By Steve ZALL and Sid FISH

Summer is here at last and that means it’s time to go see one or more of these fabulous shows playing currently in our local theaters!

COVID protocols continue to be dictated by each individual venue so attendees should 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

“Festival of Arts Fine Art Show & Pageant of the Masters ‘Gold Coast: Treasures of California’” Southern California’s most anticipated art event returns this summer bringing to Laguna Beach a season of creativity, culture and unforgettable experiences. The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show opens Tuesday, July 2 followed by the premiere of this year’s all-new Pageant of the Masters production, “Gold Coast: Treasures of California” on Saturday, July 5. Together these two iconic events transform Laguna Beach into the ultimate summer destination, welcoming visitors from around the world to explore exceptional artwork, enjoy daily live music, take part in hands-on activities and witness the Pageant’s legendary theatrical illusions under the stars.

From July 2 through Aug. 30, the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show will showcase over 100 of Orange County’s most accomplished visual artists – including 16 first-time exhibitors – in a juried exhibition of original works ranging from painting and sculpture to photography, ceramic, and jewelry. Many are award-winning artists at the top of their field, offering an extraordinary range of styles and perspectives. All artwork is available for purchase, making the Festival a must-visit for collectors and art lovers alike. Visitors can meet the artists, learn about their creative process and experience firsthand the very best of Southern California’s art scene.

For the full list of exhibiting artists, event highlights and live music schedule, visit www.foapom.com/summer-art-show.

Then, on Saturday, July 5, the curtain rises on the 2025 Pageant of the Masters, where art steps out of the frame and onto the Pageant stage. This year’s theme, “Gold Coast: Treasures of California” features a collection of masterpieces from California’s most prestigious museums, collections and iconic monuments from the state’s most recognizable cities. Tickets are available at www.foapom.com/pageant-of-the-masters.

The show runs through Aug. 29 at the Festival of Arts Grounds in Laguna Beach. For tickets, call (949) 494-1145 or visitwww.foapom.com.

“Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Offers Military Discounts All July and Extends Hours for Holiday Weekend” The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate with extended hours July 4 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. On Friday, July 4 the first tram car up will be at 8 a.m., the last tram car up will be at 9 p.m. and the last tram car down will be at 10:30 p.m. Join the Mount San Jacinto State Park rangers on a guided nature walk along the 1½-mile Desert View Trail on Sunday, July 6 at 11  a.m. or the ¾-mile Long Valley Nature Trail loop at 1:30 p.m. Those interested should meet at the bottom of the cement walkway located just outside the Mountain Station after riding the tram to the top. Guided Nature Walks are free to attend with general tram admission. Beat the heat and celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend in the cool mountain air at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway!

For more information, please call 888-515-TRAM or 760-325-1391, or visit www.pstramway.com. The extended hours run July 4 through July 6 at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in Palm Springs. For tickets, call (760) 325-1391 or visit www.pstramway.com.

“Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story” charts the rise of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s earliest icons from his small-town Texas roots to becoming a cultural phenomenon. Featuring timeless hits like “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day” and “Everyday,” this toe-tapping musical will have audiences dancing in their seats while gaining insight into the man behind the music. This is not just a show – it’s a full-blown concert experience with actors performing every note live on stage as they bring Buddy Holly’s legendary music to life. 

Written by Alan Janes, with music by Ryan O’Connell and directed by Keith Andrews, it runs July 11 through July 27 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets, call (562) 856-1999 or visitwww.musical.org/events/the-buddy-holly-story.

“Disney’s FROZEN The Broadway Musical” For the first time in forever, experience the musical phenomenon that has taken the world by storm! Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, “Disney’s FROZEN The Broadway Musical” includes all the film’s beloved songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, along with new music written exclusively for the stage! 

Written by Jennifer Lee, with music by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, and directed by Yvette Lawrence, it runs July 11 through July 20 at the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. For tickets, call (805) 449-2787 or visitwww.5startheatricals.com.

“The Impact of Dildos on a Funeral” Close friends find themselves locked inside a funeral home with no cell signal after the staff goes missing. As they try to honor the deceased’s mostly humorous wishes, secrets surface, grudges are rehashed and hard decisions must be made. This dark comedy of errors will challenge audiences to examine how we handle the past to create a better future. 

Written by Emma J. Latimer and directed by Natasha Renae Potts and Madylin Sweeten Durrie, it runs July 11 through Aug. 3 at the Sawyer’s Playhouse at Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood. For tickets, call (818) 452-3153 or visit www.loftensemble.org.

“The Marriage Zone” What if you had a second chance? What if you were a struggling 40-something couple who got a glimpse into the future and could see how it all turned out? What if you had a chance to do it all differently to try to make it work? Beth and Cal get that chance one afternoon while selling their house – as their past, present and future all collide. The results are both hysterical and poignant. 

Written and directed by Jeff Gould, it runs July 12 through Aug. 30 at the 905 Cole Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets, visit www.onstage411.com/marriagezone.

“The Seagull: Malibu” With the crashing waves of Malibu as both a literal and metaphorical backdrop, Chekhov’s tragicomic masterpiece about fame, art and unrequited love is emblematic of the societal and artistic upheavals of a culture in flux. As in the original, the beautiful, sun-soaked locale belies the turbulent emotions of its inhabitants: Constantine loves Nina even as Trigger pursues her. Nina, longing for fame, is hypnotized by Trigger’s success. Irina clings to her fading youth and celebrity – and to Trigger. Masha loves Constantine, while Ted loves Masha. Paulina yearns for Dr. Dore and Thad longs to return to the lights of New York City. 

Written by Ellen Geer, adapted from “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov, and directed by Ellen Geer, it runs July 12 through Oct. 5 at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. For tickets, call (310) 455-3723 or visitwww.theatricum.com.

“The Bridges of Madison County” is about a forbidden love affair between a photographer and a housewife that changes them forever. The show ran on Broadway in 2014 and won two Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. 

Written by James Waller, with music by Jason Robert Brown, the book is by Marsha Norman, and the show is directed by Richard Van Slyke, it runs July 18 through Aug. 3 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, visitwww.chrtheatre.com.

“She Kills Monsters” Agnes’ family has been killed in a car crash. But that’s not what this play is about. Instead, it’s about Agnes discovering who her sister was (and maybe some new things about herself as well) while playing through an original Dungeons and Dragons® adventure her sister wrote. 

Written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Shawn Summerer, it runs July 18 through Aug. 9 at the Westchester Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets, call (310) 645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org.

“Berta, Berta” In 1920s Mississippi, Leroy has committed an unforgivable crime and is ready to accept his punishment: incarceration at notorious Parchman Farm. He has just one final wish before he’s caught: a chance to make amends with his long-lost love Berta. Their reunion swells from a quarrelsome conjuring of the past to an impassioned plot to escape their impending fate. 

Written by Angelica Chéri and directed by Andi Chapman, it runs July 19 through Aug. 25 at the Echo Theater Company at the Atwater Village Theatre in Atwater Village. For tickets, call (747) 350-8066 or visitwww.EchoTheaterCompany.com.

“Menage A Quatre” This witty, fast-paced world premiere comedy set in Los Angeles involves two married couples – Gary and Jeannie, and Reuben and Meg – whose long-time friendship implodes when Gary, acting on a gnawing suspicion that Jeannie is having an affair, hires an eccentric private detective named Ezra Pound (no relation) who discovers that Jeannie is indeed having an affair, and it happens to be with his best friend Reuben. In an attempt to deal with the fallout, they come up with a novel solution that they hope will salvage their friendship and their marriages … and of course, major shit hits the fan. 

Written by Peter Lefcourt and directed by Ryan O’Connor, it runs July 19 through Aug. 17 at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Los Angeles. For tickets, visitwww.Onstage411.com/Quatre.

“A Jukebox for the Algonquin” The residents at the Placid Pines Senior Care Center really want a jukebox. When it costs more than the center can raise, a small band of former Brooklyn and Bronx residents hatch a plot to prove that aging is not a New York state of mind. Don’t miss the West Coast premiere of this serious comedy about sex, drugs and rocking chairs! 

Written by Paul Stroili and directed by Larry Eisenberg, it runs July 24 through Aug. 24 at Theatre Forty in the Mary Levin Cutler Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets, call (310) 364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org.

“The Opposite of Love” A down on his luck hustler and a trust fund baby form an unlikely bond when she hires him to help her move past her sexual trauma. But their search for intimacy must survive darker inclinations in a world where love is a commodity. 

Written by Ashley Griffin, and directed by Melora Marshall, it runs July 24 through Aug. 31 at the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets, visit www.hudsontheatre.com.

Continuing

“Sorry” In present day, Francine, a lawyer, looks the other way from the harassment of a female colleague. Oh, and then she murders her husband. From the 19th century, Lillian terminates pregnancies with herbs. And she gets institutionalized for being a lesbian. Persephone, of Ancient Greece, fights breast cancer and domestic violence. Three mythical Furies reflect these women to themselves, championing their power and questioning their participation in their own oppression. “Sorry” challenges the many ways women defer, adapt, comply and apologize in a man’s world. What if they just couldn’t anymore? 

Written by Melissa R. Randel and directed by Larry Biederman, it runs through July 19 at the Moving Arts Theatre in Atwater. For tickets, visitwww.movingarts.org.

“Sister Act” Set in 1970s Philadelphia, the plot follows Deloris who witnesses a mob hit and is placed in witness protection at a convent posing as a nun. Initially out of place in the quiet, conservative world of the church, Deloris uses her lively secular personality to rejuvenate the convent’s struggling choir, turning it into a powerhouse that brings the community together. 

Written by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, with additional material by Douglas Carter Bean, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and directed by Ruben Gabriel Hernandez, it runs through July 27 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica. For tickets, call (310) 828-7519 or visit www.morgan-wixson.org/mainstage/sister-act.

Steve Zall, Publisher, Scene in LA 

Sid Fish, Co-Publisher & Editor, Scene in LA