Shaking and Moving : Theaters are gravitating to the NoHo district after the Northridge quake.

As the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 17 earthquake approaches, a number of theaters in the San Fernando Valley’s theater com munity are still shaking.

Some theater companies were silenced for a time and some still haven’t recovered, while others just seem victim to the general unrest the quake caused. But the theater community has been pulling itself together and generally, as always, forging ahead.

One of the results is a sort of geographical spin, a centrifugal force that seems to be pulling theaters into and around the NoHo district of North Hollywood.

The Road Theatre, which for a few years has been tucked away in a commercial complex in Van Nuys, is moving to a new long-term space at the Lankershim Arts Center, 5081 Lankershim Blvd. Along with Estelle Busch’s Synthaxis Theatre and several other performance and arts groups, the Road will occupy the space sometime after the beginning of March. “Idle Wheels,” its final production in Van Nuys, opens Feb. 17. Brad Hills, the Road’s artistic director, describes it as a “drama about Texas trash living in Alaska.” The production, written by actor James Morrison, will be directed by Richard Herd. In its new space, the Road will continue its policy of producing world premieres by local playwrights, providing community-based workshops along with regular Monday evening play-reading series.

Producer Ed Gaynes had long operated the West End Playhouse in Van Nuys, which closed last spring due to lingering plumbing problems. Gaynes has taken over the Two Roads Theatre at 4348 Tujunga Blvd. in Studio City, just a few blocks south of NoHo. The opening production at the theater will be a revival of the one-man show about writer Brendan Behan, Michael L. Kavanaugh’s “Bein’ With Behan,” which runs for four weeks beginning Jan. 27, prior to a March 3 opening off-Broadway in New York. Gaynes will follow “Behan” on Feb. 19 with the Los Angeles premiere of “Lovesong,” a new musical based on lyrics by famous poets, including Keats and Shelley. Michael Valenti wrote the music for “Lovesong,” which had a successful six-month run at New York’s Village Gate, and played for a year in Toronto.

Actors Forum, a theater that has been a landmark on Ventura Boulevard for 20 years, also has moved. Co-artistic directors Audrey Marlyn and Shawn Michaels say they’re “looking at another 20 years” in the new space at 10655 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. Following the usual dance with inspectors, the first production, a French murder mystery called “Monique,” is expected to open in February. It will be followed by a suspense drama, “Earth and Sky.”

In late April or early May, one NoHo theater will shift a couple of blocks east on Magnolia from its current location a few steps east of Tujunga. Till then, American Renegade Theatre, which helped foster the idea of the NoHo theater district, will continue its run of the hit production of Jane Anderson’s “Baby Dance” in its Stage Two. Artistic director David Cox also will direct the January world premiere of Martin Perrini “Martin’s Place,” a drama about a man who finds in midlife that his world is crumbling, followed by the premiere of “Tallulah,” a new musical about Tallulah Bankhead’s court case with an embezzling maid. After the move, Cox plans to direct a production of “Desire Under the Elms,” but says his main thrust will still be toward new plays.

Within hollering distance of NoHo, a relative newcomer to the Valley and an old established playhouse have plans for active seasons.

In the longstanding Theatre Exchange building, where cattle were once bought and sold, the Interact Theatre company has extended its immensely successful production of Elmer Rice’s “Counsellor-at-Law,” with John Rubinstein in the role created by Paul Muni on Broadway. Artistic director Kevin Kelly says the production will continue through the end of January and may be extended further. Beginning in February, Interact will once again present its early-week “Interactivity Festival,” which like last year, will present about 15 to 20 bare-bones workshop productions of new plays. After “Counsellor-at-Law,” the group will stage a Shakespeare play, either “Julius Caesar,” “Timon of Athens” or “Much Ado About Nothing.” Many familiar faces from stage and screen appear in the productions.

Managing director Mary Van Arsdel of Theatre West on Cahuenga Boulevard West, says that the venerable company will be closing its production of “Home Fire” on Jan. 15. Opening Feb. 17 will be the world premiere of Leslie Caveny’s “Impact This,” a black comedy about a rape victim taking back her life. Caveny is the author of Theatre West’s popular “Love of a Pig” a few years ago. “Impact” also came out of the company’s writers’ workshop. Following that play, the company will stage what Van Arsdel refers to as a “reworking of ‘Working.’ ” The Studs Terkel musical about the work force will have a smaller cast than previous productions and will contain new material provided by Terkel for this production.

The Lionstar Theatre, over Jerry’s Deli in Studio City, plans Jan. 20 openings of Alan Gross’ “La Brea Tarpits” in Stage 1 and Sharon Burke’s “Flipside” in Stage 2. On March 23, Kevin Mills’ “Square One” will follow in Stage 1. Company of CharActors, which formerly controlled the spaces, will continue to produce there, said Anthony Leonardi, Lionstar’s artistic director.

Perhaps the most beleaguered theater in the Valley is Actors Alley, whose new home at the El Portal Theatre on Lankershim was seriously damaged by the quake. The company’s summer/fall season was presented in a 99-seat tent at the Television Academy across the street. The company eventually plans to have three stages at the El Portal complex: The Mainstage, with between 300 and 600 seats, will present the company’s subscription series; the Arena Theatre and the Storefront Theatre, both 99-seaters, will showcase new works. The Storefront Theatre will be the first to open, probably in April, said John Shaw, associate artistic director.

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Where to Go

What: Actors Forum, 10655 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.

Call: (818) 506-0600.

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What: American Renegade Theatre, 11305 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.

Call: (818) 763-4430.

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What: Interact Theatre, 11855 Hart St., North Hollywood.

Call: (818) 773-7863.

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What: Lionstar Theatre, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City.

Call: (818) 508-6577.

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What: Road Theatre, 14141 Covello St., Van Nuys.

Call: (818) 785-6175.

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What: Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. W.

Call: (213) 857-7977.

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What: Two Roads Theatre, 4348 Tujunga Blvd., Studio City.

Call: (818) 996-0505.