Opening This Week
BARNUM Life story of the man who created the Greatest Show on Earth, told through musical numbers by Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart. NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd., N. Hlywd.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru March 26. (818) 508-7101, Ext. 5.
BEN FRANKLIN: Unplugged Josh Kornbluth’s history lesson/autobiographical journey. Rubicon Theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura; previews Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; opens Sat., Feb. 11, 7 p.m.; perfs Wed., 2 & 7 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 5. (805) 667-2900.
BOARDERS Privileged kids live the good life at an exclusive co-ed boarding school, in Jeny Quine’s comedy. Cassiopeia Theater Company at the Art/Works Theater, 6569 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 4. (323) 860-6585.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD Chekhov’s tale of an aristocratic family on the verge of bankruptcy. Center Theater Group, Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; previews Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 11, 2:30 & 8 p.m.; opens Sun., Feb. 12, 2:30 p.m.; perfs Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 & 7:30 p.m.; thru March 19. (213) 628-2772.
COMMON BONDS Four sets of siblings deal with crises, in Jan Michael Alejandro’s play. Secret Rose Theater, 11246 Magnolia Blvd., N. Hlywd.; opens Sat., Feb. 11, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 12. (818) 766-3691.
ECLIPSED Burke Brogan’s play about Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, where unwed mothers would go to trade their babies for lifelong toil in a church. Theater Banshee at the Gene Bua Theater, 3435 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 18. (818) 628-0688.
FISH OUT OF WATER IN SHARK CITY A “response” to Vanity Fair writer Nancy Jo Sales’ critique of L.A.’s young generation by Jonathan Caren. Elephant Theater, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; previews Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; opens Sat., Feb. 11, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sun., 8 p.m.; thru March 5. (866) 811-4111.
FOOLS IN LOVE Evelyn Duboff’s stories of “love, lust and longing.” Odyssey Theater Ensemble, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., W.L.A.; opens Sun., Feb. 12, 2 p.m.; perfs Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 19. (310) 477-2055.
THE GLASS MENAGERIE Tennessee Williams’ “memory play.” Colony Theater, 555 N. Third St., Burbank; opens Sat., Feb. 11, 8 p.m.; perfs Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m., Sat., 3 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 & 7 p.m.; thru March 12. (818) 558-7000.
HITCHCOCK BLONDE A British professor and his comely student investigate Alfred Hitchcock’s fascination with blondes in peril, in the American premiere of Terry Johnson’s play. South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Dr., Coast Mesa; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Sun. & Tues., 7:30 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.; thru March 12. (714) 708-5555.
JESUS’ KID BROTHER Rock musical about the hassle of having a celebrity sibling. International City Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 12. (562) 436-4610.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . .?. ETHEL WATERS Charmaine Mancil portrays the blues singer. Space at Fountain’s End, 3929 Fountain Ave., Silver Lake; Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Feb. 25. (323) 856-6168.
LOVE LETTERS A lifetime of correspondence is exchanged in A.R. Gurney’s romance. Haven Theater Company at the South Pasadena Woman’s Club, 1424 Fremont Ave., S. Pasadena; Sat., Feb. 11 & 18, 8 p.m. (310) 617-0725.
ON THE VERGE, or The Geography of Yearning A trio of Victorian explorers uncover future artifacts, in Eric Overmyer’s play. Theater 40, Reuben Cordova Theater, 241 Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills High School Campus; opens Mon., Feb. 13, 8 p.m.; perfs Mon.-Wed., 8 p.m.; thru March 8 (added perfs Feb. 19 & 25-26, 2 p.m.). (310) 364-0535.
STARCROSSED S.A. Shipley’s prequel to Romeo and Juliet. Attic Theater, 5429 W. Washington Blvd., L.A.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 18. (323) 525-0600, Ext. 2.
THAT MAY WELL BE TRUETwo friends reunite to dispute who thought up the idea for a successful novel, in Jay Reiss’ comedy. Ruskin Group Theater, 3000 Airport Dr., Santa Monica Airport; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru April 1. (310) 397-3244.
URBAN DEATH: Valentine’s Massacre! ZJU’s latest “romantic thriller.” Zombie Joe Underground at ZJU Theater Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hlywd.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8:30 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru March 12. (818) 202-4120.
A VAST WRECK Richard Caliban’s tragedy. Theater of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 18. (323) 856-8611.
WAIT UNTIL DARKSuspense thriller by Frederick Knott. Athena Theater Company at the Lounge Theater, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Thurs., Feb. 16, 8 p.m.; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 25. (818) 754-1423.
A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Oscar Wilde’s ?dark comedy. Fiesta Hall, Plummer Park, Martel Ave. & Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hlywd.; opens Fri., Feb. 10, 7 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru March 5. (323) 960-5691.
Larger Theaters
Reviews by Lovell Estell III, Martín Hernández, Deborah Klugman, Steven Mikulan, Steven Leigh Morris, Amy Nicholson, Tom Provenzano and Neal Weaver.
For complete reviews, go to www.laweekly.com.
