In the Terrace Theater in Long Beach they are getting ready to welcome the arrival of the President of the United States. They are also getting ready to greet the Premier of China. The president's wife. The Secretary of State. And an orchestra.

That should give you the clue.

Murder Most Foul

At theatres by the sea, on wooded hills, indoors large and small, here and gone.

Over There, Over Here at Relevant Stage
Street gangs move to Iraq, Iraq comes home to the streets. A tormented veteran wonders was his sacrifice worth it. He struggles with his feelings as his girlfriend pushes to reach through to him. Julius Verin was powerfully in charge. Andrea Ivory was convincing but muffled. Reggie Willis, Ryan Ervin, Jimmi James dished flamboyant vignettes.

Among the effects of a large auditorium, the Warner Grand, is that most plays run only one weekend. Urinetown the Musical opens July 31 and plays two weekend. Check theRelevantStage.com.

Finally at Black Dahlia
Stephen Belber’s play is a triumph of skill over matter, a four way look at some gritty interaction in the lives of a semi-pro football player, the coach, the coach’s daughter, and the coach’s dog. Clearly, the relationship revolves around the coach. Morley Higgins plays them all. Yes, the dog too. Higgins is hard hitting as the player and the coach, these are grind it out kinds of guys. He is downright silly as the woman in their lives, not in drag thank you very much. Higgins finds a soul mate in the poetic dog. Arf. There is a tendency to violence. But that makes for drama, doesn’t it? Mary Worthington’s set is realistic bits of a sidewalk segment, just right for the tiny stage. Where the actor ends and the director (Matt Shakman) begins is difficult to detect in a one person performance, especially with such a consummate actor. This is the West Coast premiere. Woof. Through July 7 at 5453 Pico Blvd. in West LA. Tickets and info at TheDahlia.com or (800) 838-3000.

The Diary of Anne Frank at Long Beach Opera
Grigori Frid’s monodrama played last year at Long Beach Opera with visceral impact. Repeating it this year was highly satisfactory. The material is deep and touching. As opposed to the book and the play, only Anne appears, but producer/director/conductor Andreas Mitisek has some tricks up his sleeve. An actual holocaust survivor, Laura Hillman, tells her story in tandem with Anne (Ani Maldjian) and the echoes are haunting, putting the inner life of the atrocities in your lap.

Maldjian and Hillman were even more secure than last year and the impact was that much greater. Long Beach Opera has a powerful personality of its own under Mitisek. Next year’s season will be announced soon at LongBeachOpera.org.

Byplay
Midsummer Night’s Dream opens at Shakespeare By The Sea seaside shell at the ocean end of Gaffey this weekend and will be joined by Antony and Cleopatra next week. Bring blankets and dress in layers. The best schedule source is ShakespeareByTheSea.org.

International City Theatre says you don't have to be Italian to enjoy the West Coast premiere of The Sweepers, a play about Italian American life during World War II OK, but it couldn’t hurt. Seek the scoop at (562) 436-4610 or ICTLongBeach.org.

The members of The Garage Theatre have birthed another brainchild in Hello, My Name Is ___ on June 13. Audience members find themselves at the exciting, new seminar, C.O.M.M.U.N.I.C.A.T.I.O.N. (Communication Opportunities Made Meaningful Using New Intellectual Capacities Already Twined Inside Our Noggins), where they are asked to complete the title of this original piece each night! Expect the unexpected say I. Plug into required data at TheGarageTheatre.org.

As You Like It , set in the Forest of Arden, has opened at Theatricum Botanicum in their own little forest in Topanga Canyon. Along with the already opened Macbeth, and School for Scandal, and Long Day’s Journey Into Night and more soon to follow, they will play the summer away. Chronicles have been posted at Theatricum.com.

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