Summer is almost here at last, and that means it’s time to go see one or more of these fabulous shows playing currently in our local theaters!
Covid protocols continue to be dictated by each individual venue, so bring a face mask to wear during the show in case the venue requires it. It’s a good idea to check with the theater before you attend a show to find out what their current policy is.
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
“Gatsby Redux” The performance invites audience members to follow the dancers on an exciting and evocative journey into the 1920’s. This 90-minute outdoor performance explores themes from the novel as well as immersing the audience into Gatsby’s world amidst the stunning backdrop of the vintage gardens and mansion. Written and directed by Janet Roston, it runs June 5 through June 14 at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-285-1000 or visit www.beverlyhills.org/1327/Gatsby-Redux.
“Shrek the Musical” Follow the unlikely hero Shrek as he embarks on a life-changing journey, accompanied by his loyal (and wisecracking) companion, Donkey, and a feisty, no-nonsense Princess Fiona. Together, they confront a short-tempered villain, Lord Farquaad, a sassy Gingerbread Man, and over a dozen quirky fairy tale misfits to save the day—and discover what true friendship and love really mean. Featuring show-stopping songs, spectacular costumes, and laugh-out-loud moments, Shrek the Musical is a must-see experience that celebrates the hero in all of us. Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, and directed by Justin Meyer, it runs June 6 through July 20 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-839-0984 or visit www.thenocturnetheatre.com.
“Frozen” In the beautiful, mountainous kingdom of Arendelle, Princesses Anna and Elsa grow up sheltered inside their castle, isolated from the world, and increasingly distanced from each other. When Elsa is crowned queen, the magical powers she has desperately tried to conceal from her sister take control, and she flees into the mountains. As a ferocious winter descends on Arendelle, Anna sets off on an epic journey to find Elsa and bring her home, with the help of hardworking ice harvester Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and a happy-go-lucky snowman named Olaf. Full of magic, humor, and a stunning musical score, Disney’s FROZEN The Broadway Musical is a powerful tale of sisterhood, acceptance, and finding the real meaning of true love. Written by Jennifer Lee, with music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, and directed by Dan Knechtges, it runs June 7 through June 29 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada Theatre. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.LaMiradaTheatre.com.
“Much Ado About Nothing” remains one of the most exuberant and spirited battles of the sexes ever written. Sparks fly between Beatrice (Willow Geer) and Benedick (Aaron Hendry), “frenemies” whose relationship is defined by an ongoing war of words and verbal jousting. Yet beneath their seeming animosity lies a mutual attraction that neither dares confess, until circumstances unite them to rescue young friends Hero (Audrey Forman) and Claudio (Kelvin Morales), whose courtship has been marred by gossip and scandal — in the process unmasking Beatrice and Benedick’s own true love. With the scene re-set from Shakespeare’s Italy to the U.S. at the end of the Civil War, the story overflows with twists and turns, heartbreak and hilarity. Ultimately, the play’s humor and poignancy emerge from its unflinching portrayal of human imperfection, celebrating the resilience of love and truth as they triumph over deception and misunderstanding. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Willow Geer, it runs June 7 through September 13 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.
“The Wedding Singer” harks back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer just might be the coolest guy in the room. It’s 1985 New Jersey and rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer. He’s the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. As luck would have it, Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. Written by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and directed by Michael Donovan, it runs June 7 through June 29 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit www.colonytheatre.org/the-wedding-singer.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” might just be Shakespeare’s most entertaining and beguiling comedy, and it’s become Theatricum’s signature production as audiences demand its return year after year. Once again, this summer, the venue’s wooded stage will morph into the enchanted woods of Athens, where mortal lovers chase and are chased, players prepare, and fairies make magical mischief. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Willow Geer, it runs June 8 through September 15 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.
“Peril in the Alps” The thrilling follow-up to Murder on the Links makes its anticipated debut! This new Hercule Poirot story leads the famed Belgian detective on a thrilling journey into the treacherous snow-capped Alps to solve a kidnapping before it becomes a murder. Will he finally meet his match in the mountains? Fortunately for the audience, the journey to the satisfying conclusion is filled with clever twists and turns and plenty of laughter as Poirot encounters dozens of eccentric characters and clever suspects – all played by six actors! Written and directed by Steven Dietz, it runs June 15 through June 29 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
“A Rose Called Candace” Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Sacramento, actress and spoken word poet Candace Nicholas-Lippman shares her story of family, faith, fear, and freedom—and finds her truth and transformation along the way. Raw, courageous, and intimate, A Rose Called Candace shatters expectations of what’s possible with a one-woman show and will inspire you to find your own bloom. Written by Candace Nicholas-Lippman, and directed by Bernadette Speakes, it runs June 21 through June 29 at the Robey Theatre Company, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre 4 in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.therobeytheatrecompany.org.
“Strife” In this production of Galsworthy’s 1909 play, Theatricum moves the story to 1890s Pennsylvania amidst the industrial unrest and labor movements of America’s Gilded Age. At the climactic peak of a labor strike, both the workers and the corporation are faced with untenable options. The play’s emphasis on the often-overlooked human consequences of these struggles—particularly the voices of women and families who endure the brunt of the turmoil—highlights how easily leaders on both sides get so caught up in their arguments, that sometimes they forget whom they are fighting for. Galsworthy avoids making clear-cut moral judgments, instead presenting a nuanced exploration of the complexities inherent in labor relations. The play’s even-handed treatment invites audiences to grapple with the intricacies of negotiation and resolution while considering the costs of extremism on both sides. Written by John Galsworthy, and directed by Ellen Geer and Willow Geer, it runs June 21 through October 4 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.
“The Reservoir” Josh’s life is spiraling, but luckily, his grandparents are here to help. And by help, we mean offering unsolicited advice, relentlessly judging his life choices, bringing up their own mortality over coffee, and dragging him to Jazzercise class at the JCC. From Bev’s no-nonsense tough love to Shrimpy’s wildly inappropriate jokes, these grandparents steal the show—and maybe, just maybe, help Josh find his way. The Reservoir is a sharply funny and deeply heartfelt new play by Jake Brasch about family, memory, and healing. Written by Jake Brasch, and directed by Shelley Butler, it runs June 26 through July 20 at the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.
“Something Rotten!” follows the Bottom brothers- Nick and Nigel- as they struggle to make a name for themselves in the shadow of that rockstar playwright we all know: William Shakespeare. Desperate to outshine the Bard, the brothers turn to a soothsayer who predicts the next big thing in theater… musicals! What follows is a side-splitting mashup of Elizabethan absurdity and showbiz satire, complete with tap numbers, rapping bards, and an omelette of surprises (yes, literally). Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Tim Nelson, it runs June 27 through July 20 at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster. For tickets call 714-793-1150 or visit www.rosecentertheater.com/something-rotten.
CONTINUING
“Nice Girl” In suburban Massachusetts, 1984, thirty-seven-year-old Josephine Rosen has a dead-end job, still lives with her mother, and has settled into the uncomfortable comfort of an unintended spinsterhood. But when a chance flirtation with an old classmate and a new friendship at work gives her hope for the possibility of change, she dusts off the Jane Fonda tapes and begins to take tentative steps towards a new life. A play about the tragedy and joy of figuring out who you are and letting go of who you were supposed to be. Written by Melissa Ross, and directed by Ann Bronston, it runs through July 13 at the Matrix Theatre Upstairs on the Henry Murray Stage in Los Angeles. For tickets call 855-585-5185 or visit www.roguemachinetheatre.org.