July 3, 2008
Calendar Girls picks and clicks for July 5 - 11
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http://www.geffenplayhouse.com.(RADIO THEATER)
Who needs fancy costumes and elaborate staging when you've got a talented cast of actors and the award-winning conclusion to Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical "Eugene Trilogy"? The last installment, "Broadway Bound," follows Simon's alter ego, Eugene Morris Jerome, portrayed by Josh Radnor ("How I Met Your Mother"), in this comical everyday tale about chasing your dreams. Amid the humor of a stereotypical Brooklyn Jewish family, Eugene and his brother attempt to crack into the highly competitive world of comedy writing after returning from World War II. The marriage of Neil Simon and L.A. Theatre Works brings a production that demands a standing ovation -- whether you're watching it live at the Skirball or listening to it broadcast on 89.3 FM KPCC. Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 3 p.m., Sun. 4 p.m. Through July 13. $20-$47. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 827-0889. http://www.latw.org.
THU | JULY 10
(MUSICAL)
During a time when the American ideals of tolerance, equality and justice were put into question, Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager, brought these unstable fundamentals to light when he was wrongly accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Georgia in 1913. The Tony Award-winning musical "Parade" follows the real-life trial of Frank as he and his wife fight for his vindication and the press seeks a juicy story. Arriving for an extended stay in Los Angeles for the first time since its initial production, Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's musical production examines the core of America at the turn of the century. A series of performances will benefit the Museum of Tolerance. Thu. 8 p.m. Through July 27. $27-$35. Neighborhood Church, 415 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. (800) 595-4849. http://www.neighborhoodplayhouse.net.
(THEATER)
In a culturally defining moment, an Israeli soldier encounters a Palestinian shepherd as they both wander the South Hebron Hills, the very same hills tread by Abraham, father to both Jews and Muslims. At first wary of one another, the bonds of brotherhood ignite, but are challenged when the shepherd's Palestinian girlfriend expresses her rage. An all-star cast and Grammy-nominated director stage "Desert Sunrise," written by Israeli army veteran turned playwright Misha Shulman. The play is the product of her disillusionment with Israeli military policy, her discovery that two opposing sides may have more in common than they'll let on and her hope that there exists a possibility for tenderness and peace with the rising of the sun. Thu. 8 p.m. Through Aug. 9. $25-$30. The Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood. (323) 960-7784. http://www.plays411.com/DesertSunrise.
FRI | JULY 11
(THEATER)
In 1898 Victorian England, Louis de Rougemont wrote about his daring exploits sailing to New Guinea in search of gold and pearls, living among indigenous Australians in the great outback, even claiming a tribe worshipped him as a god. He made it all up, of course; every adventure -- invented. The incredible story
of one man's elaborately orchestrated plot to take England on a thrill-ride is now on the stage. "I like to think of this show as a children's play for adults," director Bart DeLorenzo said about the raucous, adventure-filled show "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment: The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself)." Billed as a family event and written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies, you can bet the special kiddie prices and removable tattoo favors will only add to the playful fun. Fri. 8 p.m. Through July 27. $15-$25 (kids), $35-$74 (adults). Geffen Playhouse, Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-5454. http://www.geffenplayhouse.com. (MUSICAL)
Would you ever think to put comedy and the assassination of an American president in the same plotline? Well, theater genius Stephen Sondheim did and the result is a "disturbingly brilliant piece," as described by West Coast Ensemble's Artistic Director Les Hanson. "Assassins" is a Tony Award-winning musical that explores the lives and twisted dreams of nine individuals who succeeded or attempted to assassinate a president of the United States, including the two most infamous gunmen, John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. Based on John Weidman's book, the controversial musical showcases Sondheim's gift for writing bold, surreal and darkly humorous plays. Fri. 8 p.m. Thu.-Sun. Through Aug. 31. $30-$34. West Coast Ensemble, El Centro Theatre, 804 N. El Centro Ave., Hollywood. (323) 460-4443. http://www.tix.com.
-- Celia Soudry contributed to this article
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