George Furth, a Tony-award winning playwright and the man behind the books for "Company," the 1970 Broadway musical as well as "Merrily We Roll Along," died yesterday in Santa Monica for reasons yet to be announced. Furth worked with Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the music and lyrics for the two musicals, on the short lived murder mystery "Getting Away With Murder" in 1996. He also wrote the play "Twigs." As an actor, Furth worked on......

There’s something for everyone in LA theatre scene this week: love, families and a little blood sucking...and if you don't like paying for your tickets but want to see what LA theatre is all about, then check out the LA Stage Alliance's Free Night of Theatre 2007. The Last Schwartz In this poignant comedy, the Schwartz siblings have gathered in their childhood family home for the one-year anniversary of their father's death. Ya gotta love......

You want a little more variety in your life? How about checking out the diverse theater scene around town? Here are just five of the shows opening this weekend: Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical Yes, you read that right. The ’70s porn classic comes to the stage at the Key Club. Key Club. 9039 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-274-5800. Tickets are $35-$55. Opens tonight at 8 pm. Runs Thursdays in August. Godislav A young......

Here are the five productions opening this weekend that are currently piquing LAist’s interest: 7 Glimpses of Utopia Tonight only, the Skid Row-based theater group LAPD (Los Angeles Poverty Department) presents a picture of utopian possibilities in downtown L.A. LAPD'ers and others were asked to identify and invite someone they knew who was doing something "laudable, and important, something that represents the best of the current and future downtown." National Center for the Preservation......

One Man: No War No War No War No War! A Crowd of Kids enters, watches the Man who goes from chanting to ranting Teacher (Crowd Leader): Look closely and listen up, kids. This is an antiwar protester. 1st Kid: Ancient History. 2nd Kid: Old School. 3rd Kid: Heavy. The Crowd watches the Protester as he works himself into a lather, repeating: "No War!" in as many different ways and with as much passion,......

We would never say our excitment or coverage of the yearlong 365 Days/365 Plays festival is exhaustive (after all, we have been to 17 of the 18 weeks so far, that equals too 119 plays seen, experienced, enjoyed, enthralled upon, etc). 1. It's Free, duh. 2. You are taking part in an international festival (plays are concurrently happening all over the states, including a few across the seas). 3. Playwright, recipient of the MacArthur......

Last night's 365 Days/365 Plays at the Bootleg Theatre was one of those nights full of intoxicated magnetism. About a hundred or so people pack rat-ed into the theatre lobby to begin the first play... in the dark. To say the least, it was thrilling, as the whole night was. Tonight's 10:30 p.m. performance of 365 will be their last for this week's set of plays. Like Bootleg, another troupe to keep tabs with......

Maybe it will be your New Year's resolution: see more live theatre. Maybe you can get a head start with some free theatre during Weeks 6 through 8 in the 52-week festival: Week 6: Greenway Arts Alliance December 24 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Outside the Greenway Court Theatre at the Melrose Trading Post (8391 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048) www.greenwayarts.org Week 7: The Chance Theater Tuesday, December 26 at......

I am that, you are that, all this is that, and thats all there is. From Remember Who You Are It's week 5 and LA's only yearlong festival has finally made it northward into Burbank at the Alliance Repertory Company, a small 30-something seat theatre in the Magnolia Park neighborhood. If you've gone to 365 before, you may have noticed a few plays repeat themselves every week. One of a man standing in the wind,......

In our continuing yearlong coverage of 365 Days/365 Plays, we present you with weeks two through four: Week 2: The Open Fist Theatre Company Tuesday, November 21 at 7:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Friday, November 24 at 10:45 p.m. Saturday, November 25 at 6:45 p.m. Week 3: Playwrights’ Arena Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 8 p.m. Lutheran Church of the Master, 10931 Santa Monica, Los Angeles Week 4: The Elephant Asylum Theatre December 5 -......

Excerpt from Day 2 (Nov. 16): Father Comes Home From The Wars (Part 1) Father: Hi honey, Im home. Mother: Yr home. Father: Yes. Mother: I wasnt expecting you. Ever. Father: Should I go back out and come back in again? Mother: Please. We're going to say this right now and get it over with: get off your arses and participate in this yearlong national theatre festival. which is being held simultaneously around the......

On 13 November, 2002, I had this silly idea that I would write a play every day for a year. It would be about being present and being committed to the artistic process every single day, regardless of the ‘weather.’ It became a daily meditation, a daily prayer celebrating the rich and strange process of a writing life ~ Suzan-Lori Parks Hey, LAist writes everyday too. How strange that we share this habit with......