Full of humor and hummable tunes, "Avenue Q" is a hilarious look at life in New York, featuring a fantastic cast of people and puppets. In its Broadway debut, "Avenue Q" scored the "Triple Crown" of T... [more+]

Full of humor and hummable tunes, "Avenue Q" is a hilarious look at life in New York, featuring a fantastic cast of people and puppets. In its Broadway debut, "Avenue Q" scored the "Triple Crown" of Tony wins, grabbing honors for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The lovable cast of characters, both flesh and felt, includes recent college grad Princeton, who moves to the neighborhood full of hope for the future, Kate (the girl/monster next door), and the colorful collection of neighbors who help Princeton discover his true purpose in life. See the stupendously sassy adult musical at the Costa Mesa Playhouse. [less-]

That feel-good feeling that only great live music can inspire? That's what The Young Americans are all about. And from Broadway to blues, classical to country, "Showstoppers: Live in Concert" showcase... [more+]

That feel-good feeling that only great live music can inspire? That's what The Young Americans are all about. And from Broadway to blues, classical to country, "Showstoppers: Live in Concert" showcases powerful live renditions of all your favorite hits in that one-of-a-kind Young Americans style. Featuring 150 international cast members, this two-hour show brings a variety of popular music genres to the stage, along with hummable hits from Broadway and the silver screen. Don't miss this latest live concert spectacular by "America's Musical Ambassadors" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. [less-]

This magical musical transports you to a lonely old house on a windswept moor, where the recently orphaned Mary has come to live with her reclusive uncle and his sickly son. Soon she discovers "The Se... [more+]

This magical musical transports you to a lonely old house on a windswept moor, where the recently orphaned Mary has come to live with her reclusive uncle and his sickly son. Soon she discovers "The Secret Garden", and with the help of her friend and cousin, she blossoms, bringing new life to both the grounds and her grieving relative. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman (who won a Tony for this adaptation) with music by Lucy Simon ("Doctor Zhivago"), this much-beloved fantasy comes to the stage at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster. [less-]

Davis Gaines ("The Phantom of the Opera") takes on the famed role of Fagin in this Musical Theatre West production of the long-time fave "Oliver!" at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach... [more+]

Davis Gaines ("The Phantom of the Opera") takes on the famed role of Fagin in this Musical Theatre West production of the long-time fave "Oliver!" at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Lionel Bart brought Charles Dickens' unforgettable characters to vivid new life with this lively, heel-kicking classic about an innocent orphan thrown into the dark world of double-dealing thieves and con men of 19th-century London. Overflowing with jubilant songs like "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two," "Consider Yourself," "I'd Do Anything" and "Food, Glorious Food," this Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to also win an Academy Award for Best Picture. [less-]

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're altogether kooky; they're the Addams Family! (snap, snap) This fiendishly delightful, award-winning stage adaptation of Charles Addamsâ... [more+]

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky, they're altogether kooky; they're the Addams Family! (snap, snap) This fiendishly delightful, award-winning stage adaptation of Charles Addams’ original macabre cartoons finds the charmingly creepy clan facing a new nightmare: Daughter Wednesday has fallen in love … with a nice "normal"young man from Ohio!! Despite the pair’s plea for no shenanigans, a dinner party hosted by Gomez and Morticia to meet the boy’s parents soon goes devilishly awry, testing the bonds of family, love and unholy matrimony. Sit back and savor the horrific hospitality of Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Grandma, Lurch and everyone's favorite ghoul, Uncle Fester, as the special occasion brings out the best -- and worst -- in everyone involved. Bring your own family to this Musical Theatre Village production of "The Addams Family" in Irvine. [less-]

"Friends! The Musical Parody" is the comedy musical that lovingly pokes fun at TV’s "Friends", celebrating the adventures of your favorite group of 20-something friends as they navigate the pitfalls... [more+]

"Friends! The Musical Parody" is the comedy musical that lovingly pokes fun at TV’s "Friends", celebrating the adventures of your favorite group of 20-something friends as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan. It’s a typical day at New York’s only coffee shop, Central Perk, until an unexpected runaway bride enters the picture and kicks the whole gang out of second gear! The new musical recreates your favorite moments from all 10 years of "Friends" through an uncensored, fast-paced, music-filled romp at the City National Grove of Anaheim. [less-]

"The Women" is a wickedly venomous comedy about Manhattan socialites who, for pure sport, urge each other into self-destruction. Having no other occupation or purpose, the women manipulate each other ... [more+]

"The Women" is a wickedly venomous comedy about Manhattan socialites who, for pure sport, urge each other into self-destruction. Having no other occupation or purpose, the women manipulate each other to create gossip-column fodder for their own entertainment. Clare Boothe Luce's 1936 play "The Women" is filled with razor-sharp dialogue and social commentary particular to its time, but its themes -- marriage and divorce, socio-economic class, female friendship, standards of beauty and the role of women in society -- remain stunningly relevant today. Catch "The Women", with its all-female cast of strong, colorful and comedic characters, at Mysterium Theater at The La Habra Depot Playhouse. [less-]

With its hothouse of emotions, lush melodies and ever-timely commentary on racial tolerance, "South Pacific" steams up the stage as both a romantic musical and a deeply felt drama. As Americans statio... [more+]

With its hothouse of emotions, lush melodies and ever-timely commentary on racial tolerance, "South Pacific" steams up the stage as both a romantic musical and a deeply felt drama. As Americans stationed on an island paradise during World War II, a nurse and a GI both fall in love with island residents, but a culture clash threatens their relationships. Ultimately love wins out, but the dangers of war threaten their happy endings. The unforgettable Rodgers & Hammerstein score is filled with all-time faves like "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" and "Bali Ha'i." Both a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony winner, this Broadway classic now comes to the Westminster Community Playhouse. [less-]

This Broadway musical skillfully mixes a spoof of classic catastrophe films with an awesome jukebox soundtrack to truly capture the delicious cheesiness of '70s pop culture. "Disaster!" finds a divers... [more+]

This Broadway musical skillfully mixes a spoof of classic catastrophe films with an awesome jukebox soundtrack to truly capture the delicious cheesiness of '70s pop culture. "Disaster!" finds a diverse group of New Yorkers attending the opening of a floating casino and disco -- only to face one massive calamity after another. From every "Airport" movie ever to epic adventures like "The Poseidon Adventure, Swarm" and "Earthquake", you'll recognize all the stock characters and set pieces, accompanied by hits like "Muskrat Love," "I Am Woman," "Hooked on a Feeling," "Knock on Wood," and of course, "I Will Survive." A "New York Times" Critics' Pick, this hilarious hit from Broadway's Seth Rudetsky lands safely at The GEM Theater in Garden Grove. [less-]

World-famous performing-arts troupe Shen Yun summons an ancient Chinese world to vibrant life via traditional music, dance and acrobatics, along with spectacular animated backdrops, historically authe... [more+]

World-famous performing-arts troupe Shen Yun summons an ancient Chinese world to vibrant life via traditional music, dance and acrobatics, along with spectacular animated backdrops, historically authentic costumes and thunderous orchestral sound. Their latest exciting stage extravaganza, "Experience a Divine Culture", stars a cast of 100 in a wildly colorful, exhilarating and heartfelt journey through 5,000 years of glorious civilization, now on the verge of disappearing completely. You'll see more than a dozen dance pieces, each with its own story, as well as several solo vocal and instrumental performances as part of the show "Broadway World" calls "extravagantly beautiful," when it arrives on stage at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa. [less-]

Chance Theater’s 21st season kicks off with this punk-rock opera that explores the bloody legend of America’s favorite axe-wielding sweetheart-diva-heroine-enigma-psychopath: Lizzie Borden. Accuse... [more+]

Chance Theater’s 21st season kicks off with this punk-rock opera that explores the bloody legend of America’s favorite axe-wielding sweetheart-diva-heroine-enigma-psychopath: Lizzie Borden. Accused of brutally killing her father and stepmother in 1892, Lizzie was eventually acquitted by a jury of her peers, leaving the horrific crime unsolved. What really happened on the fateful night of the dual killings? Journey into a wondrous exploration of this mysterious tale, inspired by the raucous and revolutionary rock spectacles of the �70s, and iconic women rockers like Patti Smith and Joan Jett. Revel in "Lizzie: The Musical" at Anaheim’s Chance Theater. [less-]

Come spend some time with the Brewster sisters. They're two charming and innocent ladies, who, along with their nephews, belong to of one of Brooklyn’s oldest families. While many people have “ske... [more+]

Come spend some time with the Brewster sisters. They're two charming and innocent ladies, who, along with their nephews, belong to of one of Brooklyn’s oldest families. While many people have “skeletons in their closet,” these folks take it to the next level. Joseph Kesselring’s hit play is a killer comedy, and it's coming to the Irvine Valley College Performing Arts Center. [less-]

"Deathtrap" is one of the most deviously-plotted thrillers of the last half-century, from the pen of a master. In it, writer's block can be a killer -- literally. One writer tries to "un-block" by tak... [more+]

"Deathtrap" is one of the most deviously-plotted thrillers of the last half-century, from the pen of a master. In it, writer's block can be a killer -- literally. One writer tries to "un-block" by taking on a young apprentice; but is he hoping to mentor the younger man or steal his new idea, or is it something even more sinister? The twists and turns of this cautionary tale have delighted audiences since its premiere in 1978. See it for the first time or visit it again. Either way, you will be captivated. [less-]

Katha and her husband Ryu have become allergic to their modern lives, rushing through their days, attached to their cell phones and feeling disconnected from each other and the world around them. That... [more+]

Katha and her husband Ryu have become allergic to their modern lives, rushing through their days, attached to their cell phones and feeling disconnected from each other and the world around them. That's when a charismatic man from a community of people living life like it's still the '50s -- a compulsively authentic Eisenhower-era America -- invites them to toss away their high-tech gadgets and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties. Once settled in, they're surprised by what their new neighbors -- and Katha and Ryu themselves -- are willing to sacrifice for happiness. "Maple and Vine" makes its way to the stage of STAGEStheatre in Fullerton. [less-]

This is not a musical, it's a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek take on the classic film from the writer-director of "Night of the Living Dead, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and "The Killer Angels". ... [more+]

This is not a musical, it's a lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek take on the classic film from the writer-director of "Night of the Living Dead, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" and "The Killer Angels". Together with Maverick Light & Magic, you'll experience a show unlike anything the world has seen before in "The Eighth Wonder of the World, King Kong". When a movie director learns of a mysterious island and a legend of a beast known as Kong, he puts together an expedition to capture the discovery on film ... and the rest of the story follows the Delos W. Lovelace novel and the famous film, with only minor changes and additions. Experience this Staged Cinema Production at the Maverick Theater in Fullerton. [less-]

Experience the tale as old as time as you step into the enchanted world of the modern Broadway classic Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". Let Lumiere light the way as you embark on this romantic adventu... [more+]

Experience the tale as old as time as you step into the enchanted world of the modern Broadway classic Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". Let Lumiere light the way as you embark on this romantic adventure with Belle and her Beast. You'll sing, you'll swoon, you'll shake a fist at the dastardly Gaston and Le Fou. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of those unforgettable songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman -- from the rousing "Be Our Guest" to the heartwarming title track -- along with new songs by Menken and Tim Rice. Fall in love with this magical musical all over again at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. [less-]

It’s 1940, and celebrated psychologist William Moulton Marston wants to create a comic book heroine who stands for valor and love in a world dominated by men and war -- Wonder Woman. To make this dr... [more+]

It’s 1940, and celebrated psychologist William Moulton Marston wants to create a comic book heroine who stands for valor and love in a world dominated by men and war -- Wonder Woman. To make this dream a reality, he'll need to convince DC Comics executive Max Gaines of the value of such a heroine over dinner, with help from his wife Elizabeth -- and their polyamorous life partner, Olive. At first, Marston, his wife and their lover try to downplay their unorthodox relationship, but eventually this and many other secrets spill out over the course of one crazy evening at the Marston home. "Suprema" at Fullerton's STAGEStheatre is a thought-provoking, funny and sometimes farcical look at the creation of one of America's feminist icons. [less-]

What begins as a love story about two Cleveland cops​ — an African-American woman and her white male partner​ — changes when he shoots a young black man while in the line of duty. Amina loves ... [more+]

What begins as a love story about two Cleveland cops​ — an African-American woman and her white male partner​ — changes when he shoots a young black man while in the line of duty. Amina loves Ryan. But can she trust her heart when the truth about the shooting, and her man, becomes more and more slippery? A biracial relationship gets shaken to its core in this riveting new drama by up-and-coming playwright Kevin Artigue, onstage this spring at South Coast Repertory’s Julianne Argyros Stage in Costa Mesa. [less-]

Refugee camps were never so sexy or hilarious as in Qui Nguyen’s award-winning "Vietgone", in which he recounted his parents’ courtship. In his follow-up, "Poor Yella Rednecks", Nguyen puts his or... [more+]

Refugee camps were never so sexy or hilarious as in Qui Nguyen’s award-winning "Vietgone", in which he recounted his parents’ courtship. In his follow-up, "Poor Yella Rednecks", Nguyen puts his original spin on the immigrant story, picking up six years after the war, as Tong and Quang set out to build new lives in a foreign land called Arkansas. But marriage is hard -- especially when she’s having doubts and his first one isn’t over yet. One family’s history makes for a raucously funny, deeply moving take on this timely subject, all told with Nguyen’s hip-hop style. Don’t miss it at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Stage from South Coast Repertory. [less-]

One of the most popular podcasts in the world, "Welcome To Night Vale" has grown into a phenomenon, and now you can experience it live, just like an old-time radio drama. Described as "the news from L... [more+]

One of the most popular podcasts in the world, "Welcome To Night Vale" has grown into a phenomenon, and now you can experience it live, just like an old-time radio drama. Described as "the news from Lake Wobegon as seen through the eyes of Stephen King," the show takes the form of news announcements and advertisements for a small desert town where the weird is the norm. "A Spy in the Desert" features an all-new, original story written by creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor -- it's the perfect treat for die-hard fans and newbies alike. Immerse yourself in the funny, surreal and creepy world of "Night Vale" at City National Grove of Anaheim. [less-]