We are still having some unusually hot weather, so this is the perfect time to cool off while enjoying one of these fantastic productions currently playing in a local theater!
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
“The Young and the Rest of Us” Daytime TV goes off the rails in this wickedly funny murder mystery: stylish, darkly unhinged, and fueled by ambition, power, and deceit. An Emmy is up for grabs. Set during an Emmy nomination celebration for a long-running soap opera, the play begins when a cast member announces she plans to expose everyone’s secrets. 34 minutes later, she’s found dead… and suddenly the glamorous world behind the show is full of suspects. As rivalries, affairs, and hidden agendas surface, the characters scramble to uncover the truth before the scandal destroys them all. Written by Tamir Yardenne, and directed by Douglas Jewell, it runs April 2 through May 10 at the Group Rep Theatre – Upstairs in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit thegrouprep.com.
“Twisted” Scilla Claroe, an African American woman, is a writer. She is interviewing Renton Downey, a Death Row inmate and the subject of her next book, Downey awaits execution because he murdered multiple people in a mass shooting. As their discussions continue, Scilla is brought to the chilling realization that Downey is somehow linked to her biracial son, Jason Abernathy.. What does she do now? Written by Chris DiGiovanni, and directed by Marc Antonio Pritchett, it runs April 3 through May 3 at the Theatre West in Studio City. For tickets call 323-851-4839 or visit theatrewest.org.
“Level Up!” Desi López, a trans tween, is afraid to come out to her family. In her oversized hoodie, Desi is seen as a boy IRL (in real life). But inside The Proxy, a richly imagined virtual world within the play’s digital realm, Desi discovers the freedom to exist as her true self: a powerful female warrior with enormous butterfly wings who embarks on an epic quest to save her dying dog and reunite with her mother. Written by Gabriel Rivas Gómez, and directed by Fidel Gómez, it runs April 4 through May 3 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit latinotheaterco.org.
“HardLove” introduces ChiChi, a raw, free spirit with a wild, fierce heart and Theodore, the epitome of a well-mannered, intellectual gentleman who values order and structure. After stumbling into Teddy’s apartment blackout drunk, their initial fumbling attempts at a hookup quickly dissolve, exposing vastly different expectations of intimacy and connection. What follows is a raw and revealing exploration of vulnerability, power dynamics, and personal boundaries. Written by Anıl Can Beydilli, adapted by Esin İleri and Miray Beşli from the original Turkish play, translated by Esin İleri, and directed by Jee Duman, it runs April 8 through April 18 at the Broadwater Blackbox in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.tickettailor.com/events/drama341/2102768.
“Blue Kiss” An SAT tutoring session takes a shocking turn when the teacher realizes that his new student has an agenda of her own. BLUE KISS takes place in the present day in a major city, as a routine encounter between teacher and student spirals into something far more unsettling as the instructor realizes his new student is not who she claims to be — and that they share a hidden emotional history. An explosive and deeply personal confrontation unfolds. This gripping drama explores trauma, accountability, and the far-reaching impact of gun violence. Written by Stephen Fife, and directed by Mike Reilly, it runs April 10 through May 17 at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets call 310-397-3244 or visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com.
“In The Heights” is set in New York City’s Washington Heights and follows a vibrant neighborhood filled with ambition, heart, and deep cultural roots. Through a dynamic score infused with hip-hop, salsa, merengue, and soul, the musical pulses with the rhythm of the streets while telling a powerful story about identity, family, and the pursuit of opportunity. At the center of the story is Usnavi, a charismatic bodega owner torn between staying in the community he loves and pursuing his dream of returning to the Dominican Republic. Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and directed by Jesse J. Sanchez, it runs April 10 through April 26 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-856-1999 or visit musical.org/events/in-the-heights.
“Reefer Madness” Inspired by the original 1936 film of the same name, this raucous musical comedy takes a look at the mass hysteria caused when two clean-cut kids, Jimmy and Mary, fall prey to the frightful toll of the new drug menace currently destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers, the insidious and murderous lure of our real public enemy number one, MARIJUANA! It tragically (and hysterically) leads them both into a downward spiral filled with wild jazz, chaos and mayhem, lurid sex and uncontrollable violence. Written by Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney, with music by Dan Studney, lyrics by Kevin Murphy, it runs April 10 through May 10 at the Wisteria Theater in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-237-4643 or visit www.wisteriatheater.com.
“Mean Girls” Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on “The Plastics,” a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung! Written by Tina Fey, with music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and directed by Dana Solimando, it runs April 11 through May 3 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.LaMiradaTheatre.com.
“What Price Freedom” With war looming, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin attempt a covert peace negotiation with Britain, only to find their greatest obstacle is not the Crown, but each other — as the fate of the new nation hangs on whose version of freedom will triumph. Written by Tony Blake, and directed by Darin Anthony, it runs April 11 through May 4 at the Moving Arts in Atwater. For tickets visit movingarts.org/project/what-price-freedom.
“Eat Me” Chris loves fine cuisine. He spends hours in a corner of the internet where like-minded foodies share their extraordinary culinary experiences. Stevie doesn’t eat fish with souls, Beatrice and Jen just baked a flax loaf and Cindy might have salad, later. In this wildly imaginative play, everyone is longing for something that makes them feel full—and when the meal is over, maybe they’ll be transformed. Eat Me enjoyed a successful reading at last year’s Pacific Playwrights Festival. Written by Talene Monahon, and directed by Caitlin Sullivan, it runs April 12 through May 3 at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
“Master Harold…and the Boys” a gripping, deeply personal drama that unflinchingly confronts the realities of race, power, and betrayal. On a rainy afternoon, Hally, a white teenager, passes the time with Sam and Willie, two Black waiters who have helped raise him by filling the gaps of a broken home with warmth, wisdom, and laughter. But as the day unfolds, playful memories give way to painful truths, and a single moment threatens to shatter the fragile bond between them forever. Written by Athol Fugard, and directed by Emily Mann & Tarell Alvin McCraney, it runs April 16 through May 10 at the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. For tickets call 310-208-2028 or visit www.geffenplayhouse.org.
“Hell Mouth” Torn between his Oklahoma parents and the Beverly Hills owners of an unknown Caravaggio hanging of Judas, Tim rediscovers himself while making the art history discovery of the century. Heretical theology, miraculous hair growth, microscopic art theft and a visit to the Valley of Hell. Imagine your own mother on the Worst Dressed Women List. Written by Tom Jacobson, and directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, it runs April 17 through May 24 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit ci.ovationtix.com/35065/production/1266509.
“Colored People’s Time: A History Play” The clock ticks…Time moves forward….and so do we. From the end of the Civil War to the beginnings of Jim Crow, we witnessed the grit and resilience of Colored people who simply had no choice but to make the most of living the fear, pain and joy of being Black in America. They found the tenacity and fortitude to win the small everyday battles that allowed them to simply get through another day. Freemen and Women with hope and faith in each other were able to not just survive but triumph when all odds were against them. The heroes like Marcus Garvey and Joe Louis were cause for celebration; Sistas like unknown Nadine, dying of tuberculosis, unable to find the means to get to the hospital herself for treatment, yet finding the empathy to give room so another man does not find himself destitute and in the streets. Then, there’s Alberta and Belle, one puttin’ down the funk to be able to pay the rent, the other to entertain fighting Black men intent on letting this country know we are ready, willing, and able to fight for this country even though this country is fighting tooth and nail to deny them human rights. The clock ticks and we witness the everyday experience of Colored people who through it all are compelled to become the unintended heroes that live through Colored People’s Time. Written by Leslie Lee, and directed by Ben Guillory, it runs April 18 through May 17 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets visit therobeytheatrecompany.org.
“For Want of a Horse” Calvin is devoted to his wife, Bonnie, played by Jenny Soo (recipient of a Stage Raw award for her performance in the Echo’s Gloria). But, as Joey confesses to his best friend, PJ if he’s to move forward, he needs to open up their relationship to include his new romantic partner. One complication: that partner would be Q-Tip — and Q-Tip is a horse. Written by Olivia Dufault, and directed by Elana Luo, it runs April 18 through May 25 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets call 747-350-8066 or visit EchoTheaterCompany.com.
“The Storyteller of East LA” set in East L.A., where Fernández grew up, the play blends intimate family drama with elements of magical realism to explore themes of memory loss, family dynamics and the complexities of caring for aging loved ones. Written by Evelina Fernández, and directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela, it runs April 18 through May 17 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 213-489-0994 or visit latinotheaterco.org.
“Fallen Angels” A champagne-soaked comedy of nerves, Fallen Angels follows best friends Julia and Jane as they brace for the arrival of a former lover they once shared. What begins as nervous anticipation quickly spirals into a hilarious unraveling of propriety, fueled by cocktails, confessions, and mounting panic. Meanwhile, their respectable and unsuspecting husbands remain blissfully unaware of the romantic history that threatens to upend their carefully ordered lives. Written by Noël Coward, and directed by Celia Mandela Rivera, it runs April 24 through May 10 at the Little Fish Theatre in Redondo Beach. For tickets visit www.littlefishtheatre.org.
“Love Struck” Two Latinas, one American and one Cuban, in a hurricane of lust, love, and other devastations. Rachel, the American, and Laura, the Cuban, have been together for three years. The white-hot lust of their early courtship has evolved into a warm domesticity, They energize their love life with role-playing, cosplay, and erotic accessories. Laura, the more successful of the two, has bought a comfortable Los Angeles home where they reside. Rachel wants to become as accomplished as Laura. Rachel is also beginning to feel homesick for her native New York. Will love keep them together? Written by Odalys Nanin and Marie Barrientos, and directed by Odalys Nanin and Angela Nicholas, it runs April 24 through May 3 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 or visit www.eventbrite.com/e/love-struck-tickets-66479031573.
“One Million Words – Rilke” tells the story of a writer who, for nearly a year, struggles to create poetry and can only express himself through letters. An actor uses these letters to navigate his own challenges in a place where even his name feels foreign, shaking the foundations of his identity. Together, the poet and the actor explore themes of love, the creative process, and a sense of not belonging, highlighting the importance of being grounded in the present moment, topics that resonate deeply in today’s world. Written by Ivo Müller, Inspired by the Work of Poet Rainer Maria Rilke, and directed by Arieta Corrêa, with Darrell Larson co-directing, it runs April 24 through May 3 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
“Fremont Ave.” In 1968, George buys a suburban Southern California home—a stop on his way to something bigger. In 1991, Robert is still living there, itching to start his own life. Thirty years later, Joseph returns home, still struggling with a secret that holds him back. With humor and heart, this multigenerational drama revolves around three Black men, their journeys to choose love and the woman who holds them all together. Written by Reggie D. White, it runs April 25 through May 31 at the South Coast Repertory Segerstrom Stage in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
CONTINUING
“The Best Boarding House in Delaware” Inspired by the chilling true crimes of Dorothea Puente—who ran a social security scam out of her boarding house for seniors—The Best Boarding House in Delaware explores themes of trust, vulnerability, and survival. Ryan brings her signature emotional depth and human insight to a story that amounts to a haunting warning about the invisibility of older women in this country. Written and directed by Marja-Lewis Ryan, it runs through April 11 at the Electric Lodge Theater in Venice. For tickets visit thebestboardinghouseindelaware.eventbrite.com.
“The Baptist Witches of Shelbyville” When eldest daughter Lucinda Moon returns home to her small Tennessee town for the July 4th holiday, she is greeted not only by fireworks but by the same women who shaped her -and the memories she can’t shake. What’s on the family’s picnic menu? Dark comedy, tragic poetry, and moments of pure sonic bliss when the Moon family finds their old harmonies. They’re keeping a burger on the grill, and a tumbler of frosé cold, just for you. Written by Julie Shavers, and directed by Daniel O’Brien, it runs through April 25 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. For tickets visit whitefire.stagey.net/projects/13984?tab=tickets.
“Amerika or The Man Who Disappeared” In Kafka’s surreal, darkly comic coming-of-age odyssey, 17-year-old Karl Rossmann finds himself banished from Germany in disgrace following a family scandal. Arriving in New York City on a steamer, he experiences a series of increasingly strange and bewildering misadventures that turn his world upside down. Although Kafka’s novel can be read as a menacing allegory of modern life, it pulses with youthful energy, unexpected humor and a lively theatricality that makes it uniquely suited for the stage. Written by Dietrich Smith from the novel by Franz Kafka, and directed by Dietrich Smith, it runs through May 3 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets visit openfist.org.