Kristin's List: A Guide to Cultivated Los Angeles

Let the champagne spill forth and the chocolate cake be aplenty for all those at the christening of Skylight Books 1814. Adjacent to the original Skylight Books, the spacious 1814 gives such sections as film, theatre, art, photography and design the luxury to spread out and flourish. In addition to the all-day store discount of 18.14% at both locations, a specially formed staff band, Skylight Juice, will play a wicked brand of improvised “cacophonous soft rock.” In more ways then one Skylight Books dares to go where no independent bookstore has gone before.

OPENING PARTY: 3pm Grand Opening Party
STORE HOURS: 10am-10pm
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: Skylight Books
ADDRESS: 1814 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
WEBSITE: www.skylightbooks.com
ADDITIONAL INFO: 18.14% discount is valid all day at both stores

If you have already seen Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus, it was probably not a “playful clown like” rendition by a Shakespeare company at an outdoor stage in Hollywood at sunset. Directed by Antony Sandoval, the Independent Shakespeare Company’s newest repertory addition uses the physically dynamic techniques learned at Tadashi Suzuki’s acclaimed Japanese theatre group to provide a fresh interpretation of this Renaissance classic. - Jon Love

WHEN: 7:30pm, arrive early
ADMISSION: Free
TICKETS: Reservations needed, visit www.independentshakespeare.com or call (323) 836 0288
WHERE: Barnsdall Park
ADDRESS: 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
PHONE: (323) 836-0288
WEBSITE: www.independentshakespeare.com

Spreading his deck of cards on the table, each of Ricky Jay’s 52 assistants have their own story. At the Geffen’s intimate 96-seat theater, the legendary sleight-of-hand artist manipulates these personalities with brilliant effect. Directed by David Mamet, the Obie-winning production of “Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants” will reacquaint you with Jay’s mastery of deception.

SPECIAL NOTE: As the fastest sellout in off-Broadway history, “Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants” tickets will go fast.

WHEN: check for showtimes
ADMISSION: $75-$115
TICKETS: Call (310) 208-5454, or visit www.ticketmaster.com
WHERE: Geffen Playhouse
ADDRESS: 10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
WEBSITE: www.geffenplayhouse.com
ADDITIONAL INFO: Production runs from July 9-August 26

On the 25th anniversary of Tennessee Williams’ death, three of his recently discovered one-act plays — “Mister Paradise,” “The Palooka,” “And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens” — are being performed at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre. Williams’ lyrical, earthy and poignant voice is once again present as these three gems are brought to the stage.

WHEN: 8pm Fri-Sat, 7:30pm Sun
ADMISSION: $20
TICKETS: www.laglc.org
WHERE: Davidson/Valentini Theatre @ LA Gay & Lesbian Center
ADDRESS: 1125 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90038
PHONE: (323) 860-7300
WEBSITE: www.laglc.org
ADDITIONAL INFO: Show closes July 20

Directed by Tim Robbins, the Actors’ Gang presents its critically acclaimed production of “1984″ for two weeks at REDCAT. More then half a century ago George Orwell imagined a world where freedom of speech was under fire, leaders’ actions went unchecked and war was continually waged against an unseen enemy. Orwell’s “1984″ is a perpetually timely story about our world today.

WHEN: June 17-29, check for showtimes
ADMISSION: $24-$38 General/$18-$32 Students
TICKETS: www.redcat.org
WHERE: REDCAT @ The Walt Disney Concert Hall
ADDRESS: 631 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
PHONE: (213) 237-2800
WEBSITE: www.redcat.org

Focusing on the needs of playwrights to bring original material to life, the Botanicum Seedlings series presents a staged playreading at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. As a response to the diminishing opportunities for playwrights at major theatres, the series invites emerging writers, actors and directors to produce new and in-process works. With a leaning toward provocative, political and socially relevant material, submission of plays and musicals must be done in advance.

WHEN: 11am
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: The Will Greer Theatricum Botanicum
ADDRESS: 1419 N Topanga Cyn Blvd, Topanga, CA
PHONE: (310) 455-2322
WEBSITE: www.theatricum.com/Botseed/index.htm

In a PG night of adult puppetry, REDCAT presents a special live performance not geared towards the young attendees at the concurrent Toy Theater Festival. With pieces by such artists as Alejandro Benitez, Laura Heit and Great Small Works, expect smart maneuvering, brilliant tabletop theatrical epics and the chance to redefine all your pre-existing notions about the boundaries of puppetry.

WHEN: 8:30pm
ADMISSION: $20 General/$16 Students
TICKETS: www.redcat.org
WHERE: REDCAT @ The Walt Disney Concert Hall
ADDRESS: 631 W 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
PHONE: (213) 237-2800
REDCAT WEBSITE: www.redcat.org

CLOSING TODAY: Directed by Neil Pepe, The Center Theatre Group presents two unrelated one-acts by David Mamet. The world premiere of Mamet’s 2008 “Keep Your Pantheon,” is a rousing farce that follows the fortunes and misfortunes of an acting troupe in ancient Rome. The 1971 classic, “The Duck Variations,” is a sly-meditation on the meaning of life between two elderly men watching ducks.

WHEN: 1pm & 6:30pm
ADMISSION: $20-$50
TICKETS: (213) 628-2772 or www.centertheatregroup.org
WHERE: Kirk Douglas Theatre
ADDRESS: 9820 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
WEBSITE: www.centertheatregroup.org
ADDITIONAL INFO: Closing day June 8

John Malkovich and Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra present “Seduction and Despair,” an original multi-media concert. With music by Handel, Vivaldi and Mozart, Malkovich portrays convicted murderer and poet Jack Unterweger, who after being released from prison, continued his killing spree around the world.

Between monologues, Malkovich engages with two sopranos who represent a variety of characters. Each scene and aria symbolizes an emotion — joy, hatred, love, grief, desire and admiration — that illustrates Unterweger’s connections to women.

WHEN: 8pm May 3, 4pm May 4
ADMISSION: $25-$49 General/$12 Students
TICKETS: www.musicaangelica.org
WHERE: Barnum Hall Theatre
ADDRESS: 601 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90405
PHONE: (310) 255-0445
MUSICA ANGELICA WEBSITE: www.musicaangelica.org

Former United Nations weapon inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter candidly analyzes the anti-war movement in his book “Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement.” The Hayworth Theater is presenting a theatrical production by Ritter, which he created to stimulate dialogue about fighting for peace.

As an advocate for an aggressive stance on opposing the war in Iraq, Ritter has said, “The anti-war movement thinks that a strategy is holding a demonstration on a street corner, holding hands, lighting candles and singing Kumbia. That’s not a strategy. That may qualify as a tactic. But a tactic divorced from strategy is just the ‘noise before defeat.”

WHEN: 8pm April 22-23
ADMISSION: $15
TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/32187
WHERE: The Hayworth Theatre
ADDRESS: 2511 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057
PHONE: (213) 389-9860
WEBSITE: www.thehayworth.com

From the imagination of comedian, actor and writer Steve Martin comes the play “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” about a fictional meeting between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein at a Parisian bar in the early 1900s. Each on the verge of major breakthroughs, the two talents share a rarefied sense of beauty and debate the nature of genius.

Written by Steve Martin and directed by William Keeler, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” stars Paul Provenza who returns to the Rubicon stage, reprising the role he made famous off-Broadway.

WHEN: 2pm & 7pm Wed, 8pm Thur-Fri, 2pm & 8pm Sat, 2pm Sun
ADMISSION: $29-$52
TICKETS: Box office (805) 667-2900, or visit www.brownpapertickets.com
WHERE: Rubicon Theatre
ADDRESS: 1006 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
WEBSITE: www.rubicontheatre.org
ADDITIONAL INFO: Play closes April 27

Join Fake Radio for a performance of the 1943 radio broadcast of Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon.” Using the original radio script, the troupe presents a witty and playful recreation of a live radio show, including period ad sponsors, breaking news, and sound effects.

Fake Radio is a troupe of actors, and comedians, who stand before microphones, with scripts in hand, and bring new life to the radio classics of the 1940s and 1950s.

WHEN: 7:00pm
ADMISSION: $15 General Admission
TICKETS: Call (877) 460-9774, or visit www.fakeradio.net
WHERE: The Fake Gallery
ADDRESS: 4319 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
WEBSITE: www.fakeradio.net

The Geffen Playhouse presents Neil LaBute’s “Some Girl(s),” which stars Mark Feuerstein as the ambiguous romantic lead, Guy, who before getting married decides to make amends with some girls he loved and left.

Traveling between non-descript hotel rooms in various cities, Guy tries to reconcile his past with the high school sweetheart that he dumped just before prom night in Seattle, the savvy yet scarred older woman in Boston, the free-spirited sexual plaything in Chicago, and the woman he really loved in Los Angeles.

Despite Guy’s attempts to right wrongs with his old flames, he keeps getting burned, and as often is the case, LaBute’s men refuse to learn from experience.

WHEN: 7:30pm
TICKET SPECIAL: Mention code ACT25 and get 2 tickets for $25, call box office at (310) 208-5454 for special promotion
REGULAR ADMISSION: $74 Fri/Sat evenings, $64 all other shows
TICKETS: Call (310) 208-5454, or visit www.ticketmaster.com
WHERE: Geffen Playhouse
ADDRESS: 10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
WEBSITE: www.geffenplayhouse.com
ADDITIONAL INFO: The play closes March 16, 2008

The Wooster Group will be performing their experimental multimedia incarnation of “Hamlet” from January 30-February 10 at Redcat.

They channel the ghost of Richard Burton’s legendary 1964 Broadway version of “Hamlet”—a production that was recorded from 17 camera angles, and edited into a film. The film wanted to bring a live theatrical experience to thousands of viewers through a new form called “Theatrofilm.”

The Wooster Group’s brain-twisting version, as directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, works to reverse that process, reconstructing a speculative theater piece from the fragmentary evidence of the edited film. LeCompte is like an archeologist inferring an improbable temple from a collection of ruins.

WHEN: 8:30pm
ADMISSION: $50 General Admission, purchase tickets in advance
WHERE: REDCAT
ADDRESS: 631 W. 2nd Street @ The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90012
PHONE: (213) 237-2800
CONTACT: www.redcat.org
ADDITIONAL INFO: “Hamlet” runs from January 30 thru February 10