theater + STAGE

Ventura County

"agatha christie takes manhattan": In this original play, mystery writer Agatha Christie is hired to direct a new whodunit for the Broadway theatre, but is interrupted by murder and a real whodunit of her own. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 10, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $16-$20. 495-3715.

"blue/orange": Joe Penhall's comedy is about an enigmatic patient in a London psychiatric hospital who claims to be the son of an African dictator. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, Petit Playhouse, 730 South B St., Oxnard. $17 general admission, $15 seniors and students. 483-5118; http://www.elitetheatre.org.

"fuddy meers": David Lindsay-Abaire's Obie Award-winning comedy is about an amnesiac who is kidnapped and must overcome her fractured memory. 8 p.m. April 25-26 and 2 p.m. April 27, Theater 150, 316 E. Matilija St., Ojai. $10-$50. 646-4300; http://www.theater150.org.

"the full monty": This musical comedy is about six financially strapped steelworkers-turned-male-strippers from Buffalo, N.Y. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. $20 adults, $16 seniors and students. 583-7900; http://www.simi-arts.org.

"the importance of being earnest": Oscar Wilde's comedic love story is about two men who pretend to be "Earnest." 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through May 18, Camarillo Community Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive. $17 general admission, $13 seniors and students, $8 children 12 and younger. 388-5716.

IMPROV COMEDY: Ongoing: The Ventura Improv Company presents improvisational comedy shows from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Not recommended for children younger than 12. Livery Theater, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura. $10. 643-5701; http://www.liverytheatre.org.

"la fille du régiment" simulcast: The New York Metropolitan Opera's live presentation of Donizetti's opera will be simulcast at the Century 16 movie theater in Ventura. 10:30 a.m. April 26 and noon April 27, 2875 Elba St. 644-7331.

"LA MORDIDA (THE BRIBE)": Teatro de las Americas presents this three-act play by Bolivian playwright Roberto Cuevas Ramirez about a time in Bolivia when public servants could not resist bribes. In Spanish with projected English translations. 8 p.m. April 25-26 and 5 p.m. April 27 at Café on A, 438 South A St., Oxnard. $10. 485-5445, ext. 1.

"nude with pineapple": This comedy by Fulton Oursler and Aubrey Kennedy is about a married couple who fail to see eye to eye and the love triangle that ensues. 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through May 10, with a 7 p.m. show May 4, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $10. 495-3715.

"ohio": California Lutheran University's theater arts department presents this original musical based on the shooting of four students at Kent State in 1970 and the protest movement against the Vietnam War. 8 p.m. May 1-3 and 2 p.m. May 4, Preus-Brandt Forum, CLU, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. $10; free for CLU students. 493-3415; http://www.callutheran.edu.

"on golden pond": The Stage Door Theatre presents this love story about an elderly couple who return to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th time. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, through May 10, with a 2 p.m. matinee April 27. 28311 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills. $12-$15. 818-889-5209.

THe original ONE-acts: Moorpark College presents two slates of original plays written, directed, acted and designed by students. Evening A: 7:30 p.m. April 25. Evening B: 7:30 p.m. April 24 and 26. Studio Theatre, Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark. $8 for one evening, $12 for both. 378-1568; http://www.moorparkcollege.edu.

"Picasso at the lapin Agile": The Rubicon Theatre Company presents Steve Martin's award-winning comedy about an imagined chance meeting between painter Pablo Picasso and scientist Albert Einstein at the Lapin Agile bar in Paris. 8 p.m. April 24-25, 2 and 8 p.m. April 26 and 2 p.m. April 27, Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. $29-$52. 667-2900; http://www.rubicontheatre.org.

"THING TO THING TO THING": This one-woman show by Lynette Louise is the story of her 20-year search for ways to help her autistic children become independent adults. 7 p.m. Thursdays, through May 1, Scherr Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $30; adults with disabilities and parents of autistic children who bring a photo of their child will be admitted free. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. Information: 449-2787.

"the underpants": Ventura College's theater department presents this 1910 Carl Sternheim social comedy adapted for modern audiences by Steve Martin. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays, through May 4, Ventura College Theater, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura. $9 general admission, $7 seniors and students. 654-6392; http://www.venturacollege.edu.

"visiting mr. green": The Santa Paula Theater Center presents this drama by Jeff Baron about a devout Jewish widower and a young hotshot American Express executive who can't stand each other. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, through May 25, 125 S. Seventh St., Santa Paula. $18 general admission, $15 seniors and students, $12 children 12 and younger. 525-4645.

Up north

"the pillowman": This award-winning play by Martin McDonagh is about a writer in a totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his stories and their similarities to a series of child murders. 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, through May 3, Center Stage Theater, 715 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara. $25 general admission, $20 students. 963-0408; http://www.centerstagetheater.org.

Down south

"my fair lady": Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O'Hare star in Lerner and Loewe's classic musical about linguistics professor Henry Higgins and his attempts to transform flower seller Eliza Doolittle into a lady. Through April 27, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. $20. 213-628-2772; http://www.centertheatregroup.org.

"WICKED": Stephen Schwartz's mega-popular Broadway musical is about what happened in Oz before Dorothy dropped in. Through Jan. 11, Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. $27.50-$175. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

classical

music + dance

Ventura County

westlake chamber ensemble: The Westlake Village Music Society Concert Series continues with a spring concert featuring the chamber group. 7:30 p.m. April 25, United Methodist Church, 1049 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. $10 general admission, $8 seniors, $5 students. 497-7884.

peter fletcher: The award-winning classical guitarist will play selections by Bach, Handel, Weiss, Reusner and others. 10 a.m. April 26, Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A St., Oxnard. Free. 385-7532.

classical music concert: Harpist Alison Bjorkedal and flutist Boglarka Kiss will perform. 2 p.m. April 27, Mount Cross Lutheran Church, 102 Camino Esplendido, Camarillo. $15 donation. 484-2054.

chamber music concert: Amy Hagen, Robert Krupnick, Yue Deng, Kirsten Monke and Claudia Kiser will perform an all-Dvorák concert. 2 p.m. April 27, Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. $10 general admission, $8 Art Center members and students. 640-8327; http://www.ojaiartcenter.org.

new west symphony: The final concert of the 2007-08 season will feature Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony No. 9 and Bruckner's "Te Deum." 8 p.m. May 1 at Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard; and 8 p.m. May 3 at Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $25-$95. 866-776-8400; http://www.newwestsymphony.org.

culture

+ MORE

Ventura County

archana 08: The India Friends Association presents a cultural program that will begin with dinner in the park and move indoors for a performance with music, colorful costumes, drama and dance. 5 p.m. April 26, Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $20-$75. 818-706-3812; http://www.indiafriendsassociation.org.

"break! the urban funk spectacular": Break dancers, live DJs and master percussionists trace the history of hip-hop dancing over the past 30 years. 2:30 p.m. April 27 at Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; and 8 p.m. April 25 at Granada Theater, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. $25-$55. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

"out of this world": The Musical Theatre Guild presents a concert of Broadway musical numbers. 3 p.m. April 27, Scherr Forum Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $39. Ticketmaster, 583-8700 or http://www.ticketmaster.com. Information: 449-2787.

kids'

stuff

Ventura County

"fractured fables": This comedic collection of fables was adapted for the stage from Asian and Middle Eastern folk tales. 1 p.m. Saturdays, through June 7, Theater 150, 316 E. Matilija St., Ojai. $10 adults, $7 teens and children. 646-4300; http://www.theater150.org.

greg & steve: The duo, who mix music with movement, learning and fun, perform as part of the Conejo Valley Children's Concert Series . 8 p.m. April 29, Kavli Theatre, Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $8. 338-3021.

auditions

+ casting

"the philadelphia story": The Santa Paula Theater Center will hold auditions for the classic Philip Barry comedy from 2 to 5 p.m. April 26 and 7 to 9 p.m. April 27. No appointment necessary. For more information, call Leslie Nichols at 525-9840.

"social security": Conejo Players Theatre will hold auditions for this Andrew Bergman comedy about New York art dealers at 7 p.m. April 27 and 7:30 p.m. April 28-29. No appointment necessary. For more information, call David Banuelos at 890-3053.

youth summer program auditions: The Rubicon Theatre Company announces auditions for its 2008 Youth Summer Program. Auditions for "Footloose," for ages 14 to 22, will be held April 26-27. Visit http://www.rubicontheatre.org or call Brian McDonald at 667-2912, ext. 234.