Rick Pagano's tale of a death row inmate who think's he's the famous actor is being reviewed this weekend at Hollywood's Lillian Theatre. For a list of all shows being reviewed this weekend, go to the jump.

Check out the current COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGS, last week's capsule NEW THEATER REVIEWS, and the expanded STAGE FEATURE on  D. Hunter Smith's Quake at Open Fist Theatre

A new study, conducted jointly by Private/Public Ventures and the Wallace Foundation has a mixed-report including generally positive outcomes from after-school programs, on students' attendance in school, sense of community and participation in it. The program being monitored in Providence Rhode Island is called AfterZone: The nut-graf from the Executive Summary:

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“Participation in the AfterZone yielded a broad range of benefits–including strikingly higher school attendance–after one school year. However, most of these benefits diminished by the end of the second school year. Interestingly, effects on attendance increased in magni- tude with longer participation in the AfterZone. At the end of the sixth grade, AfterZone participants had more positive attitudes about community resources, better social skills, stronger feelings of connection to school and better school attendance than peers who did not attend the AfterZone.” The full report and executive summary can be accessed on the Wallace Foundation website. 

Independent Shakespeare Company presents its final set of free kids Shakespeare workshops today and tomorrow (Saturday and Sunday), at 5 p.m. Crystal Springs Road near the old Merry Go Round. Follow the signs. Workshops in Spanish and English. 

Shows being reviewed the Weekend of August 19, 2011:

Beau Jest Daughter in love brings home fake boyfriend to please her parents, in James Sherman's comedy. Thursdays, Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 21, 3 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 24, 8 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 28, 3 p.m. Continues through Sept. 24. Glendale Center Theater, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale, (818) 244-8481.

Dancing at Lughnasa Brian Friel's story of five unmarried sisters in an Irish village, circa 1936. Fri., Aug. 19, 8 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 20, 8 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 25, 8 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 26, 8 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 27, 8 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 11, 2 p.m., (323) 960-7711, plays411.com/lughnasa. The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A., complexhollywood.com.

End Days West Coast premiere of Deborah Zoe Laufer's apocalypse comedy. Starting Aug. 20, Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 31, 8 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 8, 8 p.m.; Wed., Sept. 14, 8 p.m.; Wed., Sept. 21, 8 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 29, 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 2, 2 p.m.; Thu., Oct. 6, 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 9, 7 p.m.; Thu., Oct. 13, 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Continues through Sept. 25. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., (310) 477-2055, odysseytheatre.com.

Raised in Captivity Nicky Silver's dark comedy about estranged twin siblings reunited at their mother's funeral. Starting Aug. 20, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 6 p.m. Continues through Sept. 18, (323) 960-7792, plays411.com/raised. Renegade Theatre (formerly the Actor's Playpen), 1514 N. Gardner St., L.A., theactorsplaypen.com/.

So Damned Heavenly Bound/You Make Me Physically Ill  One-acts by Patty Wonderly and Roger Mathey, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.  8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends Sept. 10.  $15 and $20.  (661) 212-0241 or www.plays411.net. 

Sun Sisters Vasanti Saxena's story of a mom with cancer and her lesbian daughter who returns home to take care of her. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Continues through Aug. 28. Company of Angels at the Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., Third Floor, L.A., (323) 489-3703, companyofangels.org.

Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant Elephant Stages and Rocket Propelled Ltd. present Rick Pagano's tale of a death row inmate who thinks he's the famous actor. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Continues through Sept. 18, (323) 960-7745, plays411.com/carygrant. Elephant Stages, Lillian Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A..

Vivien Rogue Machine, 5041 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.

The Yeoman of the Guard Gilbert and Sullivan's operatic comedy. Part of the playhouse's Head Over Heels for Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Continues through Sept. 24. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, (626) 355-4318, sierramadreplayhouse.org.

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