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Because it's June, June, June

Lawrence Fishburne in a publicity shot for Without Walls

A new work from the playwright who brought us Driving Miss Daisy, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, and the libretto for Parade highlights L.A.'s June bill of fare. Alfred Uhry's Without Walls, directed by Christopher Ashley, stars Lawrence Fishburne as an idealistic and popular drama teacher at a non-traditional Manhattan high school, circa 1977. The play examines the power and fragility of student/mentor relationships (Mark Taper Forum, June 11). Another work that's keenly anticipated is the L.A. premiere of Sam Shepherd's political drama The God of Hell, which marks the directorial debut of celebrated actor Jason Alexander (Geffen Playhouse, June 20).

There are several additional enticing dramas in store. The award-winning Theatre Tribe in North Hollywood offers the Southern California premiere of Craig Wright's Recent Tragic Events (June 16), which presents an absurdist view of the Sept. 11 World Trade Center disaster. Three vintage classics are on the roster: Athena Theatre's staging of William Hanley's Slow Dance on the Killing Ground (Hollywood's Lounge Theatre, June 22); Golden Circle's revival of Michael V. Gazzo's A Hatful of Rain (West Hollywood's Meta Theatre, June 9), and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts' presentation of Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit (June 2), with Slovakian director Jan Krekan making his American debut.

Also of interest for drama lovers: The renowned Cornerstone Theatre Company celebrates its 20th anniversary with the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Demeter in the City, about the downfall of a 20-year-old girl (REDCAT Theatre, June 8). Another play dealing with youthful angst is Rosalind Productions' world premiere of Abigail Rose Solomon's Stages (Hollywood's Hudson Mainstage Theatre, June 2). At Silverlake's Company of Angels, playwright-screenwriter Garry Michael White unveils his new play, Arlington, spanning 1917-2008 and charting America's constant, insatiable thirst for war (June 2).

Summer is prime time for musicals, and there's a promising batch in the June lineup. Nostalgia buffs might get a kick out of Johnny Guitar (La Mirada Theatre, June 2), based on the hoary Joan Crawford film -- and winner of the Outer Critics Circle award for Best Off-Broadway Musical of 2004.The strong cast includes Michelle Duffy, Kevin Earley, and Alan Campbell. Then there's the world premiere of Drew Taylor and Robert Cioffi's One Way Ticket to Hell (Marilyn Monroe Theatre, June 1), a musical comedy about a good girl gone very, very bad. The gay-focused Celebration offers Larry Dean Harris and Mark Winkler's Play it Cool (June 9), set in a gay jazz club in 1953. And the musical Happy Days, based on the classic TV show, returns to the Falcon Theatre for an eight-week engagement (June 23).

There's also fare on hand for those seeking yucks. Laguna Playhouse offers the West Coast premiere of Mitch Albom's And the Winner Is (June 3), a Tinseltown satire set during Oscar time. Renee Taylor, Joe Bologna, and Lainie Kazan cavort in The Bermuda Avenue Triangle, a farce about romance among the senior set, at the Brentwood Theatre (June 2). The comedy The Id and Bob (Lillian Theatre, June 15), concerns a gay journalist's struggle to find romance in Manhattan, as he tries to come to terms with the nagging voices in his head.

Entertainment for the youngsters this month is highlighted by South Coast Repertory's The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (June 17), adapted by John Glore from the children's book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, in which traditional fairy tales take on a life of their own and go berserk on the stage. In a more serious vein, the Santa Monica Playhouse presents the world premiere drama Grandma's Place: Running Away From Your Life (June 9), a poignant look at young runaway as seen through the eyes of the theatre's Young Professional Company, aged 11-17.

 

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