L.A. theater openings, Aug. 21-28: ‘The Temptation of St. Antony’ and more

This week: Immersive tales set in a church, a beer hall, and a mad monk’s cave.

Beyond Imagination Gala launch for the Imagine Project, a new children’s theater company. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. Sun., 5 p.m. Free; registration required. www.imagineprojectca.com/eventbrite.

Bury Me Reading of Brynne Frauenhoffer’s new issues-driven drama set in a working-class town in Missouri. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Sun., 11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. (310) 455-3723.

The Heidi Chronicles Santa Monica Rep offers a staged reading of Wendy Wasserstein’s comedy-drama about the changing roles of women in society from the 1960s to the ’80s. The Edye at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St. Santa Monica. Sun., 2 p.m. $25. (310) 434-3200.

Shine Storytellers and singer-songwriters share true-life tales about the power of music. Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd St., Santa Monica. Sun., 7 p.m. $10; discounts available. (310) 452-2321.

What to Send Up When It Goes Down Aleshea Harris’ performance piece uses parody, song, movement, etc., to explore racial violence against black people; a moderated discussion follows each performance. Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. Sun., 6 p.m.; Mon., 7:30 p.m.; ends Aug. 22. Free; reservations recommended. www.bostoncourt.com

Foxfire Staged reading of Hume Cronyn and Susan Cooper’s drama about a 79-year-old Appalachian widow. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre, Blvd., Sierra Madre. Mon., 7 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. (626) 355-4318.

Hershey Felder’s The Great American Songbook Sing-Along Audience participation is encouraged as Felder celebrates the music of the George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, et al. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Bram Goldsmith Theater, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. Mon., 8 p.m. $20-$50. (310) 746-4000.

LA Theatre Town Hall A discussion of Actors’ Equity Association’s decision to eliminate the 99-seat theatre plan. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., L.A. Mon., 7:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. www.lastagealliance.com/calendar

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Young performers present a family-friendly, hourlong version of the Bard’s fantasy tale. Garden Grove Amphitheater, 12762 Main St., Garden Grove. Tue.-Wed., 7 p.m. Free. www.shakespeareoc.org

CarneyMagic Sleight-of-hand artist John Carney performs in this theatrical comedy-and-magic show. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; ends Aug. 28. $22-$30. (626) 355-4318.

Chico’s Angels Five-O: Waikiki Chicas The drag trio returns in this new mystery-comedy. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Thu., 8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m.; next Sun., 3 and 8 p.m.; ends Sept. 4. $35, $40. (323) 662-4255.

The Mama Bares in Concert: Once Upon a Play Date With Broadway veterans Joan Almedilla, Ai Goeku Cheung, Deedee Magno Hall and Jennifer Paz. East West Players, David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Sept. 4. $35-$50; discounts available. (213) 625-7000.

Anything Goes Cole Porter’s classic musical comedy about romantic shenanigans onboard an ocean liner. Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 8. $20-$32. (818) 244-8481.

Calendar Girls Tim Firth’s comedy about a group of middle-aged British women who pose nude for charity. The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 9. $20, $25. (818) 763-5990.

Dutch Masters West Coast premiere of Greg Keller’s comedy-drama, set in 1990s NYC, about the state of race relations in America; Guillermo Cienfuegos directs. Rogue Machine at the Met Theatre, 1089 N Oxford Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8:30 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Oct. 3. $34.99. (855) 585-5185.

Oktoberfest the Musical — An Almost True Story New, immersive family-friendly musical comedy set in a German beer hall; with book and lyrics by Philip LaZebnik and music by Harold Faltermeyer. Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Nov. 27. $60-$75. (800) 838-3006.

Parallel Lives Two actresses play various characters struggling through life in this cosmic comedy originally created by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy. Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr., Burbank. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends Sept. 18. $30-$45; opening night only, $55-$60. (818) 955-8101.

4th Annual Solo Performer Empowerment Day Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival offers a full day of workshops and panels for aspiring solo performers. Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. Sat., 9:30 a.m.-4:40 p.m. $125. (818) 760-0408.

Awake and Sing! Revival of the Odyssey Theatre’s 1994-95 staging of Clifford Odets’ classic Depression-era drama about a Jewish family in the Bronx; with Marilyn Fox. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 2. $25-$34; discounts available. (310) 477-2055.

Captain of the Bible Quiz Team Rogue Machine presents Tom Jacobson’s new immersive comedy-drama, mounted in local churches, with four actors rotating in the role of a newly-minted minister. Lutheran Church of the Master, 10931 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. (other venues, Sept 10-19 and Sept. 24-Oct. 3). Sat., 3 p.m.; next Sun., 3 and 7 p.m.; next Mon., 7 p.m.; ends Oct. 3. $34.99. (855) 585-5185.

Chance-a-Go-Go Chance Theater’s 1960s-themed gala fundraiser features live entertainment and more. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. Sat., 5:30 p.m. $350 and up. (888) 455-4212.

Mount Vernon Rena Brannan’s new one-act drama about two strangers who discover they have a tragic, shared past. Hudson Guild Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Sept. 18. $20. (323) 960-7784.

Mutual Philanthropy Income inequality and gentrification are explored in Karen Rizzo’s new dramedy about working-class parents in L.A.’s Mount Washington neighborhood. Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 and 7 p.m.; ends Sept. 25. $14.95-$28. (818) 858-0440.

The Temptation of St. Antony Four Larks presents an updated and expanded version of its immersive, musical adaptation of Flaubert’s mystical fable. Private preformance space, address provided to ticket holders, Downtown L.A. Sat.-Sun., 8:30 p.m.; ends Sept. 11. $20-$50. www.fourlarks.com

Dick Van Dyke & the Vantastix The Broadway, TV and film star shares songs and stories. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Next Sun., 3 p.m. $65-$85. (562) 467-8818.

Li’l Abner Musical Theatre West offers a staged reading of this musical adaptation of the classic Al Capp comics about the lives of hillbillies. University Theatre, Cal State Long Beach, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd. (off 7th Street between East and West Campus Drive, Parking Lot 7), Long Beach. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $27, $32. (562) 856-1999.

Still Life Reading of Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich’s darkly comic look at collective grief in the aftermath of a series of subway bombings. Next Sun., 11 a.m. Free; donations accepted. (310) 455-3723.