Fall is finally here now, and the weather is cooling off, which means it’s time to go see one or more of these fabulous shows playing currently in our local theaters!
Covid protocols continue to be dictated by each individual venue, so bring a face mask to wear during the show in case the venue requires it. It’s a good idea to check with the theater before you attend a show to find out what their current policy is.
The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should verify it with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running:
OPENING
“Haunted Soiree: Vampire” A Halloween Party Set in a World of Seductive Shadows and Eternal Night. A Vampire-Themed Immersive Experience with Cocktails, Theatre, and Dark Delights. Roam through the hauntingly beautiful world of Haunted Soiree: Vampire — an immersive Halloween party in Los Angeles, where craft cocktails, live performances, and a vampire-themed theatrical experience create a night unlike any other. This isn’t a haunted house or a pop-up bar. It’s immersive Halloween entertainment for adults, featuring interactive vampire characters, live music, illusionists, aerial performers, and cinematic creature effects built by artists who live for the night. This is Halloween, reimagined — elegant, immersive, and dripping with blood-soaked glamour. General admission allows attendees 90 minutes in the venue. Premium admission allows attendees 2 hours in the venue, plus a welcome drink. Inner Circle admission has all the perks of premium admission, plus exclusive happy-hour pricing at the bar, and an exclusive character-led ceremony that ends with a special Vampire elixir served to guests. Only those aged 21 and over with a valid ID can enter. Conceived and created by Meyer2Meyer Entertainment, it runs October 3 through November 1 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale. For tickets visit www.hauntedsoiree.com.
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends — Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. Written by Doug Wright, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and directed by James Esposito, it runs October 3 through October 12 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.chrtheatre.com.
“anthropology” This high-stakes AI thriller is wrapped in emotional urgency while questioning just how far we’ll go to uncover truth and what technology can and can’t help us resolve in our relationships. Merril is one of Silicon Valley’s leading software engineers, but her life disintegrates when her younger sister Angie vanishes on her way home from college. A year later, when the police have long abandoned their search, Merril assembles all the digital material Angie has left behind and sets about building herself a digital simulation of her sister. The resultant ‘virtual Angie’ offers her some solace – until, that is, it starts to reveal new details about the real Angie’s disappearance. The title of this play is deliberately styled and published as anthropology, in all lowercase. Written by Lauren Gunderson, and directed by John Perrin Flynn, it runs October 4 through November 9 at the Rogue Machine at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 855-585-5185 or visit www.roguemachinetheatre.org.
“I’ll Give You My Heart” Five years after her fiancé is killed on their wedding day, a traumatized young woman fights to keep her promise to never leave him, while protecting her grief-stricken heart from opening for a familiar stranger. Written by Tamara Steren, and directed by James Mellon, it runs October 4 through October 19 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit www.colonytheatre.org.
“The Little King of Norwalk” is a modern barrio fable about power, politics and the price of survival, set against a real-life scandal that unfolded last year when Norwalk imposed a ban on shelters, supportive housing, and businesses that traditionally serve the poor. Following a DUI, Juan attends his first mandated AA meeting — where he’s mistaken for someone powerful and influential who might be of use to the ambitious mayor and his inner circle. Juan wields his new power to benefit himself but soon goes too far. Can he find redemption by confessing the truth? Written by Israel López Reyes, and directed by Geoffrey Rivas, it runs October 4 through November 2 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.
“An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute” An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute honors the life and work of Eartha Kitt. Slip into the velvet-draped world of Eartha Kitt. A sensual, subversive, and unforgettable icon brought to life in this electrifying one-woman cabaret starring Broadway’s Thomasina Gross (Mamma Mia!, Hairspray Live!). Thomasina channels the legendary icon with smoldering vocals, biting wit, and magnetic charm — all backed by a sensational live band. From the sultry purr of “Santa Baby” to the delicious defiance of “I Wanna Be Evil”, it’s an evening of raw glamour, intimate storytelling, and timeless allure. It’s a celebration of everything she was — and everything she dared us to be. Thomasina E. Gross brings Eartha Kitt back to life. Unapologetic. Fierce. Fearless. (An Evening with Eartha Kitt Live Tribute includes original monologues and dramatizations based on publicly available information. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Eartha Kitt estate.) Written by Thomasina E. Gross, and directed by Nohely Quiroz, it runs October 7 through October 9 Upstairs at Vitello’s in the Velvet Martini Lounge in Studio City. For tickets visit www.vitellosrestaurant.com.
“Littleboy/Littleman” When Nicaraguan brothers Fíto and Bastian clash over their visions of the American Dream, their choices send them on a collision course with fate—risking not just their futures, but their bond. Fíto, a poet, is impulsive and ambitious, willing to take risks to get what he wants. Bastian, a telemarketer, is steady and principled, holding onto caution as a guide. Blending poetry, live music, and ritual, this electrifying tale of brotherhood and belonging pulses with rhythm and emotion, pulling us into a world where family is everything, but dreams come at a cost. Written by Rudi Goblen, and directed by Nancy Medina, it runs October 9 through November 2 at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.
“Hairspray” Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the production follows teenage Tracy Turnblad’s dream to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, leading to social change as Tracy campaigns for the show’s integration. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and “downtown” rhythm and blues. Written by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the John Waters film, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and directed by Marissa Jaret Winokur, it runs October 10 through October 26 at the Scherr Forum Theatres at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets call 805-449-2787 or visit www.Ticketmaster.com.
“A Life Behind Bars” As a young man in New York, establishing himself as a writer and actor, he took on a job to pay for his rent and groceries until his big break would come. That job was bartending. Dan found he had a certain proficiency for it and was in demand. He also enjoyed the social aspects of it, meeting people, talking to people, the party atmosphere, the occasional gay fling. Being behind the bar put him in proximity to the adult beverages his clientele loved. He enjoyed the libations, too, sometimes too much. 9/11 happened. The gentrification and Disneyfication and Giulianification of Manhattan followed. Dive bars ceased to be in fashion. New York wasn’t fun anymore. There are eight million stories in the naked city, and Dan will introduce you to a bunch of colorful characters in the course of his narrative. New York was a party, and you’ll get to join in on the fun. Written by Dan Ruth, and directed by Tanya Moberly, it runs October 10 through October 17 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets visit www.whitefire.stagey.net/projects/11435?tab=tickets.
“The Great Lover” the Duke de Richelieu proposes a wager: he can—and will—seduce the first beautiful woman who crosses his path. Women have always found the silver-tongued rascal irresistible, and rarely has he failed in his conquests. But this time, the clever Marquise de Prie has pledged to protect and mentor the virginal Gabrielle de Belle-Isle. Complicating matters further, both Gabrielle and Richelieu are drawn to the newly commissioned nobleman, Lieutenant Raoul Sevran. The promise of passionate love proves difficult to restrain once temptation opens the door. The game is afoot, and it is impossible to predict who will triumph in this playful labyrinth of foreplay, intrigue, and danger. This delightful romp unfolds in the château of Chantilly, 17th-century France. Written by Alexandre Dumas. English translation by Barnett Shaw, and directed by Ben Guillory, it runs October 11 through November 9 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Theatre Four in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.therobeytheatrecompany.org.
“Mascogos” pronounced (Mahs-KO-gohs) are descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped slavery in Florida and Georgia to settle in northern Mexico, predominantly in Coahuila. There, the Mexican government granted them land in exchange for military service: they helped defend the northern frontier from raids. In 1852, the Mascogos established Nacimiento de los Negros, a village that still exists today. They lived alongside Kickapoo, Seminole and Mexican neighbors, developing a unique Afro-Indigenous-Mexican culture. They retained English and Gullah-influenced songs, dances, and oral traditions, while also adopting Spanish and Catholic practices. In this bold, historical sci-fi drama, 18-year-old Jamari is fighting an unknown illness that takes him through worlds he’s never seen before, time-traveling from 1864 Mexico to today’s West Side of Chicago. Unsure of where he belongs, trapped in a historical cycle, Jamari and his loved ones— his 15-year-old cousin Gechu, Mama Luz and Padre Jose—seek answers as they try to break free from the shackles of time. Written by Miranda González, and directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, it runs October 11 through November 9 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.
“Amerika or, The Man Who Disappeared” Arriving in New York City on a steamer, 17-year-old Karl Rossmann strives to make his own way, even as he encounters a series of increasingly strange and bewildering experiences that turn his world upside-down. Written by Dietrich Smith from the novel by Franz Kafka, and directed by Dietrich Smith, it runs October 17 through November 22 at the Open Fist Theatre Company at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 323-882-6912 or visit www.openfist.org.
“Breathe” is a story of two sons from different families involved in separate acts of violence. The consequences they face are based not only on evidence, but also on the color of their skin. Not only must the sons rationalize their actions for themselves, but their families must now find a way to break through the social prejudices and differences in order to assist each other in their efforts to pin down a catalyst for their sons’ violence and find enough answers to move forward with their own lives. This play reminds us of our shared humanity and the differences that continue to keep us apart. Written by Javon Johnson, and directed by Levy Lee Simon, it runs October 17 through November 2 at the Mark Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets visit www.marktheatre.com.
“Hello Dolly!” follows the larger-than-life matchmaker Dolly Levi as she sets out to arrange the romantic affairs of New York’s elite, while plotting a match of her own. With unforgettable Jerry Herman songs including “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and the iconic title number, this Tony Award-winning classic is a joyous celebration of love, laughter, and the indomitable spirit of one legendary woman. Written by Michael Stewart, with music by Jerry Herman, and directed by Cynthia Ferrer, it runs October 17 through November 2 at Musical Theatre West in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets visit www.musical.org.
“Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson–Apt. 2B” In this fast-paced and wildly entertaining comic escapade, the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes get a sharp, sassy twist, thanks to what Hamill calls her “cheerful desecration” of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective series. Written by Kate Hamill, and directed by Amie Farrell, it runs October 17 through November 2 at the International City Theatre in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436-4610 or visit www.InternationalCityTheatre.org.
“UnRavelled” centers on Dr. Anne Adams, who, in her fifties and at the height of her prestigious career exhibited radical personality changes, abandoning her life’s work to paint. Starting out with simple subjects — houses, strawberries — she became suddenly, inexplicably obsessed with Maurice Ravel’s symphonic masterpiece, Boléro, launching into a wildly different and masterful painting style. Through her stunning paintings, Dr. Adams’ work may offer clues to unlocking mysteries about the brain’s networks and creativity. Similarly, Ravel’s most famous work, his captivating, single-movement, orchestral piece Boléro, deviated significantly from his deeply honed musical style. He composed it as a ballet for Russian dancer Ida Rubinstein in 1928, when Ravel himself was experiencing dramatic shifts in his personality. Boléro was one of the last works Ravel completed before dementia ultimately stripped him of his ability to compose. FTD is the most common form of dementia in people under age 60, which manifests with behavioral alterations – not memory loss or paralysis typical of other types of dementia. FTD is the same kind of dementia that afflicts actor Bruce Willis. Written by Jake Broder, with music by Mark Grey, and directed by James Bonas, it runs October 17 through October 19 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-746-4000 or visit www.unravelledplay.com.
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” Set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911 during the Great Migration, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone introduces us to a group of men and women teetering on the brink as they search for lost family, identity and purpose in the aftermath of slavery. Owners Seth Holly (Alex Morris) and his wife, Bertha (Veralyn Jones) play host to a makeshift family, as residents come and go during a time when descendants of former slaves were moving North in large numbers. When tormented Herald Loomis (Kai A. Ealy) arrives with his young daughter, Zonia (Jessica Williams), he is a free man after seven years’ hard labor on Joe Turner’s chain gang. Loomis is looking for the wife he left behind (Tori Danner), believing she can help him reclaim his identity. But through his encounters with the rootmaker, Bynum (James. T. Alfred), and the other residents (Brandon Gill, Briana James, Nija Okoro), he comes to realize that what he really needs is to “find his song” — and it will take more than the local people finder (Bert Emmett) to discover it. Also in the cast is Jared Bennett as the neighbor boy, Reuben. “Seth and Bertha’s boarding house is a way station where souls come on their way to find redemption,” explains Daniel. “Thousands of former slaves and their descendants moved from the South into the jungles of the northern cities after the end of the Civil War. They needed to find each other, to reconnect with their heritage, their ancestry and their culture. Written by August Wilson, and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, it runs October 18 through November 9 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-356-3100 or visit www.anoisewithin.org.
“नेहा & Neel” Neha (नेहा), an Indian immigrant and single mom, worries that she’s failed to pass her language and traditions down to her 17-year-old American-born son, Neel (नील). Could a cross-country college tour be her last shot? If only she can convince Neel to visit the historic Hope Diamond and witness a piece of Indian history for himself, perhaps it will turn their trip into something more. A funny, heartfelt, intergenerational tale about love, family and heritage. Written by Ankita Raturi, and directed by Lily Tung Crystal, it runs October 18 through November 16 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit www.latinotheaterco.org.
“The Heart Sellers” We meet the women—one Filipino, one Korean—during their chance meeting at a supermarket on Thanksgiving Day, 1973. Longing for connection, Luna invites Jane to her apartment. While their medical-resident husbands work through the night, the women bond over life in America, the families they left behind and how to cook a frozen turkey. Written by Lloyd Suh, and directed by Jennifer Chang, it runs October 26 through November 16 at the Julianne Argyros Stage at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
CONTINUING
Photo by Brian Hashimoto
Photo by Brian Hashimoto
“The Night of the Iguana” tells the story of the Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon, a defrocked minister now conducting guided tours through Mexico on the verge of a nervous breakdown. As he struggles with his connection to God and yearns to escape his own tortured existence, he is surrounded by two equally imperfect women, one of whom offers him sensuality, the other spirituality as a means of easing his tormented soul. Taking place over the course of one turbulent night at the Costa Verde hotel on the verge of a world war, the play asks what constitutes escape, what bargains are we willing to make with ourselves, and how much we yearn for real human connection – especially when we’re at the end of our rope. Written by Tennessee Williams, and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, it runs through October 19 at the Boston Court Pasadena in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-683-6801 or visit www.bostoncourtpasadena.org/events/iguana.
Riley Shanahan, George Vagujhelyi. Photo by Brian Hashimoto
