If bundling up for a romantic dinner outside on a winter’s night doesn’t grab you this Valentine’s Day, how about a romantic night in? Considering February 14 marks 11 months and a day since you’ve been sequestered with your beloved, that concept could seem ironic. But here are some theatrical events that can raise the bar and help set the mood.
Cornerstone Spreads Its Wings
Cornerstone Artistic Director Michael John Garcés is one of the writers for Long Distance Affair, a live virtual and interactive adventure with intimate pieces from around the world: Lagos, Mumbai, Portland, Beirut, Mexico City and our own Los Angeles. It runs through February 21. Tickets, normally $40, are available here; they’re 50% off with the promo code Cornerstone50.
CTG Hosts the Bard
Center Theatre Group (CTG) shares a pair of Shakespeare love stories from the Stratford Festival, one tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, and one comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost. The former is available on demand through March 8, the latter through April 14. Both are free to CTG subscribers and supporters, otherwise $10.. A free bonus for CTG supporters is an interview with Love’s Labour director John Caird conducted by Kate Burton. Available here.
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet
Keep the romance going with a stream of Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet. The performance, filmed in 2019, features music by Terry Davies based on the original score by Prokofiev. The 90-minute pausable show includes preview remarks from Bourne himself and runs from Feb. 18-21. Tickets are $10.
Tonight’s the Night for Group Rep
Take a chance on an original streaming musical written specifically for our current virtual world. Burbank’s Group Rep presents Tonight’s the Night on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6:00pm and Sunday, Feb. 14 at 5:00pm. A former couple reconnect on Facebook and navigate their way through the thickets of their past relationship, which he remembers one way and she remembers quite differently. On YouTube Live.
The (Gin) Game Is on at Laguna Playhouse
JoBeth Williams and Joe Spano are the aging couple playing gin and developing a friendship in their nursing home in this staged reading of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Gin Game. It runs from Feb. 14-16. Tickets are $20 and are available here.
Weekend Drive-In Movie and Concert
OK, so it’s not theater, but it is live and that makes it special. NAA B-Radio presents two drive-in movies, Valentine’s Day with Julia Roberts and Jamie Foxx (2010) and Wonder Woman 1984 with Gal Gadot and Chris Pine (2020), plus live music and food trucks at 5500 Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills. Gates open at 6:30 on Feb. 12, 13 and 14. Proceeds go to support children of first responders and hospital workers who paid the ultimate price during the pandemic. Tickets are $45 and are available here. Note that you must RSVP to attend this event, bring proof of a negative Covid-19 Test, and you must maintain social distancing with a face mask while outside your vehicle. Use your car’s FM radio, or bring a portable FM radio with you to tune into the audio for the film.
Theatre Notes: Upcoming Events
Beverly Hills’ own Theatre 40 is presenting two short comedies on Zoom at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 24 under the umbrella title of A Risky Evening: “On the Harmfulness of Tobacco” by Anton Chekhov and “Nine Point Eight Meters Per Second Per Second” by Pete Barry. Admission is free.
International City Theatre’s Art
International City Theatre of Long Beach opens its 36th season with a virtual presentation of Art, by, Yasmina Reza, the author of God of Carnage. The play asks the question, what is art, and who gets to decide? On-demand streaming runs Thursdays through Sundays from Thursday, Feb. 18 through March 7 (dark Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays). Tickets are $30 per household and are available for purchase here.
Fountain Theater’s Outdoor Stage
Meanwhile, the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood has received approval from the City of Los Angeles to install a temporary outdoor stage for the purpose of presenting live performances and other events during the pandemic. We’re monitoring the situation and will update you when it’s time to get back to in-person theater, even outside.
