STAGE LISTINGS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Jan. 16 – 22, 2025

 

Note dozens of performances in production or preparing to open have been impacted by the Los Angeles area fires, with actors and support staff either evacuated or having lost their homes. Please check with the theaters to verify that productions listed here are actually performing. 

 

OPENING THIS WEEK:

All Theaters, Region-Wide:

 

ALEICHEM SHOLOM: THE WIT AND WISDOM OF SHOLOM ALEICHEM A show based on the writer’sletters and stories, the controversy surrounding his work, and his passionate involvement in the creation of a new homeland. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Opens Sat., Jan. 18; Sat., 7 pm, Sun. 3  pm on select weekends, check website for schedule. theatre@santamonicaplayhouse.com

BY THE WAY MEET VERA STARK Lynn Nottage’s revelatory look at racism in the film industry during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Kentwood Players, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., LA. Opens Fri., Jan. 17; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm, Sat. at 2 pm from Jan. 25; thru Feb. 8. www.kentwoodplayers.org.

THE CURIOUS SAVAGE In John Patrick’s play, a widow is incarcerated in a mental asylum by her three greedy stepchildren after she plans to use the money her husband left her set up a fund for dreamers The Group Rep Lonny Chapman Theatre (Main Stage) 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Opens Fri., Jan. 17; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Feb. 23. https://thegrouprep.com/show/the-curious-savage/

DEATH OF A SALESMAN Arthur  Miller’s American classic about an Italian dockworker whose repressed longing for his young ward leads to tragedy and betrayal. Panic! Productions, The Colony Theater, 555 N. Third St., Burbank.  Opens Thurs., Jan. 16; Tues.-Sat., 7:30 pm, Sat., 3 pm, Sun., 3:30 pm; thru Jan. 26. https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=7174

ELEANOR Playwright Mark St. Germain’s one-person play about Eleanor Roosevelt. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach. Opens Sun., Jan. 19; Wed.-Sat., 7:30 pm, Sat., 2 pm, Sun. 1 pm and 5:30 pm; thru Feb. 2. www.lagunaplayhouse.com

FARM HALL Katherine Moar’s play reflects on how close the Nazis came to developing the atomic bomb. Topanga Actors Company, Promenade Playhouse, Pico Boulevard, West LA. Opens Fri., Jan. 17; Fri.-Sun., 8 pm, Sun., Feb. 2, 2 pm; thru Feb. 2. https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=7175

LISTING The hopes and plans of a real estate agent are thrown into chaos when catastrophe strikes and the terms of a sale are hijacked. Theatre  40, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills. Opens Thurs., Jan. 16; Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Feb. 16. www.theatre40.org

NIGHT MIRACLES A 10 minute play festival written, directed and performed by members of the Actors’ Gang. The Actors’ Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City. Opens Thurs., January 16, Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 2 pm; thru Feb. 8. theactorsgang.com

THE SEAGULL A star-struck young woman becomes entangled with a famous actress, her famous writer-boyfriend, and her troubled son in this Chekhov classic. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West. LA. Opens Sat., Jan. 18; Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Feb. 9.    https://www.theseagull-la.com/

TWO TRAINS RUNNING August Wilson’s play, set in 1969, revolves around the owner of a diner who must decide if he should allow the government to take over his building or sell the property to a ruthless businessman. Presented by Three Play Winter Fest in rep with The Comedy of Errors and How I learned What I Learned. Rubicon Theatre Company presented in collaboration with The Acting Company of New York , 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Opens Jan. 15; check website for schedule; thru Feb. 2. www.rubicontheatre.org.

WISH YOU WERE HERE Playwright Sanaz Toossi’s love letter to her mother, who emigrated to the United States in the 1980s after the Iranian Revolution. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Opens Fri., Jan. 17; Tues.-Sat., 7:45 pm, Sat.-Sun., 2 pm; thru Feb. 2.  https://scr.org.

 

 

 

CONTINUING PERFORMANCES

Larger Theaters, Region-Wide:

 

 

WICKED Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Opens Wed., Dec. 4; check website for schedule; thru Feb. 2.  www.hollywoodpantages.com

 

 

Intimate Theaters, Hollywood:

 

RECOMMENDED CIVIL TWILIGHT

Taylor Gilbert and Andrew Elvis Miller (Photo by Lizzy Kimball)

Plays with People Productions in association with Road Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Shem Bitterman’s thriller about a popular A.M. radio personality who winds up in the same motel room with his biggest fan. Stage Raw’s review. The Broadwater, 1076 Lillian Way, Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat. 8 pm; Sun., 3 pm; thru Jan. 26. Note: schedule impacted by the fires.  https://theciviltwilight.ludus.com

 

 

 

Intimate Theaters; Downtown LA, South LA, East LA:

 

No productions submitted.

 

Intimate Theaters, Valleys in LA County:

 

SOULMATE Douglas Clarke’s new play exploring the complexities of passion and romance. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, ZJU Theatre, 4850  Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood. Fri.-Sun., 8:30 pm; thru Jan. 19;  ZombieJoes.TIX.com

 

 

 

Intimate Theaters, West Side and Beaches:

 

RECOMMENDED TED TURNER AND THE LAST ROUNDUP 

Amanda Karr and Noah Wagner (Photo by James Rice)

Mark Whicker’s play portrays TV mogul Ted Turner as he spends his waning days in Montana struggling with a degenerative mental condition. Stage Raw’s review. Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theater, 5021 East Anaheim St., Long Beach. Opens Fri., Jan. 10; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Jan. 19. www.LBPlayhouse.org

 

Intimate Theaters, Neighboring Counties:

 

No productions submitted.

 

 

Special Events:

 

ARMS AROUND AMERICA (PODCAST) A podcast for everyone who wants to end gun violence, even if we disagree on how to get there. Each episode of “Arms Around America” features a short immersive audio drama based on stories of real families from around the country whose lives have been shaped by guns. https://www.danfroot.com/podcast

AN EVENING WITH JOSH GAD: IN GAD WE TRUST Josh Gad shares stories ranging from fatherhood to self-image to his career and more.  Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Sat., Jan. 18, 7 pm. https://www.centertheatregroup.org/smartseat/?itemNumber=23306#/

GOLDEN SHIELD A tale of technology, international intrigue and the delicate art of translation was recorded as part of LATW’s acclaimed Relativity Series of science-themed plays. A state-of-the-art recording by LA Theatre Works.  latw.org 

THE GREAT LOVER A reading of a play by Alexander Dumas: The notorious Duke de Richelieu wagers that he can seduce the first girl he sees which leads to complications for the girl he targets. The Robey Theatre Company, LATC, 514 S. Spring St., downtown LA. Sun., Jan. 19, 2 pm. office@therobeytheatrecompany.org

I’LL BURN THAT BRIDGE WHEN I COME TO IT (AN HILARIOUS SELF-IMMOLATION BY SANDRA TSING LOH) A work-in-progress by Sandra Tsing Loh, part of the Odyssey Theatre’s Threshold of Invention series. Odyssey theater 2055 South Sepulveda Blvd., West LA. Sat., Jan. 18, 8 pm. www.OdysseyTheatre.com

OPEN DOOR PLAYHOUSE A platform for presenting short plays in podcast form. Free. http://opendoorplayhouse.org

OPEN DOOR PLAYHOUSE (ON STAGE) Two plays of 30 minutes or less presented live on stage by this podcast production company in a 30 minute play festival.  Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre,  5636 Melrose Ave., LA. Sat., Jan. 18, 5:30 pm. https://www.30minutesorlessfestival.com/projects/11557?tab=tickets1/18

Two Girls by Allie Costa – The play delves into the harrowing realities of sexual assault.

No 2..? by Mark SaFranko – The play explores the complexity of trauma, the struggle for empowerment. It also addresses the nuances of consent, the journey of healing, and the often-silenced voices of survivors. 

TRAVELER’S PRAYER From various writers, a collection of true Jewish travel stories that include  a Jewish writer visiting Hiroshima, another who discovers a surprise? at a Michigan farm, and an activist escaping persecution in South Africa. In-person in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and live on Zoom worldwide. Thru Feb. 6. See website for more info. http://the-braid.org/travel

THE WOLVES An LAFD firefighters and World Central Kitchen Benefit. A preview weekend of Sarah DeLappe’s play: an explosion of athleticism, girlhood, and politics, all taking place in the bubble of a suburban soccer indoor field.  Tickets are give-what-you-can, with 100% of proceeds going to support LAFD firefighters and World Central Kitchen to help those impacted by the recent and ongoing wildfires. Santa Monica’s Morgan–Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica. Sat., Jan. 18 and Sun. Jan. 19. www.morgan-wixson.org,

ZENI: DEAN OF THE DIAMOND A new play by Mas Moriya based on the true-life story of the man often referred to as “the father of Japanese American baseball.”  An audio theater piece by LA Theatre Works.Available now at streaming.latw.org 

 

–Compiled by Deborah Klugman