The Case Against Happiness: A One-Man Courtroom Comedy, enjoy an evening of true, funny stories about New York, being Jewish, family, and the power of a bowl of cream of Broccoli soup. Sundays at 7 p.m. through Oct. 2. $18 all seats. Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage, 1211 Fourth Street. 310.394.9779 ext. 1, santamonicaplayhouse.com
Equus, a play about a young man’s unrelenting passion and devotion to that which modern society cannot comprehend or allow. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Oct. 9. Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard Reserved seats $18 ($15 students/seniors), morgan-wixson.org, 310.828.7519
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, a limited engagement through Oct. 2. Friday and Saturday 8 p.m.; Sunday 3 p.m. This audience friendly production consists of eight family members from three generations who gather to clean out their grandmother’s attic. $30. MET Theatre 1089 N. Oxford Ave, Hollywood. 323.960.7740
Hostages, a two-act drama about gender and power in the work place. $10. Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. through Oct. 2. Ruskin Group Studio Theater. 3000 Airport Avenue. 310.397.3244, ruskingrouptheatre.com
Dreams In Variation, a stunning musical revue with hit songs from Wicked, Aida, The Producers, Next To Normal, Newsies, and so much more. Friday and Saturday 8 p.m.; Sunday 3 p.m. through Oct. 16. The Hudson Backstage Theatre. 1514 N. Gardner Street, Los Angeles. 323.960.7779
Rabbit Hole, a play that tells the story of a couple trying to cope with the recent death of their child. Runs through Oct. 2 Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m.; Sundays 2 p.m. Theatre Palisades’ Pierson Playhouse. 941 Temescal Canyon Dr., Pacific Palisades. 310.454.1970, theatrepalisades.org
Sylvia, a comedy by A.R. Gurney, directed by Gary Imhoff, extended through Dec. 4, $34.99, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., 5 p.m. on Sundays, Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main Street, 310.392.7327, edgemarcenter.org
Dolls! Not Your Usual Love Story, a feel-good hit of the summer, a cheerfully mysterious, unexpectedly amorous musical unveiling of the remarkable secret life of the dolls we left behind. Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 6:30 p.m., through Sept. 25. General admission $26. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth Street, 310.394.9779 ext. 1, santamonicaplayhouse.com
Reprise Theatre Company, will present its production of the classic American musical “Cabaret,” which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays through Sept. 25 at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans. Tuesday through Thursday Evenings – $73.00, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, (all performances) – $78. Student/Senior rush $20, 15 minutes before show time. reprise.org, 310.825.2101