L.A. theater openings, Oct. 9-16: Pat Kinevane’s ‘Underneath’ and more

This week: Olivier Award winner Pat Kinevane returns with a new solo show. Plus, a comedy about a couple’s late-in-life baby, a fact-based drama about a World War II-era disaster and not one but two plays about the making of a Hollywood classic.

Billy & Ray Director Billy Wilder and crime novelist Raymond Chandler collaborate on the classic 1944 film noir “Double Indemnity” in Mike Bencivenga’s comedy. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Sun., 5:30 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 5:30 p.m.; ends Oct. 30. $35-$75. (949) 497-2787.

Dracula: Blood Before Dawn The titular vampire stalks Victorian-era London in Raymond Donahey’s reimagining of Bram Stoker’s terror tale. Loft Ensemble Theater, 13442 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Sun., next Sun., 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Nov. 13. $20. (818) 616-3150.

Fritz Coleman’s Defying Gravity The local weatherman/comic salutes the aging baby-boomer generation. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Sun., 2 p.m. $35. (818) 508-4200.

The Fruit Cake Follies: Race for the White House The comedy troupe’s election-season satire returns. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Sun., 7 p.m. $20. (800) 838-3006.

Life Expectancy: A Comedy in Three Trimesters A couple in their 40s prepare for the arrival of their first child in Catherine Butterfield’s new comedy. Malibu Playhouse, 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. Sun., next Sun., Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Oct. 23. $25. www.malibuplayhouse.org

Night of the Living Dead Stage adaptation of George A. Romero’s gruesome 1968 zombie thriller. Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut, Fullerton. Sun., next Sun., 7 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 7 and 9 p.m.; ends Oct. 30. $22. (714) 526-7070.

Unauthorized! A Bad Dream on Elm Avenue West Coast premiere of this musical sendup of a certain 1984 horror classic. Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Sun., 3 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 and 7 p.m.; ends Oct. 16. $25. (800) 838-3006.

The Boy at the Edge of Everything A 12-year-old makes a cosmic connection in Finegan Kruckemeyer’s family-friendly fable. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim. Thu., 7 p.m.; Sat.-next Sun., 11 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. $25; ages 4 and up, $20. (714) 777-3033.

Blood The Garage remounts Robert Allan Ackerman’s fact-based drama with music about a 1980s-era scandal in Japan involving AIDS-tainted blood; with Glenne Headly. The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Dec. 18. $25, $35. (323) 960-7745.

Buyer & Cellar Jai Rodriguez (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”) stars in Jonathan Tolins’ solo comedy about a struggling actor who gets an unusual job working for Barbra Streisand. Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends Nov. 6. $30-$45; opening night only, $30-$60. (818) 955-8101.

Don’t Tell My Mother! Lance Bass, “Scandal’s” Dan Bucatinsky and singer-songwriter Jill Sobule take part in the comedy/storytelling series’ annual “coming-out” show. Busby’s East, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. $25-$50. www.dtmm-show.com.

An Evening With Kelli O’Hara The Tony winner (“The King and I”) performs favorite show tunes. Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Fri., 8 p.m. $38-$80. (818) 677-3000.

Evita Cabrillo Music Theatre stages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony-winning musical about former Argentinian first lady Eva Perón. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Kavli Theatre, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 23. $35-$79. (800) 745-3000.

Friends in Transient Places Jonathan Caren’s play about a disparate group of passengers on a cross-country flight. Studio Stage Theatre, 520 N. Western Ave., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 4 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Oct. 30. $25. (800) 838-3006.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 3-D Theatricals stages Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical about the biblical Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 20. $40-$85. (562) 467-8818.

L.A. Noir UnScripted Impro Theatre improvises a pulpy tale in the style of classic 1940s-50s film noir; features a live jazz quartet. Ford Theaters, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood. Fri., 8:30 p.m. $40. (323) 461-3673.

Late Night Catechism A know-it-all nun schools audience members in this hit interactive show created by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; ends Oct. 22. $22-$30. (626) 355-4318.

Port Chicago David Shackelford and Dennis Rowe’s fact-based drama about a munitions explosion at a Navy yard that claimed the lives of hundreds of African American sailors during WWII; contains adult language. Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 16. $35, $40. (866) 514-7250.

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth faces his nemesis Moriarty in this stage adaptation by Steven Dietz. Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Nov. 19. $20-$32. (818) 244-8481.

Shipwrecked! An Entertainment — The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself) A boastful 19th century explorer recounts his exploits in Donald Margulies’ comedy. International City Theatre, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Nov. 6. $25-$49; opening night, $55. (562) 436-4610.

Spindle City: The Lizzie Borden Musical Katrina Wood’s new musical retells the 19th century tale of the accused murderess. Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Nov. 5. $15-$32. (323) 960-7780.

The Turn of the Screw Two actors play all the roles in this stage adaptation of Henry James’ classic supernatural thriller. Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; ends Nov. 20. $20-$30. (323) 462-8460.

Underneath West Coast premiere of Irish writer-performer Pat Kinevane’s dark solo comedy about people living on the margins of society. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Oct. 30. $25; discounts available. (310) 477-2055.

Voices Impressionist and voice artist Carla Delaney’s solo comedy. Asylum Studio C, 6448 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Fri., 8:30 p.m. $15. www.theencoreawards.com.

Vonnegut, USA Anthology composed of five short stories by author Kurt Vonnegut. Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Nov. 20. $20; Sundays, pay what you can (pre-purchased). (800) 838-3006.

The Cashore Marionettes The troupe presents two family-friendly shows: “Simple Gifts” (4 p.m.) and “Life in Motion” (8 p.m.). Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. Sat., 4 and 8 p.m. $10, $25. (626) 395-4652.

Charles Phoenix: This is Americana! Kitschy celebration of fashion, car culture, etc., in the style of an old-fashioned slide-show. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m. $45. (562) 985-7000.

The Imaginary Invalid Molière’s classic satire about a hypochondriac who schemes to marry his daughter to a doctor. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Nov. 19. $44 and up; student rush, $20. (626) 356-3100.

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe: Revisited A cast of 12 actors performs in a new reimagining of the classic solo show written by Jane Wagner and originally performed by Lily Tomlin. Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Davidson Valentini Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Nov. 20. $30. (323) 860-7300.

The Stand-in Alicia Adams and Peter Monro’s behind-the-scenes drama about the making of “Double Indemnity.” Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A. Sat., 7 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Nov. 5. $15-$25. (213) 389-3856.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The title character seeks bloody revenge in Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical fable set in 19th century London. The Studio at Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m.; ends Nov. 12. $24, $27. (562) 494-1014.

A Time to Kill West Coast premiere of Rupert Holmes’ adaptation of the John Grisham legal thriller about a shocking murder in a small Southern town. Theatre 68, 5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Sat., 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends Nov. 19. $30. (323) 960-5068.

Walking the Tightrope 24th Street Theatre remounts its production of Mike Kenney’s family-friendly fable about losing a loved one. Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sat., 10 a.m. (sensory-friendly performance) and 1 p.m.; next Sun., 1 p.m.; ends Oct. 16. $20. (714) 556-2787.

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

Varla Jean Merman: A Little White Music The drag artist returns with a satirical take on American popular music. Cavern Club Theater, 1920 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 6 and 8 p.m. $25. (800) 838-3006.