Here are some great new shows coming soon to our Southern California theater scene!
The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should verify it 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:
OPENING
“The People of Pompeii” At once sharply critical and deeply affectionate, the play captures the beauty, contradictions, and resilience of a tightly woven haven where neighbors show up for one another in an era of climate catastrophe, even as tensions around privilege, belonging and survival simmer beneath the surface. Written by Bernardo Cubría, and directed by Ellen Geer and Xochitl Romero, it runs August 1 through October 4 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit theatricum.com.
“Dracula: The Musical” Set in Europe at the end of the Victorian Age, this story follows the famed vampire as he lusts for new blood, crossing oceans of time in pursuit of his long-lost love, Mina Murray. Dracula leaves a bloody nightmare in his wake as he hunts for Mina, facing off against her fiancé Johnathon Harker and the famed vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing. Mina struggles against her own mortal fears, her darkest desires, and the erotic temptations of the flesh. Written by Christopher Hampton and Don Black, with music by Frank Wildhorn, and directed by Justin Meyer, it runs August 6 through August 23 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale. For tickets visit www.thenocturnetheatre.com.
“Grease” A celebration of teenage dreams, rebellious hearts, and the magic of first love, audiences will step into the high school hallways of the 1950s where leather jackets shake and ponytails swing to timeless hits like Summer Nights, Greased Lightning, and You’re the One That I Want. Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, with music by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and directed by Oliver Azcarate, it runs August 6 through August 16 at the Mountain View Mausoleum in Altadena. For tickets visit www.altadenamusictheatre.com.
“Grave Mistakes” Meet Ray, a book editor who’s head-over-heals for his co-worker, author Molly. But as they struggle to meet a book deadline, chaos ensues when a bizarre landlord and ghost hunter burst in with plans to transform their cozy workspace (which may actually be haunted) into a paranormal tourist attraction. Will love and terror collide in a hilarious explosion? Written by Ben Abbott, and directed by Jonathan Fahn, it runs August 7 through August 30 at the LACAE Theater in North Hollywood. For tickets visit www.onstage411.com/gravemistakes.
“MATTY: An Evening with Christy Mathewson” is the life story of Christy Mathewson, legendary hall-of-fame pitcher for the New York Giants (1900 to 1916), gentleman, philosopher, and first true American hero who inspired a whole generation of fans to make baseball America’s pastime. Mathewson was arguably America’s first major baseball legend – a college-educated all-American farm boy from baseball’s age of innocence, a multi-faceted baseball player with homespun wit. Besides his ballpark records, still among the most impressive ever posted, he was an author of books for boys, toured in vaudeville, made a motion picture, and was a war hero, a coach, a sportswriter and very likely the first major sports figure to be a product spokesperson. Written by Eddie Frierson, and directed by Kerrigan Mahan, it runs August 15 through August 16 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-394-9779 Ext. 1 or visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com/Matty.html.
“Being Piaf” Actress, singer, and writer Eleanora Owen channels the “little sparrow,” sharing both her life story and repertoire with the audience. Multiple award-winning director Tim Byron Owen helms this original solo play with music that highlights Piaf’s joie de vivre, resilience, and triumph over a life of abject poverty and despair. Written by Eleanora Owen, and directed by Tim Byron Owen, it runs August 21 through August 30 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit OdysseyTheatre.com.
“Murder Mystery Dinner Party the Musical” When Edgar Allan Poe hosts a murder mystery dinner party for history’s greatest authors, the fake murders suddenly become all too real. Packed with mystery, comedy, and original songs, it’s a delightfully deadly night of theater you won’t want to miss. Written by Edgar Allan Poe, and directed by Shipwrecked Comedy, it runs August 21 through August 29 at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit garrymarshalltheatre.org.
“Enemy of the People” Ripping Ibsen’s classic out of the 19th century, DeLorenzo relocates the action to America in 2026, where battles over public health, economic survival, misinformation, and political polarization have become defining features of American life. When Dr. Tom Stockmann discovers that the waters of the local hot springs are contaminated, the solution seems obvious: shut them down before more people are harmed. But protecting public health comes with a devastating price. As financial interests, political expediency, and public opinion collide, Stockmann finds himself branded not a hero, but an “enemy of the people.” Written by Henrik Ibsen, and directed by Bart DeLorenzo, it runs August 22 through September 27 at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit OdysseyTheatre.com.
“Conscience” Fast-paced and emotionally charged, Conscience explores political courage, personal conviction, and the personal cost of speaking truth to power. It also highlights Smith’s groundbreaking role as a woman in American politics. She was the first woman elected from Maine to Congress and later to the U.S. Senate and, in 1950, the only woman serving among the Senate’s 96 members. Written by Joe DiPietro, and directed by Caryn Desai, it runs August 28 through September 13 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visit InternationalCityTheatre.org.
“Author! Author! – An Evening with Sholom Aleichem” Adapted from the stories and letters of Sholom Aleichem, Author! Author! is a magical musical melee – glorious and gentle, bold and bittersweet, mirthful and romantic, inviting audiences of all ages to celebrate the humor and wisdom of Sholom Aleichem as Chris DeCarlo reprises his award-winning portrayal of the world’s most beloved Yiddish author. And don’t confuse this show with “Aleichem Sholom” – a different show from our Jewish Heritage Project. Written by Sholom Aleichem, and directed by Chris DeCarlo, it runs August 29 through October 11 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets visit SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com/Author-Author.html.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’” Set during a single, sweltering afternoon in 1927, “Mother of the Blues” Ma Rainey fights to retain control of her music even as her ambitious trumpeter, Levee, reaches for opportunity in a world determined to hold him back. Against a backdrop of racism and inequity, Wilson’s searing drama illuminates the struggle to claim dignity, voice and self-worth. Written by August Wilson, and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, it runs from August 29 through September 20 at the A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-3100 or visit anoisewithin.org.
“Pericles” One of Shakespeare’s most adventurous and least staged plays, Pericles follows a young prince forced into exile after uncovering a deadly royal secret. What follows is a sweeping journey across oceans and kingdoms marked by storms, shipwrecks, separation, survival, and ultimately reunion. This re-conceptualization of Shakespeare’s Pericles in Ellen McLaughlin’s gorgeous translation embraces movement and music to tell a thrilling adventure tale that celebrates the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. Written by William Shakespeare, translated by Ellen McLaughlin, and directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck, it runs August 29 through September 27 at the Boston Court Pasadena in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-683-6801 or visit bostoncourtpasadena.org.
CONTINUING
“The Hour of the Star” follows Macabéa, a poor typist living on the margins who dreams of a better life in Rio de Janeiro. Narrated by the introspective Rodrigo S.M., the story is a meditation on human dignity, invisibility, and the right to be heard. This adaptation honors Lispector’s legacy by bringing her poetic, philosophical prose to the stage and reintroducing her work to new audiences. Written by Clarice Lispector, and directed by Alex Tietre, it runs through August 1 at the Broadwater Black Box Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit thehourofthestar.eventbrite.com.
“Dead Man” a lone private eye investigates a crime everyone wants to forget: it will definitely take more than one clown to figure it out. Somebody’s dead. Somebody must find the killer. Different somebodies, but… you get the idea. Life is easier when everything’s black and white. Except for those pesky greys. a lone private eye investigates a crime everyone wants to forget: it will definitely take more than one clown to figure it out. Somebody’s dead. Somebody must find the killer. Different somebodies, but… you get the idea. Life is easier when everything’s black and white. Except for those pesky greys. Written and directed by Ann Noble, it runs through August 4 at the Echo Theater Company – Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 747-350-8066 or visit EchoTheaterCompany.com.