An Eclectic August as ‘East Texas Hot Links’ Joins ‘Archy & Mehitabel’ and ‘The Nerd’

In August’s theater lineup, subjects range from the Asian experience to AIDS. The openings include:

Monday: The Audrey Skirball-Kenis Theatre weekly play-reading series continues at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood with Leon Martell’s “Kindling” and “Comin’ Home to Feed.” Upcoming are Terri Wagner’s “The Tattler” (Aug. 12), Quincy Long’s “The Virgin Molly” (Aug. 19) and Robert Cohen’s “The Prince” (Aug. 26). Admission to all events is free.

Thursday: At the MET Theatre in Hollywood, “East Texas Hot Links,” Eugene Lee’s one-act drama set in a Texas backwoods cafe in the 1950s, is an exploration of racism. Ed De Shae directs and Alfre Woodard is executive producer.

Thursday: “The Adding Machine,” Elmer Rice’s 1922 Expressionist drama about an accountant who loses his job to an adding machine and murders his boss, opens at the Blue Line Theatre at the Complex in Hollywood.

Thursday: A new evening of Samuel Beckett works, “Nohow On,” opens at Stages Trilingual Theatre in Hollywood. Ryan Cutrona is featured.

Thursday: Larry Shue’s popular comedy “The Nerd,” about a family visit from an unlikely hero, opens at the Gnu Theatre in North Hollywood. Jeff Seymour directs.

Friday: “Tokyo Bound,” Amy Hill’s multimedia one-woman autobiographical show, opens at East West Players in Hollywood.

Saturday: West Los Angeles’ Odyssey Theatre opens its own run of the Joe Darion/Mel Brooks musical “Archy & Mehitabel,” based on the stories of Don Marquis.

Aug. 14: Newly transferred from the Fountain Theatre, Jude Narita’s performance workshop presentation “The Tiger on the Right/The Dragon on the Left” will kick off the Asian/Pacific-American Performance Festival at Highways in Santa Monica.

Aug. 16: “Across the Water” joins the Asian festival at Highways, featuring performances by Rika Ohara, Han Ong, Dennis Phun and Shishir Kurup.

Aug. 16: Adrienne Barbeau, Rose Marie, Barney Martin and Don Most head the cast in Billy Van Zandt’s and Jane Milmore’s madcap farce “Drop Dead!” The tale of death on the set of an off-Broadway play opens at the Court Theatre in West Hollywood.