THEATER
Openings
Got Musical 2016 Excerpts from new musicals by up-and-coming writers. Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. Today, 4 p.m. $15, $50. www.nmi.org.
On the Twentieth Century Musical Theatre West offers a staged reading of this classic about showbiz types aboard a luxury train. University Theatre, Cal State Long Beach, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd. (off 7th Street between East and West Campus Drive, Parking Lot 7), Long Beach. Today, 7 p.m. $27, $32. (562) 856-1999.
The Pajama Game Musical Theatre Guild closes its 20th season with this 1950s-era Tony winner about a labor dispute in a pajama factory. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Today, 7 p.m. $45. (818) 243-2539.
Disney’s Newsies National touring production of the Tony-winning musical about a paperboys’ strike in turn-of-the-last-century NYC. Segerstrom Center, Costa Mesa. Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tue.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; ends May 29. $25 and up. (714) 5562787.
The Frenchie Experience Broadway veteran and former “American Idol” and “The Voice” contestant Frenchie Davis performs in this cabaret show. Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Tue., 8:30 p.m. $15$25. (866) 468-3399.
Mercury Celebration Theatre offers a reading of Steve Yockey’s dark comedy set during a heat wave. West Hollywood City Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente, West Hollywood. Tue., 7:30 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. www.celebrationtheatre.com.
Hollywood World premiere of Joe DiPietro’s noir-ish thriller inspired by the murder of silent-era filmmaker William Desmond Taylor. La Jolla Playhouse, Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends June 12. $20 and up. (858) 5501010.
La Cage Aux Folles East West Players present Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman’s Tony-winning musical comedy about a longtime gay couple who run a drag club. David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends June 26. $58-$38; pay what you can, Thu., May 19 only; discounts available. (213) 625-7000.
Hillary & Monica Two writers collaborate on a play about an infamous D.C. sex scandal in Victor Bardack and Edward Michael Bell’s new comedy. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends June 12. $35$25. (323) 960-7735.
The Mountaintop L.A. Theatre Works records Katori Hall’s drama about the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for its radio program; Roger Guenveur Smith directs. James Bridges Theater, UCLA, 235 Charles E. Young Drive, Westwood. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends May 22. $15-$60; student discounts available. (310) 827-0889.
Separate Beds An unhappily married couple go on a cruise for their 30th anniversary in M.J. Cruise’s romantic comedy. Theatre 40, Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills. Thu., 8 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends June 19. $30. (310) 364-0535.
As You Like It Shakespeare’s genderbending romantic romp; for ages 13 and up. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri., 8:30 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends June 19. $15. (818) 202-4120.
Camp David West Coast premiere of Lawrence Wright’s fact-based drama about President Jimmy Carter’s efforts to forge a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in the late 1970s. The Old Globe, San Diego, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends June 19. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623.
The City of Conversation Divergent politics strain family ties in the West Coast premiere of Anthony Giardina’s Georgetown-set drama; with Christine Lahti, Jason Ritter, Steven Culp and Michael Learned. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends June 4. $29$110. (310) 746-4000. Gruesome Playground Injuries Rajiv Joseph’s darkly-comic fable about a man and a woman, former childhood friends, whose paths continue to cross over three decades. The Hudson Theatres, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends June 26. $25. (323) 960-7773.
Shotspeare Presents Romeo + Juliet Condensed, comedic and alcoholfueled take on the Bard’s romantic tragedy. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m. $15, $20. (800) 838-3006.
A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry’s classic drama about an underpriviliged African American family on Chicago’s South Side. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m.; ends June 18. $14$27. (562) 494-1014.
The Intimidation Game Familyfriendly anti-bullying musical features a cast that includes young people with autism and other disabilities. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Lovelace Studio Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. Next Sun.-Tue., 6 p.m.; ends May 24. $20-$30. (310) 746-4000.
Critics’ Choices
Dry Land Ruby Rae Spiegel’s play about the effects of an unwanted pregnancy on a tough but terrified teenage girl and her lonely new friend receives a taut and harrowing staging from director Alana Dietze, and features precociously perfect performances by Teagan Rose and Connor Kelly-Eiding as fellow high school swim teammates bonding in a time of confusion and crisis. Despite the occasional dramaturgical blunder, the sheer psychic clout of this visceral and important play should not be underestimated. You may flinch — but you will be unable to look away. (F.K.F.) Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Today, 4 and 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends May 28. $25. (310) 307-3753.
Endgame Playing Hamm opposite the Clov of Irish actor Barry McGovern, his partner in the 2012 Taper production of “Waiting for Godot,” Alan Mandell redeems a lifetime of experience in his staging of “Endgame,” the best rendering of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece I’ve encountered. Mandell brings more than just respect for the text. He brings a musical awareness of the language and a tonal assurance that can shift on a dime from mordant irony to delicate feeling. (C.M) Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Today, next Sun., 1 and 6:30 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; ends May 22. $25-$55. (213) 628-2772. Father Comes Home From the Wars
(Part 1,2 & 3) “The Odyssey” looms large in Suzan-Lori Parks’ entrancingly intimate, anachronistically frolicsome Civil War drama. But no need to brush up on your Homer to appreciate the panoramic playwriting here. Parks cycles through genres with postmodern impunity, evoking classics not to make academic points but to set the stage for an epic journey — the journey of a black slave seeking his liberty as history slowly pivots. Directed with majestic fluidity by Jo Bonney, the production stars a deeply affecting Sterling K. Brown in the central role of Hero, whose master promises him his freedom if he joins him on the battlefield in the fight against the North. (C.M.) Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Ends today, 1 and 6:30 p.m. $25-$85. (213) 628-2772.
Honky Deftly skewering platitudes and self-delusions surrounding racial identity in our advertising-driven society, this sharply written, smartly performed satire manages to be simultaneously thoughtful and laughout-loud-funny. (P.B.) Rogue Machine at the Met Theatre, 1089 N. Oxford Ave., L.A. Today, next Sun., 3 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; ends June 12. $34.99. (855) 585-5185.
The Golden Dragon German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig’s drama, set in and around a “Chinese-Thai-Vietnamese” fast-food restaurant in an unnamed city, makes visible what globalization would rather conceal and exploit. In another of coartistic director Michael Michetti’s inspired ensemble productions at the Theatre @ Boston Court, five performers slip in and out of roles without regard for race, gender, age or any other category. In this dark contemporary fluid fable, the universe is gleaned in a white takeout carton Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. Today, next next Sun., 2 p.m.; Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends June 5. $20$39. (626) 683-6883.
Man Covets Bird The 24th Street Theatre follows up 2014’s award-winning “Walking the Tightrope” with another play for families that touches on struggle and loss, “Man Covets Bird,” by playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer. If the storyline is a bit poetic and meandering, the performers are winsome and the production elements (including live music as well as charming, cartoony video projections) are beautifully designed. Children 7 and up and adults will find something to enjoy in the experience. (M.G.) 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., L.A. Ends today, 3 p.m. $10-$24. (213) 7456516.
You Never Can Tell This buoyant, beautifully appointed take on George Bernard Shaw’s early comedy is a textbook study in sprightly Shavian playing. Director Stephanie Shroyer understands that the secret to landing the ornate verbiage and ideological content is a light touch and absolute conviction of delivery. Her wonderful cast follows suit. The results, both elegant and tickling, are as definitive as we are likely to see any time soon. (D.C.N.) A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Ends today, 2 and 7 p.m. $44 and up; student rush, $20. (626) 356-3100.