SoCal theatre, Dec. 17-24: ‘MJ,’ ‘Just for Us,’ ‘Love Actually Live’ and more

Theatre, musicals, cabaret, drag, comedy, poetry, spoken word, storytelling, books & lit and more for LA & OC

Roman Banks, center, in “MJ” (Matthew Murphy)

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.

Be sure to check out SoCal Holidays Shows 2023, our super-sized roundup of “Christmas Carols,” “Nutcrackers,” Messiahs and other seasonal fare on offer in LA and OC in the coming days and weeks, updated weekly.

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Theatre

Opening…

‘Pasadena Playhouse Holiday Spectacular’ Broadway veterans George Salazar, Lesli Margherita, et al., share the stage in this show for ages 6 and up. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14-17; 8 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 2 and 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 19-23. $39 and up. (626) 356-7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org

‘Zombie Joe’s A Christmas Carol’ Dickens’ classic fable, with a sinister twist; for ages 13 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 8:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 14 thru 17. $22, $27. zombiejoes.com

‘A Christmas with C.S. Lewis’ The “Chronicles of Narnia” author holds court in this bio-drama. La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. $25-$73. (562) 944-9801. LaMiradaTheatre.com