By Kai Bisby

Take It Off

On the drag front, those of you who have had the pleasure of witnessing the great Bridgette of Madison County perform live, now have the opportunity to see her perform again, but this time she breaks the golden rule of drag. I say this because the person behind the persona, Mr. Micah McCain, will be taking the stage instead of Bridgette in his upcoming show, Unshaven, opening on June 16 at The Cavern Club Theatre at Casita Del Campo (1920 Hyperion Ave). This is a very exciting prospect for any drag lover: to see the wig, lipstick, and eye shadow come off leaving the pure talent that lies beneath. Most don't dare and I congratulate Mr. McCain for taking drag to a whole new level. Call it the Un-Drag Show! For tickets and information, call (323) 969-2530.

Move Over Hedwig

Everyone and their mother (and their mother's mother) has done a one-man show. I know because I have seen my share of this phenom and had really thought I might eat my young to save myself from seeing another. But never so far in my life as a maven of the theater have I seen a one-man show about a German transvestite who survives the turmoil of both the Nazis and Communists, all told through over 40 charactersÑand I am not talking about Hedwig or her angry inch. I am talking about the critically acclaimed I Am My Own Wife, running for a limited engagement at the Geffen Playhouse's Wadsworth Theatre (11301 Wilshire Blvd.) June 14-July 10. Jefferson Mays will be resurrecting the role(s) that won him the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor, the show the Tony Award for Best Play, and the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Based on the true story, and inspired by interviews conducted by playwright Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife tells the tale of the true-life figure Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Among the many characters, Mays will portray the controversial figure herself, along with the American writer who becomes intrigued by her. Incidentally, the Geffen Playhouse was inaugurated 10 years ago with Doug Wright's successful subversive drama, Quills. Welcome back Mr. Wright! For tickets and information, call (213) 365-3500.

Get The Message

Many still associate Marlo Thomas with the carefree jet black-flipped hair persona of her That Girl character, Anne Marie. But Thomas' 1970s album and television program, Free To Be You and Me, is also a bona-fide classic. Now comes an original adaptation in the world premiere musical Atalanta that opens June 4 at the Powerhouse Theatre (3116 Second St.). Atalanta is that age-old inspirational tale of standing up for who you are and making your dreams come true. Before you stick your playbill down your throat, this farce is appropriately played out as a fairy tale. Atalanta is the princess of a small and peaceful kingdom. Everyone admires her because she can build and fix things and take care of herself. The King thinks she is quite a catch and the men start lining up. However, she has other plans and the story unfolds into a tale of being strong enough to be yourself, which is whoever you want to be! The message is clear and to the point and forever timeless: Just be yourself and love it! Now go see the show before I start singing "Kumbaya." For tickets and information, call (310) 396-3680.