Most theaters have returned to fairly normal operations again. Covid protocols vary from venue to venue, so you may still have to show proof of vaccination, and/or wear a mask during the show, so please check with the theater before you attend an event to find out what their policy is. The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should check with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running at this time:

OPENING

“Uncle Vanya” This exhilarating revival pairs one of the greatest plays ever written with the world’s most celebrated translators of Russian literature. After years of caring for their family’s crumbling estate, Vanya and his niece receive an unexpected visit from his brother-in-law and his alluring wife. When hidden passions and tumultuous frustrations come to a boil in the heat of the Russian summer, their lives threaten to come undone. Comic, cutting, and true to life, this translation of Uncle Vanya provides an up-close, conversational-style encounter with a classic drama that every theater-lover must see. Written by Anton Chekhov, translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear, and Larissa Volokhonsky, it runs June 1 through June 26 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

“The Desperate Hours” tells the story of a trio of escaped bank robbers who take a suburban family and hold them hostage by turning their tranquil, secluded home into a secret hideout from the law. Father, mother, daughter and son are captive and have their mettle tested as they try to prevail over a terrifying situation. Written by Joseph Hayes, and directed by Jules Aaron, it runs June 3 through July 10 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.

“Harvey” Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. The trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family – and especially for her daughter Myrtle Mae – Vita decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mild-mannered brother. The truth comes out, however; Veta is freed, and the search is on for Elwood, who eventually arrives at the sanitarium of his own volition looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn’t so bad after all. Written by Mary Chase, and directed by Marina Tidwell, it runs June 3 through July 10 at the Theatre Palisades Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades. For tickets call 310-454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org.

“In the Heights” tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams, and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and directed by Benjamin Perez, it runs June 3 through June 26 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.

“A Terminal Event” About an aspiring actress who works part-time as a medical receptionist and falls under the spell of a young advertising executive who insists on addressing his cancer diagnosis with alternative medicine. With regrets from their pasts and heavy defenses in place, they stumble into an unlikely chance at love. Written by Richard Willett, and directed by Maria Gobetti, it runs June 3 through July 10 at the Victory Theatre Center Big Victory Theatre in Burbank. For tickets call 818-841-5421 or visit www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org.

“André & Dorine” If you missed it before, here’s your chance: Spain’s celebrated Kulunka Teatro returns to the Los Angeles Theatre Center with André & Dorine, the company’s poignant depiction of love and aging disrupted by Alzheimer’s. This Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award-winning production tells the story of an elderly couple—André with his typewriter, Dorine with her cello—and how they relive and reinvent their love together as the disease becomes a permanent part of their relationship. Three actors portray more than 15 different characters, telling the story with masks, gesture and movement, with no spoken dialogue. Written by El José Dault, Garbiñe Insausti, Iñaki Rikarte, Edu Cárcamo, and Rolando San Martín, with music by Yayo Cáceres, and directed by Iñaki Rikarte, it runs June 8 through June 19 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.

“The Legend of Georgia McBride” Casey is young and broke, with a baby on the way and the landlord knocking on his door. Now, the owner of the bar where Casey works as an Elvis impersonator has replaced his act with a B-level drag show, and Casey’s about to learn a lot about show business—and himself. Written by Matthew Lopez, and directed by Jamie Torcellini, it runs June 10 through June 28 at the International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visit www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” reset in1950s small-town America during the nascent period of second-wave feminism and featuring a rockin’ score of ‘50s tunes. Things might seem picture perfect in “Small Town U.S.A”… but when opportunistic schemer and womanizer John Falstaff blows into town with his gang and tries to woo two wealthy ladies at once, the town’s women gleefully plot his comeuppance. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Ellen Geer, it runs June 11 through October 2 at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.

“Interstate” an Asian-American pop-rock poetry musical that follows Dash, a transgender spoken word performer who becomes internet-famous along with his best friend Adrian, a lesbian singer-songwriter. Their fiercely political and deeply personal music touches Henry, a transgender teenage boy living in small-town America. As Dash and Adrian hit the road for their first national tour, Henry sets out on a quest to meet his heroes in person, hoping to find answers to his own struggles. Written by Melissa Li & Kit Yan, and directed by Jesca Prudencio, it runs June 12 through June 26 at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.eastwestplayers.org.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” An annual season staple going back decades, Theatricum’s wooded stage morphs into the enchanted woods of Athens, where mortal lovers chase and are chased, players prepare, and fairies make magical mischief in Shakespeare’s most entertaining and beguiling comedy. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Melora Marshall, it runs June 12 through October 1 at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.

“Pretty Woman: The Musical” centers around a free spirited Hollywood prostitute Vivian Ward, who is hired by Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman, to be his escort for several business and social functions, and their developing relationship over the course of her week-long stay with him. Written by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton, with music by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and directed by Jerry Mitchell, it runs June 15 through July 3 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 800-982-2782 or visit www.BroadwayInHollywood.com.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Open Fist Theatre Company presents a provocative new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in the Antebellum South. Intrigued by the Mechanicals’ line “That would hang us every mother’s son,” director James Fowler has moved the action from Athens, Greece to Athens, Georgia circa 1855. There, with Shakespeare’s text unchanged, we enter a world where the magic of an enslaved people plays out in the lives of those to whom they remain invisible. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by James Fowler, it runs June 25 through August 13 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 323-882-6912 or visit www.openfist.org.

“The West Side Waltz” In the world premiere of Thompson’s newly revised, music and heart-filled comedy set during the tumultuous ’80s, Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer; her sister, Melora Marshall; and daughter Willow Geer take on the roles of an aging concert pianist, her violin-playing spinster neighbor, and a would-be actress on New York’s Upper West Side. Written by Ernest Thompson, and directed by Mary Jo DuPrey, it runs June 25 through October 1 at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.

“A Wicked Soul in Cherry Hill” On a November night in 1994, a murder was committed in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In this poignant true-crime story told completely through song, a tight-knit Jewish community gathers to recount, remember, and reckon with the details of what happened in—and to—their town. This wholly original production asks what it does to our souls when our leaders fall from grace. Written by Matt Schatz, with music by Matt Schatz, and directed by Mike Donahu, it runs June 30 through July 24 at the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

CONTINUING

“Slice” is a deep, probing, emotional conversation between father and son; man to man, bare knuckled, leaving no topic off the table. Written by David Watson, and directed by Joe Mellis, it runs through June 5 at the Atwater Playhouse in Atwater Village. For tickets visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

“Try Not to Think About It, Alice Childress” A series of miscommunications turns into a night of survival when a natural disaster strikes the Hollywood Hills. This witty, challenging drama will leave you wondering what just happened and what will happen next, while the people hunkered down in a mansion just try to keep up with what they’re becoming amidst the Hollywood dream. Contains mature language, violence, sexual situations, and brief strobe light effects. Written and directed by Chris Haas, it runs through June 5 at the Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-452-3153 or visit www.loftensemble.org.

“A Chorus Line” is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers – those valiant, over dedicated, underpaid, highly trained performers who back up the star or stars and often make them look even more talented than they are. It’s also about competition, and competition might easily be the common denominator that grabs the audience and holds it by the collective heartstring until the final, ultimate choices are made. The show features one powerhouse number after another, “What I Did for Love,” “One,” “I Can Do That,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror,” and “I Hope I Get It.” Written by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and directed by Luis Villabon, it runs through June 12 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

Our local theme parks are operating at full capacity. Most require advance reservations online, as well as advance ticket, and possibly food, purchases. You will need an app in some to be able to take full advantage of all attractions and restaurants. Please check their websites for details, restrictions, and availability before planning a visit:

Some theaters still provide online offerings in addition to or in lieu of live performances, with many events you can experience on a virtual basis. A few of these online events are only available on a one-time basis, while others are ongoing and can be viewed on-demand anytime. Visit each of the web sites below to see what they are currently offering. You will find free content as well as pay-per-view to choose from. Here are the links to web sites with online offerings:

Our best wishes go out to all of our readers as always, and we want to wish everyone a Happy Father’s Day this month! We also want to send heartfelt thanks to our Public Relations representatives who supply us with this great information, and to our editors and publishers who continue to publish these columns. We hope this year will be a safe and healthy one for theatergoers, reviewers, and everyone everywhere.

Sincerely,

Steve Zall, Publisher
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher and Editor

Most theaters have returned to fairly normal operations again. Covid protocols vary from venue to venue, so you may still have to show proof of vaccination, and/or wear a mask during the show, so please check with the theater before you attend an event to find out what their policy is. The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should check with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running at this time:

OPENING

“Afterglow” is a raw, one-act play exploring the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships. When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed one night, a new intimate connection begins to form and all three men must come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken, and commitments are challenged. Written and directed by S. Asher Gelman, it runs May 5 through June 19 at the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.afterglowla.com.

“She” Growing up in a small town filled with poverty and neglect, SHE escapes by re-imagining her reality through poetry. Her dreams take flight when she’s presented with the opportunity to attend the prestigious Vanguard Academy. Forced to make her own way, SHE discovers that dreams cost… and you don’t always pay with money. Written by Marlow Wyatt, and directed by Justin Lord, it runs May 6 through June 5 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.

“Our Town” Life has begun in the fictional town of Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire. Milk is being delivered. Breakfast is on the stove. We meet the town gossips, the boys who play baseball and the choirmaster with a secret sorrow. And soon, teenagers George Gibbs and Emily Webb will go from friends to puppy love to wedding day and beyond—two families forever joined together. Written by Thornton Wilder, and directed by Beth Lopes, it runs May 7 through June 4 at the South Coast Repertory Segerstrom Stage in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.

“The Play’s the Thing” a playwright named Sandor Turai comes up with a plan to save the engagement between his nephew Albert and an actress named Ilona after Albert overhears a flirtatious conversation between Ilona and Almady, an obnoxious actor (and Ilona’s former lover). Sandor has only hours to rescue Ilona and Albert’s romance from utter devastation. Sandor goes to work and hilarity ensues. Written by P.G. Wodehouse, adapted from a play by Ferenc Molnar, and directed by Melanie MacQueen, it runs May 12 through June 12 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.

“What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers Experience” performs the full range of DOOBIE BROTHERS top hits, including some of the most complex and challenging songs performed for live audiences. Comprised of some of the best musicians and performers in the industry, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES also introduces Sean Byrne, a world-class vocalist who is no stranger to commanding the stage. WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES – The Doobie Brothers Experience consistently delivers a remarkable show that will exceed your expectations! The show runs May 12 through May 15 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“Who Are You” offers a window into a transformative period of her life – which by then had encompassed successful careers in the acting and fashion realms, including stints at Vogue and Elite Models – and the ripple effect that her change of direction had on the women who came through the doors of Shareen Vintage. She founded the one-of-a-kind Los Angeles store in 2004, surrendering the art of acting for the art of real life. More than a store, Shareen Vintage was an experience, a unique haven for cool girls who celebrated their original style and were tastemakers in their own right. They came for an answer to the eternal question – “What am I going to wear?” As Shareen fashioned vintage clothing into new creations for them, talk often turned to another eternal question: “Who are you?” Bonds were forged and a sense of community grew, as chronicled by the likes of The New York Times, Vogue, Los Angeles Magazine, Racked, Lucky Magazine and others. The stories Shareen shares are touching, funny, hopeful and inspiring – intensely personal yet universal. Written by Shareen Mitchell, and directed by Kate Jopson, it runs May 12 through June 19 at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-673-0544 or visit www.GreenwayCourtTheatre.org.

“Beloved” Dorothy and Stephen are married co-owners of a failing real estate company. They’re shocked when they learn that their teenage son has committed a disturbing crime – and they’re devastated when they find out why. In three successive waiting rooms, accompanied by three young professionals, Dorothy and Stephen must overcome confusion, acrimony and bitter regret as they struggle to find a way forward. Written by Arthur Holden, and directed by Cameron Watson, it runs May 13 through June 19 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org.

“Fun Home, the Musical” is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires. Written by Lisa Kron, based on the novel by Alison Bechdel, with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Lisa Kron, and directed by Kathy Dershimer, it runs May 13 through June 11 at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.

“God of Carnage” When two 11-year-old boys have a playground fight, Henry’s parents invite Benjamin’s mother and father for cocktails, hoping to discuss the situation civilly. But the evening deteriorates into an intense and darkly funny train wreck of finger-pointing, name-calling, tantrums and tears. And that’s before they break out the rum. Written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, and directed by Peter Allas, it runs May 13 through May 29 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.Onstage411.com/Carnage.

“King Lear” This theatrically adventurous production of perhaps the greatest play in English literature features original music, videos, and projections that will transform the theater into a not-too-distant-future United States ravaged by environmental catastrophes. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by John Gould Rubin, it runs May 14 through June 5 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Bram Goldsmith Theater in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.TheWallis.org/lear.

“Metamorphoses” A charming re-envisioning of ancient Greek myths for a modern audience, Metamorphoses is set entirely in and around an on-stage swimming pool (front row patrons: beware of errant splashing!). Adapted from David R. Slavitt’s free-verse translation of “The Metamorphoses of Ovid,” the play’s locations, like the characters, are constantly shifting and transforming—from a swimming pool, to a wash basin, to the River Styx, to the sea. Gods and mortals alike endure love, loss, and transformation—all while immersed in a pool of water. Written by Mary Zimmerman, and directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, it runs May 14 through June 5 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-353-3100 or visit www.anoisewithin.org.

“Naturally Tan” Told through the bold perspective of a vivacious drag queen named Tanvi, Naturally Tan follows Tanya Thomas’ desperation to fit in as a minority in Singapore and her search for acceptance in America. Fueled by assimilation pains, Tanya delves into the heart of colorism that plagues the Asian diaspora, the complexities of racial identity, and the consequences of damaging beauty standards. Will Tanya hide behind her insecurities forever or will she embody her worth as a woman of color, mother, and artist? Written by Tanya Thomas, and directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, it runs May 14 through May 28 at the ARTSpace Black Box Theater in Simi Valley. For tickets visit www.tanyathomas.com/artspace.

“Newsies” Based on the true story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899, this family-friendly Tony-winning Disney musical centers on Jack, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of being an artist far away from the big city. When a publishing giant raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack and his fellow newsies band together in protest with the help of a new reporter hungry for her first story, making New York wake up to the power of “the little man.” It’s the perfect show for the whole family! Written by Harvey Fierstein, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and directed by T.J. Dawson, it runs May 14 through May 29 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Cerritos. For tickets call 562-916-8500 or visit www.3Dtheatricals.org.

“Tiger Style!” What happens when “tiger parenting” goes wrong?” Meet Albert and Jennifer Chen—brother and sister, once brilliant students and musicians, now epic failures leading unfulfilling lives. The problem? Their parents set unrealistic standards. The solution? Escape from Irvine and go on an “Asian Freedom Tour” to Shenzhen, China—a hilarious, eye-opening journey filled with colorful characters, intrigue and surprise. Written by Mike Lew, and directed by Ralph B. Peña, it runs May 15 through June 5 at the South Coast Repertory Julianne Argyros Stage in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.

“Hamlet” Following the death of his father, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home to find his uncle now occupies the throne and the queen’s bed. Spurred by the ghost of his father and surrounded by spies, Hamlet must choose between moral integrity and vengeance. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Elizabeth Swain, it runs May 20 through June 20 at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale. For tickets call 818-506-1983 or visit www.antaeus.org.

“Man of God” During a mission trip to Bangkok, the four members of a Korean Christian girls’ youth group discover that their revered pastor has hidden a camera in their hotel bathroom. Samantha is personally wounded that Pastor would do this to her. Jen is worried about how this might affect her college applications. Mimi’s out for blood, as usual. And Kyung-Hwa thinks everyone needs to have lower expectations for men. Their communal rage and disillusionment fuel increasingly violent revenge fantasies amidst the no-holds-barred neon bubblegum sex-tourism mecca of Bangkok. Written by Anna Moench, and directed by Maggie Burrows, it runs May 20 through June 19 at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

“King of the Yees” For nearly 20 years, playwright Lauren Yee’s father Larry has been a driving force in the Yee Family Association, a seemingly obsolescent Chinese American men’s club formed 150 years ago in the wake of the Gold Rush. But when her father goes missing, Lauren must plunge into the rabbit hole of San Francisco Chinatown and confront a world both foreign and familiar. At once bitingly hilarious and heartbreakingly honest, King of the Yees is an epic joyride across cultural, national and familial borders that explores what it means to truly be a Yee. Written by Lauren Yee, and directed by Tim Dang, it runs May 21 through June 12 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

“Untitled Baby Play” Libby is having a baby, and a group of friends is planning her shower over email. What starts out as a comedy of manners for the digital age deepens as her longtime friends from childhood and college deal with cyber miscommunications and email chain snubs, even as they face their own existential angst surrounding the “baby question”. Written by Nina Braddock, and directed by Katie Lindsay, it runs May 26 through June 27 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 323-380-8843 or visit www.iamatheatre.com.

“Sleep with the Angels” injects a dollop of magical realism into the everyday lives of two working women. Molly, a busy attorney, has just separated from her husband and is in desperate need of a childcare provider. Juana has recently arrived from Mexico and is looking for a job. It’s a perfect match! Soon, Molly and her kids are swept up into Juana’s magical and charming ways. But just who is Juana, really? Written by Evelina Fernández, and directed by José Luis Valenzuela, it runs May 27 through June 26 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.

CONTINUING

“Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” One moment can change the course of history. On April 29, 1992, at 3:15 p.m., in Simi Valley, four police officers were acquitted of any wrongdoing after having been caught on video brutally beating and kicking Rodney King, an African-American motorist who had resisted arrest, long after he had been subdued. Within hours, South Central L.A. erupted in what has been described alternately as “the riots,” “the uprising,” and “the revolution.” Protestors blocked freeway traffic, attacked motorists, wrecked and looted numerous downtown stores and buildings and set hundreds of fires. More than 50 people were killed, more than 2,300 were injured. Thousands were arrested. Property damages totaled more than $1 billion. . Written by Anna Deveare Smith, and directed by Karyl Lynn Burns, it runs through May 15 at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. For tickets call 805-667-2900 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.

Our local theme parks are operating at full capacity. Most require advance reservations online, as well as advance ticket, and possibly food, purchases. You will need an app in some to be able to take full advantage of all attractions and restaurants. Please check their websites for details, restrictions, and availability before planning a visit:

Some theaters still provide online offerings in addition to or in lieu of live performances, with many events you can experience on a virtual basis. A few of these online events are only available on a one-time basis, while others are ongoing and can be viewed on-demand anytime. Visit each of the web sites below to see what they are currently offering. You will find free content as well as pay-per-view to choose from. Here are the links to web sites with online offerings:

Our best wishes go out to all of our readers as always, and we want to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day this month! We also want to send heartfelt thanks to our Public Relations representatives who supply us with this great information, and to our editors who continue to publish these columns. We hope this year will be a safe and healthy one for theatergoers, reviewers, and everyone everywhere.

Sincerely,

Steve Zall, Publisher
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher and Editor

Things are finally beginning to return to normal for the LA theater scene. Covid still rears its ugly head now and then, but with the steady drop in case numbers it seems to be under control for now. While County and State Public Health guidelines state that masks are no longer required, and that vaccination checks are not mandatory, you may still have to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask in some venues, so please check with the venue before you attend an event to find out what their policy is. The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should check with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running at this time:

OPENING

“Classic Couples Counseling” Dr. Patricia Cataldo is a psychotherapist with a special celebrity clientele: They’re all couples from Shakespeare! She analyzes Kate and Petruchio; Macbeth and Lady Macbeth; Romeo and Juliet; Othello and Desdemona; Hamlet and Ophelia. She also has them all come in for group sessions. They all trust her with their tender psyches. However, she has a few kinks of her own. Dr. Cataldo’s caseload is occasionally reduced by attrition. If you know any of Shakespeare’s plays, you’ll know how that happens. Written by Lloyd J. Schwartz, and directed by Nick McDow Musleh, it runs April 1 through May 8 at the Theatre West in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-851-7977 or visit www.theatrewest.org.

“L.A. Now and Then” is a brand new musical revue celebrating the City of Angels, it’s past and present. Songs, dances, sketches and projections musically commemorate this unique city. With a cast of 13 and a live band, this show aims to entertain, educate and reminisce. Directed by Bruce Kimmel, it runs April 1 through May 8 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre Main Stage in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.

“A Death-Defying Escape!” Who wouldn’t like to add a little magic to their life? Comedy Workshop Productions presents a darkly funny, inspiring new comedy about one woman’s miraculous escape from the secrets of her past. Written by author, stand-up comedian and magician Judy Carter, who also heads the three-person cast, A Death-Defying Escape! combines extraordinary feats of magic with an inspiring story about escaping life’s emotional shackles to find love. Written by Judy Carter, and directed by Lee Costello, it runs April 2 through May 8 at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.deathdefyingescape.com.

“Queen of the Night” Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) announced today that “America’s Got Talent” breakout star Brian Justin Crum (Broadway’s Wicked and Next to Normal) and LA Opera’s rising star Alaysha Fox (LA Opera’s Aida) will be special guest stars for QUEEN of the night, featuring the greatest hits from the critically acclaimed, legendary band Queen. This long-awaited rock extravaganza is mixed with opera and high-energy dance numbers performed by the Chorus. GMCLA is thrilled to present its second concert of Season 43 at Royce Hall after the Chorus’s successful engagement of A Holiday Homecoming at UCLA’s premier venue. The full Chorus sings more than a dozen iconic songs from Queen and Freddie Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love and We Will Rock You are among the best pop/rock anthems ever written, and the Chorus brings them to life as you’ve never heard before. This two-act show features four production dance numbers that only GMCLA can truly deliver, including I Want to Break Free (previously banned on MTV). A sprinkling of gorgeous arias and Mercury’s exquisite Barcelona round out a spectacular mash-up of rock and opera. Written and directed by Ernest H. Harrison, it runs April 2 through April 3 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Westwood. For tickets visit www.GMCLA.org.

“Bright Half Life” is a moving love story that spans decades in an instant – from marriage, children, skydiving, and the infinite moments that make a life together. Written by Tanya Barfield, and directed by Amy K. Harmon, it runs April 4 through May 22 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org.

“King Solomon’s Treasure” It’s New York in 1990. In midtown Manhattan, King Solomon’s Treasure is a shop where curios, collectables, and vintage items are for sale, things as disparate as a 30-year-old bottle of Orange Crush and a baseball signed by Jackie Robinson. The store is run by an elderly chap, born when the 20th Century was young, a Holocaust survivor whose adventures have taken him to different parts of the globe. Franz Altman is a man who has accumulated enough decades of experiences to make him a very appropriate choice to run a store trafficking in memories. Franz has a little store, but a development corporation is trying to force him out, so that the developers can put a great big steel-and-concrete structure where the King Solomon’s Treasure now stands. Smelling a story, Susan Carmichael, a beautiful young reporter for People Magazine, visits Franz with the object of obtaining an interview, she becomes his ally in a plan to fend off the pitiless advances of the soulless development corporation. Can Franz and Susan succeed against the forces of dubious “progress”? Written by Charles Dennis, and directed by Ron Orbach, it runs April 7 through May 12 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets visit www.tix.com/ticket-sales/foodogfilms/6940.

“The Concrete Jungle” the play follows Jorge Garcia after he gets fired because a local businessman, Slink, arranges a shelf of books the way he knew them to be when growing up. From then on, Jorge and Slink find themselves distracted by a metaphorical boxing match while the city and the people around them change beyond recognition. Written by Travyz Santos Gatz, and directed by Mitch Rosander & Ignacio Navarro, it runs April 8 through April 23 at the Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-452-3153 or visit www.loftensemble.org.

“One Way Ticket to Oregon” takes place in Alexandria, Louisiana during the very hot and humid summer of 2010. At its core are two life-long friends, June Collins, an older no nonsense African American woman with an intuitive understanding of people, and Leigh Anne Rainey, a fiery and opinionated older southern belle living in an aging house that has been home to her family for over 150 years. When Leigh Anne receives the diagnosis that her cancer has returned and spread to her pancreas, she’s forced to confront her mortality and how it will affect her son Bobby, who relies on her stability, his unstable wife Eve, and her young grandson Duke, who has autism. With help from her friend June, Leigh explores her limited options, including the use of medical marijuana to curb her symptoms, and learns about doctors in Oregon who can legally help her to “die with dignity.” As she wrestles with her faith, unresolved issues of race and heritage threaten to unravel the core of Leigh’s fragile family, an emotional struggle taking place all too often around the world today. Written by B.C Caldwell, and directed by JJ Mayes, it runs April 8 through April 24 at the Blue Door in Culver City. For tickets visit www.onewaytickettooregon.com.

“A Heated Discussion” A trio of Orishas (entities of the spirit world), dismayed and enraged at the state of the world today and the fates of African Americans in particular, convenes the spirits of famous departed Black iconic figures (among them Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Ida B. Wells, James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Maya Angelou, Richard Pryor, Tupac Shakur, Nina Simone, and more). What follows is A Heated Discussion. Viewpoints, comments, and solutions are as diverse as the individuals comprising this combustible mix of personalities. What do our iconic Black men and women (and the spirit entities) conclude? You’ll have to witness it to find out. Written by Levy Lee Simon, and directed by Ben Guillory, it runs April 9 through May 15 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre Four in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-7402 or visit www.therobeytheatrecompany.org.

“Rapunzel Alone” Lettie, a young mixed-race girl from London, is sent to the countryside for her own safety during the daily bombings of World War II. On an isolated country farm, she faces her own battles with a strict new guardian and a very “fowl” goose. Appropriate for ages 7+. Written by Mike Kenny, with music by Bradley Brough, and directed by Debbie Devine and Jesús Castaños-Chima, it runs April 9 through May 1 at the 24th Street Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-745-6516 or visit www.24thstreet.org.

“True West” a character study about two very different brothers, one a successful family man and the other a drifter, who must cooperate in writing a screenplay which will make or break both of their lives. Written by Sam Shepard, and directed by Brooklyn Sample, it runs April 9 through May 8 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre Upstairs at the Group Rep in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.

“Yemandja” The story is set in 19th century Dahomey, the West African kingdom that once occupied the territory that is now Benin; the slave trade is in full swing. In the port city of Ouidah, where the world of the gods is close to that of men, Yemandja—deity of water and fertility—has given her protégé́ Omolola a secret gift: the power of song to change the course of history. But there is one caveat: the power only works if your heart is pure. As DeSalta, a Brazilian slave trader who has struck a deal with King Akaba and controls the city, kills or enslaves those around Omolola, she struggles to access her song, her desire for revenge threatening to surpass her will to be a positive force. Written by Naïma Hebrail Kidjo, with music by Angélique Kidjo & Jean Hebrail, lyrics by Naïma Hebrail Kidjo, and directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, it runs April 14 through April 16 at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-434-3200 or visit www.thebroadstage.org.

“A Doll’s House, Part 2” a bitingly funny, thoroughly modern, 90-minute “sequel” (no need to know the original) to Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 classic. In the final scene of Ibsen’s groundbreaking 19th century masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children to begin a life on her own. Hnath’s play begins with a knock on that very same door 15 years later. Nora has returned, and it is she who is knocking. But why is she back? And what will it mean for those she left behind? Hnath’s smart comedy explores all the ways that women’s roles have – and haven’t – changed in the 143 years since Ibsen’s play was first staged. Written by Lucas Hnath, and directed by Trevor Biship-Gillespie, it runs April 15 through May 1 at the INTERNATIONAL CITY THEATRE Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visit www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

“Both And (A Play About Laughing While Black)” Through clowning, poetic text, and a tour-de-force performance, the play deeply investigates the nucleus of Black joy. As her mother is dying, Teayanna finds herself in a netherworld between life and death, struggling to help her mother cross over. The journey reveals the wisdom of the ancestors, invokes the legacy of the Middle Passage, and unfolds the surprising secrets within her mother’s purse. This unique and powerful story, rich with humor, raw honesty, and passion, becomes a brilliant meditation on how to reconnect with joy. Written by Carolyn Ratteray, with music by John Ballinger, and directed by Andi Chapman, it runs April 16 through May 15 at the Boston Court Pasadena in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-683-6801 or visit www.bostoncourtpasadena.org.

“Jane Austen Unscripted” An afternoon of improv & English Tea in our garden, starring the critically acclaimed Impro Theatre, in a love-struck and hilarious OUTDOOR production. This is a fully improvised play that brings the world of Jane Austen to life with your suggestions, and dare we say, participation. The always-new production will be presented on the NEW outdoor stage in the garden at Garry Marshall Theatre. Written by Impro Theatre Company, it runs April 16 through May 15 at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit www.garrymarshalltheatre.org.

“The Sound of Music” This spirited, romantic and unforgettable musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will thrill audiences with its Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning Best Score. Unforgettable songs include “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “Climb Every Mountain,” “Edelweiss,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and the iconic title song, all performed by a live 17-piece orchestra! Written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and directed by Glenn Casale, it runs April 23 through May 15 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.

“Tea” Five Japanese women learn to adjust to a new life in rural Kansas alongside their American GI husbands after World War II in this deeply moving, humorous and surprising play that explores a little-known chapter in American history. Written by Velina Hasu Houston, and directed by Rebecca Wear, it runs April 23 through May 15 at the Rosenthal Theater Inner-City Arts in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-206-6415 or visit www.herotheatre.org.

“Three Tables” Three overlapping conversations take place at three separate tables, the first occupied by a threesome of actors (Laura Liguori, Corey Rieger, Michael Uribes); the second by a trio of friends, also “theater people” (Eric Stanton Betts, Raquel Cain, Dennis Renard); and the third by a pair of waiters (Steve Apostolina, Matt Gottlieb), who are probably descendants of Holocaust survivors. Written and directed by Murray Mednick, it runs April 23 through May 22 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.onstage411.com/tables.

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!” is a musical comedy about everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit. This witty musical revue tackles modern love in all its forms: from the perils and pitfalls of the first date to marriage, children, and the twilight years of life. An insightful and hilarious musical, this show will have audiences shouting, “This is my life!” It takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.” This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?” Written by Joe DiPietro, with music by Jimmy Roberts, lyrics by Joe DiPietro, and directed by Paula Hammons Sloan, it runs April 24 through May 8 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” George and Martha, the American theater’s most notoriously dysfunctional couple, have invited the young and naive Nick and Honey over for drinks. What begins as harmless patter escalates to outright marital warfare, with the provincial newcomers caught in the crossfire. Written by Edward Albee, and directed by Gordon Greenberg, it runs April 28 through May 22 at the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

“Miss Coco Peru is Bitter, Bothered & Beyond” After everything that’s been going on in the world, YouTube sensation Miss Coco Peru is ready to unleash her thoughts about the past, present, and future! Yes, this exhausted dinosaur of drag will not be holding anything back! Coco (aka Clinton Leupp) has been a household name in the LGBT community for more than 25 years. She got her start in the early ‘90s as a downtown favorite in the cabaret world of New York after she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in her first show, Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret, and has since enjoyed an expansive career, ranging from intimate cabaret stages in New York and LA, to television sets in millions of living rooms. She has toured around the world and been in many cherished feature films (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar; trick; the cult classic Girls Will Be Girls; and more), garnering multiple awards and nominations for her work. She has been seen on television in such shows as How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development, and Will & Grace, among many others). Coco has also become a viral sensation on social media platforms, including Instagram and YouTube, where she has amassed nine million views. Considered “the hostess with that something … extra,” Coco has received worldwide acclaim for her award-winning solo shows, as well as her remarkable series of tributes to great performers, Conversations with Coco, in which she conducted live career-retrospective interviews with such luminaries as Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Liza Minnelli, and the late Bea Arthur. Written by Clinton Leupp, and directed by Michael Schiralli, it runs April 29 through May 1 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-860-7300 or visit www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre.

CONTINUING

“The Path to Catherine – A New Musical” There is not much more a noblewoman can do in 1740’s Germany than dream of love and the intrigues of court life. She can become a nun if she fails at a betrothal, or she can marry. Young Princess Sophie plans to do just that, and do it well! Empress, Elizabeth, needs to strengthen her throne because her heir and nephew, Peter, is unfit to rule. She invites Sophie and her mother, Joanna, to visit with a view that Sophie might prove to be a suitable bride for Peter and could thus produce a proper heir. But when Sophie’s focus shifts from love to power, each woman must decide what is most important to her and what she is willing to do to achieve it. This is the true backstory of three women, their complicated relationships with power, and the path that led a teenage princess to become one of the world’s most powerful female monarchs, Catherine the Great. Written by Patricia Zehentmayr, with music by Jan Roper, lyrics by Patricia Zehentmayr, and directed by Joanna Syiek, it runs through May 1 at the Write Act Rep at Brickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets visit www.thepathtocatherine.bpt.me.

Our local theme parks are operating at full capacity. Most require advance reservations online, as well as advance ticket, and possibly food, purchases. You will need an app in some to be able to take full advantage of all attractions and restaurants. Please check their websites for details, restrictions, and availability before planning a visit:

Some theaters still provide online offerings in addition to or in lieu of live performances, with many events you can experience on a virtual basis. A few of these online events are only available on a one-time basis, while others are ongoing and can be viewed on-demand anytime. Visit each of the web sites below to see what they are currently offering. You will find free content as well as pay-per-view to choose from. Here are the links to web sites with online offerings:

Our best wishes go out to all of our readers as always, but please continue to exercise caution, and follow whatever directions the venues may require regarding Covid-19.

As always, we also want to send out a very special thanks to our Public Relations representatives who supply us with this great information, and to our editors who continue to publish these columns. We hope this year will be a safe and healthy one for theatergoers, reviewers, and everyone everywhere.

Sincerely,

Steve Zall, Publisher
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher and Editor

Concerns over Covid-19 are finally subsiding with new case numbers steadily declining and the Southern California theater scene is recovering too, with most theaters announcing the return of live productions with audiences inside the theater. Although Covid protocols are still being enforced, requiring proof of vaccination and face masks to be worn at all times during the performances in order to attend, the government mandates are changing almost every day now, so that could change at any time. The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should check with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running at this time:

OPENING

“The Play You Want” Fed-up by the theatre world’s desires to box him in, Mexican playwright Bernardo Cubría sarcastically pitches “Nar-Cocos” a play about drug dealers on Dia de los Muertos. Much to his surprise, the Public Theatre picks it up. With financial pressures mounting and a newborn at home, this is his chance at a commercial success. But when Scott Rudin offers him a Broadway run on the condition he further exploit his identity and the headlines, he must decide just how much he’s willing to compromise in order to finally be accepted. WORLD PREMIERE! Written by Bernardo Cubria, and directed by Michael John Garcés, it runs March 1 through June 19 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org.

“First Lady of Song: Alexis J Roston Sings Ella Fitzgerald” In a spellbinding concert performance, Alexis J Roston effortlessly emits the sultry swing and playful joy that made Ella an American treasure. Classic tunes include “Summertime,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.” Written by Angela Ingersoll, and directed by William Kurk, it runs March 3 through March 20 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“Daughter of the Wicked” tells the story of Shanit Keter Schwartz returning to her homeland in search of her missing sister. She looks back at her upbringing as a Yemenite Jewish girl in the newly formed country of Israel, paying special tribute to her Kabbalistic mystical Rabbi father, as she comes to terms with her tumultuous past. This riveting new play features an original soundscape of authentic Yemenite tin drums and flutes composed by Israeli composer Lilo Fedida to transport us from the sands of Yemen to the tin huts of the Israeli settlement camps to life in the projects. James Newton Howard’s cello composition will support the Kabbalistic texts that guide us through the story. Written by Shanit Keter Schwartz, and directed by Zeke Rettman, it runs March 4 through April 10 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

“Frank Ferrante’s Groucho” Award-winning actor/director/playwright and longtime Sierra Madrean, Frank Ferrante, recreates his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast-paced 90 minutes of hilarity. The two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including “Hooray for Captain Spalding,” and “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.” The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style. Accompanied by his onstage pianist Gerald Sternbach, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields and Marx film foil Margaret Dumont. Directed by Dreya Weber, Frank Ferrante’s Groucho is perfect for all ages. Written and directed by Frank Ferrante, it runs March 4 through March 6 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

“Celestial Events” a fun, feel-good comedy about friendship, love and shared experience in the city of L.A. The paths of 12 Angelenos cross in mysterious ways on the eve of a once-in-a-millennia meteor shower. Written by Deborah S. Craig, Christian Durso, (co-writing captains), Anna Rose Hopkins, John Lavelle, Adriana Santos, and directed by Tom Amandes and Adrian Gonzalez, it runs March 5 through March 14 at the Actors Company LA in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.iamatheatre.com.

“Trayf” Zalmy lives a double life. By day, he drives a Chabad “Mitzvah Tank” through 1990s New York City, performing good deeds with his best friend Shmuel. By night, he sneaks out of his orthodox community to roller-skate and listen to rock and roll. But when a curious outsider offers him unfettered access to the secular world, is it worth jeopardizing everything he’s ever known? This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth, the universal suspicion that we don’t quite fit in, and the faith and friends that see us through. Written by Lindsay Joelle, and directed by Maggie Burrows, it runs March 10 through April 10 at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

“Branwell (and the Other Brontës)” The Brontës (Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne) created such masterpieces as Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. However, it’s in their own private fantasy worlds, with clear rules, invented when they were children, that they find their most inspired outlets. As Branwell lays on his deathbed, they escape often and with urgency and change the rules to avoid the inevitable and try to keep both him and these cherished worlds alive. The play explores the pain and necessity of creation in the face of destruction and loss, and how misogyny contributes to the downfall of a family. Written by Stephen Kaplan, edited by Charlotte Brontë, and directed by Sarah Nilsen, it runs March 11 through March 26 at the Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-452-3153 or visit www.loftensemble.org.

“Escape from the Garden” What happens when Tracy Greene, star of stage and television, bombs at the Ahmanson with her Blanche DuBois? Will her self-inflicted exile in a crappy apartment at “Two Palms Villa” in Van Nuys — frantically scribbling away at her play about Marie Antoinette– lead to total oblivion or to something better? Written by Sarah Hunter, and directed by Marianne Davis, it runs March 11 through March 27 at the Two Roads Theater in Studio City. For tickets visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5309270.

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Solo Flight” Banished to the Far Cliffs by his flock for daring to break with tradition, Jonathan spends his life in pursuit of his unbound passion for flight, not to scrape and scrabble for food—but for the joy of flight itself. Join Jonathan on his journey through the here and now, and all of eternity, as he soars to the heights of perfection, freedom, and Love. Jonathan’s path from awkward beginner to passionate student and eventually to patient master is both wonderfully familiar and extraordinarily unique. Written by Richard Bach, adapted by Andrew Thacher, and directed by Paul Millet, it runs March 11 through March 27 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets visit www.tinyurl.com/JLS-ASoloFlight.

“Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies” Marquis and Tru are both 14-year-old Black boys, but they exist in two completely different worlds. Marquis is a book smart prep-schooler living in the affluent suburb of Achievement Heights, while Tru is a street savvy kid from deep within the inner city of Baltimore. Their worlds overlap one day in a holding cell. Tru decides that Marquis has lost his “blackness” and pens a how-to manual entitled “Being Black for Dummies.” He assumes the role of professor, but Marquis proves to be a reluctant pupil. They butt heads, debate, wrestle and ultimately prove that Nietzsche and 2pac were basically saying the same thing. Written by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, and directed by Ahmed Best, it runs March 12 through April 18 at the Echo Theater Company Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

“I Don’t Have To Show You No Stinking Badges!” is about a Chicano family in the 1980s that is steeped in show business: the parents make their living as Hollywood extras playing non-speaking stereotypical roles such as gardeners and maids. They have achieved their American dream with a suburban house and academically successful children. But they are shattered when their son announces that he dropped out of Harvard Law to become an actor. Valdez sets the action in a staged recreation of a traditional television sitcom. The result is a sharp comedy and biting satire, skewering media images of Hispanic culture and exploring issues of racism and stereotyping. Written by Luis Valdez, and directed by Drina Durazo, it runs March 12 through March 27 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets visit www.morgan-wixson.org.

“Love, Actually Cabaret” Theatre West is presenting two free cabaret evenings featuring the talented members of its Musical Theatre Workshop, singing songs of love. The cast includes Sara Ballantine, Sandra Tucker, Paul Cady, Sara Shearer, Arden Teresa Lewis, Constance Mellors, Mimi Kmet, Anne Leyden, Michael Van Duzer, Heidi Appe, Rick Simone-Friedland, Tessa Bell and Robert W. Laur. Music by Paul Cady, with music by Paul Cady, it runs March 12 through March 19 at the Theatre West in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-851-7977 or visit www.theatrewest.org.

“Muse/Ique & Rachel Worby: Sunrise on Sunset” features an ensemble of L.A.’s finest instrumentalists and singers in a night of fabulous music by artists reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, The Eagles, and Duke Ellington, history, and a rediscovery of Los Angeles, the City of Angels. The performance spotlights Sunset Boulevard, birthplace of the music, the stars, the stories and the history of Los Angeles. No other street in Los Angeles can make that claim. Stroll north one mile from The Wallis and find yourself on Sunset where Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents sat poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel dreaming up the Jets and the Sharks. Where Pearl Bailey and Louis Bellson wowed the crowds at Ciro’s. From Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss’ renowned A&M Recording Studios to Berry Gordy’s earth-shattering Motown Records; from Wallich’s Music City to Tower Records and Amoeba Records to Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley and Jay-Z (not to mention the Beach Boys and the Byrds!). The music that comes to life along the gritty and glitzy 22-mile stretch called Sunset Boulevard inspires everyone. Written and directed by Rachel Worby, it runs March 12 through March 13 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Bram Goldsmith Theater. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.TheWallis.org/sunset.

“Little Parts Hunts a Baby-Daddy” Little Parts is a clown. She is also pregnant, and always has been. So, she’s not really sure she’ll ever give birth. But despite this conundrum, she is determined to find a good father for her Maybe-Baby — she is certain that at least one of the six applicants who applied online will be the perfect fit. Written and directed by Ann Noble, it runs March 15 through April 5 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

“The Revue” The production will introduce a new structure concept of a “Dynamic Plot,” assuring that no audience will actually see the same story twice. In the show, a director and producer audition the craziest musicals ever conceived in an effort to save their beloved theater from ruin with a sellout show. (Think: Jaws: The Musical as if Meredith Wilson was the composer). The opening and ending numbers are fixed scenes, however the body of the show will be completely malleable with over 50 different “modules” in three parts. Thus, a virtually unlimited permutation of plots can occur. If the audience needs an intermission, they can select that module as well. Because the songs and modules are themed with parody references to cinematic pop culture, audiences can also choose their “ratings” of G, PG, PG-13 or R based on how “family-friendly” they want the show to be (*however the Colony Premiere is recommended for audiences ages 16+). New modules are continually added to THE REVUE to entice the audience to return and see a brand new show. Shows can be performed by any quantity of group from 4 to 50 people – with no gender, race or ability requirements. Written by Jim Dooley, and directed by Matt Walker, it runs March 17 through March 27 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit www.TheRevueMusical.com.

“Clue” Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie, which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUE is a hilarious farce meets murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where blackmail and murder are on the menu! When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by Wadsworth (the butler), Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. CLUE is the comedy whodunit that will leave audience members in stitches as they try to figure out… WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT! Written by Sandy Rustin with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price, adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, and directed by Daniel Kruger, it runs March 18 through April 9 at the Westchester Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.

“In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play” Sarah Ruhl’s effervescent comedy about sex, intimacy and equality set in the 1880s — when enthusiasm for the electric light bulb gave rise to a handy new instrument to treat female hysteria. Written by Sarah Ruhl, and directed by Lane Allison, it runs March 18 through May 7 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 323-882-6912 or visit www.openfist.org.

“S.O.S. – Signs of Strength” Combining contemporary dance with martial arts, acrobatics, gymnastics and hip-hop and using meticulously designed architectural structures as the central inspiration for its gravity-defying work, DIAVOLO incorporates storytelling and movement to create socially relevant productions that celebrate the diversity and complexities of humankind. DIAVOLO’s stylistically varied and intensely physical choreography has become the hallmark of this truly original world-class company, which earned a Top 10 place in the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent,” attracting more than 90 million television viewers. A talkback with the company will be held after each performance. Written and directed by Jacques Heim, it runs March 18 through March 19 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Bram Goldsmith Theater in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.TheWallis.org/Diavolo.

“Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!” Hungry and fed up by rising prices and stagnant wages, Antonia joins a revolt of women at the local supermarket. Determined to live with dignity and rejecting an austerity diet of dog food and birdseed, the women’s protest escalates, and looting ensues. As police search door to door, Antonia and her friend Margherita frantically try to hide their ‘liberated’ goods from their husbands and the police. ‘Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!’ questions why, in a world of bailed-out banks and overpriced prescription drugs, theft is only a crime when it is committed by those truly in need. Written by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, and directed by Bob Turton, it runs March 19 through June 11 at the Ivy Substation in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-838-4264 Ext. 1 or visit www.TheActorsGang.com.

“Antiman” charts the course of one boy’s coming-of-age in St. Croix, the Virgin Islands. His mom is the black sheep of the family — a hippie drop-out whose boyfriend is a drug runner fugitive from Georgia — and he’s the only white kid in his school. Sometimes he lives in the shack on the wharf, and other times, it’s the station wagon. Written and directed by Sky Paley, it runs March 20 through April 10 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

“Ann” Tough as nails. Funny as hell. Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor (The Practice, Legally Blonde and Two and a Half Men) brings the legendary Ann Richards to the stage in this dynamo Tony-nominated performance that captures the fire, heart, and brains of Ann herself. Ann’s down home charm and passion for fair play fuel her uncanny leadership and capacity for caring. Always ready with a laugh out loud zinger or a telling observation, this superstar in Texas politics ultimately became a national figure. A vividly remembered force of nature, Ann continues to inspire us still. Written by Holland Taylor, and directed by Benjamin Endsley Klein, it runs March 22 through April 24 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.

“Can’t Get Next to You – A Temptations Experience” Motown Records dominated music in the 1960s on the strength of vocal groups such as the Temptations. In their heyday, the quintet boasted dynamite choreography and soulful, elegant harmonies spanning the entire spectrum of vocal timbres: high and middle tenor, baritone and bass. CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU brings the music of the Motown super group to the stage. Written by Larry Johnson, Terry Horn, Michael White, Steve Wood and Greg Woods, it runs March 24 through March 27 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“The Prisoner of Second Avenue” Mel Edison is a well-paid executive of a high-end Manhattan firm, which has suddenly hit the skids, and he gets the ax. His wife Edna takes a job to tide them over, then she too is sacked. Compounded by the air-pollution killing his plants, and with the walls of the apartment being paper-thin (allowing him a constant ear-full of his neighbor’s private lives), things can’t seem to get any worse…Then he’s robbed and his psychiatrist dies with $23,000 of his money. Mel does the only thing left for him to do: he has a nervous breakdown. And it’s the best thing that ever happened to him. Written by Neil Simon, and directed by Gail Bernardi, it runs March 25 through May 1 at the Theatre Palisades in Pacific Palisades. For tickets call 310-454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org.

“Anna in the Tropics” weaves the tale of a Cuban-American cigar factory in 1929 Florida where cigars are still rolled by hand and “lectors” are employed to transport and inspire the workers as they toil on the factory floor. As a handsome and debonair new lector, Juan Julian, reads the words of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, the lives of the workers begin to parallel the novel. Old traditions and new ways collide while longing, love, and betrayal spark a volatile flame that signals the end of an era. Written by Nilo Cruz, and directed by Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx, it runs March 26 through April 17 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-3121 or visit www.anoisewithin.org.

CONTINUING

“Macbeth” In this story, we see everything a homecoming is not supposed to be. Macbeth comes home to his wife to begin plotting instead of embracing. Duncan is killed in his friend’s home, where he should be his most secure. Macduff’s home is attacked, betraying war ethics. Even Burnham Wood seems to travel unnaturally toward Macbeth’s home. In seeing every way the concept of home is perverted, we see everything a home should be. Written by William Shakespeare, it runs through March 19 at the Helen Borgers Theatre in Long Beach. For tickets visit www.LBShakespeare.org.

Our local theme parks are operating at full capacity. Most require advance reservations online, as well as advance ticket, and possibly food, purchases. You will need an app in some to be able to take full advantage of all attractions and restaurants. Please check their websites for details, restrictions, and availability before planning a visit:

Some theaters still provide online offerings in addition to or in lieu of live performances, with many events you can experience on a virtual basis. A few of these online events are only available on a one-time basis, while others are ongoing and can be viewed on-demand anytime. Visit each of the web sites below to see what they are currently offering. You will find free content as well as pay-per-view to choose from. Here are the links to web sites with online offerings:

Our best wishes go out to all of our readers as always, but please continue to exercise caution, and follow whatever directions the venues may require regarding Covid-19.

As always, we also want to send out a very special thanks to our Public Relations representatives who supply us with this great information, and to our editors who continue to publish these columns. We hope this year will be a safe and healthy one for theatergoers, reviewers, and everyone everywhere.

Sincerely,

Steve Zall, Publisher
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher and Editor