Morna Martell

Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills has two plays in repertory opening this month.

ONE MOMENT OF FREEDOM – the true story of Bet, an enslaved woman who in 1780 sued her enslaver in court for the basic human right to be free, which led to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. Marion J. Zola is playwright, Linda Alznauer is director, and cast are Catherine Bruhier, Joe Clabby, Kriistal Dickerson, Mandy Fason, Michael Kerr, Dan Leslie, Diane Linder, Michael Robb, Katyana Rocker-Cook, David Westbay and Jeffrey Winner.

Also…

DORIS AND IVY IN THE HOME – Doris, a retired prison guard, has moved to Paradise Village, a retirement home in Alberta, Canada. She soon befriends Ivy, a former world champion skier but, complicating their friendship is dapper Arthur Beech, who has designs on Ivy. This is by Norm Foster (sometimes referred to as the Canadian Neil Simon) at his hilarious best. Directed by Warren Davis, cast includes Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, Melanie MacQueen and David Hunt Stafford.

At Theatre Forty, 241 S. Moreno Drive, in Beverly Hills. Free parking. Tickets: http://theatre40.org

2 PIANOS 4 HANDS – Laguna Beach

There’s laughter and music as two men, or “4 hands,” take us on a journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists. As Ted and Richard trade stories about piano lessons, pushy parents and eccentric teachers, they play everything from Bach to Billy Joel. This musical comedy captures the humor that comes with the path to becoming a pianist, as well as the sense of loss attached when eventually learning to let go of your wildest dreams. Jefferson McDonald is Ted and Matthew McGloin is Richard. At the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach. Tickets (949) 497- 2787 or www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

THE PITCH – Hollywood

Tom Allen is a widower, raising his 15-year-old daughter as a single dad. He has a job selling machine parts over the phone, but soon discovers that this job requires him to misrepresent the products he sells. At home he becomes aware that his daughter Michelle is becoming a woman and his dreams for her future do not match her aspirations. How many compromises can one person make if he wishes to remain a moral man and a good dad? Written by Tom Alper (familiar to TV audiences as Bardelli on ER). Directed by Louie Liberti, the cast includes Alper, Orion McCabe, William Warren, Auden Wyle, Joe Lorenzo, Connor Killeen, Phil Gibbs, Omar Salazar, Ronna Jones and Kennedy Porter. Produced by Alper and Christine Blackburn. This Waterfront Production is at the Madnani Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood. Tickets: http://events.thestagecrafts.com/projects/10014

MOON OVER BUFFALO – Westchester

George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s, are performing in Cyrano de Bergerac and Private Lives with five youthful actors in Buffalo, New York. During George’s dalliance with the pretty ingenue, they receive news that a famous Hollywood director is coming to town to see their matinee. If he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his movie remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Hilarity ensues with numerous mistaken identities, much slapstick humor, and sexual innuendo filling their back-and-forth backstage banter! Directed by Gail Bernardi and produced by Susan Goldman Weisbarth. The cast (in alphabetical order) are Alison Boole, Marty Feldman, Matt Landig, Madeleine Masson, Lyndsay Palmer, Shawn Lefty Plunkett, Perry Shields, and Susan Weisbarth. At Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles. Free Parking. Tickets (310) 645-5156 or online at www.kentwoodplayers.org