By Steve ZALL and Sid FISH

If you survived the torrential rainstorms we recently had and now you’re wondering how to beat the unusually hot weather we have now, why not take some time to cool off while enjoying one of these fantastic productions playing currently in our local theaters?

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 attending a show to find out what is their current policy. 

The information presented in this column is the latest available at the time of printing; however, it should be verified with the theater before definite plans are made. 

Here are the shows that have announced opening dates for this month or are already running:

Opening

“Dragon Mama” Broadway star Sara Porkalob returns to Geffen Playhouse for the second installment of “The Dragon Cycle.” In this next chapter, Maria Porkalob Jr. dreams of a bigger, gayer life beyond Bremerton, Washington. But when an unexpected chance to escape arises she faces an impossible choice – stay with her struggling family or chase freedom in the wilds of Alaska. Packed with ghosts, Filipino gangsters and a killer ’90s R&B soundtrack, this award-winning, high-octane solo show is a raw, hilarious and deeply moving story of resilience, queer love and what it takes to break free and find home. 

Written by Sara Porkalob and directed by Andrew Russell, it runs through April 12 at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. For tickets, call (310) 208-2028 or visitwww.geffenplayhouse.org.

“Antony and Cleopatra” This bold reimagining of William Shakespeare’s tragedy strips away spectacle to reveal the raw human core beneath the legend. Rome and Egypt do not merely clash as superpowers – they fracture the hearts of two rulers trying to be everything at once: warrior and lover, sovereign and soul. The political machine surrounding them is equally formidable. Justin Valine embodies the calculating precision of Octavius Caesar. Julianne Holmquist portrays Octavia, whose quiet strength underscores the personal cost of political alliance. Connor Bowen appears as Domitius Enobarbus, Antony’s loyal confidant and moral compass, whose choices echo with devastating consequence. At its heart, “Antony and Cleopatra” is an exploration of love and duty – and how devotion to one demands the sacrifice of the other. The greatest soldier of the ancient world and its most powerful queen bind their empires – and their fates – chasing a fleeting sense of eternity found only in the quiet of midnight. 

Written by William Shakespeare, adapted by Christian Lee Navarro, and directed by Christian Lee Navarro, it runs March 7 through March 22 at the Helen Borgers Theatre in Long Beach. For tickets, visitwww.LBShakespeare.org.

“You Can’t Take It with You” This classic American comedy celebrates individuality, love and the joy of living life on your own terms. Set in 1930s New York, the play follows the eccentric Sycamore family whose quirky hobbies and free-spirited lifestyle stand in sharp contrast to societal norms. Chaos and hilarity ensue when their daughter Alice brings her straight-laced fiancé and his conservative parents home for dinner. The play is a timeless reminder that happiness isn’t found in wealth or status. With sharp wit and heartwarming moments, it highlights the beauty of embracing one’s passions and differences. As the two families clash and connect, the story unfolds with charm, laughter and unexpected wisdom. “You Can’t Take It with You” remains a beloved theatrical gem that inspires audiences to live fully and authentically. 

Written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, and directed by Cate Caplin, it runs March 7 through March 29 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets, call (310) 828-7519 or visitwww.morgan-wixson.org.

“The Shark Is Broken” The first summer blockbuster movie is being filmed – but no one working on the film would know it. Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding co-stars, unpredictable weather and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie. In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of “Jaws” stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian Shaw), Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble and pray for an end to the shoot … not knowing it will change their lives forever. 

Written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, it runs March 8 through March 22 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets, call (949) 497-2787.

“MALICE: Stories of Injustice” is a series of monologues inspired by true stories of families and communities affected by ICE. Tuesday night will be performed in English, Wednesday night will be performed in Spanish. 

Written by Vivianne Nacif and Juan Pablo Oubina, and directed by Vivianne Nacif, it runs March 10 and March 11 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. For tickets, call (310) 477-2055 Ext. 2 or visitOdysseyTheatre.com.

“The Color Purple” tells the powerful story of Celie, a young Black woman in rural Georgia who endures immense abuse from men in her life but finds her voice, strength and self-love over 40 years (1909–1949). She discovers hope and healing through deep friendships with courageous women as she navigates heartbreak and betrayal and eventually finds independence – all set to a vibrant score of gospel, blues, jazz and ragtime. The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and received 10 Tony Award nominations. It was revived in 2015, winning the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical. 

Written by Marsha Norman, with music by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, and directed by Elijah Green, it runs March 13 through March 29 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, visit www.chrtheatre.com.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” This retelling of the last week of Jesus’ life is from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, focusing on the political and personal struggles between Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene. Initially released as a successful concept album in 1970, its popularity led to a Broadway debut in 1971, becoming a global phenomenon known for its rock score and anachronistic, modern sensibility. 

Written by Tim Rice, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and directed by Justin Meyer, it runs March 13 through April 26 at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale. For tickets, visit thenocturnetheatre.com/box-office.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” What could possibly go wrong? Absolutely everything – in the most hilarious way imaginable! “The Play That Goes Wrong” is a sidesplitting farce where a cast of earnest actors struggle to keep their disaster of a murder mystery on track. Expect collapsing sets, missed cues and nonstop laughter from start to finish. 

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, and directed by Larry Raben, it runs March 13 through March 29 at the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets, call (805) 449-2787 or visitwww.5startheatricals.com.

“Fairview” At the Frasier household, preparations for Grandma’s birthday party are underway. Beverly is holding onto her sanity by a thread to make sure this party is perfect but her sister can’t be bothered to help, her husband doesn’t seem to listen, her brother is MIA, her daughter is a teenager and maybe nothing is what it seems in the first place. 

Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury and directed by Oz Scott, it runs March 14 through April 19 at the Rogue Machine at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (855) 585-5185 or visitwww.roguemachinetheatre.org.

“The Unexpected Guest” Lost in the fog, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house only to find a man shot dead and his wife standing over him with a smoking gun. But the woman’s dazed confession is anything but convincing and the unexpected guest decides to help. Remarkably, the police clues point to a man who dies two years previously but as the ghosts of a past wrong begin to emerge, a tangled web of lies reveals family secrets and chilling motives where the real murderer turns out to be the greatest mystery of all. 

Written by Agatha Christie and directed by Warren Davis, it runs March 19 through April 19 at the Theatre Forty, in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets, call (310) 364-0535 or visit theatre40.org.

“Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter” is an evening of two rarely staged Pinter one-acts – both darkly comic, both unmistakably unsettling. In Party Time, affluent guests at a chic London gathering (John Coady, Larry Eisenberg, Michelle Ghatan, Brenda James, Isaac W. Jay, Paul Marius, Michelle McGregor, Christopher Louis Parker and Mouchette Van Helsdingen) trade gossip and brag about wealthy pursuits while just beyond the half-open door an unjust regime enforces “order” with brutal force. In the second half of the evening, the tone shifts with The Lover. Susan Priver, who previously appeared at the Odyssey in Tennessee Williams’ “Kingdom of Earth” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” and in Pinter’s “A Slight Ache” (the latter two directed by Heller), stars as Sarah opposite Ron Bottitta, recently seen in “Fatherland” at the Fountain and “Corktown ’39” at Rogue Machine as Richard. A married couple, Sarah and Richard enliven their relationship by exchanging intimate accounts of their affairs – until Pinter’s sly, bittersweet twist reveals how fragile the boundaries between fantasy, power and desire truly are. 

Written by Harold Pinter and directed by Jack Heller, it runs March 20 through April 26 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. For tickets, call (310) 477-2055 Ext. 2 or visitOdysseyTheatre.com.

“Steel Magnolias” Heartfelt, humorous and moving, this sharp comedy celebrates the unbreakable bond of friendship and the search for family – not necessarily by blood. Set in a small-town Louisiana beauty salon, six strong, witty Southern women navigate life’s triumphs and tragedies with humor, sarcasm, support and grace. 

Written by Robert Harling and directed by Kathleen R. Delaney, it runs March 20 through April 26 at the Group Rep Theatre – Main Stage in North Hollywood. For tickets, call (818) 763-5990 or visit thegrouprep.com.

“My Uterus: A Womb with a View” In “My Uterus: A Womb with a View,” Dina digs deep into her pelvic cavity to explore what the uterus really is, what it means to own one and to probe and examine how and why it continues to get screwed over – again and again – by those who have no business being in there. 

Written by Dina Morrone and directed by Peter Flood, it runs March 21 through March 22 at the Theatre West in Studio City. For tickets, call (323) 851-4839 or visit theatrewest.org.

“Cast Out” What does a pirate submarine, a rigged chariot race, a priest searching for absolution from a fallen angel, a lonesome love train and a doomed wedding have in common? Only renowned film maker Sanjay Ratnam knows and he’s not telling. Yet. Have faith in the chaos as you delve into the workings of a unique creative process. And if you understand even a little bit of Hindi, you’ll be privy to some special secrets much earlier on than anyone else.​ 

Written by Evelyn Rudie, with music by Sergei Stern, and directed by Chris DeCarlo, it runs March 23 through March 24 at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica. For tickets, visit www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com/Cast-Out.html.

“Death of a Salesman” unfolds over a single, combustible 24-hour period in the life of an American family on the brink. Aging salesman Willy Loman has spent his life chasing the promise of success believing that charisma and ambition would guarantee prosperity and respect. But as financial pressures mount and his career collapses into obsolescence, the widening gap between Willy’s dreams and reality threatens to consume him and everyone he loves. 

Written by Arthur Miller and directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, it runs March 28 through April 19 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. For tickets, call (626) 356-3100 or visitanoisewithin.org.

“Somebody to Love: A New Musical” is set to the soundtrack of a generation: this funny, heartfelt new jukebox musical follows four friends who meet freshman year of college and vow to change the world and to be there for each other … always. This world premiere rock ‘n’ roll musical is a timely story about the choices we make, the trials, triumphs and turning points that define a lifetime – and the one thing that matters most – somebody to love. 

Written by Robert Sternin and Prudence Fraser, and directed by Sean Daniels, it runs March 28 through April 12 at the Karyn Jackson Theater in Ventura. For tickets, call (805) 667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

Continuing

“Lifeline” In the aftermath of an unforeseen, life-changing event, Patti, a well-meaning mother, becomes a volunteer at a suicide hotline. Over the course of the intense and emotional training, through laughter and tears, a new understanding bridges the divide between people from very different perspectives and walks of life. 

Written by Robert Axelrod and directed by Ken Sawyer, it runs through March 14 at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood. For tickets, call (818) 761-8838 or visitci.ovationtix.com/35065/production/1258741.

“Off Key” Set in a smoky, late-night jazz club, the play follows Candi (Maliaka S. Mitchell), a once-celebrated matchmaker whose business – and confidence – are falling apart. As Marvin (Marvin Dexter Moore), the jazz piano player underscores the action, she juggles a series of disastrously mismatched dates, each couple revealing more about her own fears of failure, loneliness and control. When fantasy collides with reality, Candi’s trainee Doreen (Joslyn Marquez) is forced to confront a painful truth – she has been searching for love instead of living inside it. Through music and honesty, Doreen’s journey culminates in an unexpected revelation about her own life. Between improvised music and overheard confessions, the matchmaker begins to realize that her obsession with perfect pairings has kept her from listening to the messy human rhythms of real connection. By the final set, the club becomes a place not of romance solved, but of vulnerability shared – and a chance for Candi to start over. 

Written by Christopher Ureña and directed by Greg Shane, it runs through March 14 at the Blue Door Theater in Culver City. For tickets, visit www.artsupla.org.

“Octopus’s Garden” follows two marine biologists and a struggling composer whose lives are upended when an octopus in their cephalopod lab composes a piece of music of unparalleled beauty. As ambitions collide and creative egos fray, the characters are drawn into a richly theatrical fable that questions what it means to confront the unknown. Innovative puppetry brings the titular octopus to life, heightening the play’s blend of humor and heart. 

Written by Weston Gaylord and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, it runs through March 29 at the Boston Court Pasadena in Pasadena. For tickets, call (626) 683-6801 or visitbostoncourtpasadena.org.

“The Price” In Arthur Miller’s 1968 tour de force masterwork, two brothers reunite in the attic of a New York brownstone to sort through their late father’s possessions. What begins as a long overdue reunion becomes an intense exploration comparing the price of professional success to the cost of personal integrity as four indelible characters struggle to make sense of the past and create a future. 

Written by Arthur Miller and directed by Elina de Santos, it runs through April 12 at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice. For tickets, call (310) 822-8392 or visit pacificresidenttheatre.org.