SoCal theatre, April 1-8: ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Fat Ham,’ ‘King Hedley II’ and more
Theatre, musicals, cabaret, drag, standup comedy, poetry, spoken word, storytelling, and books & lit for LA & OC
Welcome to the latest TV or Not TV newsletter spotlighting live theater, standup comedy, etc. on stages all around Southern California this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the LA Times’ Calendar section.
The curtain rises…
Theatre
Opening this week…
‘Dietrich’ Cindy Marinangel portrays legendary German actress and singer Marlene Dietrich in this solo show. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, April 2, 9 & 16. $30, $50. eventbrite.com
‘Funny Girl’ Don’t send around a cloud to rain on Fanny Brice’s parade! Katerina McCrimmon portrays the beloved early 20th century comedienne in the Tony-winning Broadway revival of the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical featuring a revised book by Harvey Fierstein. With Melissa Manchester. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, April 3 thru 29. $40 and up. (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org
‘Fat Ham’ A young, queer Black man suffers the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize–winning update of Shakespeare’s tragic tale of the melancholy Dane. Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, April 4 thru 28. $30-$129. (310) 208-2028. geffenplayhouse.org
‘The Pillowman’ The newly formed Ektelo Theatre Group stages Martin McDonagh’s pitch-black 2003 comedy about an author being interrogated by agents of a totalitarian regime over his possible connection to a series of child murders. The Broadwater, 1076 Lillian Way, L.A. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, April 4 thru 14. $35. onstage411.com
‘Unsavory Fellow’ Writer-performer Nick James looks back on his misspent youth and reckless pursuit of stardom in this solo show; contains mature content. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, April 4 thru 27. $30. eventbrite.com
‘Dinner With Friends’ Donald Margulies’ decades-spanning, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama exploring marriage, friendship and infidelity. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., L.A. Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 5 thru 28. $35-$45. (323) 965-9996. onstage411.com
‘Drunk Shakespeare’ One inebriated comic and five sober ones attempt to improvise a play in the style of the Bard in this recurring show. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 9 p.m. Fridays, April 5 thru 26. $16-$35. drunktheatre.com
‘Fear of Heights’ Writer-performer Kevin Flynn revisits his formative years growing up in a family of Irish American steelworkers in Brooklyn in this autobiographical solo show. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 5 thru 14. $30. (310) 477-2055. odysseytheatre.com
‘In the Heights’ Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical about the residents of a Dominican-American neighborhood in NYC. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, April 6 thru May 5. $22-$33. simi-arts.org
‘Kosher Salt’ Writer-performer Abel Horwitz plays multiple characters in this fantastical solo show exploring the roots of antisemitism; for ages 16 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 8:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, April 5 thru 20. $20, $25. zombiejoes.com
‘Little Women: The Broadway Musical’ The March sisters live, laugh and love in Civil War-era Massachusetts in this hit show based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic American novel. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 5-7. $49-$89. (562) 916-8500. cerritoscenter.com (Also in Thousand Oaks, April 12-14)
‘My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy’ Steve Solomon portrays multiple characters in the return of his autobiographical solo comedy. Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5-6. $35, $45. (805) 449-2787. bapacthousandoaks.com
‘Ride’ A woman in Victorian England and her traveling companion attempt to bicycle around the globe in the U.S. premiere of Freya Catrin Smith’s musical fable; contains strong language. The Old Globe, 363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, April 5 thru 28. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org
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