SoCal theatre, June 17-24: Paul Outlaw, ‘tiny father,’ ‘Wendy’s Peter Pan,’ Hollywood Fringe 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, cabaret, 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…
‘BBC (Big Black Cockroach)’ A conservative American white woman wakes to find she has been transformed into a Black man as venerable L.A.-based performance artist and provocateur Paul Outlaw puts his own satirical spin on Franz Kafka’s dark 1915 fable “The Metamorphosis”; contains mature content, loud sounds, flashing lights, graphic descriptions of violence, and nudity. REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown L.A. 8:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 20-22. $27; discounts available. (213) 237-2800. redcat.org
Shakespeare by the Sea The annual summer festival returns with locally touring outdoor productions of “Cardenio: or Double Falsehood” based on a lost play by Shakespeare and John Fletcher plus a condensed version of the Bard’s “Henry IV Parts 1 & 2.” Various locations, June 20 through Aug. 3. Free. shakespearebythesea.org
‘tiny father’ A single man steps up when a friends-with-benefits relationship takes an unexpected turn in the West Coast premiere of Mike Lew’s comedy-drama. Geffen Playhouse’s 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, June 20 thru July 14. $30-$129. (310) 208-2028. geffenplayhouse.org
‘If All the Sky Were Paper’ Arroyo Repertory Theatre stages New York Times bestselling author Andrew Carroll’s play based on the wartime letters of soldiers, sailors, civilians, etc. from conflicts and combat zones around the globe. Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, June 21 thru July 7; also 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27. $25, $35. eventbrite.com
‘Enchanted Toy Shop’ Bob Baker’s classic and brightly colored family-friendly puppet show, originally created in 1958, returns and includes previews of three new numbers from company’s upcoming 2025 production “Choo Choo Revue.” Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 4949 York Blvd., Highland Park. Various times, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, June 22 thru Sept. 1. $25; age 2 and under, free. (213) 250-9995. bobbakermarionettetheater.com
‘Not a Moment, But a Movement’ This three-day festival for works by Black theatermakers returns for a second edition featuring five new plays by woman-identifying or non-binary playwrights; presented by Center Theatre Group in conjuction with The Fire This Time Festival and Watts Village Theater Company. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday, June 22-24. $15. (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org
‘Third Annual Proud Out Loud’ Theatre West salutes Terrence McNally with an evening of selections from the Tony-winning playwright’s oeuvre (8 p.m. Saturday, June 22) and an afternoon screening of the “American Masters” documentary “Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life” followed by a talkback (2 p.m. Sunday, June 23). Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A. Free; donations accepted. (323) 851-4839. theatrewest.org
TST Reading Series African American theater company Towne Street Theater presents a fresh batch of new original short plays, followed by Q&As with the playwrights. Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21. $5-$15. townestreetla.org
‘Wendy’s Peter Pan’ Return with us now to Neverland in an outdoor staging of artistic director Ellen Geer’s reimagining of J.M. Barrie’s beloved fantasy tale. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, other dates and times, June 22 thru October 4. $15-$60; pay-what-you-will (cash only at the door), Friday, July 26. (310) 455-3723. theatricum.com
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