SCENE IN LA
BY
STEVE ZALL AND SID FISH
January 2025
Everyone is celebrating the arrival of the New Year and adjusting to the many changes that inevitably come with it, but you can still count on the shows to be seen in our local theaters. Try one and see if it doesn’t help you to remember what is and isn’t real.
Covid protocols continue to be dictated by each individual venue, so bring a face mask to wear during the show in case the venue requires it. It’s a good idea to check with the theater before you attend a show to find out what their current policy is.
The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing, however you should verify it with the theater to confirm it before making definite plans. Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month, or are already running:
OPENING
“Death Of a Salesman” this iconic American drama harnesses bold realism with riveting theatricality and is a commentary on the American Dream which resonates even today. Written by Arthur Miller, and directed by Mark Blanchard, it runs from January 10 through January 26 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. For tickets visit www.onstage411.com/salesman.
“Jest a Second” In this follow-up to BEAU JEST, Sarah and Bob are now married and expecting their first child. However, Sarah's brother, Joel is now the one having trouble admitting something to their parents--and Bob once again steps in to "help". Hilarity once again ensues as the family deals with its latest drama. Written by James Sherman, and directed by Jonathan Fahn, it runs from January 10 through February 16 at the Theatre Palisades in Pacific Palisades. For tickets call 310-454-1970 or visit www.theatrepalisades.org.
“Mean Girls” Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Written by Tina Fey, based on the screenplay by Jeff Richmond, with music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and directed by Casey Nicholaw, it runs from January 10 through January 12 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets visit www.BroadwayInThousandOaks.com.
“Wish You Were Here” It’s 1978. Protests break out across Iran as five close girlfriends plan weddings, trade dirty jokes and try to live their young lives. As the revolution escalates, each woman is forced to face an uncertain future by staying in Iran or leaving it. Written by Sanaz Toossi, and directed by Mina Morita, it runs from January 12 through February 2 at the South Coast Repertory Julianne Argyros Stage in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org.
“Four Women in Red” about four resilient women searching for missing friends and relatives in the face of apathetic sheriffs and dwindling clues. Are their loved ones lost? Were they taken? Are they even alive? This moving new play celebrates the power of community as the women seek answers against all odds. Their roller coaster journey involves mystery, grief, prayer and moments of sudden joy. Written by Laura Shamas, and directed by Jeanette Harrison, it runs from January 13 through February 19 at the Victory Theatre Centre in Burbank. For tickets call 818-841-5421 or visit www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org.
“The Curious Savage” When Ethel Savage’s late husband leaves her ten million dollars, she decides to establish a fund to support dreamers. But her three greedy stepchildren commit her to a mental institution, hoping to “bring her to her senses.” In the sanitarium, she befriends the other “guests.” Meanwhile, the stepchildren discover that Ethel has hidden the family fortune and attempt to browbeat her into confessing where the money has been stashed. There is a wild goose chase where the question, “Who is really crazy and who is sane?” comes into play. With warmth, humor and dignity, this charming play celebrates those who are often overlooked, emphasizing kindness, affection and empathy in a world that too often rewards greed and ambition. Written by John Patrick, it runs from January 17 through February 23 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre (Main Stage) in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-763-5990 or visit www.thegrouprep.com.
“Sleeping Giant” When a firework-filled marriage proposal goes very wrong, the accompanying explosions wake up something very old that has been sleeping in the nearby lake for thousands of years. What follows are intimate, darkly comic and sometimes startling vignettes about the lengths people go to when they desperately want to believe in something. Written by Steve Yockey, and directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, it runs from January 17 through February 23 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-761-8838 or visit www.roadtheatre.org.
“East of the Sun and West of the Moon” is based on a Norwegian folk tale. Karen, a young woman, is offered the chance to rescue her impoverished family from its dire straits if she agrees to become the companion of an enchanted bear for a year. Within the body of the bear resides a handsome prince destined to become Karen’s true love, but the Evil Queen of the Trolls has hatched a scheme to thwart Karen and dominate the bear for the queen’s own purposes. Can love prevail? Written by Kai Cofer, with music by Larry Evans, lyrics by Kai Cofer, and directed by Jon Peterson, it runs from January 18 through January 26 at the Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena. For tickets visit www.our.show/eastofsun.
“Here Comes the Night” When Olivia, a musician’s wife and climate science advocate, invites Maggie, an old friend turned social media influencer, to spend the weekend while she has an at-home medical abortion, she doesn’t realize that Maggie is about to throw Olivia off course. And actually, these women of different generations are about to alter each other’s lives in ways they hadn’t expected or imagined. What happens when a woman’s right to choose becomes a litmus test for all of her life choices? Written by Lisa Kenner Grissom, and directed by Hailey McAfee, it runs from January 18 through February 16 at the Moving Arts Theatre in Atwater. For tickets call 323-472-5646 or visit www.movingarts.org.
“The Seagull” On a country lake, a star-struck girl of 19 becomes entangled with a famous actress, her famous writer-boyfriend, and her troubled son. The girl rejects the romantic pleadings of the son but steals the heart of the famous writer and heads for Moscow to pursue him and pursue a life in the theatre as an actress. Written by Anton Chekhov, and directed by Bruce Katzman, it runs from January 18 through February 9 at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets visit www.streetratmedia.wixsite.com/the-seagull-la.
“Eleanor” A tour-de-force solo performance by Kandis Chappell brings to life the dynamic and iconic First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Both strong and vulnerable, public and private, Eleanor Roosevelt’s fascinating story will sweep you away. Learn more about the passionate and unforgettable woman at the heart of her husband’s presidency whose impact on history cannot be understated. Written by Mark St. Germain, and directed by David Ellenstein, it runs from January 19 through February 2 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
“Millennium Magic 2025” Back in 2000, magician, actor and Theatre West member George Tovar originated Millennium Magic, an annual festival of Magic Castle magicians performing for one weekend each fall at Theatre West. This year, George returns to host three amazing performances as he is joined onstage by his magical friends from Hollywood’s Magic Castle, Vegas, cruise ships and television shows. This array of great talents from the world of magic is the twenty-third annual presentation of this popular show. The line-up of magicians will vary at each performance, so one could attend all three dates and see three different programs. Nowhere else will you be able to see an array of talented magical performers of this caliber at such an affordable price. Written and directed by George Tovar, it runs from January 24 through January 26 at the Theatre West in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-851-4839 or visit www.theatrewest.org.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” The Cornley Drama Society in Britain is putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong... does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call with hilarious consequences! Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields, and directed by Eric Petersen, it runs from January 25 through February 16 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. For tickets call 562-944-9801 or visit www.LaMiradaTheatre.com.
“Jane Austen in 89 Minutes” is a comedy in which a cast of madcap ladies and gents bring all six of Jane Austen’s beloved novels to comic life and includes modern day zingers about Jane Austen’s fame, fandom, movies, and TV series. The play takes place in a wrinkle in time, the present day intermingled with England’s Regency Era, 1811-1816. At several points, Jane Austen must rein in her characters when they run amok and try to take over the show. Written and directed by Syrie James, it runs from January 29 through February 9 at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-3606 or visit www.theatre40.org.
Some theaters still provide online offerings in addition to or in lieu of live performances, with many events you can experience on a virtual basis. A few of these online events are only available on a one-time basis, while others are ongoing and can be viewed on-demand anytime. Visit each of the web sites below to see what they are currently offering. You will find free content as well as pay-per-view to choose from. Here are the links to web sites with online offerings:
Please help keep our theaters open by supporting live theater whenever you can. On behalf of the publisher Steve Zall and our co-publisher/editor Sid Fish, we want to send our thanks to the publicists who supply us with this content, to the editors and publishers who deliver it to you, and most importantly, to our readers who use the information we provide!
Sincerely,
Steve Zall, Publisher
Sid Fish, Co-Publisher & Editor
