LA Weekly

Opening This Week

ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST Dario Fo's farce, based on a true story from Italian politics. Unknown Theater, 1110 N. Seward St., Hollywood; opens Feb. 8; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 6 p.m.; thru March 15. (323) 466-7781, www.unknowntheater.com.

ACTION CONVERSATIONS Veterans, performance artists, and activists dialogue about their lives. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 8-9, 8:30 p.m. (310) 315-1459, www.highwaysperformance.org.

THE ALL FEMALE 1929 SKIDOO REVIEW Vaudeville show by Eugene H. Butler. Actors Forum Theatre, 10655 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood; opens Feb. 8; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru March 30. (818) 506-0600.

ALMOST, MAINE John Cariani's romantic comedy, with four actors playing 19 different characters. Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank; opens Feb. 9; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 & 7 p.m.; Sat., 3 p.m.; Thurs., 8 p.m.; thru March 6. (No perf Feb. 10, 7 p.m.) (818) 558-7000.

ANOTHER VERMEER Bruce J. Robinson's story of a sociopathic art dealer in post-World War II Europe. (In rep with The Monkey Jar.) Theatre 40 at the Reuben Cordova Theater, 241 Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills; opens Feb. 9; perfs Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m.; Mon.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 9. (310) 364-0535.

THE BRIG Kenneth H. Brown's story of his time in the Marines during the Korean War. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.; opens Feb. 9; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 10, 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 30. (310) 477-2055.

CABARET Inside Berlin's Kit Kat Club circa 1930, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. International City Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; opens Feb. 8; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 9. (562) 436-4610.

THE DEAD Musical take on James Joyce's short story, book by Richard Nelson, music by Shaun Davey. Open Fist Theater, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Feb. 8; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 22. (323) 882-6912, www.openfist.org.

DICKIE & BABE: THE TRUTH ABOUT LEOPOLD & LOEB Daniel Hemming's documentary play about the infamous 1924 murder trial. The Blank Theatre, 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Feb. 8; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 16. (323) 661-9827, www.theblank.com.

GREATER TUNA Smalltown politics, courtesy Jaston Williams, Joe Seras and Ed Howard. Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley, 5730 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood; opens Feb. 8; perfs Fri.-Sun., 8 p.m.; thru Feb. 24. (323) 481-6408.

JOAN RIVERS: A WORK IN PROGRESS BY A LIFE IN PROGRESS The comedian's autobiography, by Rivers, Douglas Bernstein and Denis Marshall. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood; opens Feb. 13; perfs Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 4 & 8:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 & 7 p.m.; thru March 30. (310) 208-5454, www.geffenplayhouse.com.

LOVE BITES: VOL. VI & VII Elephant Theatre Company's annual short play festival. Elephant Theater, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; opens Feb. 14; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 8. (323) 960-4410, www.plays411.com/lovebites.

LOVE STRUCK Marie Barrientos and Odals Nanin's romantic comedy about two Latinas in love and lust. Macha Theatre (formerly the Globe Playhouse), 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood; opens Thurs., Feb. 14, 8 p.m.; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru March 30. (323) 960-7829.

THE MEMOIRS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN Solo performance by Granville Van Dusen, written by Peter King Beach. Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr., Burbank; opens Feb. 8; perfs Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.; thru March 2. (818) 955-8101.

THE NEED TO KNOW April Fitzsimmons' take on bureaucracy during her stint as a Cold War intelligence analyst. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; opens Feb. 10, 8 p.m.; additional perfs Sun., April 13, June 8, Aug. 10 & Oct. 12. (818) 990-2324.

POOR BEAST IN THE RAIN A local legend returns to his Ireland hometown, in Billy Roche's play. Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Hlywd.; opens Feb. 8; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru March 16. (323) 852-1445.

RISE: A ONE-MAN COMEDY VIBE Solo show by socio-political satirist Brandon Bowlin. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; opens Feb. 10; perfs Sun., 7:30 p.m.; thru Feb. 17. (310) 315-1459, www.highwaysperformance.org.

SABINA SPIELREIN Life story of the Russian psychoanalyst, by Liv Hege Nylund. CSULB, Players Theatre, Theatre Arts Building, near Seventh St. and W. Campus Dr., Long Beach; Thurs., Feb. 14, 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., Feb. 15-16, 8 p.m. (562) 985-5526.

1776 The musical story of our Founding Fathers, book by Peter Stone, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Crossley Theater, 1760 N. Gower St., Hlywd.; opens Feb. 8; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 p.m.; thru Feb. 23. (323) 462-8460.

SEXY LAUNDRY Michael Rimi's comedy about "making love in middle age." Hayworth Theater, 2509 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; opens Feb. 8; perfs Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru March 15. (213) 289-9860.

TEACHING DISCO SQUARE DANCING TO OUR ELDERS: A CLASS PRESENTATION Larissa FastHorse's comedy about an unusual school project. Autry National Center Southwest Museum of the American Indian, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park; opens Feb. 8; perfs Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 2. (323) 667-2000.

THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T SAY PAST MIDNIGHT Peter Ackerman's screwball comedy about a conference call between three pairs of lovers. Hollywood Fight Club Theater, 6767 W. Sunset Blvd., No. 6, Hlywd.; opens Feb. 14; perfs Thurs., Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Feb. 24. (323) 465-0800.

VOICES FROM OKINAWA John Shirota's story of an American of one-quarter Okinawan descent learning about his Japanese heritage. David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., dwntwn.; opens Feb. 13; perfs Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru March 9. (213) 625-7000, www.eastwestplayers.org.

Larger Theaters

GO  BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON Director Alex Timbers (book) and Michael Friedman (music and lyrics) musical imagines Jackson (Benjamin Walker) as a boyish, bigoted, messianic frontiersman responsible for eradicating much of America's Indian population. He is also a populist rock & roll god, riding the thundering crest of Friedman's guitar-heavy score. Though the story is so over the top with its hey-dude vernacular speech and cartoon history lessons, it nonetheless steps into bigger shoes. (SM) Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m.; thru Feb. 17, No perfs Feb. 5-8., $20-$50, www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. (213) 628-2772.