SoCal theatre, May 27-June 3: ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Biddy Mason,’ Shakespeare, Lucha VaVoom de la Liz and more

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

Katerina McCrimmon and Stephen Mark in “Funny Girl” (Matthew Murphy/MurphyMade)

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…

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Theatre

Opening this week…

‘Funny Girl’ Don’t send around a cloud to rain on Katerina McCrimmon’s parade! The rising star delivers a powerhouse performance as beloved early 20th century comedienne Fanny Brice in the Tony-winning Broadway revival of the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical featuring a revised book by Harvey Fierstein. With Melissa Manchester. Segerstrom Center’s Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, May 28 thru June 9. $39 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org

‘Welcome to Tijuana’ Masked Mexican wrestlers grapple, aerialists soar, comics crack wise and burlesque artists strut their scantily clad stuff in this offering from Lucha VaVoom de La Liz; for ages 21 and up only. The Mayan Theatre, 1038 S. Hill St., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, May 29-30. $45‒$125. luchavavoomdelaliz.com

‘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 “Hamlet.” The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, May 30 thru June 23. $33 and up. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org

‘R.U.R. Cabaret’ Robots rise up against their human masters in this new tune-filled show with book and lyrics by Kai Cofer, music by Larry Evans and inspired by Czech playwright Karel Capek’s 1921 sci-fi fable “Rossum’s Universal Robots.” Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 30 and June 1-2. $25. brownpapertickets.com

‘Broadway and Beyond: Ms. Cast’ Female and non-binary performers celebrate classic show tunes by female composers, lyricists and performers in this musical revue. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, May 31 thru June 9. $25. (805) 583-7900. simi-arts.org

‘Biddy Mason’ The formerly enslaved Black woman who won her freedom in court and went on to become a successful businesswoman in 19th century Los Angeles is remembered in this multimedia-enhanced bio-drama based on a short story by Dana Johnson. The Rosenthal Theatre, Inner-City Arts, 720 Kohler St., downtown L.A. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1. $20. (213) 627-9621. inner-cityarts.org

Chester Gregory The Broadway veteran sings favorites by Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, James Brown, The Temptations, et al. Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. Washington Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Friday, May 31. $50 and up. (323) 964-9766. ebonyrep.org

‘Treya’s Last Dance’ A woman looking for companionship has her life upended by a sudden tragedy in writer-performer Aisha Kumari’s solo show. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1. $25. (310) 394-9779. santamonicaplayhouse.com

‘Enter the Void: A Journey to the End of Everything’ A doomsday cult attempts to usher in the apocalypse in this interactive horror-theatre experience created by Elijah Cunnally; for ages 16 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 31-June 2. $20, $25; advance reservations strongly recommended. zombiejoes.com

‘Private Parts’ Ensemble members share personal stories in this company-created show. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, L.A. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31-June 2. $15 suggested donation. (323) 851-4839. theatrewest.org

‘You Can’t Take It With You’ The Group Rep stages George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1936 rom-com about a spunky gal from an an eccentric family who falls for a banker’s son. Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, May 31 thru July 7. $30, $35. (818) 763-5990. thegrouprep.com

2024 New Works Festival Long Beach Shakespeare Company presents a new edition of this showcase featuring full-length plays, one acts and works in progress. Helen Borgers Theatre, 4250 ½ Atlantic, Long Beach. Various dates and times, May 31 thru June 9. $15, $25. lbshakespeare.org