L.A. theater openings, July 6-13: ‘The Orphan of Zhao’ and more

An ancient Chinese legend is revisted in “The Orphan of Zhao” at La Jolla Playhouse, Four Clowns reimagines two Old Testament tales at Santa Monica’s Annenberg Community Beach House, and the greatest love story Shakespeare ever told gets two very different stagings.

The Sexual Life of Savages World premiere of Ian MacAllister-McDonald’s dramedy about a group of young people navigating modern-day relationships. Beverly Hills Playhouse, 254 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills. Sun., 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $30-$34. (213) 761-7061.

Noah & Jonah Physical-theatre troupe Four Clowns puts a comedic, family-friendly spin on these two Old Testament tales, running in repertory. Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica. Wed.-Fri., 4:30 p.m.; ends July 18. Free; reservations at fourclowns.org; the elderly may call (310) 458-4904.

The Manor This site-specific tale of scandal, murder and suicide, inspired actual events, returns for its 12th year. Greystone Mansion, 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills. Wed.-Sat., 6 p.m.; next Sun., 1 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $55; must reserve by phone in advance. (310) 694-6118.

Dixie’s Tupperware Party Interactive comedy starring drag performer Dixie Longate. Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. Wed.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 3. $55-$60. (310) 208-5454.

August: Osage County L.A. Theatre Works records Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning dramedy for its radio program, with original Steppenwolf and Broadway cast members. James Bridges Theater, UCLA, 235 Charles E. Young Drive, Westwood. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m. $15-$60. (310) 827-0889.

A Judy Garland Concert With Joey Luft Garland’s son shares stories about his mother in this tribute show featuring classic, digitally enhanced footage of the legendary performer. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 4 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $30-$75. (626) 356-7529.

Without Annette World-premiere comedy set in an improv class. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Thu., 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 2. $34. (323) 960-5773.

Wicked Lit: The Doll Unbound Productions presents a site-specific staging of this Victorian Era terror tale, paired with a reading of a different short play. Strub Mansion, Mayfield Senior School of the Holy Child Jesus, 500 Bellefontaine St., Pasadena. Fri.-next Sun., 7, 8:15 and 9:30 p.m.; ends July 26. $20-$25. (323) 332-2065.

Always … Patsy Cline Bio-musical portrays the friendship between the legendary country singer and a Texas housewife; Carter Calvert and Sally Struthers star. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Aug. 3. $40-$90. (818) 508-4200.

The Conduct of Life Obie winner Maria Irene Fornes’ drama about a Latin American military officer’s dark obsessions; contains adult situations. City Garage at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave. Building T1, Santa Monica. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 5 p.m.; ends Aug. 17. $20, $25; Sundays, pay what you can. (310) 453-9939.

Coriolanus Shakespeare’s tragedy about a Roman general gets a “Mad Max”-styled makeover. Archway Studio/Theatre, 305 S. Hewitt St., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $18. (213) 237-9933.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Musical Theatre West presents the hit stage adaptation of 1991 animated film based on the beloved fairytale. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends July 27. $20 and up. (562) 856-1999.

The Orphan of Zhao New adaptation of an ancient Chinese epic of self-sacrifice and revenge; with B.D. Wong. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 10. $15 and up. (858) 550-1010.

Romeo & Juliet The City Shakespeare Company offers a stripped-down, 90-minute version of the Bard’s tale of tragic teenage love. The CityShakes Studio, 1454 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends July 26. $20. (800) 838-3006.

Sordid Lives Kentwood Players presents Del Shores’ comedy about a colorful Texas family preparing for the funeral of their matriarch; contains adult language and situations. Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $18, $20. (310) 645-5156.

Chico’s Angels 2: Love Boat Chicas The drag trio goes out to sea in this new comedy-mystery. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m.; next Sun., 3 and 8 p.m.; ends Aug. 17. $35. (323) 662-4255.

Willy Wonka Family-friendly musical based on Roald Dahl’s tale of an eccentric candymaker. The Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends July 20. $16-$20. (909) 477-2752.

Leading Ladies Ken Ludwig’s farce about a pair of struggling actors who try to scam a wealthy old woman by posing as her long-lost nieces. Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $18-$28. (818) 244-8481.

The Great Divorce Disparate characters take a mystical journey from hell to heaven in this stage adaptation of the C.S. Lewis fable. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Sat., 4 and 8 p.m. $25-$59. (818) 243-2539.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Bio-musical about the 1950s rocker features more than 20 classic songs. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Sat., 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 5:30 p.m.; ends Aug. 10. $41-$66. (949) 497-2787.

Andronicus Coeurage Theatre Company stages a new, streamlined adaptation of Shakespeare’s Roman-era revenge saga. The Lyric-Hyperion Theater & Café, 2106 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 17. Pay what you want; reservations required. (323) 944-2165.

Damn Yankees 3-D Theatricals stages the classic musical comedy about a baseball fan who makes a deal with the devil. Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends July 27. $31-$60. (714) 589-2770.

Family Planning World premiere of Michelle Kholos Brooks’ comedy about a long-divorced couple forced to move in with their daughter and son-in-law; Christina Pickles and Bruce Weitz star. Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 10. $20-$55. (818) 558-7000.

Fiddler on the Roof The Tony-winning musical about a tradition-minded milkman and his family living in a Jewish shtetl in Czarist Russia. Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $14-$24. (562) 494-1014.

In the Heights The Tony-winning musical about the residents of a Dominican American neighborhood in NYC. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 3. $25-$35. (714) 777-3033.

Lay Me Down Softly West Coast premiere of Billy Roches’s drama about boxers who challenge all comers as part of a traveling sideshow in Ireland. The Banshee, 3435 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Aug. 23. $16, $20. (818) 846-5323.

Looped Ensemble Theatre Company presents Matthew Lombardo’s comedy about stage and screen star Tallulah Bankhead. The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends July 27. $20-$65. (805) 965-5400.

Much Ado About Nothing Theatricum’s all-Shakespeare repertory season continues with the Bard’s romantic comedy. Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7:30 p.m.; ends Sept. 28. $10-$37; children 6 and under, free.

The Way You Look Tonight World premiere of Peter Lefcourt’s romantic comedy in which a pair of ex-spouses and their new partners reconnect after several years. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Aug. 24. $25, $30. (323) 960-7712.

William Shakespeare’s The Tempest New adaptation of the fantasy tale blends the original text with additional material in contemporary English. T.U. Studios, 10943 Camarillo Blvd., North Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7:30. p.m.; ends Aug. 24. $20. (310) 366-5505.

Facing Our Truth: Ten-Minute Plays on Trayvon, Race and Privilege New works inspired by the 2012 shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Next Sun., 1 p.m. $10. (213) 628-2772.

Supernatural: The Play Women of color share stories about letting their hair go natural in this West Coast premiere. Chromolume Theatre at the Attic, 5429 W. Washington Blvd., L.A. Next Sun., 6 p.m.; ends Sept. 28. $25. (323) 205-1617.

Buyer & Cellar “Ugly Betty’s” Michael Urie stars in Jonathan Tolins’ comedy about a struggling actor who gets a job working at a megastar’s Malibu home. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 17. $25-$70. (213) 628-2772.

Grease Sing-a-long Celebration of the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John and based on the hit Broadway musical; with special guests Sha Na Na and Didi Conn. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Next Sun., 7:30 p.m. $11-$79. (323) 850-2000.

Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles stages the Bard’s classic tale of young love. Japanese Garden, VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Next Sun., 8 p.m.; ends July 26. $20-$70; free tickets for active military, veterans, and their guests at (213) 481-2273. (213) 893-8293.