available at carpenterarts.org/ticket-office.
Press photos are available at carpenterarts.org/press.
Also In September
Bilal with opening act Yaya Bey
Thursday, September 24 at 8 p.m. / Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $35 (limited availability).
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Bilal returns with a set rooted in soul, funk and jazz. Queens-born R&B artist Yaya Bey opens.
Live from Laurel Canyon Presents: Crosby, Still, Nash & Young – Their Songs and Stories
Sunday, September 27 at 3 p.m. / Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $55.
This captivating tribute to CSNY, folk rock’s first supergroup, includes unforgettable classics and the stories behind the music.
Tierney Sutton and Tamir Hendelman
Wednesday, September 30 and Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m.
Tickets start at $59. Dinner add-on tickets available for pre-show dining on stage
Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton and virtuosic pianist Tamir Hendelman lend new warmth to songs by George Gershwin, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer, Peggy Lee, Paul Simon, and more.
Attendance and Parking Information
We advise patrons to visit our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.carpenterarts.org/faqs before any performance for the most up-to-date attendance information.
Convenient parking is available directly in front of the Carpenter Center in lot G12. All parking lots on campus, including lot G12, are operated by CSULB’s Parking and Transportation Services, who set all parking fees. The Carpenter Center does not earn any portion of the collected fees. Parking fees this season remain at $10 after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and $10 all day on weekends. Additional parking information is available at www.carpenterarts.org/parking.
About the Carpenter Center
The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. Its 1,054-seat theatre gracefully accommodates large and small productions, including a season of performances showcasing emerging and established musicians, dancers, actors, speakers, comedians, and visual artists, as well as other artistic, educational, and cultural experiences that enrich lives, promote lifelong learning in and through the performing arts, and serve as a gateway between the university and the greater community.
