Well since school is back in session again you have more time now to take in these great productions all around our wonderful city, such as:

 

“All the Way” The story begins in 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. All the Way follows Lyndon Baines Johnson as he fights to overcome his reputation as an accidental president and maneuvers to pass the landmark Civil Rights Act by any means necessary. Some of the nation’s most dynamic leaders of the time—from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Alabama Gov. George Wallace—stand with the president or against him. As Johnson wheels and deals on Capitol Hill, he keeps his eye on a second term and the looming 1964 presidential race. Written by Robert Schenkkan, and directed by Marc Masterson, it runs September 2 through October 2 at the South Coast Repertory Segerstrom Stage in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.

 

“The Odd Couple” opens as a group of the guys assembles for cards in the apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it’s no wonder that his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Unger who has just been separated from his wife. Fastidious, depressed and tense, Felix seems suicidal. When the clean-freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together, The Odd Couple is born. As the action unfolds, Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind — with hilarious results. Written by Neil Simon, and directed by Jonathan Fahn, it runs September 2 through October 9 at the Pierson Playhouse in Pacific Palisades. For tickets call 310-454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org.

“Moonlight and Magnolias” Three weeks into filming “Gone with the Wind”—Atlanta has burned, Scarlett O’Hara has been cast, but there’s no workable script and the director has been fired. Legendary film producer David O. Selznick seemingly has the biggest white elephant in Hollywood on his hands, and only five days to save the troubled production from certain failure. Desperate, he brings in the formidable Victor Fleming to take over as director and famed screenwriter Ben Hecht to rewrite the lackluster script. The only problem is Hecht hasn’t read the book, and the clock is ticking. With the shades drawn, phone calls unanswered, and subsisting only on a diet of peanuts and bananas, Selznick and Fleming reenact scenes from the novel for Hecht to adapt into a screenplay that would become an epic Academy Award-winning film. Written by Ron Hutchinson, and directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin, it runs September 3 through September 18 at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura. For tickets call 805-667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

 

“Barbecue” The grill is hot, the beer is chilled and the table is set for a typical O’Mallery family barbecue. But when their drug-addicted sister Zippity Boom arrives strung-out and out of control, her siblings have finally had enough — enough beer, enough whiskey and enough pills to confront her. Their ham-handed intervention ignites the fuse of this raucous and rollicking new comedy that skewers our warped view of the American family. Written by Robert O’Hara, and directed by Colman Domingo, it runs September 6 through October 16 at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-5454 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.

 

“Angel’s Flight” follows McKagan’s search for the missing dame through seedy bars, back alleys and awkward dream sequences. He’s hot on the doll’s trail, but barking up the wrong tree and other such noir-ish clichés. Every time he gets close, something gets in the way. Things aren’t always as they seem in the City of Angels, and the chase becomes a downward spiral of betrayal, murder and perhaps most deadly of all…marijuana! Angel’s Flight blends elements of film noir, quick-witted comedy and sexy burlesque for a truly unique theatrical experience. Written by Matt Ritchey and Benjamin Schwartz, and directed by Matt Ritchey, it runs September 7 through September 28 at the Three Clubs Cocktail Lounge in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/e/angels-flight-tickets-27102478242?aff=es2.

“Around the World in 80 Days” British gentleman Phileas Fogg bets members of his London club the substantial sum of 20,000 pounds that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. He is accompanied by his new French butler Passepartout. But Fogg has become the prime suspect in a bank robbery and is relentlessly pursued in his global travels by Fix, a bumbling detective. Along the way, Fogg engineers the daring rescue of a beautiful woman in deadly danger who, naturally, falls in love with him. From the wilds of the Indian jungle to the even wilder American West, Fogg and Passepartout race to meet the deadline as the days fall short. Will Fogg win the wager? Can he evade capture? Will he find true love? What character will be created in front of your eyes next? It’s great fun for all ages, and cleverly inventive theatre. Written by Mark Brown, based on the novel by Jules Verne, and directed by Allison Bibicoff, it runs September 9 through October 16 at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-4429 or visit www.Plays411.com/aroundtheworld.

“Charm” Set in “The Center,” a shelter and safe space for the LGBTQ community in Chicago, CHARM explores the complex issue of Gender Identity. Mama Darleena Andrews, a black transgender woman, attempts to share her rules of proper behavior with a youth group that struggles to define themselves across sexual, racial and gender spectrums. Facing conflict with themselves and each other, Mama- with tough love and an unapologetic attitude- uses her unwavering belief in etiquette and decorum to teach her students how to cope with their daily battles with identity, poverty and prejudice. Written by Philip Dawkins, and directed by Michael Matthews, it runs September 9 through October 23 at the Celebration Theatre at the Lex in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-957-1884 or visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.

 

“The Fantasticks” is a lyrical and romantic musical that tells an allegorical love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. This beloved musical has been seen in over 67 countries and performed in locations ranging from The Peking Opera to The White House. Written by Tom Jones, with music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones, and directed by Seema Sueko, it runs September 9 through October 2 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

 

“Songs for a New World” is about one moment, hitting a wall and having to make a choice, or to take a stand, or to turn around and go back.  Will the expectant young couple put aside their differences and move forward with their unborn child?  How does the New York Socialite deal with her feelings of loss of her son to war and her husband to another woman?  What is the next move of the political activist now that he has been imprisoned? Written by Jason Robert Brown, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and directed by James Esposito, it runs September 9 through September 25 at the Chromolume Theatre at the Attic in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-510-2688 or visit www.crtheatre.com.

“Wait until Dark” An independent blind woman unwittingly comes into possession of a doll filled with drugs, and then becomes a target for three ex-cons who attempt to retrieve the doll by deceiving her into thinking that her husband is implicated in the crime. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues leading to a heart-stopping ending. Written by Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, and directed by Kathy Dershimer, it runs September 9 through October 15 at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.com.

“One Woman Gone Wrong” When an Actress (Emmy-winning writer/performer LESLIE CAVENY) takes center stage, her very personal memory play immediately falls apart. But it’s not a show gone wrong, it’s a life gone wrong – and tonight she’s refusing to give up on either one. Is she lost in the part or is she losing her mind? ONE WOMAN GONE WRONG deconstructs the solo show genre and blurs the lines between real life and the stage for an unforgettable, heartfelt and hilarious experience. Written by Leslie Caveny, and directed by Maria Burton, it runs September 10 through November 27 at the Theatre West in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-851-7977 or visit www.theatrewest.org.

 

“Amy Snowden’s Casting Confessions From La to LA” is an outrageous and comical insight into Snowden’s formative years in a small town in Louisiana, getting chewed up and spit-out in Hollywood and her secret ways of finally making money to survive and rise in the OC. Amy’s wild ride is full of hilarious and terrifying stories of nightmare roommates, nowhere jobs, public transportation, and non-traditional “happy endings”. Amy Snowden’s Casting Confessions From La to LA is an outlandish journey from innocence to guilty in a few short years. Written by Amy Snowden, and directed by Joe Salazar, it runs September 15 through October 20 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-5770 or visit www.plays411.net/amysnowden.

 

“The Beauty, The Banshee & Me” Adopted at 3 months old by celebrated entertainers, Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy, Cathy Lind Hayes embarks on a decades-long journey to learn the truth about where she came from and why she was given up. Her search takes many turns as she tries to make sense of how she is the daughter of two very different women. This is her journey, an entertaining account of searching for the truth. Written by Cathy Lind Hayes, and directed by Michael Allen Angel, it runs September 15 through October 23 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets call 323-960-1055 or visit www.plays411.com/banshee.

 

“Anita Bryant’s Playboy Interview” Less than 10 years after the Stonewall Riots, Anita Bryant launched a successful campaign to repeal gay rights in Dade County, Florida. Anita’s nationally notorious campaign gave legitimacy to a new style of right wing politics and helped launch the Moral Majority and other right-wing movements that continue to the present day. But she also had a major impact on the modern gay rights movement, propelling Harvey Milk onto the San Francisco City Council and reviving enthusiasm and anger at a time when it was most needed. In 1978, Anita Bryant sat down for an outrageous and memorable 8-day interview with Ken Kelley of Playboy Magazine. This is that interview, recreated on stage with additional material that sets the historical scene and brings the issues raised by the interview to the present day. Anita didn’t hold back in her interview, and neither does this funny, touching, and thought-provoking piece. Written by Robert Whirry and John Copeland, and directed by Paul Stein, it runs September 16 through October 11 at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater in Silverlake. For tickets call 213-308-1108 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2591134.

“Our Town” No curtain. No scenery. Arguably the most famous American play ever written, OUR TOWN has entertained generations of audiences. In this exciting multi-cultural version, told by an ethnically-diverse cast of 17, Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer-winning drama set in Grover’s Corners remains as poignant and relevant today as it was in 1938 – a timeless story about living, love and loss and appreciating life and its quiet moments to their fullest. Written by Thornton Wilder, and directed by Richard Israel, it runs September 16 through October 23 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-462-8460 or visit www.ActorsCo-op.org.

 

“The Play About the Baby” In this rarely produced dark comedy by one of America’s greatest playwrights, a young couple who are madly in love with each other, have a child – the perfect family – that is, until a mysterious older couple steal the baby. Through a series of mind games and manipulations, they call into question both couples’ sense of reality and fiction, joy and sorrow. Written by Edward Albee, and directed by Andre Barron, it runs September 16 through November 5 at the Road on Magnolia in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org.

 

“Sawed in Half” begs the question: ‘What happens when one woman’s competing roles of wife, mother, lover, and performer collide? Seeking guidance from role models as diverse as her spry but dead Jewish grandmother and her neurotic, feminist mother to Frida Kahlo, Isadora Duncan, and Erma Bombeck, Andrea tries to abide by all the rules before realizing that, in the game of life, a woman has to make her own. Written by Andrea Mezvinsky, and directed by Victoria Larimore, it runs September 16 through October 8 at the ACME Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

“Blueberry Toast” Ever wonder what evil lurks in the heart of suburbia? Every family has a dark underbelly — especially the perfect ones. Playwright Mary Laws puts the “dys” in family dysfunction with this modern-day, darkly comic revenge tragedy. Written by Mary Laws, and directed by Dustin Wills, it runs September 17 through October 24 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

 

“The Country Wife” CONSUMER ADVISORY: Suitable for general audiences. Although some of the humorous content is very naughty, it is presented discreetly for comic effect, without profanity or nudity. This is a free production at an outdoor venue. It starts with a young rake named Horner (there’s a pun in that somewhere, as there is one hidden in the title of the play itself). Horner gets his doctor (named Quack, naturally) to spread a rumor that Horner experienced a mishap while traveling in France that has rendered him impotent, thus making him a safe companion to entertain the wives of the city gentlemen. (It’s not true, of course, but it’s certainly clever.) The rumor hasn’t reached the ears of country gentleman Pinchwife, who has recently taken a lovely young bride, Margery. Determined not to be cuckolded, the repressive Pinchwife keeps her under lock and key, which has the effect of making the prospect of Horner’s company all the more appealing to her. Being a country wife (as distinct from a city wife), she is presumably less sophisticated than her urban counterparts and more susceptible to temptation. Will Horner ultimately have his way with Margery? Will he have his way with every woman in town? Written by William Wycherley, and directed by Suzanne Hunt, it runs September 17 through October 23 at the Kings Road Park in West Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-5691 or email classicaltheatrelab@gmail.com.

 

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” With a lush, emotionally rich score and beautiful choral arrangements, it’s a dramatic retelling of the epic but tragic Victor Hugo novel. Darker than the Disney film, closer in plot to the novel, the musical showcases the film’s Oscar-nominated score and introduces stunning new songs. For the first time, Quasimodo — who is deaf in the original novel — will be played by a deaf actor. Written by Peter Parnell, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and directed by Glenn Casale, it runs September 17 through October 9 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.

“Peter and the Starcatcher” They call him Boy, the orphan without a name. One day he’s whisked onto the good ship Neverland, and recruited by a young Starcatcher named Molly to save the “starstuff” from Black Stache and his pirate crew. If the starstuff falls into Black Stache’s hands, his every wish could become reality. See how the Boy becomes Peter in a swashbuckling tale of yesteryear, infused with pop culture imagery of today. Written by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, with music by Wayne Barker, and directed by Lauren Blair, it runs September 17 through October 9 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-828-7519 or visit www.morgan-wixson.org.

“The Maids” Solange and Claire are two housemaids who construct elaborate role-play rituals when their mistress (Madame) is away. The focus of their role-play is the murder of Madame and they take turns portraying both sides of the power divide. Jean Genet loosely based his play on the infamous sisters Christine and Léa Papin, who made headlines by brutally murdering their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933. Written by Jean Genet, and directed by Stephanie Shroyer, it runs September 18 through November 12 at the A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-3100 Ext. 1 or visit www.anoisewithin.org.

“Moral Imperative” Seth and Robert are academics who are convinced that their beloved Briarton University will just go straight to hell if it’s allowed to remain under the stewardship of their despised University President, Oscar. It doesn’t help matters that the Trustees passed over Seth and gave the presidency to Oscar, who wants to abolish faculty tenures as his first order of business. Robert and Seth love the world-class institution where they are employed. They feel a moral imperative to remove Oscar and plan to take steps to accomplish their aim. Pauline, a police detective, has other ideas about the actions of Seth and Robert, and their motives. Will Seth and Robert be able to pull off their scheme? Written by Samuel Warren Joseph, and directed by Howard Storm, it runs September 22 through October 17 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.

“Bars and Measures” Two brothers, both musicians. The classical pianist is Christian. The jazz bassist is Muslim. When Bilal is accused of being a terrorist and jailed awaiting trial, Eric tries to stay connected by pushing aside his own classical aspirations in order to learn big brother’s jazz style. Separated by prison bars and religious convictions, the brothers scat and be-bop through their shared language of music. As his brother’s trial progresses, Eric becomes disillusioned and struggles to decide if he believes the charges levied against his beloved older brother, or if false accusations make him a beleaguered martyr to a prejudiced, paranoid nation. Written by Idris Goodwin, and directed by Weyni Mengesha, it runs September 24 through October 23 at the Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-683-6883 or visit www.bostoncourt.com.

 

“A Taste of Honey” the story of Jo, a working-class, adolescent girl and her relationships with her saloon-frequenting mother; her mother’s newly acquired husband, the black sailor who makes Jo pregnant, and the homosexual art student who moves into her apartment to help her through her pregnancy. Shot through with love and humor, bursting with energy and daring, this exhilarating and honest depiction of harsh, working-class life in post-war England offers an explosive celebration of the vulnerabilities and strengths of the female spirit in a deprived and restless world. Playwright Shelagh Delaney was just 18 years old in May 1958, when this controversial play rocked the British theater community, with its interracial romance and frank discussion of sexual matters. Written by Shelagh Delaney, and directed by Kim Rubinstein, it runs September 24 through November 27 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

 

“Bright Colors and Bold Patterns” Josh and Brennan are about to get married in Palm Springs on a lovely Saturday afternoon. However, the night before becomes a drunken, drug-fueled scream riot, because their friend Gerry has arrived, furious that their invitation says “please refrain from wearing bright colors or bold patterns”. In the struggle for equality, what do we really want? What do we lose? And is there any cocaine left? Written by Drew Droege, and directed by Michael Urie, it runs September 26 through November 14 (on Monday nights only) at the Celebration Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-957-1884 or visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.

 

“For The Record: Scorsese – American Crime Requiem” introduces audiences to MARTY’S PLACE—a four tier venue rising from the depths of the orchestra pit to the height of the light grid—taking audiences from a Lower East Side dive bar to an Italian restaurant, a Las Vegas casino to a classic rock concert stage. As characters rise through the physical space so do their positions in life: from drunken degenerates at the bar to couples on dinner dates, the rich VIPs seated in the casino to the Gods of Rock looking down on us all. The evening will highlight 40 years of Scorsese’s storytelling through films such as GoodFellas, Casino, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street and more. Written by Shane Scheel and Anderson Davis, and directed by Anderson Davis, it runs September 29 through October 16 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.TheWallis.org.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set around the time that Theseus, duke of Athens, is about to wed Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. A local maiden, Hermia, is in love with Lysander, but her father Egeus is trying to force her to marry Demetrius, who is in turn loved by Helena. Meanwhile, Oberon, king of the fairies (in this context, magical nocturnal folk who dwell in the forest), seeks to discipline his petulant queen, Titania, and engages the services of Puck, a magical sprite, to cast a spell on her. Employing herbs imbued with mystical powers, Puck causes Titania to become enamored of Bottom, a local craftsman whose head has been supplanted with that of a jackass, complete with donkey ears. Puck employs another magical charm that inadvertently causes Lysander to abandon his true love Hermia and to pursue Helena. This is a comedy, remember, so everyone will eventually wind up with the people with whom they belong. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Rebecca Lynne, it runs September 29 through October 8 at the Brand Park in Glendale. This is a free event. For more information visit www.deanproductionstheatre.com.

“Closer” set in London, involves a love quadrangle. There’s Alice, an exotic dancer (played by Stephanie Noel Garrison); Dan, a writer (Hamish Sturgeon); Anna, a photographer (Natalie Mitchell); and Larry, a dermatologist (Randy Vasquez). The couples, who sometimes switch partners in what seems like near-abandon, go through periods of love, affection, lust, devotion, deceit, betrayal, abandonment, romance, manipulation, obsession and game-playing. Can true love survive this much turmoil? Written by Patrick Marber, and directed by James Paradise, it runs September 30 through October 9 at the Macha Theatre in West Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-4420 or visit www.CloserThePlay.com.

 

“Dear World” follows Countesses Aurelia, Constance and Gabrielle, who scheme up a plan to stop businessmen from drilling for oil in the Parisian neighborhood of Chaillot. Written as a pithy social commentary, while living in Switzerland during World War II, Giraudoux’s “bad men” are corporate fascists, driven by narcissism, greed and a thirst for power. His heroine, Countess Aurelia, who stands firmly against corruption, would fit right into the political climate of today. Stars Tyne Daly as Countess Aurelia. Written by Jerry Herman, with music by Jerry Herman, and directed by David Lee, it runs one night only on September 30 at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. For tickets call 818-677-3000 or visit www.ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.org.

“Bye Bye Birdie” the number one rock star in the country, Conrad Birdie, has been drafted into the army. As a final pre-service publicity stunt, his promoter arranges for him to go to the Midwestern town of Sweet Apple, Ohio to kiss a gorgeous teenage fan, Kim,  on national television, for broadcast on the nation’s top-rated musical variety show. This does not sit well with the young lady’s devoted boyfriend, Hugo. Meanwhile, Albert the promoter is facing pressure from his beautiful secretary/girlfriend, Rosie,  to leave the music business, join a more sedate occupation and settle down with her. Written by Mike Stewart, directed by Jack J. Bennett, with music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Lee Adams, it runs September 30 through November 23 at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. For tickets call 626-269-3609 or visit www.YoungStarsTheatre.org/tickets.

 

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” This high-spirited musical rocks the stage with the classic Biblical saga of love and redemption in ancient times, as favored son Joseph with his coat of many colors becomes exiled by his jealous brothers, only to find his true calling in the strange new land of Egypt while coming to grips with the power of lies and injustice. Set to an engaging palette of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock ‘n’ roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless and includes the popular songs “Go, Go, Go Joseph” and “Any Dream Will Do,” as sung by a cast of 22, plus a 35 member children’s choir. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Marc Kudisch, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, it runs September 30 through October 9 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach. For tickets visit www.3dtshows.org.

 

“The Portman Delusions” is a romantic dramedy that is also a skewering of the Hollywood writing process. When Roy and Mark, struggling copywriters in Silver Lake, begin dating Jamie and Clare, smart, successful, romantically challenged career women, they put in motion a series of events that forces everyone to confront the distance between their youthful dreams, and reality, in other words…grow-up. Written by Adam Mervis, and directed by Tommy Burr, it runs September 30 through November 4 at the Raven Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

So make your last evenings of this summer more memorable by adding in a live stage show tonight!

With the hot summer sun beating down on us once again, and the beaches and seas beckoning to us to spend our time enjoying them, let’s not forget the many new productions out there to enjoy too, including:

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OPENING

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“All My Distances are Far” What happens to a foster teen when she ages out of the system? What happens to an adolescent boy with Asperger’s when he falls in love? What happens to a straight-A student who is being sexually molested? All these characters and others confide to the psychotherapist who sees them at their urban high school. Through each of their monologues, the audience becomes the silent confidant – as well as the witness to the therapist herself – as each teenager grapples with his or her struggle by the end of the school year. Written and directed by Leda Siskind, it runs August 1 through August 31 at the Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-3606 or visit www.theatre40.org.

 

“The Suitcase” In this darkly surrealistic yet surprisingly humorous drama set somewhere between dreams and reality, one of Poland’s foremost contemporary playwrights takes us deep into the hearts of a father and son and asks us to consider what we are responsible for in the wake of enormous national tragedy. Inspired by the true story of Michel Leleu, the son of a French Jew murdered at Auschwitz who recognized his father’s suitcase at an exhibition on the Shoah. Written by Małgorzata Sikorska-Miszczuk, and directed by Samuel Hunter, it runs August 3 through August 18 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

 

“Passages” Proudly marking its third year, Passages is a one-act play festival of original works written and directed by Theatre Unleashed members that feature independent actors and artists from the city’s expansive pool of theatrical talent in various roles as a way to build collaboration within the ever-growing Los Angeles theatre community. This year’s theme is Classics Remixed. Directed by Ann Hurd, it runs August 5 through August 20 at the Belfry Stage Upstairs at the Crown in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-849-4039 or visit www.theatreunleashed.org.

“RuddiGORE” Sir Rupert Murgatroyd, because of his vicious and sadistic persecution of witches, is the recipient of a curse: He must commit a crime daily, or die in agony. After his death, the curse is passed to the family’s oldest surviving male. His descendant, Ruthven, has escaped the curse by faking his death (as noted above), passing the curse to the next in line, Despard Murgatroyd. Meanwhile, Ruthven has fallen for the village’s cutest young woman, Rose Maybud. Too mortally shy to seal his deal, he seeks assistance of his best friend Dick, to help him woo Rose. But Dick is charmed by Rose, and Ruthven’s deception is subsequently exposed. Waiting in the wings are a bevy of beautiful blood-spattered bridesmaids, who also want to ascend to wealth and power. Ruthven’s a good guy. Can he escape the witches’ curse, or will be forced to descend into a pit of evil? And what of Rose? How can he ever be united with the one woman he adores? What chance is there that true love can prevail? Written by W.S. Gilbert, with music by Arthur Sullivan, lyrics by W.S. Gilbert, and directed by Trace Oakley, it runs August 5 through August 28 at the Studio/Stage in Los Angeles. For tickets call 800-838-2006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2581451.

 

“Hello Dolly” is the story of turn-of-the-century widowed matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi, who, after cunningly negotiating marriages for others through a series of comic romantic entanglements, ultimately finds her own match; and, as always, 3-D Theatricals will cast its much heralded spin on Hello Dolly! to further enhance an already magical piece of musical theatre filled with such memorable songs as Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By, It Only Takes A Moment; and, of course, the show-stopping title song. Dance numbers like Dancing and The Waiter’s Gallop are combined with beautiful turn-of-the-century costumes to create a musical the whole family will enjoy! Written by Michael Stewart, with music by Jerry Herman, and directed by Ken Sawyer, it runs August 6 through August 7 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach. For tickets call 714-589-2770 Ext. 1 or visit www.3dtshows.org.

“The Tempest” This season, the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival will also feature various opening acts, a Salon Series of talk-backs, an art workshop and education workshops to make this iconic Los Angeles event this summer’s must-do, free, community get together! The Old Zoo is located in Griffith Park near the intersection of Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive. In addition to the performances, education and engagement programs are presented for learners of all ages. Players in the Park/Teatristas en el parque are family education workshops presented on select evenings. These workshops are an interactive, energetic way to learn about the evening’s performance and to become more engaged in the overall live theater experience. For one special evening, Self Help Graphics will bring their Barrio Mobile Art Unit for an art-making workshop. Also returning this season is the Salon Series, pre-performance discussions led by experts in the field. Guests this year include Steven Leigh Morris, Executive Director of the LA Stage Alliance; John Frank, Senior Librarian with the Los Angeles Public Library and Ranger Mendibles, Park Ranger with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Additionally, ISC is pleased to announce its Festival Arts Partners, local performing artists presenting pre-show performances. This season’s guests will include: Invertigo Dance Theatre, La Victoria and The Silver Lake Chorus. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Matthew Earnest, it runs August 6 through September 4 at The Old Zoo in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. For tickets call 818-710-6306 or visit www.iscla.org.

 

“Rockapella in Hits Like you Never Heard” Since the early ’90’s when they first achieved national television fame on PBS’s “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?” Rockapella has toured the globe and provided a funky powerful soundtrack to several generations of vocal music fans, while keeping it all fresh along the way. “Often imitated – never duplicated” applies here. With buckets of catchy original pop songs, and complete contemporary revisions of sparkling Motown, pop, and soul classics, this group has always been the one to watch. Now they’re better than ever! As one of the progenitors of the astonishing full-band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has shown audiences around the world the raw power of pure vocal talent and originality. “People have a hard time believing it’s just us making all of that music. It’s still those same elements that make modern band music: percussion, bass, melody and harmonies,” says Scott. “Our success is in the art of it – it’s not what you do, but how you do it!” adds Jeff. And Rockapella has indeed proven that forming original pop & soul magic onstage is what sets them apart. The show runs August 10 through August 28 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

 

“D Deb Debbie Deborah” tackles questions of self, one’s place in the world, where we fit in, and who, exactly, takes authorship of his or her art. Written by Jerry Lieblich, and directed by Doug Oliphant, it runs August 11 through September 17 at the Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-856-8611 or visit www.theatreofnote.com.

“As Straw Before the Wind” recounts the story of Nene Santos, a Filipina nurse and enterprising owner/operator, of a fictionalized San Gabriel Valley convalescent home. Nene has ambitious plans to expand her business, which she intends to leave to her daughter and primary assistant, Pilita, who has her own agenda. So, what will become of the elderly and fragile resident patients of the convalescent home – Poncing Enrile, a retired Filipino American Army Captain, and Mildred Novak, a chain smoking retiree widow with Alzheimer’s Disease? Nene confronts a string of setbacks and obstacles in her quest. Flashbacks of the horrendous experience she and her family endured during WWII haunt her psyche and lead to a revelation of a long kept family secret. Written by Felix Racelis, and directed by Lesley Asistio, it runs August 13 through September 4 at the Ruby Theatre at THE COMPLEX in Hollywood. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.strawbefore.brownpapertickets.com.

“Parallel Lives” A pair of capricious supreme beings orchestrate a hilarious montage that makes fun of modern life while celebrating it. With boundless humor, the audience is whisked through this outrageous universe created by comediennes Kathy & Mo, where two women portray numerous men and women struggling though the common rituals of life. Written by Mo Gaffney & Kathy Najimy, and directed by Jenny Sullivan, it runs August 17 through September 18 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. For tickets call 818-955-8101 or visit www.falcontheatre.com.

“Doubt: A Parable” It is 1964, a time of movement and change, but Catholic school principal Sister Aloysius values a stern hand over progressive education. When evidence seemingly points to an inappropriate relationship between Father Flynn and the school’s first black student, she begins a crusade to force Flynn out. John Patrick Shanley’s riveting psychological drama examines the fine line between what seems certain and ambiguity, between conviction and doubt. Written by John Patrick Shanley, and directed by caryn desai, it runs August 19 through September 11 at the International City Theatre – Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visit www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.

“Drama Queens from Hell” a washed up TV actress, a former Blaxploitation bit player and a pre-op transgender woman compete for the role of Norma Desmond in a remake of Sunset Boulevard. A rollicking farce that skewers Hollywood, ageism, political correctness and everything else in its path, Drama Queens is the answer for anyone seeking a laugh-out-loud, escapist night on the town. These three divas will stop at nothing “to get arrested” – absolutely nothing. Written by Peter Lefcourt, and directed by Terri Hanauer, it runs August 20 through September 25 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7787 or visit www.plays411.com/dramaqueens.

 

“How to Love a Republican” Tim and Ruth McCoy are the real deal. Long married, wildly in love – the only catch is he’s a Christian, she’s a Jew, he’s a way-right Republican and she’s a way-left Democrat. Contributing to the tension? Ruth and Tim decide to play match-maker to their single daughter, with hilarious, yet edifying, results, introducing her to the perfect men, one a Democrat and one a Republican, both running for Congress – against each other! Margie decides it’s finally time to research Democrats and Republicans. Find out, along with Margie, who gets her vote, in and out of the bedroom. Written by Jerry Mayer, and directed by Chris DeCarlo, it runs August 20 through December 18 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-394-9779 Ext. 1 or visit www.santamonicaplayhouse.com.

“Please Don’t Ask About Becket” It’s been years since he disappeared, but Emily Diamond is still haunted by dreams of her twin brother, Becket. The issue of nature versus nurture is at the heart of this evocative memory play that’s sure to resonate with anyone who has a family. Please Don’t Ask About Becket grapples with universal questions many of us ask ourselves everyday: To what extent are parents responsible for their children’s bad behavior? Can parents love a child too much? Where do we draw the line between standing up for our kids and forcing them to overcome obstacles on their own? Written by Wendy Graf, it runs August 20 through September 18 at the Sacred Fools Theater Black Box in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7745 or visit www.plays411.com/becket.

 

“CarneyMagic” John Carney is a unique blend of comedian, actor and sleight of hand virtuoso. His approach is smart, engaging and often….hilarious. Carney is widely acknowledged by his peers as one of the finest sleight of hand performers in the world, with awards and accolades worldwide. Hollywood’s Magic Castle has awarded Carney more awards than anyone in their history, as well as the Academy of Magical Arts prestigious Performing Masters Fellowship. Television appearances include The Late Show with David Letterman and the Jerry Seinfeld HBO special. He has performed in theaters throughout the world, as well as casinos in Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. He is an accomplished actor, with featured appearances on such TV shows as Spin City and Two and a Half Men, as well as numerous sketch comedy shows, plays and theatrical productions. He has done a number of television commercials including a stint as spokesman for MasterCard, designing and performing dazzling visual effects for their television commercials. John often incorporates different characters, from silly to sentimental, into his performances, creating a complete theatrical experience. He is a tireless creator of original material and has shared may of his ideas, techniques and presentations in several books and instructional videos of advanced sleight of hand. He has lectured extensively throughout the world, and his books Magic by Design, Carneycopia, and The Book of Secrets are considered modern classics in instruction of the art form. Carney embodies the state of his art, combining exceptional skill and creativity… with pure entertainment. Prepare yourself for an evening of laughter and astonishment when you experience CarneyMagic. Written and directed by John Carney, it runs August 25 through August 28 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

 

“Anything Goes” is set aboard the ocean liner S.S. American, where nightclub singer/evangelist Reno Sweeney is en route from New York to England. Her pal Billy Crocker has stowed away to be near his love, Hope Harcourt, but the problem is Hope is engaged to the wealthy Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Full of rousing music, tap dancing and madcap comedy, you are going to love this audience favorite. Written by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman, with music by Cole Porter, and directed by Mark Knowles, it runs August 26 through October 8 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-244-8481 or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

“Calendar Girls” After the death of her best friend’s husband from cancer, a spirited Yorkshire housewife encourages her friends to create a calendar using middle-aged women of their village as tastefully photographed nude models, to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting  room.  Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund, the stage adaptation of the film has since become one of the fastest selling plays in British theatre history. Written by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth, and directed by Larry Eisenberg, it runs August 26 through October 9 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.

“Awake and Sing!” Clifford Odets’ gritty, passionate, funny and heartbreaking masterpiece about the hopes and struggles of a lower-middle-class, three-generation Jewish family living in a Bronx apartment during the Great Depression continues to resonate 80 years after its 1935 premiere. Director Elina de Santos and lead actress Marilyn Fox return with a 20th anniversary revival of the smash Odyssey Theatre production that ran for nine months in 1994-95. Written by Clifford Odets, and directed by Elina de Santos, it runs August 27 through October 2 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

“Menopause The Musical” Set in a department store, four women meet by chance while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, the all-female cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.” Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, Menopause The Musical® was created as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Written by Jeanie Linders, it runs August 31 through September 11 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

 

 

As you prepare for your Independence Day celebrations with family and friends, spend some time planning for a few trips to our local theatres for shows including:

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OPENING

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“The Wizard of Oz” Follow the Yellow Brick Road to GCT to see Dorothy and her little dog Toto join with Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as they journey through the magical Land of Oz to meet the wonderful Wizard. Rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for the entire family. A premiere for the GCT, we promise a magical, amazing production that you’ll want to see again and again! Written by L. Frank Baum, with music by ‎Herbert Stothart‎ and ‎Harold Arlen, and directed by Todd Nielson, it runs July 1 through August 20 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-244-8481 or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” The musical delivers on its title: the focus of its story is on a spelling contest. Young regional winners hope to qualify for the National Bee and a shot at further prizes and glory. To get into the local bee, you’ve got to have some smarts. So this unusual musical celebrates the intelligence of young people. The contestants are a mixed bunch: A chunky, defensively antagonistic boy who uses his foot to spell; a young girl whose mother is an ocean away; a boy who consistently doubts his own intelligence and self-worth; a girl from a family of overachievers who wishes that she wasn’t expected to be perfect; the daughter of two fussy gay dads; and more. There’s also an interesting wrinkle. Following the model of the original Broadway production, several people will be pulled from the audience and asked to participate in the contest. Who will be the winner? Who will go on to represent Putnam County in the National Bee for more renowned and bigger prizes? As with other competitions, there will be the agony of defeat, but also the thrill of victory. Written by Rachel Sheinkin, with music by William Finn, and directed by Robert Marra, it runs July 8 through August 21 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

“Olive and the Bitter Herbs” centers on the life of Olive Fisher, an elderly character actress whose claim to fame was her iconic “Gimme the Sausage” commercials of the 1980s. She is a classic New York curmudgeon at war with the world, in particular her gay next door neighbors. Her closed-off life is shaken by the appearance of a spectral male figure viewed through her living room mirror. This appearance, along with the help of the father of the co-op’s board president and Olive’s only “friend,” brings together the feuding neighbors for a comedic Passover Seder. A series of strange and outrageous coincidences reveals that the man in the mirror has intimate links to everyone in Olive’s world, encouraging her that it’s never too late to change one’s life and perhaps find love. Written by Charles Busch, and directed by Kirk Larson, it runs July 8 through August 13 at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.

“Electricity” openly gay sex addict Brad hooks up with closeted virgin Gary in a motel room after their 10th high school reunion in 1983. They form an undeniable connection that draws them back to the same motel room once every ten years. As the decades fly by, their lives transform and reflect the changes in society around them from that closeted first night in the 80’s to a world where even gay marriage is possible and it’s their time to decide. Is their connection over, or is it really just beginning? Written by Terry Ray and directed by Steven Rosenbaum, it runs July 8 through August 14 at the Two Roads Theatre in Studio City. For tickets call 213-265-7972 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com or www.electricitytheplay.com.

 

“Go Back To Where You Are” A forgotten chorus boy from the theater of ancient Greece is sent back to Earth on a mission from God, where he finds himself summering among a makeshift family of theater artists on Long Island. Written by David Greenspan, and directed by Bart DeLorenzo, it runs July 9 through September 4 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

“The Imaginary Invalid” skewering of the health care crisis from an entirely different century. Plagued by a growing pile of medical bills, Madame Argan (Ellen Geer), a chronic hypochondriac, will go to any length to marry her daughter off to a doctor. Of course, her daughter has other ideas. This potent elixir of romantic triangles, double entendres and mistaken identities proves, in the end, that laughter really is the best medicine. Alan Blumenfeld stars alongside Geer as Dr. Purgeon. Written by Molière, adapted by Constance Congdon, with music by Marshall McDaniel, and directed by Mary Jo DuPrey, it runs July 9 through October 2 at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.

“All Shook Up” Elvis was a white guy singing rhythm and blues music for the first time, which really helped R&B cross over to the mainstream, or to white America. Elvis took rhythm and blues music and really helped to popularize it, and Dipietro thought they really needed to stay true to where that music came from, which is obviously the African American community, especially in the South. So that’s very much why it takes place in 1955. In All Shook Up, this music unleashes the uptightness of these people in small town America and certainly applies to inter-racial dating and same-sex dating. It’s all about loving someone no matter who they are. Written by Joe Dipietro, with music by Anne Gesling, and directed by Steve Steiner, it runs July 10 through August 7 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“Stella’s Last J-Date” is brash romantic comedy about a high stakes blind date from the point of view of two, lost New York singles and what they are willing to endure to break the chains of loneliness. When Stella, a chatty, lovable dog trainer with intense baggage and Isaac, an affable, alcoholic school teacher with his own skeletons meet for a blind date at a local bar, the date gets complicated when Don, a bully in a fedora, adds to the tension. Written by Andy Rooster Bloch, and directed by Bryan Rasmussen, it runs July 14 through July 28 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets call 818-990-2324 or visit www.jdate.brownpapertickets.com.

“Ajax in Iraq” Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble intertwines the important and timely issue of PTSD and sexual abuse against women in the military with the parable of the great warrior Ajax which is said to be one of the first and oldest stories to openly portray the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Written by Ellen McLaughlin, and directed by John Farmanesh-Bocca, it runs July 15 through August 14 at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-673-0544 or visit www.greenwaycourttheatre.org/ajaxiniraq.

“Kingdom of Earth” Tennessee Williams aficionados will have the chance to view one of his lesser-known works in a rare Los Angeles production this summer. Williams’ most deeply felt emotions are fully realized in this savage, sexually-charged and brutally funny story about three outcasts trapped in an isolated, once elegant Mississippi farmhouse by an encroaching flood. Written by Tennessee Williams, and directed by Michael Arabian, it runs July 15 through August 14 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

“The Little Mermaid” A discontented mermaid, Ariel, dreams of the world above the sea, and sacrifices her beautiful, captivating voice in search of true love and a sense of belonging. Full of great music (including “Part of Your World,” “Kiss The Girl,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and new songs written for the stage), dance, comedy, and romance, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID will take you to places no musical has ever gone before! Written by Doug Wright, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and directed by Larry Raben, it runs July 15 through July 24 at the Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks. For tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit www.cabrillomusictheatre.com.

“Space” Having spent the last 30 years of his life in a mental institution, Kurt Finge is now back in the ‘real world’ trying to adjust to modern life and fix his relationship with his ailing mother. A fanciful dreamer obsessed with black and white 40’s musicals, Kurt longs for a second chance at a ‘normal life’. With the help of his hospital appointed “facilitator’, Ann, Kurt is forced to face some long-buried familial truths. Written and directed by Stefan Marks, it runs July 15 through August 20 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 747-777-2878 or visit www.spacetheplay.com.

“Hello Dolly” is the story of turn-of-the-century widowed matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi, who, after cunningly negotiating marriages for others through a series of comic romantic entanglements, ultimately finds her own match; and, as always, 3-D Theatricals will cast its much heralded spin on HELLO DOLLY! to further enhance an already magical piece of musical theatre filled with such memorable songs as Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By, It Only Takes A Moment; and, of course, the show-stopping title song. Dance numbers like Dancing and The Waiter’s Gallop are combined with beautiful turn-of-the-century costumes to create a musical the whole family will enjoy! Written by Michael Stewart, with music by Jerry Herman, and directed by Ken Sawyer, it runs July 16 through July 31 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton. For tickets call 714-589-2770 Ext. 1 or visit www.3dtshows.org.

“One of the Nice Ones” The world premiere of a cringe-worthy black comedy about sexual politics in the workplace that will leave audiences howling with laughter in spite of their better selves. As the most recent hire at Tender Form Weight Loss Systems, wheelchair-bound Tracy will stop at nothing to avoid being laid off by high-handed boss Roger. Perhaps it’s her disability that makes her so keenly aware that no one gets ahead by being “one of the nice ones.” Soon, hapless co-worker Neal and weight loss client Colleen find themselves caught in the lethal crossfire of a workplace battle zone. Written by Erik Patterson, and directed by Chris Fields, it runs July 16 through August 21 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater. For tickets call 310-307-3753 or visit www.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

“Recorded in Hollywood” The acclaimed new musical about trailblazing Los Angeles entrepreneur and activist John Dolphin gets an all-new production at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Dolphin made his mark on the national music scene long before Motown ever existed. He opened his Dolphin’s of Hollywood record shop on legendary Central Avenue in 1948, where he launched and helped build the careers of some of the biggest names in music. Dolphin’s of Hollywood became the most famous record store in the country, with legendary DJs like Dick “Huggy Boy” Hugg, Hunter Hancock and Charles Trammel spinning records all night from the front window. The shop and its broadcasts were a gathering place for music lovers from every race and background and became “the place to be” in L.A. in the ‘50s — despite ongoing opposition and harassment from the LAPD under police Chief William H. Parker. Written by Matt Donnelly and Jamelle Dolphin, with music by Andy Cooper, and directed by Denise Dowse, it runs July 16 through August 7 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. For tickets call 213-972-4488 or visit www.RecordedInHollywood.com.

“Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin” Hershey Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, “America’s Composer.” From the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia to New York’s Lower East Side, and ultimately all of America and the world, Berlin’s story epitomizes the American Dream. Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “God Bless America” and “Always” to “White Christmas” and beyond, Hershey’s masterful creation of character and musical performance is an unforgettable journey. As Jerome Kern famously said, “Irving Berlin has no place in American music – he is American music.” Written by Hershey Felder, with music by Hershey Felder, and directed by Trevor Hay, it runs July 19 through August 7 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-7529 or visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

“The Sound of Music” The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with such songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and “The Sound of Music”. Written by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and directed by Jack O’Brien, it runs July 19 through July 31 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-556-2787 or visit www.SCFTA.org.

“Breath of Spring” Dame Beatrice and her friends and lodgers are a tight-knit bunch who concoct an operation to return a stolen fur before its owner discovers that it’s missing. They have such fun doing it that they plan future schemes not to return furs, but to steal them. They do this not for personal gain, but to give the proceeds of their felonious fur thefts to the deserving needy. You could say that they are modern day Robin Hoods. They would say so. Nonetheless, they’re amateurs at crime, however well-intentioned. When Scotland Yard comes calling at their door, they plead with Lily, an ex-convict who is Dame Beatrice’s maid, to come up with a way to keep them all out of prison. Is jail in their futures, or will they get away with their thievery? Written by Peter Coke, and directed by Bruce Gray, it runs July 21 through August 21 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.

“I Love You Because” Set in New York City, it centers around a young, uptight greeting card writer whose life is changed when he meets a flighty photographer. Along with their eccentric friends and siblings, they learn to love each other not in spite of their faults, but because of them. Written by Ryan Cunningham, with music by Joshua Salzman, and directed by Rebecca Kenigsberg, it runs July 22 through August 7 at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets visit www.plays411.com/iloveyoubecause.

“A Raisin in the Sun” The title comes from a Langston Hughes poem entitled “Harlem,” also known as “A Dream Deferred.” The setting is the Younger household in the Washington Park Subdivision of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, and involves the family members’ struggle to achieve their individual dreams and potential despite challenges of a system that seems built to thwart them. Written by Lorraine Hansberry, and directed by Lita Gaithers Owens, it runs July 22 through September 17 at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-397-3244 or visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com.

“Much Ado about Nothing” is set in Messina, Sicily. Beatrice, niece of the local governor Leonato, and Benedick, a gentleman and friend of the powerful Prince of Aragon Don Pedro, are seeming adversaries, engaging in much verbal jousting and argument. The antagonistic remarks fool neither the men nor the women in Don Pedro’s court; Beatrice and Benedick are obviously meant for each other, even if their love isn’t instantly apparent. Their friends conspire to trick them into confessing their love for each other. Claudio, a young nobleman, is in love with Hero, daughter of Leonato. Claudio plans to wed Hero, but a scheme is plotted to thwart matters by Don John who causes doubts to emerge about Hero’s virtue. Don John is the illegitimate brother of Don Pedro. Jealous of Don Pedro and of the esteem in which Don Pedro holds his friend Claudio, Don John wants to prevent the wedding. Can he possibly succeed? Hint: Happy endings are the convention in Shakespeare’s romantic comedies. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Gloria Gifford, it runs July 23 through August 21 at the T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For tickets call 310-366-5505 or visit www.tix.com.

“Baby Doll” Darkly comic and crackling with sexual tension, this enthralling tale of prejudice, sexual politics and passion is the first-ever Williams Estate-approved stage adaptation of the Tennessee Williams screenplay. Nineteen-year-old married virgin “Baby Doll” Meighan must consummate her marriage in two days, on her 20th birthday — as long as her middle-aged husband, Archie Lee, upholds his end of the bargain to provide her with a comfortable life. When Archie Lee burns down his neighbor’s cotton gin to save his failing business, his rival, Sicilian immigrant Silva Vacarro, arrives to seek revenge. What ensues is a complex mix of desire and desperation, with Baby Doll as both player and pawn. Written by Tennessee Williams, adapted by Pierre Laville and Emily Mann, and directed by Simon Levy, it runs July 29 through September 25 at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-663-1525 or visit www.FountainTheatre.com.

“Marilyn!” Prospect House Entertainment, in association with Glendale Arts, presents Marilyn!, a world premiere of a new musical based on the life of Hollywood’s greatest icon, Marilyn Monroe, featuring the very best talent that Los Angeles, Broadway, and Las Vegas have to offer.

The Icon: ‘Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.’ Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson, June 1, 1926. During her all-too-brief life, Marilyn overcame a difficult childhood to become one of the world’s biggest and most enduring sex symbols. Growing up, Monroe spent much of her time in foster care and orphanages. She dreamt of emulating her idols, Jean Harlow and Lana Turner. Norma Jeane signed her first movie contract in 1946, and with it came a new name and image. Her acting career didn’t really take off until the 1950s and she would soon become one of Hollywood’s hottest properties. Marilyn Monroe died August 5, 1962, at only 36 years old. She is the epitome of the American Dream: a girl who came from a less than ideal background and achieved more than anyone else in entertainment history. 2016 marks her 90th birthday. Let us celebrate Marilyn’s extraordinary life and legacy.

The Musical: Present Day – Michelle is a young journalist from England researching Marilyn Monroe to commemorate the actress’ 90th birthday. She visits Charlie Paige, one of Marilyn’s drivers, who is now living a life of solitude. Two stories emerge as Charlie bonds with Michelle – he recalls Marilyn Monroe’s phenomenal life in flashback and reveals the real reason behind his living in a woodland cabin alone….

This one-night-only event also features an exhibit of Monroe’s artifacts and clothing, and brand new interviews from those who revere her and those who knew her. Written and directed by Tegan Summer, with music by Gregory Nabours, lyrics by Tegan Summer and Gregory Nabours, and choreography by Ferly Prado & Victoria Gracie, it runs for one night only on July 29, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-243-2539 or visit www.alextheatre.org.

“Blueprint for Paradise” Set in 1941 during the weeks leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and inspired by true events, playwright Laurel M. Wetzork imagines the relationship between African-American architect Paul Revere Williams (designer of landmark L.A. buildings including Saks Fifth Ave and the Los Angeles County Courthouse, as well as private residences for Bert Lahr, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and Frank Sinatra) and a wealthy American couple who employed him to design a compound and training ground for Nazi sympathizers in the Pacific Palisades. Written by Laurel M. Wetzork, and directed by Laura Steinroeder, it runs July 30 through September 4 at the Hudson Theatres in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-4412 or visit www.BlueprintForParadise.com.

“The Tempest” This season, the GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTVIAL will also feature various opening acts, a Salon Series of talk-backs, an art workshop and education workshops to make this iconic Los Angeles event this summer’s must-do, free, community get together! The Old Zoo is located in Griffith Park near the intersection of Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive. In addition to the performances, education and engagement programs are presented for learners of all ages. Players in the Park/Teatristas en el parque are family education workshops presented on select evenings. These workshops are an interactive, energetic way to learn about the evening’s performance and to become more engaged in the overall live theater experience. For one special evening, Self Help Graphics will bring their Barrio Mobile Art Unit for an art-making workshop. Also returning this season is the Salon Series, pre-performance discussions led by experts in the field. Guests this year include Steven Leigh Morris, Executive Director of the LA Stage Alliance; John Frank, Senior Librarian with the Los Angeles Public Library and Ranger Mendibles, Park Ranger with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Additionally, ISC is pleased to announce its Festival Arts Partners, local performing artists presenting pre-show performances. This season’s guests will include: Invertigo Dance Theatre, La Victoria and The Silver Lake Chorus. Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Matthew Earnest, it runs July 30 through September 4 at The Old Zoo in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. For tickets call 818-710-6306 or visit www.iscla.org.

“Titus Andronicus” How should a nation choose its leaders? What happens when a government insulates itself from the citizens it once served? What is the difference between justice and revenge? Theatricum sets Shakespeare’s first tragedy, the bloody tale of a government gone awry, in the future to spark a flame of caution… but always with a flicker of hope. (Recommended for mature audiences due to adult themes and violence.). Written by William Shakespeare, and directed by Ellen Geer, it runs July 30 through October 1 at the Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets call 310-455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com.

“Suburban Showgirl” Lovely, leggy triple threat (actor/dancer/singer) Palmer Davis portrays 18 characters in the fictional story of dancer/showgirl Wendy Walker. Almost every little girl dreams of being a dancer…Wendy Walker actually became one. And today…It’s the worst day of her life. She just dropped off her children with a baby sitter she doesn’t know, she got fired from her dream job before it even began, and her husband Charlie…is in jail. If things couldn’t get any worse, former Rockette turned Magician’s assistant, Wendy Walker finds herself locked in a backstage bathroom 5 minutes before curtain. Welcome to…Suburban Showgirl. Trying to understand how her perfectly choreographed life has spun wildly out of control, Wendy Walker (while locked in the bathroom) relives the heartaches and joys of being a professional dancer and the challenges of keeping her family intact. Walker’s dance down memory lane takes the audience into her first ballet class, the esoteric world of college modern dance, Broadway auditions, touring life of a gypsy, the working mother dilemma, aging in a young profession, and navigation through marital crossroads. Walker’s desire to pursue her dreams and determination to be the best mother and wife for her family ultimately collide. At her darkest hour, Walker sees her daughter dancing in the sprinklers and discovers the beauty of her daughter’s unique individuality, realizes her own self-worth and accepts the circumstances over which she has no control. This 70 minute dramatic musical comedy takes you into the heart and soul of a modern day dancer/wife/mother. Palmer Davis brilliantly plays over 18 characters that bring you deep into the struggles and triumphs of dancer Wendy Walker’s life. It’s a make-you-laugh-I-can’t-believe-she-made-me-cry kind of show. Appropriate for all audiences, Suburban Showgirl will inspire you to find your magic and discover new reasons to say “Ta-da!”. Written by Palmer Davis, and directed by Cate Caplin, it runs July 31 through August 7 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

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CONTINUING

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“John is a Father” Recovering alcoholic John Owens was estranged from his family for decades before his son, a Marine, was killed in Afghanistan. Now, six years later, he receives an invitation to meet his widowed daughter-in-law and his grandson for the first time. From the streets of Los Angeles to a cramped apartment in Phoenix, he prepares to face the ghosts of his past. But nothing can prepare him for the people he’ll really meet along the way – and their capacity for forgiveness. Written by Julie Marie Myatt, and directed by Dan Bonnell, it runs through July 16 at the Road on Lankershim in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.roadtheatre.org.

“A Few Good Men” is a gripping military courtroom thriller. A young marine, apparently unfit to endure the physical rigors of Marine duty, has died. Was it an accident, or were the circumstances of his death more sinister? Two marines in his unit are indicted for a variety of charges including murder. Their only defense against the prospect of long prison terms is mounted by their Marine attorneys, Lt. J.G. Daniel Kaffee (himself the son of a revered military attorney) and Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway, neither of whom has successfully mounted a criminal defense in a courtroom before. It will take all their intelligence, skill and perseverance to fight a sadistic military cult within the walls of Guantanamo Bay if Kaffee and Galloway are to win their clients’ liberty and prevail against those who would subvert the Constitution and stain the honor of Marines stationed throughout the globe who serve America with courage and distinction. Written by Aaron Sorkin, and directed by Tony Pauletto, it runs through July 17 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.afewgoodmenplay.brownpapertickets.com.

“The Addams Family” This magnificently macabre musical comedy features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Adam Lippa, and directed by Anne Gesling, it runs through July 31 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-828-7519 or visit www.morgan-wixson.org.

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Have a bang up time on the fourth, and enjoy our summer days now!

SCENE IN LA

 

BY

 

STEVE ZALL AND SID FISH

 

May 2016

 

It’s May, it’s May, that glorious holiday – the lusty month of May – and just look at all the shows blooming in our local theaters this month:

                                                                                                          

OPENING

 

“The Archer from Malis” In this bold reimagining of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, set in a Hunger Games-inspired dystopia and employing non-traditional casting, Odysseus orders young Neoptolemus, daughter of Achilles, to trick Philoctetes into joining the Greeks to assure their victory of the Trojan War. Philoctetes was entrusted with Hercules’ bow upon the demi-god’s death. The Greeks, who abandoned the snake-bitten Philoctetes on the island of Lemnos ten years earlier, return, now in need of him and the divine bow to win the Trojan War. The play explores questions of loss, betrayal, loyalty and whether the ends always justify the means. Written by Sophocles, and directed by Malik B. El-Amin, it runs April 29 through May 22 at the Lounge Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.griottheatre.org/happeningnow.html.

 

“Birder” follows middle-aged accountant Roger, who, upon discovering a house finch nesting outside his home in Los Feliz, finds himself forced to question his most basic assumptions about what it means to be a father, husband, and breadwinner. But do his avian explorations represent a deep search for meaning, or just a city-dweller’s mid-life crisis? This funny, moving, world premiere, explores the human need for silence, as Roger finds both terror and solace in Los Angeles’ unique urban ecology. Written by Julie Marie Myatt, and directed by Dan Bonnell, it runs April 29 through June 19 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.RoadTheatre.org.

 

“The Boy from Oz” the musical focuses on the extraordinary life of legendary singer/songwriter Peter Allen, from his birth in 1944 and humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame as an international star. The story covers Peter’s life and career in Australia and the United States, as well as his relationships with the legendary singing stars Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Written by Martin Sherman, original Book by Nick Enright, with music by Peter Allen, and directed by Michael A. Shepperd, it runs April 29 through June 19 at the Celebration Theatre at the Lex in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-957-1884 or visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.

 

“Lunatics & Actors” Based on the real life obsessions of famed doctor, Duchenne du Boulogne, Lunatics & Actors takes its audience into the peculiar hinterland of emotional authenticity. The Four Clowns of this performance veer wildly from reason to insanity to Hamlet, and things are never far from becoming completely unhinged. Who is really mad after all – the lunatic or the actor? Written by David Bridel, and directed by Jeremy Aluma, it runs April 29 through May 28 at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles in Los Angeles. For tickets call 562-508-1788 or visit www.fourclowns.org.

 

“American Idiot” The groundbreaking Broadway musical! Green Day’s powerhouse album is brought to life in this electric-rock musical of youthful disillusion. The two-time Tony Award-winning hit musical, based on Green Day’s Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum album, boldly takes the American musical where it’s never gone before. This high-octane show includes every song from Green Day’s album American Idiot, as well as several songs from follow-up release, 21st Century Breakdown. Content Warning: AMERICAN IDIOT contains adult content and strong language. For mature audiences. Written by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer, with music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, and directed by Brian Kite, it runs April 30 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.

 

“The Foreigner” The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Tilghman County, Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. The shy Charlie agreed to accompany Froggy on the trip after his sick wife begged him to go. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, however, he remains silent: he is terribly shy, depressed about his wife’s illness, and cannot find the words to reply. Froggy claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is a “foreigner” from an exotic country, and does not understand English. Taking the explanation that he’s a non-English speaker as fact, the lodge’s guests quickly begin revealing their secrets, and Charlie soon discovers scandals amongst some of the residents of the lodge. Written by Larry Shue, and directed by Michael Rothhaar, it runs April 30 through May 22 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-828-7519 or visit www.morgan-wixson.org.

 

“Sex and Education” Meet Joe Marks, a basketball star whose college scholarship is suddenly in jeopardy when his poorly written, sexually-charged note to his girlfriend is intercepted during a final exam. Meet Miss Edwards, his high school English teacher on her last day of teaching. In this hilarious homage to educators everywhere, Miss Edwards uses the note to teach Joe a lesson – on life, love, and the power of words. WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE; EXCESSIVE HILARITY. Written by Lissa Levin, and directed by Andrew Barnicle, it runs April 30 through May 22 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

“Eastside Heartbeats” tells the fictional story of Jimmy Ramirez, leader of the four-man vocal group, the Eastside Heartbeats. The group has conquered East L.A., but Jimmy and the others have bigger goals. They aim to be #1 in the nation, Mexican-American superstars. But first they have to make a record. Eastside Heartbeats is inspired by the true story of Cannibal and the Headhunters, the musical group which opened for The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1965. Written by Tom Waldman, with music by David Reyes, and directed by Steve E. Feinberg, it runs May 5 through May 29 at the CASA 0101 Theater in Boyle Heights. For tickets call 323-263-7684 or visit www.casa0101.org.

 

“Author, Author” A magical, musical melee at once 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, seen by more than a quarter of a million people to date. Written by Chris DeCarlo, Evelyn Rudie and Ben Weisman, with music by Evelyn Rudie and Ben Weisman, and directed by Arthur R. Tomkins, it runs May 6 through May 28 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-394-9779 Ext. 1 or visit www.santamonicaplayhouse.com.

“The Glass Menagerie” The semi-autobiographical play involves Tom, a struggling writer enduring a survival job in a shoe warehouse; his domineering mother, Amanda, a faded Southern belle with memories of better times; his adored sister, Laura, fragile with a crippling shyness mirrored in a physical limp; and Jim, a work friend whom Tom asks to call upon Laura. The play takes its name from the collection of glass animals which holds a fascination for Laura. Will Laura’s gentleman caller be able to bring her out of her shell? Tom, while feeling a duty to his family, knows he will suffocate if he remains in his current circumstances. What will he do? Written by Tennessee Williams, and directed by Christian Lebano, it runs May 6 through June 12 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

“Shine Darkly, Illyria” Illyria is depicted as an island paradise, where inhabitants do reverence to the Moon and revel at nightly moon parties. Love, sex and dancing abound, but no children are ever conceived. Gender boundaries in sex can be rather fluid (Some of Shakespeare’s original characters engaged in cross-dressing, after all). The Moon has a favorite in the countess Olivia, and Olivia consumes moon dust as a euphoric substance. When The Moon attempts to warn Olivia of an upcoming ecological disaster brought on by humanity’s environmental neglect, Olivia does not listen. Lovers are in conflict, and hearts are broken. Can they be mended? Nature hands the Illyrians an ultimatum: Evolve or die. Can they escape the fury of the elements? Written by Megan Brown, and directed by Amanda McRaven, it runs May 6 through May 29 at the McCadden Place Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 702-204-6179 or visit www.artful.ly/fugitive-kind.

“Unemployed. Finally.” It’s the story of writer-performer Heather Dowling’s 30 jobs in 30 years, which allowed her to explore some length and depth of the human experience until, when unemployed, finally, she at last had the opportunity to do what she always wanted in the first place. She was a sailor (the U.S. Navy calls them seamen, really); a waitress, an entrepreneur; a journalist, a foreman, a telecommunications specialist, tended bar, sold shoes; the list goes on and on. She also finds love on the way, and more than once. Life throws some curve balls her way (and we won’t give them away here), but she persists and prevails. Will she find happiness as she makes her way through the wonderful world of work? Written by Heather Dowling, and directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, it runs May 6 through June 10 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2530591.

“Blood from a Stone” Travis has returned home to his parents’ house in Connecticut before his intended departure for the West Coast to “start over.” He wants to see his folks and his siblings again before moving to the far side of the country. All is not well, however, and it never has been for this particular family. Travis’ parents Bill and Margaret are intensely angry people, with both of them having significant attachments outside their marriage. Kid brother Matt has several compulsions: gambling, lying and thievery, all of which will imperil his safety when he runs afoul of shady associates. Only sister Sarah could pass as relatively normal. Ironically, Margaret, Matt and Sarah are all nurses, devoting their working lives to the care of other people while failing to keep the peace within their own family. Meanwhile, Travis has reignited erotic sparks with an ex-lover, Yvette. She lives next door and is the married (and not to Travis) mother of two. Bill gets so angry he punches his fist through walls and windows. Margaret berates him constantly. Will Travis be able to make peace in his family before he leaves his family home? Written by Tommy Nohilly, and directed by Thomas C. Dunn, it runs May 7 through May 22 at the Electric Lodge in Venice. For tickets call 323-960-7788 or visit www.Plays411.com/stone.

 

“Climax” Max Madison, renowned Malibu restaurateur, unwittingly finds himself entangled in a warped love triangle with his devoted wife and the diabolical mistress who seeks revenge on his entire family. When Max’s adoring wife Olivia gets pregnant after years of unsuccessful attempts and thousands of dollars spent on fertility treatments, her ever-growing compulsion for motherhood sends Max into Jade’s arms. Jade, Olivia’s best friend and modern day femme fatale in a nurse’s uniform, has other plans for the baby. Written by Lisa Phillips Visca, and directed by Chris DeCarlo & Evelyn Rudie, it runs May 7 through June 26 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-394-9779 Ext. 2 or visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com.

 

“Honky” When a young African American is shot for a pair of basketball shoes, sales triple among white teens. Are ghetto-glorifying commercials to blame for the violence, or are they just part of a smart, targeted marketing plan? Luckily, there’s a new pill for sale, guaranteed to cure racism. Taking a satiric look at the symbiotic relationship between bigotry and commercialism, this is a comedy about different people, white and black, navigating the murky waters of race, rhetoric and athletic footwear. Written by Greg Kalleres, and directed by Gregg Daniel, it runs May 7 through June 12 at the Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 855-585-5185 or visit www.roguemachinetheatre.com.

 

“The Golden Dragon” What starts out as a simple toothache evolves into a dizzying chain of events as a group of disparate people, played by a cast of five who assume many roles indiscriminate of age, gender, and race, struggle to make connections in an increasingly isolated world. At the center of the story is a Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant, The Golden Dragon, where a young Chinese man suffering from an oversensitive incisor sparks a whacked and weird series of interconnected stories. A delicious mixture of epic theatre, bizarre comedy, poetry, and fable combine to create this fabulous pho. Written by Roland Schimmelpfennig, translated by David Tushingham, and directed by Michael Michetti, it runs May 8 through June 5 at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-683-6883 or visit www.BostonCourt.org.

 

“In & Of Itself” Derek DelGaudio’s latest conjuring, In & Of Itself, will see the writer, performance artist and two-time Academy of Magical Arts Award winning magician join with four-time Emmy winning director Frank Oz for a unique theatrical experience in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. DelGaudio’s 2012 record-breaking Nothing to Hide enjoyed a 144 performance run, the highest daily and weekly box office sales for the Geffen’s more intimate venue and grossed over $1 million in revenue before transferring to New York City. Glenn Kaino returns as producer with original music by DEVO founding member and front man Mark Mothersbaugh. A radically new show, In & Of Itself is constructed as a metaphoric labyrinth, filled with allegorical illusions and centered around a single paradoxical truth. Written by Derek DelGaudio, and directed by Frank Oz, it runs May 11 through June 26 at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-208-5454 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.

 

“Next Fall” Two men in love, two parents in denial and two friends on speed dial form a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment and unconditional love. Adam is a committed atheist; his lover and long-term partner, Luke, is devoutly religious. When a traffic accident changes their lives, Adam must turn to Luke’s conservative Christian family and friends for support… and answers. Written by Geoffrey Nauftts, and directed by Robin Long, it runs May 12 through May 22 at the Macha Theatre in West Hollywood. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.nextfallweho.com.

 

“Amadeus” The story begins with composer Antonio Salieri in the 1820s and then flashes back to 1781 Vienna. The city of drama, intrigue and scandal is abuzz with the arrival of a Mozart, who can write an opera a week, but can’t control his exuberant giggling or his notorious libido. Salieri—until then the royal court’s most-lauded musician—recognizes Mozart’s genius, calling him “God’s magic flute.” Pious, but calculating, Salieri tries everything to subvert the success of the enfant terrible. Written by Peter Shaffer, and directed by Kent Nicholson, it runs May 13 through June 5 at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.

“Clybourne Park” Set in Chicago, the play explodes in two biting and satiric acts, 50 years apart. Act I takes place in 1959 (as did “A Raisin in the Sun”) as nervous white community leaders anxiously try to stop the sale of a middle-class home to a black family. Act II jumps to 2009, in the same house, as the now predominantly African-American neighborhood battles to hold its ground in the face of urban renewal by a Caucasian couple. Each of the seven cast members plays different characters in both acts. Written by Bruce Norris, and directed by George L. Rametta, it runs May 13 through June 18 at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester. For tickets call 310-645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.

 

“The End Times” Enter the world of a religious cult. Dare to ask questions, and discover the truth that may shatter your beliefs. Who do you turn to afterwards? Tim, born and raised in the Lord’s Restoration, has always been a devout follower of the ministry. He is young, loyal, and a true believer. When his best friend Evan is cast out of the Church in Pullman for “living in his mind,” Tim’s life slowly unravels as he questions the foundation of his faith. Written by Jesse Mu-En Shao, and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, it runs May 13 through May 29 at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-761-7061 or visit www.skylighttix.com.

“Gruesome Playground Injuries” darkly comic tale about love, pain and friendship. What is the path we take to find love in a harsh world? Sara Rae Foster (Showtime’s Masters of Sex, TNT’s Mob City) and Jeff Ward (title role in Lifetime’s Manson’s Lost Girls) star in this hilarious and heartbreaking love story about the intimacy between two people who allow their defenses to drop and their wounds to show. Written by Rajiv Joseph, and directed by John Hindman, it runs May 13 through June 26 at the Hudson Theatres in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7773 or visit www.plays411.com/playground.

 

“How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying” J. Pierpont Finch is a lowly window cleaner with dreams of making it big in the business world. After finding a copy of the book “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” Finch decides to apply the tactics in the book to his own life. Soon, he’s working as a mail-room clerk at the World Wide Wicket Company and quickly fighting his way up the corporate ladder. A huge Broadway hit Musical! Starring: Starring: Kent Cain (J. Pierpont Finch), Kelly Hennessey (Rosemary), Richard Malmos (Biggley), Lia Peros (Smitty), Alex Allen (Bud Frump), Cynthia Caldwell (Miss Jones), Danielle Lebens (Hedy LaRue), Randle Rankin (Bratt), John David Wallis (Gatch), Richard Van Slyke (Twimble), Kyle Kelley (Womper), Alex Mackyol (Voice of the Book), Bobby Burkich (Ovington/ Ensemble), Chris Curry (TV Announcer/ Ensemble), Christa Hamilton (Miss Krumholtz/ Ensemble), Devin Holliman (Scrubwoman/ Ensemble), Kevin Holmquist (Jenkins/ Ensemble), Katie Moya (Scrubwoman/ Ensemble), Paul Reid (Peterson/ Ensemble), and Libby Snyder (Treasure Girl/ Ensemble). Written by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, with music by Frank Loesser, and directed by Danny Michaels and Orlando Alexander, it runs May 13 through June 25 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-244-8481 or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

 

“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” In 1929, famous New York stockbroker Bill Wilson crashes along with the stock market and becomes a hopeless drunk. Dr. Bob Smith, a surgeon from Ohio, has also been an alcoholic for 30 years, often going into the operating room with a hangover. Through an astonishing series of events, Bill and Bob meet and form a relationship, each helping the other to stay sober. This is the amazing and often humorous story of the two men who pioneered Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as the story of their wives, who founded Al Anon. The play artfully illustrates Bill and Bob’s journey from the pain and isolation of alcoholism to the hope and inspiration they find in sobriety and helping others. Written by Stephen Bergman and Janet Surrey, and directed by Ronnie Marmo, it runs May 14 through June 12 at the Theatre 68 @ NOHO Arts Center in North Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-5068 or visit www.Theatre68.com.

“The Hairy Ape” the story of Robert “Yank” Smith, a brutish ship laborer who searches for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the wealthy elite. As head coal stoker on an ocean liner, Yank is in his element: he rules his dark, smoky world. But when the pale, spoiled daughter of the ship’s owner visits the engine room for a thrill, she is at once repulsed and terrified by Yank and what she sees there. Half in love with the unattainable and half blinded by rage, the bewildered Yank blunders violently through Manhattan seeking revenge and trying to understand his place on “de oith.” Written by Eugene O’Neill, and directed by Steven Berkoff, it runs May 14 through July 17 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 Ext. 2 or visit www.OdysseyTheatre.com.

“The City of Conversation” is an inside-the-Beltway play about politics in family—and families in politics—as it delves into the ever-changing tapestry of U.S. Government and the people who shape it off the senate floor. In 1979, Washington D.C. was a place where people actually talked to each other—where adversaries fought it out on the Senate floor and smoothed it out over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. But it was all about to change. Spanning 30 years and six presidential administrations, Hester Ferris throws high-powered Georgetown dinner parties that can change the course of Washington’s politics. But, when her beloved son suddenly turns up with an ambitious Reaganite girlfriend and a shocking new conservative world view, Hester must choose between preserving her family and defending the causes she’s spent her whole life fighting for. Written by Anthony Giardina, and directed by Michael Wilson, it runs May 17 through June 4 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.TheWallis.org.

“Newsies” Set in New York City at the turn of the century, NEWSIES is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of teenaged ‘newsies,’ who dreams only of a better life far from the hardship of the streets. But when publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack finds a cause to fight for and rallies newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right. Written by Harvey Fierstein, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and directed by Jeff Calhoun, it runs May 17 through May 29 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-556-2787 or visit www.SCFTA.org.

 

“La Cage aux Folles” Featuring: Jon Jon Briones as Georges Gedde Watanabe as Albin Allen Lucky Weaver as Jacob Michael Hagiwara as Edouard Dindon Sharline Liu as Marie Dindon Jinwoo Jung as Jean Michel Audrey Cain as Anne Grace Yoo as Jaqueline Cesar Cipriano as Francis Christopher Aguilar Carlos Chang Jonathan Kim DT Matias Alex Sanchez This multiple Tony Award winner for Best Musical about a gay couple who own a glitzy drag club is given a fresh, sleek and racy look that only East West Players can deliver.  The charmed lives of Georges, the suave owner, and Albin, his high-strung star performer, are turned upside down when George’s son, Jean-Michel, returns with his fiancée, Anne. Cultures collide as Georges and Albin are introduced to Anne and her ultra-conservative parents in this jubilant musical that inspired the movie, “The Birdcage.” Written by Harvey Fierstein. based on the book by Jean Poiret, with music by Jerry Herman, and directed by Tim Dang, it runs May 18 through June 26 at the East West Players – David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-625-7000 or visit www.eastwestplayers.org.

“Hillary & Monica” History’s most-reported act of oral copulation inspires a couple of writers to pen a narrative that could potentially impact the individual who may become the next President of the United States. Ben and Pete are two combative writing partners who reunite to write a “blockbuster” play about the most infamous political sex scandal of the 20th Century. Their script pivots about a proposed clandestine meeting between Hillary and Monica in an upscale suite of a Baltimore hotel. Ben’s aesthetic sense is deeply rooted in the noir movies of the 40s, to Pete’s irritation. But their play’s problems run deeper than that: What if either of their two women subjects decide to sue them? Hillary is a wealthy Presidential candidate. Monica is a struggling C-list celebrity. Neither of them could welcome this theatrical exposé of their lives. Ben’s paranoia pushes Pete to call his lawyer, Greg Goldfarb, an African American who likes to speak in Yiddishisms (it throws potential clients off-balance). Ben has a girlfriend, Tiffany, a used-up dance hall instructor. She doesn’t think Ben’s a great lover, but he’s a sometime roof over her head. Ben and Pete’s script reveals that their characters are full of hidden agendas and sexual secrets. But so are Pete, Ben, Greg and Tiffany- so much so that the quartet make Bill Clinton look like a Sunday school teacher. The four are far, far naughtier than the subjects of their creative endeavors. The four are simply coming up with angles to generate cash at the same time. Written by Victor Bardack and Edward Michael Bell, and directed by Joel Zwick, it runs May 19 through June 12 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-7735 or visit www.plays411.com/hillary.

“Separate Beds” Ernie and Twink have been sent on a cruise by their kids for their 30th anniversary. Ernie owns a hardware store. He’s grumpy. Twink keeps the store’s books. She bemoans the lack of tactile romance in their lives. They haven’t had marital relations in a while. In their state room, they’re sleeping in separate beds. Ah, the power of metaphor. They try to acquaint themselves with a more glamorous couple: Blake, a wealthy eyewear entrepreneur, and his wife Beth, an actress. Blake gushes over Beth, frequently holding her hand. They’ve been married 10 years. Why can’t Ernie and Twink be more like fun couple Blake and Beth, Twink wonders. She’s bored, and Ernie and Twink bore others around them. All is not necessarily as it first appears. Are Blake and Beth really happy? Can Ernie find a way to become romantic for Twink before he loses her forever? Are they condemned to sleep in separate beds forever? Written by M.J. Cruise, and directed by Melanie MacQueen, it runs May 19 through June 19 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.

 

“Clarence Darrow” this intimate production, presented in the round, is a compelling one-man tour-de-force which provides insights into the life, loves, triumphs and disappointments of the man who defended the seemingly indefensible and championed the underdog with passion, eloquence and sharp humor. James O’Neil, whose acting credits include Pontius Pilate in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and Rubicon productions of Hamlet and Our Town, has long aspired to play the role of Darrow, who is O’Neil’s great-grandfather’s first cousin. Written by David W. Rintels, and directed by Jenny Sullivan, it runs May 25 through June 12 at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura. For tickets call 805-667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

 

“Billie Holiday: Front and Center” Billie Holiday (1915-1959) was a trail-blazing musical artist, known as perhaps the first female vocalist to use her voice in the style of jazz improvisation. Recording first with Benny Goodman, she became the first Black female vocalist to front a white band, that of Artie Shaw. She also performed with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. She had long professional associations with saxophonist Lester Young (who named her Lady Day; she called him Prez) and pianist Teddy Wilson. Born to poverty in Philadelphia, she was a victim of sexual assault while still a child and sentenced by the court to a Catholic correctional institution. It was only her first experience with the court, however. She was convicted at age 13 (along with her mother) of prostitution. Subsequent arrests involved possession of narcotics and substance abuse. Despite a turbulent life, abusive relationships, and racism, she prevailed to become one of the greatest jazz and blues artists of her time, before her untimely demise at age 42 from cirrhosis of the liver. In addition to multiple hit recordings, she sold out Carnegie Hall three times. Written by Sybil Harris, and directed by B’Anca, it runs May 27 through June 19 at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2499741.

“The Engine of Our Ruin” TIME: Present. PLACE: Luxury hotel suite somewhere in the Middle East. EVENT: American diplomat attempts delicate trade negotiation. INCIDENT: An idealistic interpreter with secret agenda turns mission into international incident. Written by Jason Wells, and directed by Maria Gobetti, it runs May 27 through June 26 at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank. For tickets call 818-841-5422 or visit www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org.

                                                                                                          

 CONTINUING

 

“Catch Me If You Can” is one of the most door creaking, suspenseful, and fun-filled of the whodunits. With more turns than a corkscrew, this hilarious mystery comedy will keep you on the edge of your seats right up to the thrilling climax. Gather your family and friends and catch this show while you can! Written by Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, and directed by Tim Dietlein, it runs through May 7 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale. For tickets call 818-244-8481 or visit www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

 

“The Turn Of The Screw” A young governess journeys to a lonely English manor to care for two recently orphaned children. Are the specters she sees haunting the children real, or are they the product of her fevered imagination? Based on the provocative tale of suspense, horror and repressed sexuality by Henry James, this Gothic ghost story, set in an impromptu performance space lit entirely by the audience holding flashlights, is certain to give you the chills – bring a sweater! Written by Jeffrey Hatcher, adapted from the novel by Henry James, and directed by Blake Silver, it runs through May 7 at the Behind Sirens/Titans Fitness in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-782-1849 or visit www.eventbrite.com.

 

“The Full Monty” Adapted from the Academy Award®-winning movie, this charming and hilarious musical follows the journey of two unemployed steelworkers desperate to make a living. When the search for work becomes hopeless, they scheme to put together a male striptease act and recruit other displaced workers to join them. The heart of this musical is the story of self-empowerment, overcoming odds, and the unbreakable bond formed within this seemingly diverse group of men who find that they have more in common than they first thought. Written by Terrance McNally, with music by David Yazbek, and directed by TJ Dawson, it runs through May 8 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton. For tickets call 714-589-2770 or visit www.3dtheatricals.org.

 

“Abducted- The Show” depicts the terrifying true story of the abduction of a 13-year-old youth in America’s heartland, Omaha, Nebraska. It will take all of the teen’s intelligence and resourcefulness if he can escape alive. Other episodes in the show present how we can be abducted in our dreams. A white mainlander visiting Hawaii has a startling encounter with the indigenous culture. An American visiting the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto experiences a special kind of terror. Writer-performer William Riedmann portrays multiple characters in his solo performance. His adventurous life includes retailing snowboards in Colorado, being a river guide in the Grand Canyon and sojourns in Panama and Costa Rica. His professional experience as an actor and comic includes work with The New Collective and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Written by William Riedmann, and directed by Debra De Liso, it runs through May 19 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-7780 or visit www.plays411.com.

 

“The Devil’s Bride” is a romantic comedy-mystery that takes place a week after the events in Shakespeare’s classic Much Ado About Nothing, with the villainous Don John the Bastard still languishing in Messina’s jail after attempting to thwart his rival’s wedding. Don John is given a chance to redeem himself, if he consents to marry Signore Benedick’s sister Allegra. However, Lady Allegra is under a Gypsy curse. She has already been engaged three times, and all three of her intended bridegrooms have died before reaching the altar. Will Don John be next? Written by Joan Silsby, and directed by Wendy Gough Soroka, it runs through May 21 at the Belfry Stage Upstairs at the Crown in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-849-4039 or visit www.theatreunleashed.org.

 

“Electricity” openly gay sex addict Brad hooks up with closeted virgin Gary in a motel room after their 10th high school reunion in 1983. They form an undeniable connection that draws them back to the same motel room once every ten years. As the decades fly by, their lives transform and reflect the changes in society around them from that closeted first night in the 80’s to a world where even gay marriage is possible and it’s their time to decide. Is their connection over, or is it really just beginning. Written by Terry Ray, and directed by Steven Rosenbaum, it runs through May 22 at the Two Roads Theatre in Studio City. For tickets call 213-265-7972 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

 

“Joe & Marilyn: A Love Story” a passion-filled two-character play about the volatile relationship between baseball great Joe DiMaggio and Hollywood super-star Marilyn Monroe. Written by Willard Manus, and directed by T.J. Castronovo, it runs through May 22 at the Write Act Rep @ The Brickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

 

“A Nice Family Gathering” On Thanksgiving Day, the first gathering since Dad died, Dad comes back as a ghost with a mission. Trouble begins when Mom invites a date for dinner. Written by Phil Olson, and directed by Doug Engalla, it runs through May 29 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.

 

“The Story of Alice” A young girl finds herself in a mysterious otherworld filled with articulate woodland creatures struggling against a tyrant Queen and self-indulgent Havalots, but in an attempt to save herself, the girl known as Alice must first save those she encounters during her wild adventure that is as real as it is confabulation. One of the most enduring stories by Lewis Carroll is given a musical and contemporary retelling in this timely and wickedly imaginative production featuring an impetuous teenager in a wondrous world unlike any she’s known before. Bored and restless, Alice follows after a nervous White Rabbit and lands in a strange place far different than her suburban home and more dangerous than her self-absorbed sister Simone could have warned her about. Along the way, Alice meets a trickster Cheshire Cat, who leads her unwittingly through a labyrinth of odd and unusual Forest Creatures. It isn’t long though before Alice discovers the dark truth shadowing this otherworld in the matriarch of a greedy Queen of Hearts, her inept husband and those who serve her, the Havalots. As Alice tries to return to her normal way of life, she invariably finds herself leading a rebellion against the tyranny of power and absolute rule. But will she ever return to being a regular teenager ever again, or be caught forever down the rabbit hole where reality is only a dream. Written by Michael Cormier, with music by Scott Hiltzik, and directed by Gary Reed, it runs through May 29 at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-960-4420 or visit www.plays411.com/alice.

 

 

Looks like this month is filled with fun stuff to do, so go enjoy a show tonight!