~ STAGE ~

THEATER

*** Opening This Week ***

And The World Goes 'Round. Song and dance revue drawn from musicals of John Kander and Fred Ebb, with proceeds benefiting the West Coast Ensemble Theatre. Directed by Richard Israel. West Coast Ensemble, 1713 N Kenmore, Hollywood, (323) 871-6828. Wcensemble.org. Opens Fri at 8. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes March 5.

Blast. The 2001 Tony-winner for “Best Special Theatrical Event” featuring 54 musicians and athletes specializing in brass, percussion, and “visual ensemble” instruments and performance. Artistic direction by James Mason. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 Thousand Oaks Bl, Thousand Oaks, (805) 583-8700. Theaterleague.com. Opens Tue at 8. Wed-March 3 at 8; March 4 at 2 & 8; March 5 at 2 & 7. Reopens at Long Beach Performing Arts Center March 10.

Claire Z. The richest woman in the world returns to her impoverished hometown seeking revenge. Based on Friedrich Durrenmatt's The Visit. Adapted and directed by John Wuchte. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N Heliotrope Dr, Hollywood, (310) 281-8337. Sacredfools.org. Previews Thur at 8. Opens Fri at 8. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 7. Closes March 26.

Drama Queen Theater Murder Mystery. This interactive dinner-theater performance is full of twisted story lines, suspense, and drag queens. Taix Restaurant, 1911 Sunset Bl, L.A., (310) 949-9255. Dramaqueentheater.com. Sat at 7. Also March 4 at 7.

A Fish Without His Flippers. Theatre of Note presents six short plays by Bill Robens. Directed by Kiff Scholl. Theatre of Note, 1517 N Cahuenga Bl, Hollywood, (323) 856-8611. Theatreofnote.com. Opens Fri at 10:30. Fris-Sats at 10:30. Closes Apr 1.

The Flu Season. The California Repertory Company produces this play examining dysfunctional love. Written by Will Eno. Edison Theatre, 213 E Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 432-1818. Opens Fri at 8. Tues-Thurs at 7; Fris-Sats at 8. Special perf March 18 at 2. Closes March 18.

Fornicationally Challenged. After two decades of marriage, a newly single woman deals with dating and life at her sexual prime. Written by Judi Lee Brandwein. Directed by Mark Travis. The Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood, (323) 960-7721. Plays411.com/challenged. Opens Thur at 8. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes Apr 2.

The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial. L.A. Theatre Works presents a staged reading of this play based on the Scopes Trial, taped for radio, starring Ed Asner, Mike Farrell, and Sharon Gless, among others. Written by Peter Goodchild. Directed by Gordon Hunt. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Bl, L.A. Info: (310) 827-0889 or Latw.org. Opens Wed at 8. March 2-3 at 8; March 4 at 3; March 5 at 2:30. Closes March 5.

Happy Days. The television sitcom comes to the stage complete with music and Fonzie, Potsie, and the gang. Book by Garry Marshall. Music by Paul Williams. Directed by Garry Marshall. Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr, Burbank, (818) 955-8101. Falcontheatre.com. Previews Thur at 8. Opens Fri at 8. Tues-Sats at 8; Suns at 4. Closes March 12.

Into the Woods. Actors Co-op presents this Broadway musical that weaves together several fairytales. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. Crossley Terrace Theatre, 1760 N Gower St, Hollywood, (323) 462-8460. Opens Fri at 8. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2:30. Specials perfs March 25 & Apr 1 at 2:30. Closes Apr 2.

A Man of No Importance. A musical about a lonely bus conductor who directs his local theatre community's production of Salomé, causing scandal in the neighborhood. Book by Terrence McNally. Music by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. Directed by Nick DeGruccio. Produced by the Musical Theatre Guild. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St, Long Beach, (562) 856-1999. Musical.org. Mon only, at 7:30.

Miss Margarida's Way. A middle-school teacher educates her students in a way that would disgust the parents and principal. Written by Roberto Athayde. Directed by Sean Gavigan. Theater 68, 5419 Sunset Bl, L.A. Info: (323) 460-6655. Tue-March 2 only, at 8.

Nightingale. This solo piece written and performed by Lynn Redgrave tells the bittersweet story of her grandmother's life. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N Grand Av, downtown L.A., (213) 628-2772. Centertheatregroup.org. Mon only, at 7.

Not a Genuine Black Man. Comedian Brian Copeland's one-man show probes his childhood in an all-white suburb and his efforts to define “black.” The Hayworth, 2511 Wilshire Bl, L.A., (800) 836-3006. Brownpapertickets.com. Previews Fri at 8. Opens Sat at 8. Fris-Sats at 8. Closes Apr 1.

Report from the Ghost City. Musicians, performers, and poets band together for an evening of acts glimpsing lost society. Produced by the Disembodied Theater Corporation. The Velaslavasay Panorama, 1122 W 24th St, L.A., (323) 667-3202. Panoramaonview.org. Fri-Sat only, at 8:30.

Romeo and Juliet. This traditional production of Shakespeare's classic takes you to 15th century Verona where the “star-crossed” lovers meet, and meet their fate. Directed by Brian Helm. Knightsbridge Theatre, 1944 Riverside Dr, L.A., (323) 667-0955. Opens Sat at 8. Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes Apr 16.

Wagging Tales: Stories from the Stonewall Generation. Four elderly gay men reflect upon their lives. Written and performed by Greg Goodheart, Eric Gordon, Don Paul, and Larry Rubinstein. Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, (310) 315-1459. Highwaysperformance.org. Fri-Sat at 8:30. Sun at 2:30.

The Winners' Circle. The Moving Arts 12th Annual One-Act Playwriting Competition presents five new plays, including Phillip William Brock's The Normal Child. Directed by Paul Nicolai Stein. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S Spring St, downtown L.A., (213) 622-8906. Movingarts.org. Opens Sat at 8. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes March 25.

–Katherine Horn

*** Continuing ***

Banned Plays. Scenes from 10 plays that were once in trouble with the law. The makeshift staging in a mostly unmarked and nondescript room carries the air of underground performances of subversive material, but the scenes seldom live up to that frisson, with some of the older material as tame as a daytime soap opera. GuerriLA Theatre at Area 101, 1051 N Cole Av, Stage B, Hollywood, (323) 850-3240. Fris at 8; Sats at 7:30. Closes March 4. (Don Shirley)

Barefoot Boy with Shoes On. A young man who washes high-rise windows takes foolish risks while staking claim to his imminent fatherhood in Edwin Sanchez's taut drama, featuring the charismatic Ray Oriel. This bittersweet story, touched by melodrama and masterfully staged by Jon Lawrence Rivera, has a lot to say but refrains from explicit moralizing. Underground Theatre, 1312-1314 N Wilton St, Hollywood, (323) 930-7744. Plays411.com. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes March 11. (DS)

Ben Franklin: Unplugged. Josh Kornbluth tells the story of his own brief career as a Franklin impersonator on MSNBC, and his research about Franklin's strained relationship with his son. Fairly interesting, but not gripping – the first half in particular meanders excessively. Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E Main St, Ventura, (805) 667-2900. Thurs-Fris at 8; Sats at 2 & 8; Suns at 2; Weds at 2 & 7. Closes March 5. (DS)

The Blue Dahlia. L.A. in the late '40s looks enticingly decadent – but colorful, too, as opposed to black and white – in Dan O'Connor's dramatization of the Raymond Chandler mystery, packed with richly evocative performances. Musical interludes keep the evening theatrical while maintaining a cinematic fluidity. Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Bl, Venice, (310) 822-8392. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes Feb 26. (DS)

The Book of Liz. A long-running comedy by Amy and David Sedaris, about a mistreated Amish-like cheeseball maker's odyssey into the wider world. Tamara Zook's Liz, with her animated visage and crack timing, is an exemplary cartoon, and don't miss Tom Lenk's turn as Liz's best friend. Blank Theatre, Second Stage, 6500 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood, (323) 661-9827. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes March 26. (DS)

Boston Marriage. David Mamet stages his all-female would-be comedy of manners, with Mary Steenburgen and Rebecca Pidgeon as two well-educated housemates, a century ago, and Alicia Silverstone as their Scottish maid. An enervated and windy affair, with characters about as human as marionettes. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Av, Westwood, (310) 208-5454. Tues-Thurs at 7:30; Fris at 8; Sats at 4 & 8:30; Suns at 2 & 7. Closes March 12. (DS)

The Break-Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical. A clever but rather generic story about a 35-ish lesbian's romantic woes, with a book by Patricia Cotter and a score by Lori Scarlett. The cast is appealing and amusing, but the project relies excessively on the sheer novelty of the fact that the characters are lesbians. Hudson Backstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood, (323) 960-5563. Plays411/breakup.com. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes March 12. (DS)

The Cherry Orchard. Annette Bening and Alfred Molina are wonderful as the Russian lady bountiful (whose bounty is depleted) and the self-made son of serfs in Chekhov's great play. Sean Mathias's staging is about 80 percent as good as his leads; Lothaire Bluteau doesn't project well as Ranevskaya's garrulous brother. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N Grand Av, downtown L.A., (213) 628-2772. Centertheatregroup.org. Tues-Fris at 8; Sats at 2:30 & 8; Suns at 2:30 & 7:30. Closes March 19. (DS)

The Glass Menagerie. See review, p. 40.

Hitchcock Blonde. Terry Johnson directs the American premiere of his compelling mix of surprises, sex, violence, and reflections on film voyeurism. He uses theatrical language and dazzling set design to examine parallel stories about the body double who disrobed for the shower scene in Psycho (Dakin Matthews is magnificent as Hitch) and two contemporary Hitchcock researchers. South Coast Repertory Theatre, 655 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, (714) 708-5555. Tues at 7:30; Weds-Fris at 8; Sats at 2:30 & 8; Suns at 2:30 & 7:30. Closes March 12. (DS)

If You Get to Bethlehem, You've Gone Too Far. Mariette Hartley's solo fuzzily focuses on her father's 1963 suicide. Artfully staged and performed, the show strays into other areas and neglects to mention Hartley's own suicide attempt as a teenager – although she referred to it in an interview promoting this production. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Bl, Sherman Oaks, (818) 990-2324. Fris-Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes Apr 2. (DS)

The Importance of Being Earnest. A sterling cast, featuring Lynn Redgrave and the inimitable Miriam Margolyes, somewhat enlivens Peter Hall's by-the-book staging of Oscar Wilde's comedy. It would be much better in a smaller venue, where the laughs could ricochet against the walls instead of dissipating on their journey to the back of the room. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N Grand Av, downtown L.A., (213) 628-2772. Tues-Fris at 8; Sats at 2 & 8; Suns at 2. Closes March 5. (DS)

Inside the Creole Mafia, Post-Katrina Version. In the aftermath of the big hurricane, Roger Guenveur Smith and Mark Broyard revive their early '90s lampoon of the extreme racial sensitivities of New Orleans Creole culture. The energy of the performers approaches Level 3, but their attempt to juxtapose their antic satire with the recent carnage doesn't quite come off. Evidence Room, 2220 Beverly Bl, L.A., (213) 381-7118. Thurs-Suns at 8. Closes March 5. (DS)

Jesus' Kid Brother. Brian and Mark Karmelich's fizzy little rock musical about Christ's underachieving sibling Larry and his romance with Pilate's unhappy daughter, seen in 2003 at Hollywood's smaller Hudson Theatre, streamlined for this larger space. Hardly blasphemous, the show juxtaposes the banal and the sacred just for laughs. Long Beach Performing Arts Center, International City Theatre, 300 E Ocean Bl, Long Beach, (562) 436-4610. Ictlongbeach.org. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 2. Closes March 12. (DS)

Letting Go of God. Julia Sweeney's evolution into a non-believer is the subject of this long-running solo show, a fascinating combination of personal story and intellectual adventure. Groundlings Theatre, 7307 Melrose Av, Hollywood, (323) 934-4747. Call for performance schedule. Closes March 28.

Mother on Fire. Sandra Tsing Loh propels her ponderings over where to send her child to school into an intensely funny rant, with ample visual aids, about the obsessions of L.A. parenthood and the high price of education, ending with a plea for public schools. 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W 24th St, L.A. (800) 838-3006. 24thstreet.org/motheronfire. Sats at 8; Suns at 3. Closes Apr 9.

Mr. Kolpert. An unhinged young couple treats guests to drinks, carry-out pizza, and random violence in young German playwright David Gieselmann's dark farce, crisply staged by Scott Cummins. An intriguing sense of menace goes over the top in a gory conclusion that feels too calculated, topped with a dash of nudity. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, 2055 S Sepulveda Bl, L.A., (310) 477-2055. Odysseytheatre.com. Call for performance schedule. Closes March 19. (DS)

Never Gonna Dance. The West Coast premiere of the musical based on the 1936 Astaire and Rogers movie Swing Time, with wonderful old songs by Jerome Kern and a new book by Jeffrey Hatcher, produced by Musical Theatre West. David Engel and Tami Tappan Damiano generate star power, and Lee Martino's choreography swirls us past the book's creaky comic shtick. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St, Long Beach, (562) 856-1999. Musical.org. Thurs-Fris at 8; Sats at 2 & 8; Suns at 2. Special perf Feb 26 at 7. Closes March 5. (DS)

Rock of Ages. This briskly paced jukebox musical, set on the Sunset Strip in 1986, features polished covers of '80s rock hits, MTV-style choreography, and a couple of negligible stories – boy meets girl, and greedy developers meet community activists. RenMar Studios Hollywood, Stage Six, 846 N Cahuenga Bl, Hollywood. Info: (800) 595-4849. Thurs-Sats at 8. Closes March 11. (DS)

Shuffle, Shuffle, Step. Three short Beckett pieces: Krapp's Last Tape, Footfalls, and Rough for Theater I. The effort is commendable, but Beckett's delicate soundscapes are damaged by traffic and sidewalk noises penetrating through the wall of Theatre/Theater's new Pico Boulevard venue. Theatre/Theater, 5041 W Pico Bl, L.A., (323) 466-3134. Thurs at 8 (Feb 16: Krapp's Last Tape and Rough for Theater I only.) Closes March 16. (DS)

Sordid Lives. A revival of Del Shores's sprawling, Texas-sized comedy keeps the laughs coming as it surveys a rowdy clan – including a long-institutionalized drag queen and a gay actor who fled to New York – re-uniting for a funeral. Shores delivers his live-and-let-live message more gracefully here than in Southern Baptist Sissies (see below). Zephyr Theatre, 7458 Melrose Av, Hollywood, (800) 595-4849. Call for performance schedule. Closes Apr 23. (DS)

Southern Baptist Sissies. Righteous rage fuels but also over-extends Del Shores's examination of four young Texas Baptists grappling with their gay feelings in the context of an anti-gay congregation. Two ex-Baptist barflies provide expert – if oddly compartmentalized – comic relief, but the show finally becomes as preachy as a Baptist sermon. Zephyr Theatre, 7458 Melrose Av, Hollywood, (800) 595-4849. Call for performance schedule. Closes Apr 12. (DS)

Stone Heart: Everyone Loves a Journey West. Everyone apparently loves the story of Lewis and Clark, Sacajawea, and York so much that L.A. theatergoers have seen two other versions in the last four years. Diane Glancy's play for Native Voices is the first to focus primarily on Sacajawea, but the monologue-bound narrative is stiff. Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Wy, L.A., (323) 667-2000. Autrynationalcenter.org. Fris at 8; Sats at 2 & 8; Suns at 2. Closes March 12. (DS)

A String of Pearls. Four versatile actresses play many roles in Michele Lowe's series of tales – some of them taller than others – about the titular necklace and its many owners. Stephen Sachs's bare-bones staging keeps the emphasis on the stories. Road Theatre Company, 5108 Lankershim Bl, North Hollywood, (866) 811-4111. Roadtheatre.org. Thurs-Sats at 8; Suns at 2 & 7. Closes March 26. (DS)

Sweeney Todd. Ronald M. Banks is a masterfully scary “demon barber” in Stephen Sondheim's and Hugh Wheeler's great musical melodrama, and Marilyn Tokuda is a perky rendition of his grasping partner in crime, the pie-making Mrs. Lovett. Director Tim Dang nails most of the show's thrills, despite a few shaky musical moments. David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St, downtown L.A., (213) 625-7000. Thurs-Fris at 8; Sats at 2 & 8; Suns at 2. Special perf with sign-language interpreter on Feb 25. Closes March 19. (DS)

Vagrant. Guy Zimmerman, artistic director of Padua Playwrights, suggests a variety of motivations and narratives for his elusive trio: an operator of a dubious appliance repair shop, his enigmatic wife and a man in a cop uniform. Don Preston's sound is mesmerizing, but it's odd that in this South Central setting, everyone's white. Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave, Venice, (310) 823-0710. Thurs-Sats at 8. Closes March 4. (DS)

COMEDY CLUBS

Acme Comedy Theater, 135 N La Brea Av, Hollywood, (323) 525-0202. Acmecomedy.com. Thur: Annie Korzen in Straight from the Mouth, 8. Fri: Captain Creamsicle's Laughateers, 8:30; Rue des Monstres, Scandal, 10. Sat: ACME Five-O, 8; Oddball Comics, 10. Sun: Harry Potter and the Sunday Show, 8. Mon-Tue: Jimpressions, 8. Wed: What's My Line? 8; Improv Jam, 10.

Bang, 457 N Fairfax Av, West Hollywood, (323) 653-6886. Bangstudio.com. Thur: Funeral for a Friend, 8. Fri: The Big Show, 8. Sat: Slice, 8; Hollywood Big Time Big Shots, 9; Goes Around, Comes Around, 10.

Cavern Club Theater, in Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Av, Silver Lake, (323) 969-2530. Cavernclubtheater.com. Thur-Wed: Call for info.

Comedy & Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Av, Hermosa Beach, (310) 372-1193. Comedyandmagicclub.com. Wed-Sat: Kyle Dunnigan, Daniel Kinno, John Caparulo, Gary Gulman. Sun: Jay Leno, The Ian Bagg Show. Tue-Wed: Young Guns.

Comedy Central Stage, at the Hudson Theater, 6539 Santa Monica Bl, Hollywood, (323) 960-5519. Comedycentral.com/comedians/ccstage. Shows at 8. Thur-Mon: Call for info. Tue: Nicol Paone. Wed: Call for info.

The Comedy District, San Gennaro Café, 8543 Culver Bl, Culver City, (310) 358-5092. Thecomedydistrict.com. Fri: Open mike with Pat Mellon, 7; Carroll Sevin and his Faux Friends, 8:30. Sat: Dan Rosenberg and his peeps, 10:15.

Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Bl, West Hollywood, (323) 656-6225. Thecomedystore.com. Three stages: The Main Room Thur: Hot Tamales, 8. Sat: Continuous Comedy, 9. Sun: Cathy Lewis and Vargus Mason, 8. Tue: Alex Thomas hosts Trippin on Tuesday, 8:30. Belly Room Thur: Jerry Katzman Showcase, 7; Crack 'em up Thursday's, 9. Fri: Comedy Store Presents. Sat: Vargus Mason, Cathy Lewis, 8. Sun: Adam Barnhardt's Comedy Revival, 8. Mon: Monkeys in the Atrium, 8:30; Ding Dong Show, 10. The Original Room Thur-Fri: Continuous Comedy, 9. Sat: Continuous Comedy, 9. Sun: Cort McCown hosts Potluck, 7; Frazier Smith hosts Pop-Ins, 9. Mon-Wed: Continuous Comedy, 9.

The Comedy Union, 5040 Pico Bl, West L.A., (323) 934-9300. Thecomedyunion.com. Thur: Comedy Union Headliners, 8. Fri: CU Fridays feat. comedians from Def Jam, Apollo, BET, and Comic View, 10. Sat: Super Saturdayz feat. comedians from Def Jam, Apollo, BET, and Comic View, 10. Mon: Michael Colyar, 9. Tue: Prime Cutz, 9. Wed: Crack 'em Up College, 9.

The Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose Av, L.A., (323) 661-0786. Fakedotcom.com. Thur: The Fake Show, 8:30.

Groundlings Theatre, 7307 Melrose Av, L.A., (323) 934-9700. Groundlings.com. Thur: Cooking with Gas, 8. Fri: Groundlings Mystery Train, 8; The Completely Different Late Show, 10. Sat: Groundlings Mystery Train, 8 & 10. Sun: 00Sunday Show, 7:30. Wed: The Crazy Uncle Joe Show, 8.

Ha Ha Café Comedy Club, 5010 Lankershim Bl, North Hollywood, (818) 508-4995. Hahacafe.com. Thur: 100% Thursdays with Mystro Clark, 9. Fri: All-Star Comedy, 8:30. Sat: The Legendary Ha Ha Cafe Saturday Show, 8:30. Sun: Sunday Night Laughs, 9. Mon: The Nasty Show, 8:30. Tue: Open mike, 6; Trippin Tuesdays with Garrick Dixon, 9. Wed: Call for info.

The Improv, 8162 Melrose Av, Hollywood, (323) 651-2583. Improv.com. Thur: High Times, 8; Last Late Thursday, 10. Fri: Nicole Parker Foundation, 7:30; Refried Fridays, 10:30. Sat: Jeremy Hotz, 8:30 & 10:30. Sun: Comedy Playground, 3; Comedy Playground's “Phenomenal Five,” 5; Heavy Hitters of Comedy, 8 & 10. Mon: Mo Betta' Monday, 8. Tue: House Party with Kris Martinez, 8. Wed: Just For Laughs Showcase, 8; National Lampoon and Collegehumor.com with Ben Gleib, 10.

Improv Olympic West, 6366 Hollywood Bl, Hollywood, (323) 962-7560. Iowest.com. Two stages: The Main Stage Thur: Big News, 8; Dana and Julie, 9; Baron's Barracudas Squadron, 10; Cagematch, 11. Fri: Three Dudes, 8; Opening Night: The Musical, 9; God Squad, Box of Wolves, 10; Chicken Scratch, 11; Mario Kart 64 Tournament, midnight. Sat: The Lampshades, 8; Beer Shark Mice, 9; The Red Shirt Freshmen, 10; Something Wicked, 11. Sun: Level 6, 6:30; Call for info, 7:30; Cog, 9; Long-form Jam, 10; Stand Up Hosted by Sam Saifer, 11. Mon: Baby Wants Candy, 8; Armando, 9; Lottery, 10:30; Those That Can, 11. Tue: Steve Makler, 8; The Tarts, Liquid Chicken, 9; Jungle, Dr. Jones, 10; Clark & Belmont 86 Olympics, 11. Wed: Call for info. Andy Dick Black Box Thur: Student Cagematch, 10. Fri-Sat: Improv Experiments 8-11. Sun: Level 4, 6:30. L.A. Connection Comedy Theatre, 13442 Ventura Bl, Sherman Oaks, (818) 784-1868. Laconnectioncomedy.com. Thur-Sun: Call for info.

Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Bl, Hollywood, (323) 656-1336. Laughfactory.com. Thur: All Star Comedy, 8. Fri: Continuous Comedy, 8; All Star Comedy, 10; Midnight Madness, midnight. Sat: Continuous Comedy, 8; Midnight Madness, midnight.. Sun: Chocolate Sundaes feat. Chris Spencer, 8 & 10. Mon: Latino Night, 8 & 10. Tue: Open Mic hosted by Harvey Dunn, 6; College Comedy, 8; Life of the Party hosted by Jay Davis, 10. Wed: Call for info.

The Second City Studio Theatre, 8156 Melrose Av, L.A., (323) 658-8190. Secondcity.com. Thur: Kamikaze, 8; Sketch-a-Sketch, 10. Fri: Montage Cocktail, 8; The Printers' Daughters, 9:30. Sat: Totally Looped, 8; The 313, 9:30; The Improv Jam, 11. Tue: Second City Sings, 8; I'm With Her, She's With No One, 9:30. Wed: The Detention Hall, 7; Your Wednesday Night 4Cast, 8.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Av, Hollywood, (323) 908-8702. Ucbtheater.com. Thur: Bro'in Out with Seth Morris, 8; The Benson Interruption, 9:30; Long Hard Improv Jam, 11. Fri: Audio's Amigos with Hard 'N Phirm, 8; Woo Pig Sooie! with Matt Besser, 9:30; All Star Joke Machine, 11; Not Too Shabby, midnight. Sat: Three Little Pigs, 11 a.m.; ASSSSCAT, 8; Defending the Week, 10; Legal Weed and Hookers, 11; In the Hole: An All Girl Revue, midnight. Sun: ASSSSCAT, 7:30. Mon: We Used to Go Out, 8; MySpace, 9:30. Tue: Comedy Death-Ray, 8:30; See You Next Tuesday, 10:30. Wed: Call for info.

–Ryder Palmere