L.A. theater openings, Sept. 28-Oct. 5: ‘The Call of Cthulhu’ and more

Untold terrors await in “The Call of Cthulhu,” “Night of the Living Dead” and at Wicked Lit 2014. And on a lighter note, there’s the nostalgia-fueled revue “Schoolhouse Rock Live!”

Bright Star World premiere of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s new musical about a soldier from North Carolina who must confront his past when he returns after WWI. The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. Sun., 7 p.m.; Tue.-Wed., 7 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Nov. 2. $29 and up. (619) 234-5623.

Julius Caesar Classical Theatre Lab offers a staged reading of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Sun., 2 p.m. Free. (323) 960-5691.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! Family-friendly celebration of the educational 1970s Saturday-morning cartoon series. Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Sun., 2 p.m. $17. (310) 506-4522. Also, Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 1 and 3:30 p.m. $20 and up. (714) 556-2787.

Bronies: The Musical World-premiere musical explores the phenomenon of male fans of the cartoon series “My Little Pony.” Third Street Theatre, 8115 W. Third St., L.A. Sun., 3 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Nov. 2. $25-$30. (888) 718-4253.

Copenhagen Staged reading of Michael Frayn’s Tony-winning drama about a meeting between physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in 1941; part of AxS Festival 2014. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Mon., 7 p.m. Free. (626) 356-3100.

Gene Kelly: The Legacy — An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly Kelly’s widow shares memories and archival footage of the showbiz legend. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Mon.-Tue., 7:30 p.m. $45. (949) 497-2787.

Cafe Variations New York-based SITI Company combines theater, dance and the songs of George and Ira Gershwin in this romantic fable. Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Tue., 7:30 p.m. $55, $65. (818) 677-3000.

Dating in L.A. With No Nipples Lisa David explores life and love as a single mother and breast-cancer survivor in this new solo show. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Wed., 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 29. $20. (800) 838-3006.

Educating Rita Willy Russell’s comedy about a world-weary professor who tutors a vivacious hairdresser. Little Fish Theatre, 777 Centre St., San Pedro. Wed.-Thu., 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 23. $22 and up. (310) 512-6030.

First Day Off in a Long Time Brian Finkelstein’s darkly-comic solo show about his experiences working on a suicide hotline. Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd. Center for Inquiry West, Hollywood. Wed., 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 22. $12. (323) 666-4268.

Properties of Silence Staged reading of this fantastical drama about 17th-century Mexican poet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz; part of AxS Festival 2014. The Carrie Hamilton Theatre at the Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Thu., 7:30 p.m. Free. (626) 396-0920.

Alice Through the Wormhole, or What’s This Wonderland Up To? Workshop production of a new physics-themed musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale; part of AxS Festival 2014. Theater Lab, Caltech, 275 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m. $20 suggested donation. (626) 793-8171.

Wicked Lit 2014 Unbound Productions presents new adaptations of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula’s Guest,” Matthew Gregory Lewis’ “The Monk,” and the Mexican folktale “La Llorona.” Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery, 2300 N. Marengo Ave., Altadena. Fri.-next Sun., 7:30 p.m.; ends Nov. 8. $39-$70. (323) 332-2065.

Banshee West Coast premiere of Brian C. Petti’s drama about a New York City family headed by an indomitable Irish-immigrant matriarch. Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Nov. 1. $20, $25. (323) 856-8611.

Bitches An all-male cast stars in Sean Abley’s satire of high-school “mean girls” and tabloid TV; for ages 16 and up. Acting Artists Theatre, 7313 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Nov. 1. $25. (800) 838-3006.

The Call of Cthulhu The Visceral Company presents the world premiere of solo-performer Frank Blocker’s adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s terror tale about a doomsday cult that worships an ancient alien god; parental guidance recommended for young children. The Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Dec. 7. $20. (323) 871-1150.

Don’t Hug Me, We’re Married The Group Rep presents the world premiere of this musical comedy about a double wedding in a small Minnesota town. Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Nov. 15. $15-$25. (818) 763-5990.

Get the Led Out Tribute band re-creates the music of British rockers Led Zeppelin. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Fri., 8 p.m. $35-$65. (562) 467-8818.

Locals Only! A surfer falls in love with a Valley girl in this world-premiere multimedia musical from the creator of the “High School Musical” TV movies. SMC Main Stage, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 19. $17-$23. (310) 434-3000.

Night of the Living Dead Stage adaptation of George A. Romero’s gruesome 1968 zombie thriller. Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 7 and 9 p.m.; ends Nov. 1. $22. (714) 526-7070.

On Golden Pond Ernest Thompson’s hit dramedy about an elderly couple’s eventful summer at their lakeside vacation home. West Valley Playhouse, 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m. $26, $28. (818) 884-1907.

Stiles and Drewe’s The Three Little Pigs MainStreet Theatre Company presents this family-friendly musical fairytale. The Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Sat., 4 p.m.; next Sun., 1 p.m.; ends Oct. 19. $9.50-$16. (909) 477-2752.

Music Under the Stars Broadway veterans and the JPL chorus join Pasadena Symphony and POPS for an outdoor show featuring classic show tunes by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more. Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena. Sat., 7:30 p.m. Free. (626) 793-7172.

An Evening with Paula Poundstone The veteran comic performs. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m. $65. (562) 985-7000.

Better The Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of Jessica Goldberg’s dramedy about a troubled woman who returns to her Midwest hometown to see her dying father. Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Nov. 9. $25. (310) 307-3753.

Nice Things World premiere of Vince Melocchi’s drama about a small-town woman who lost her fiancee in the war in Afghanistan. Rogue Machine at Theatre Theater, 5041 Pico Blvd., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Nov. 23. 30; military and student discounts available. (855) 585-5185.

Sha Na Na The veteran rock ’n’ roll and doo-wop group performs songs from the movie “Grease.” Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Sat., 8 p.m. $35-$60. (562) 467-8818.

Jersey Boys Tony-winning bio-musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Next Sun., 6:30 p.m.; ends Oct. 19. $25 and up. (800) 982-2787.

Oh, Yes She Did! Sandy Brown portrays Billie Holiday, Rosa Parks and other groundbreaking African American women in this solo show. Inside Jokes Stage at The Chinese 6 Theatres, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Next Sun., 8 p.m. $18-$80. (323) 391-3444.