Here are some great new shows opening soon in our local 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 Farce Awakens: Feydeau x 2” Two one-act plays by Georges Feydeau:
In Going to Pot (translation by Norman R. Shapiro), a chaotic domestic dispute completely derails a high-stakes business deal. Follavoine has invented an unbreakable chamber pot that he hopes to sell to the French military. But when a high-ranking official from the War Ministry arrives for a demonstration, their meeting is utterly disrupted by Follavoine’s wife, who is consumed by a domestic emergency: their seven-year-old son is severely constipated. Antics spiral further out of control with the arrival of the official’s wife and her “cousin”.
In Stark Naked (translated and freely adapted by Charles Marowitz), Ventroux is a prominent politician who can’t seem to persuade his wife to put some clothes on — not even in the presence of their servant, Victor, or as they prepare for a visit from an important local dignitary and political rival. When a local journalist shows up, Ventroux realizes that his political aspirations may be headed for complete ruin. Written by Georges Feydeau, and directed by Daniel Passer, it runs November 6 through January 17 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets or more information call 310-477-2055 or visit OdysseyTheatre.com.
“The Laugh Track” The play takes audiences behind the scenes of the classic American sitcom I Love Lucy, which aired on CBS from 1951 to 1957. Inspired by the real-life experiences of Madelyn Pugh, one of Hollywood’s first female television writers (often referred to at the time as the “girl writer”), the play shines a light on the inner workings of America’s beloved sitcom and the woman who punched up the jokes, helping to open doors for women in the writers’ room. Written by Wendy MacLeod, and directed by Brian Shnipper, it runs November 6 through November 22 at the International City Theatre in Long Beach. For tickets or more information call 562-436-4610 or visit InternationalCityTheatre.org.
“Little Women” Based on Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, Little Women follows Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up, discover their places in the world and pursue dreams uniquely their own. At the center of the story is Jo, an ambitious, imaginative and fiercely independent aspiring writer determined to forge a life on her own terms. Featuring a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, the musical brings the beloved characters from page to stage through a story filled with humor, heartbreak, first loves and the enduring bonds of family. Written by Allan Knee, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, it runs November 6 through November 22 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets or more information call 562-856-1999 or visit musical.org.
“The Heiress” is the story of Catherine Sloper, the plain-Jane daughter of a tyrannical rich man who dominates her life and subjects her to constant comparison to her vibrant mother, who died when Catherine was young. When she becomes involved with a young man who wants to marry her, Catherine’s father suspects him of being a fortune hunter. A meeting he has with the man’s sister strengthens that belief. Catherine’s father threatens to disinherit her if she continues the relationship, and she must make the difficult choice between wealth and a love that may or may not be reciprocated. Written by Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz, based on the novel Washington Square by Henry James, and directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, it runs November 12 through December 13 at Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills. For tickets or more information call 310-364-0535 or visit theatre40.org.
“Romeo and Juliet: Time Enough for Love” What happens when Romeo and Juliet fall in love at 75 instead of 14? With Shakespeare’s original language intact, Lebano transforms Shakespeare’s Verona into Verona Village, a South Florida retirement community for active seniors. Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James, star as the star-crossed lovers, forced to navigate romance, family interference and social expectations later in life — revealing how Shakespeare’s words can resonate differently when spoken by older adults. Written and directed by Christian Lebano, it runs November 13 through December 19 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets or more information visit openfist.org.
“She Loves Me” tells an intimate and touching story set in a 1930’s European perfumery where shop clerks Amalia and Georg, more often than not, don’t see eye-to-eye on anything. Both respond to a “lonely hearts advertisement” in the newspaper by addressing them to “Dear Friend” and now live for the love letters they exchange. But the identity of their admirers remains unknown. Join Amalia and Georg to discover the identity of their true loves… with all the twists and turns along the way! Written by Joe Maseroff, with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and directed by Brian Pirnat, it runs November 13 through December 12 at the Westchester Playhouse in Inglewood. For tickets or more information call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.
“Broadway Showstoppers” The award-winning All Roads Theatre Company returns to the legendary Saban Theatre on November 14 with another edition of its “Broadway Showstoppers” – a song & dance extravaganza to benefit the mainstage programming and children’s training program of this celebrated new Los Angeles Equity Theatre Company. This year’s benefit features a dazzling array of Broadway and Hollywood Headliners and Bright New Faces and features thirty professional dancers and a sixteen-piece orchestra.
Among the distinguished company is the legendary Kay Cole, who originated the role of Maggie in A Chorus Line, Kerry O’Malley, Broadway star of the 2002 Broadway Revival of Into the Woods and White Christmas, Marcy DeGonge Manfredi, leading lady of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera and Cats, April Nixon, Olivier Award nominated star of Damn Yankees on the West End and Smokey Joe’s Cafe on Broadway and Leslie Stevens, award winning actress and Anne in the original Broadway La Cage Aux Folles, and many others.
Written, choreographed, and directed by Scott Thompson, with music by Fred Barton, it runs one night only on November 14 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets or more information call 888-645-5006 or visit www.wmmts.com.
“Death and the Maiden” In an unnamed country which has only recently returned to democracy, a man who has been named to head a commission that will investigate the crimes of the previous regime is driving home one night when his car breaks down. He is rescued by an older man, a kindly doctor. But when he brings him home, his wife recognizes—or think she does—his voice as that of the man who raped and tortured her years before while she lay blindfolded in a military detention center. Death and the Maiden, the award-winning drama from Ariel Dorfman, is a harrowing suspense thriller that investigates the slippery moral territory between the hunger for justice and the thirst for revenge. Do immoral acts justify immoral retribution? And what if the target of our legitimate outrage is innocent? How certain can we be of our motives—or of our own morality—when we suddenly can take justice into our own hands? Written by Ariel Dorfman, and directed by Frédérique Michel, it runs November 14 through December 20 at the City Garage in Santa Monica. For tickets or more information call 310-453-9939 or visit www.citygarage.org.
“Road Show” Road Show is a one-act musical that tracks the turbulent, freewheeling journey of the real-life Mizner brothers, Addison and Wilson. Spanning 40 years from the Yukon Gold Rush to the 1920s Florida real estate boom, the show delivers a razor-sharp, vaudevillian critique of American capitalism, greed, and the complicated, testing nature of familial bonds. Road Show was produced in several iterations between 2003 and 2019 under various titles including Bounce, Wise Guys, and Gold! Written by John Weidman, with music by Stephen Sondheim, and directed by Joanna Syiek, it runs November 20 through December 6 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets or more information visit www.chrtheatre.com.
“Bob Baker’s Nutcracker” The enchanting production – a cherished yuletide tradition for Angelenos of all ages – features more than 100 handcrafted puppets, including original characters from the ballet, such as Clara, the Nutcracker, the Rat King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, along with many of Baker’s own whimsical creations. With its large-scale marionettes and intricate sets, this dreamscape adaptation has become one of the Southland’s most celebrated holiday traditions. Written by Bob Baker Marionette Theater, it runs November 28 through January 3 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets or more information call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
“A Christmas Carol” Dickens’ timeless story of redemption follows the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve, setting him on a remarkable journey of self-discovery, compassion and hope. Filled with music and merriment, A Noise Within’s A Christmas Carol offers a theatrical feast of holiday cheer for audiences of all ages. Written by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Geoff Elliott, with music by Robert Oriol, and directed by Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, it runs November 28 through December 24 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets or more information call 626-356-3100 or visit www.anoisewithin.org.
“A Christmas Carol” the timeless tale of one man’s redemptive journey is one of Orange County’s longest-running holiday traditions. In the end, Scrooge learns that real value, meaning and happiness lie in human connections—to family, to those who work alongside us and the community around us, and that the true Christmas spirit is rooted in our care of and openness to others. Written by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch, and directed by Hisa Takakuwa, it runs November 28 through December 27 at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets or more information call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
“A Christmas Carol the Musical” follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, penny-pinching moneylender who is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of his late partner, Jacob Marley, and three spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Over one extraordinary night, Scrooge revisits his own story and discovers that it is never too late to change his heart. Packed with soaring holiday anthems, lively Victorian street scenes, and the joyful spectacle of the Fezziwigs’ Christmas party, the musical brings Dickens’ London to life for audiences of every age. Written by Charles Dickens, adapted by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and directed by Tim Nelson, it runs November 29 through December 20 at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster. For tickets or more information visit rosecentertheater.com/a-christmas-carol.
“Madam Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Musical” The annual award-winning holiday musical is back in Los Angeles for 2026! This Broadway-style musical takes an original twist on Charles Dickens’ famous tale: A Christmas Carol! Madam Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Musical recounts the story of Madame Eleanore Scrooge, a miserly spinster, who is visited by the ghost of her former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. Experience the timeless magic of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol like never before with Madam Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Musical, live in Los Angeles! This unique adaptation reimagines the beloved holiday classic with a Broadway-style twist, perfect for families and theater enthusiasts alike. Join us for a spectacular live performance of A Christmas Carol in Glendale, where music, drama, and festive cheer collide. Written by Justin Patrick Meyer, with music by Chris Thomas, lyrics by Justin Patrick Meyer, and directed by Melissa Meyer, it runs November 29 through December 21 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale. For tickets or more information call 818-839-0984 or visit thenocturnetheatre.com.
“The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration” This heartfelt new concert experience celebrates the timeless music of Karen and Richard Carpenter, bringing their unforgettable songs, remarkable story, and enduring legacy back to the stage with a full live band, stunning vocals, and captivating narration. The production stars acclaimed vocalist and actress Christina Hélène Braa, whose remarkable voice brings new life to some of the most beloved songs ever recorded. The tour will launch September 23 in York, Pennsylvania before heading to Los Angeles, Boston, and more than 50 cities in all, across the U.S. and Canada. With more than 100 million records sold worldwide, The Carpenters became one of the most successful and beloved recording acts of the 1970s. Their unmistakable sound, defined by Karen Carpenter’s warm contralto vocals and Richard Carpenter’s sophisticated arrangements, produced a remarkable string of chart-topping hits that continue to resonate with audiences generations later. Written and directed by Dean Elliott, it runs one night only on November 30 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets or more information visit www.BroadwayInThousandOaks.com.
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:
| THEATER | WEBSITE |
| 3-D Theatricals | 3dtheatricals.org |
| A Noise Within | anoisewithin.org |
| Antaeus Theatre | antaeus.org |
| Boston Court Pasadena | bostoncourtpasadena.org |
| CaltechLive! | events.caltech.edu youtube.com |
| Chalk Repertory Theatre | chalkrep.com |
| Coeurage Ensemble | coeurage.org |
| East West Players | eastwestplayers.org |
| Echo Theater Company | echotheatercompany.com |
| El Portal Theatre | elportaltheatre.com |
| Films.Dance | films.dance |
| For the Record Live | ForTheRecordLive.com |
| Fountain Theatre | fountaintheatre.com |
| Garry Marshall Theatre | youtube.com |
| Hero Theatre | herotheatre.org |
| IAMA Theatre Company | iamatheatre.com woollymammoth.net queenstheatre.org |
| International City Theatre | InternationalCityTheatre.org |
| Kentwood Players | kentwoodplayers.org youtube.com/kentwoodplayers |
| Laguna Playhouse | lagunaplayhouse.com |
| L.A. Chamber Orchestra | laco.org/laco-at-home |
| L.A. Theatre Works (fee & free) | latw.org/black-voices latw.org/broadcasts latw.org/hd-screenings latw.org/setting-stage-learning |
| Loft Ensemble | loftensemble.org |
| Long Beach Opera | longbeachopera.org |
| Macha Theatre | MachaTheatre.org |
| Morgan-Wixson Theatre | morgan-wixson.org youtube.com |
| Moving Arts | movingarts.org |
| Odyssey Theatre | OdysseyTheatre.com |
| Open Door Playhouse | opendoorplayhouse.org |
| Pepperdine University | arts.pepperdine.edu |
| Robey Theatre Company | therobeytheatrecompany.org |
| Rubicon Theatre | rubicontheatre.org |
| Sacred Fools | sacredfools.org |
| Santa Monica Playhouse | santamonicaplayhouse.com |
| Segerstrom Center for the Arts | scfta.org |
| Shakespeare Center LA | shakespearecenter.org |
| Sierra Madre Playhouse | sierramadreplayhouse.org |
| South Coast Repertory | scr.org |
| The Blank Theatre (fee) The Blank Theatre (free) | patreon.com/TheBlankTheatre youtube.com/TheBlankTheatreCo |
| The Geffen Playhouse (fee) | geffenplayhouse.org |
| The Latino Theatre Company | latinotheaterco.org |
| The Road Theatre Company | youtube.com |
| The Soraya | thesoraya.org |
| The Victory Theatre Center | thevictorytheatrecenter.org |
| The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts | thewallis.org |
| Theatre 40 | theatre40.org |
| Theatre 68 | youtube.com/68centcrewtheatre |
| Theatre West | theatrewest.org |