Celebrate the power of the individual this weekend with a slew of original and traditional shows that show how it can take only one person to tell a story or make an impact. It may sound cheesy, but in theater, one actor can tell a more effective story than a stage of twenty. Read below for more information about It’s Great 2B_N American, Happy Hour, Assassins, and Shift Happens: A (Piece of) Work in Progress!

It’s Great 2B_N_American - Living as a minority in America can be tough, but returning to one’s home country as an American can be even tougher. In a one-man show, Dan Kwong tells the story of his travels in Asia and how his identity as an Asian-American shaped not only his perspectives upon Asia, but the perspectives Asians had of him. Chock full of props, video, and sound effects, this show’s 21st century intentions create a universally appealing show.

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Opening night bumps made for a stormy journey for “Refuge from the Storm,” but it is an easy and interesting ride overall. The play seems simple enough. Bert (Austin Graham) and Martha (Barbara Keegan) work at a tavern on the sea cliffs of Maine. Todd (Seth Caskey), sitting on a bar stool beside his friend Joe (Rod Davidson), is mourning over his father’s recent death. The bar closes for the night and into the empty tavern enters Doris (Gretchen Koerner) and Tom (Michael Harrity), an unhappily married couple. Their boat has crashed on the rocks and they are lucky to have made it to shore. Throughout the night a series of characters come into the bar: Michael (Dane Bowman), a seaman; Eileen (Kassandra Woodley-Connolly), daughter of the owner of the bar; Jim (David Love), an accountant, together with Candy (Chase McKenna), a cheerful prostitute; and Father Gray (Steve Gunning), a priest.

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The dulcet infectious lyrics of the Wet Spots, “Do You Take it in the Ass,” are Lili VonSchtupp’s cue to start the show. Dressed in a black slip which leaves little to the imagination, Lili takes to the stage, bends to the floor with her ass facing the crowd, and points her finger. The music disappears and Lili faces the audience. She welcomes the crowd, simultaneously sounding off a dozen or so expletives, just, as she says, to get them off her chest. She’s now ready to start the show. This is Monday Night Tease, Los Angeles longest running weekly Burlesque show at the 3 Clubs on Santa Monica and Vine. 3 Clubs is a two roomed joint with a long bar in one room, where a sliding door takes you into the second room. Here you will find plenty of comfy couches in swanky booths, spacious tables, an elevated stage, and generous bar.

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Considering The School for Scandal debuted in 1777, the latest production at Topanga Canyon’s Theatricum Botanicum feels remarkably in tune with the times. Once your ears begin processing the rapid-fire stream of five-dollar words, it’s hard to ignore that the gossip and defaming have merely changed venues, from the salons of the 18th century to the blind items and frothing immediacy of the blogosphere.

If Jane Austen captured the passive-aggressive nature of British society, then “Scandal” is clearly a man’s play on it. The show made an overnight sensation of its writer Richard Brinsley Sheridan (who’s bio reads like a sequel to “Barry Lyndon”), and it’s a fitting creation of a mad genius in his twenties.

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This July 4th weekend does not have to be all about fireworks, burnt barbecue, and Uncle Sam. Take the nontraditional track with a late-night improv show, a dark comedy set in an overseas land, or a sex-filled coming-of-age story. True, going to the theater may not be the best way to express one’s patriotism, but what better way to support one of your favorite city’s favorite industries? Read below for more information about The Completely Different Late Show, Refuge from the Storm, Spring’s Awakening, and Maestro, If You Please!

The Completely Different Late Show - An improvisational show with members of The Groundlings, an improvisation troupe whose alumni include Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow, “The Completely Different Late Show” isn’t just your set of old “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” games. Given its successful alums, however, the laughs should be bountiful! While this is a weekly event, brand new material by the troupe plus guest appearances by Saturday Night Live alumni make this a lively event for any weekend, not just July 4th.

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This July 4th weekend does not have to be all about fireworks, burnt barbecue, and Uncle Sam. Take the nontraditional track with a late-night improv show, a dark comedy set in an overseas land, or a sex-filled coming-of-age story. True, going to the theater may not be the best way to express one’s patriotism, but what better way to support one of your favorite city’s favorite industries? Read below for more information about The Completely Different Late Show, Refuge from the Storm, Spring’s Awakening, and Maestro, If You Please!

The Completely Different Late Show - An improvisational show with members of The Groundlings, an improvisation troupe whose alumni include Will Ferrell and Lisa Kudrow, “The Completely Different Late Show” isn’t just your set of old “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” games. Given its successful alums, however, the laughs should be bountiful! While this is a weekly event, brand new material by the troupe plus guest appearances by Saturday Night Live alumni make this a lively event for any weekend, not just July 4th.

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I went to review The Sweepers, at the International City Theater in Long Beach and my first thought came about fifteen minutes into the play. “Why does this play exist?” It was a miracle my mind was quiet for that long. But I realized later it was hard at work for those fifteen minutes. It was searching for something while I was dumbly enjoying the pretty set. I dismissed the buzzing fly that was my mind several times before I began to swat at it (internally of course). Another part of my mind said “Listen to the part the you’re about to swat.” I swear all this went on in my head. I thought I better listen to both of these thoughts because maybe my mind was trying to communicate with me (duh). Like a game. It asks a question and I have to find the answer. The cumulative effect of this game would be that I had an interesting experience. Some doctor’s might categorize that as schizophrenic or something else along the lines of mental illness. I like my mind so doctor’s be damned, I decided to trust it and play the game.

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Los Angeles must be on a comedy kick because the theater still seems full of great comic options! While comedic tastes may be different for everyone, shows range from slapstick to absurd to macabre and morbid. Read below for more information about Touched in the Head of Elizabeth Otero, Recent Tragic Events, They’re Just Like Us, and Glorious!

Touched in the Head of Elizabeth Otero - A night of sketch comedy, “Touched in the Head of Elizabeth Otero” features a compilation of pieces written by Elizabeth Otero that approach everything from politics to family stories to scathing social commentary. Expect a night of silliness, but most importantly, look forward to some insightful slices of life.

June 26th - July 12th. Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays: 8 P.M., One 5 P.M. performance on Sunday, June 29th.

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It’s always interesting to be reminded of what you ignore everyday. It’s also interesting to look at how in a world full of revolving technology, humans have not changed. It appears that everyone is searching for their own way to live a “normal” life. As such, there are many comforts in life that allow people to trust the powers at be, but at what point are our own “comforts” detrimental to us? Tim Robbin’s version of George Orwell’s, 1984, currently playing at the REDCAT, is unshakably relevant. Days after seeing the play adapted from George Orwell’s “1984″ by Micheal Gene Sullivan, it continues to creep under my skin.

From the word play, the coercion, and blind faith - you can see how this work was relevant in 1948, is relevant today, and unless something huge happens, for our foreseeable future. For those of you who may not know, 1984 is where the idea “ignorance is strength” or rather “ignorance is bliss” was capitalized. Where “Happiness can exist only in acceptance.” Think you’re not a victim of this? Think again. It is used every single day in our vocabulary.

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With sunny June days and temperate summer nights, enjoy some breezy comic fare at the theater! Read more for information about Mamafied, I’m Just Wild About Harry, The Last Seder, and PuppetUp! Uncensored!

Mamafied - The comic possibilities of exploring parenthood may seem exhausted by two-star 1980’s Arnold Schwarzenegger flicks and poorly-drawn comic strips, but let’s face it, the schadenfreude joy received by witnessing young parents overcome sleep deprivation, behavioral management, and the requisite scatological conflicts never really cease to be funny. A one-woman show, “Mamafied” will surely cover known territory, but who really cares when you know the subject matter will be engaging, endearing, and should, most of all, ring true?

June 20th - July 27th. Fridays & Saturdays: 8:30 P.M. Sundays: 7:30 P.M.

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With sunny June days and temperate summer nights, enjoy some breezy comic fare at the theater! Read more for information about Mamafied, I’m Just Wild About Harry, The Last Seder, and PuppetUp! Uncensored!

Mamafied - The comic possibilities of exploring parenthood may seem exhausted by two-star 1980’s Arnold Schwarzenegger flicks and poorly-drawn comic strips, but let’s face it, the schadenfreude joy received by witnessing young parents overcome sleep deprivation, behavioral management, and the requisite scatological conflicts never really cease to be funny. A one-woman show, “Mamafied” will surely cover known territory, but who really cares when you know the subject matter will be engaging, endearing, and should, most of all, ring true?

June 20th - July 27th. Fridays & Saturdays: 8:30 P.M. Sundays: 7:30 P.M.

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What’s the best way to pound pelvis? In Heat doesn’t answer that question but rather hints that that specific part of the body needs a lot of pounding. That joke is the only common thread between the four, one-acts that comprise this light hearted play. Call me overly passionate or whatever you want to call me but I like a thread of something meaty in a play. Even in comedy there has to be something crackling under the cheap one liners and quirky situations for it to stick with us. This play and it’s all star cast kind of crackle for me. But despite my laughter it was missing something

Carbs features Robin Thomas and Rebecca Klingler. Like the rest of the cast these two have impressive credits. So impressive that I stopped reading their bio’s because it made me feel inadequate as an actor. Call me another name, but I never really understood why one would include a bio in a play they’re doing. I like the feeling of not knowing who someone is outside the distilled experience of watching them in front of my own two eyes. That way as an actor you can never rely on your past work, you’re forced to bring the pain to each and every audience member. Not that these two phoned in their performances, that wasn’t the case at all. I just like figures appearing from the dark for my eyes and ears to feast on without wondering if I saw them in the movie that’s listed in their credits.

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