Steven Leigh MorrisNEW THEATER REVIEWS and OPENINGS THIS WEEK
STAGE FEATURE on three plays in NYC
ROBERT ELLENSTEIN REMEMBERED
A memorial service for Robert Ellenstein has been set for Monday, December 5, 2 p.m. at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles 90068, for invited guests. Ellenstein was a founding member of Theatre West, an artistic director of Company of Angels, and founding artistic director of the Los Angeles Repertory Company. He received a lifetime achievement award from the L.A. Weekly in 1988. He was 87 when he died of natural causes on October 27.
Check back late Monday or early Tuesday morning for the latest new reviews. For a list of shows being reviewed over the weekend, hit the More tab directly below.
Check back here late Monday night/ early Tuesday morn for reviews of the following shows:
A CHICAGO CHRISTMAS CAROL Musical take on the Dickens classic, re-set in Chicago circa 1908. Crown City Theatre, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood; Sun., 3 & 7 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Dec. 19. (818) 745-8527.
EXIT 10 Semiautobiographical story of guitar-picking drifter Mike Talburt, alter ego of country-music singer-songwriter Danny Darst (a.k.a. playwright Daniel Dean Darst). Theatre 68, 5419 Sunset Blvd., L.A.; opens Dec. 3; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Dec. 19, exit10theplay.com. (310) 752-7800.
KEN ROHT'S SAME-O, A 99¢ ONLY ELECTRIC BALLAD Interdisciplinary extravaganza borne out of the 99 Cent Only Store, by Ken Roht, John Ballinger and Ann Closs-Farley. Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A.; opens Dec. 4; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Dec. 19. (213) 389-3856.
THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT Urban Theatre Movement and Company of Angels presents Stephen Adly Guirgis' courtroom drama set in purgatory. Alexandria Hotel, 501 S. Spring St., L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Dec. 12, urbantheatremovement.com. (562) 508-1788
OUR BEDS ARE CROWDED: SEVEN SHORT PLAYS ABOUT LOVE, FEAR AND SEX Christie Perfetti's seven interconnecting stories “dealing with the 'ghosts' of relationships.”. Write Act Theater, 6128 Yucca St., L.A.; Mon.-Tues., 7:30 p.m.; thru Dec. 21. (323) 469-3113.
THE STORIES OF CESAR CHAVEZ Fred Blanco's bilingual portrayal of labor leader Cesar Chavez. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Dr., L.A.; Sun., 7 p.m.; Tues., Dec. 7, 8 p.m.; Tues., Dec. 14, 8 p.m.; thru Dec. 12. (310) 281-8337.
TRAVELING CARNIVAL FREAKSHOW World-premiere holiday mix of theater, dance, burlesque and cabaret, written by Chelsea Sutton and Questa Gleason. Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village; opens Dec. 3; Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m.; Sun., 8 p.m.; thru Dec. 19, eclecticcompanytheatre.org. (818) 508-3003.
WEST SIDE STORY It's Jets versus Sharks in Broadway's musical take on Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., L.A.; opens Nov. 30; Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 8 p.m.; Thurs., 2 & 8 p.m.; Fri., 2 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; thru Jan. 2. (800) 982-ARTS.
THE WOOSTER GROUP: VIEUX CARRE Multimedia staging of Tennessee Williams' memory play about a young writer in a New Orleans boarding house. REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., L.A.; Wed.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Dec. 12. (213) 237-2800.
THE ZOMBIE HOLIDAY SPECIAL The show must go on at the Wallace Famil's annual holiday TV special, despite the zombie plague. Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Jan. 15, (No perfs De. 25 & Jan. 1. plays411.com/zombieholiday. (323) 960-7612.
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