SoCal theatre, Feb. 26-March 4: ‘Mercury,’ ‘Footloose,’ ‘Into the Woods’ and more

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

Andrea Flowers, left, and Meeghan Holaway in Steve Yockey’s dark comedy “Mercury” at the Road Theatre (Lizzy Kimball)

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.

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Theatre

Opening this week…

Monday Night Theatre Appreciation Seminars This series resumes with a reading of William Douglas Home’s 1977 comedy “The Kingfisher.” Theatre 40, Mary Levin Cutler Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 Free; donations accepted. theatre40.org

Festival of Jewish Playwrights This showcase presents three distinct programs of one-act plays by Ethan Coen, Wendy Wasserstein and Shel Silverstein, playing in repertory. 905 Cole, 905 Cole Ave., L.A. Various dates and times, Feb. 29 thru April 7. $30. onstage411.com

‘Something Like … Musical: Phantom of the Opera’ Writer-performer Kelsey Harper and her finger puppets attempt to fake their way through the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic without actually knowing the plot in this multimedia-enhanced solo show. Jaxx Theatricals, 5432 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Feb. 29-March 1. $15. eventbrite.com

‘Cannibal! The Musical’ The saga of flesh-eating frontier-era prospector Alferd Packer is played for laughs in this darkly-comic musical written by “South Park’s” Trey Parker; with advisories for strong language, violence and crude humor. Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center, 11006 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, March 1 thru 17. $35. $35. onstage411.com

‘Into the Woods’ Classic fairytales are reimagined in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning musical. The Nocturne Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, other dates and times, March 1 thru 17. $27.50-$73.50. thenocturnetheatre.com

‘Power to the Queendom’ Four female members of the Black Panther Party take a police officer hostage following a protest gone sideways in ShaWanna Renee Rivon’s new drama set in 1970s Houston. Loft Ensemble, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, March 1 thru 24. Pay what you want. (818) 452-3153. loftensemble.org

‘Together at Last’ Join the residents of a retirement home as the celebrate their “senior” prom in Brandon Slezak’s immersive, interactive supernatural comedy drama; for ages 16 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 8:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, March 1-2 and 8-9; also 8:30 p.m. Sundays, March 17, 24 and 31. $20, $25. zombiejoes.com

‘The War of the Roses: The Women, The Voices, The Vote’ Frances Fisher, Lisa Ann Walter, et al., celebrate the suffragists who helped set the women’s rights movement in motion in this benefit show. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 1-2. $19-$57. thewarofroses.com

‘Dino, Judy, Frank and Babs’ The Playhouse’s Studio Collaborative series continues with this musical revue featuring vocalists Jay Joseph and Joy Demain and a live band. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1-3. $30. (562) 494-1014. lbplayhouse.org

 ‘The Birthday Party: A Theatrical Catastrophe’ Writer-performer Nick Ullett gives his firsthand account of a star-studded but ill-fated production of Harold Pinter’s classic drama at the Geffen Playhouse in 2014 in this world-premiere solo show. Rogue Machine, the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Saturday-Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, March 2 thru April 8; dark March 4 & 29. $10-$30. (855) 585-5185. roguemachinetheatre.org

Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Inland Pacific Ballet stages the hit musical based on the classic fairytale. Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, March 2-3 and 9-10. $35-$86; discounts available. (909) 477-2775. ipballet.org

‘Footloose: The Musical’ A dance-happy teen from the big city pushes back against small-town conformity in this 1998 stage adaption of the hit 1984 film that starred Kevin Bacon. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, March 2 thru 17. $55. (818) 558-7000. colonytheatre.org

‘The Wizard of Oz Radio Show’ The Long Beach Shakespeare Company offers a radio-style adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic fantasy tale. Helen Borgers Theatre, 4250 ½ Atlantic, Long Beach. 8 p.m. Friday, March 2; also 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 7 thru 10. $15. LBShakespeare.org

‘My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m Kinky’ Writer-performer and TV & movie intimacy coordinator Jean Franzblau stars in this autobiographical solo show with advisories for strong language and mature content; part of Solofest 2024. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 3. $25. (818) 687-8559. whitefiretheatre.com