Where would Madonna be without her earliest source of thievery, Marilyn Monroe? Before the grills, yoga, Kabbalah and general imperiousness, Madonna was just another Marilyn wannabe, and writer-director Joe Keane uses both as inspiration for Madonna Monroe. Co-directed by Michael Shepperd and starring Mary Keane as the original blonde bombshell, the musical spans the entirety of Norma Jeane Baker's brief 36 years, including the many men in her life – Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, JFK – as well as Jackie O and acting mentor Paula Strasberg, all set to live renditions of early Material Girl classics “Like a Virgin,” “Like a Prayer,” “Papa Don't Preach” and “Vogue.” If that's not enough gay icons for you onstage, expect to see the ghost of Jackie Onassis' cousin “Little Edie” Beale (of Grey Gardens fame) for added camp. Cavern Club Theater at Casita de Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake; Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m.; Sun., 3 & 7 p.m.; through March 9; $20. (323) 662-4255, cavernclubtheater.com.

Fri., Feb. 28, 9 p.m.; Sat., March 1, 3 & 9 p.m.; Fri., March 7, 9 p.m.; Sat., March 8, 9 p.m.; Sun., March 9, 3 & 7 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 03/09/14)

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.