By Christopher Cappiello

Performers in the Parlor at the Pantages

This fall the Actors' Fund of America is presenting a series of cozy cabaret performances by some well-known artists in the lobby of the landmark Pantages Theatre. If you've ever sat in the cheap seats in the Pantages' auditorium, you know it's a vast venue. The foyer is a more intimate setting, where audiences will enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, an up-close-and-personal show, and a post-performance dessert reception.

First on the bill for this benefit concert series is a Sept. 25 performance by Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, Broadway's most reliable musical leading man in the last decade. In 1998 he received his first Tony nomination for his impressive turn as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime. He went on to win just about every award out there, including a Tony, for the 1999 Broadway revival of Kiss Me Kate, cementing his reputation as the strongest leading man of his generation. Mitchell will no doubt treat the audience to selections from his new self-titled CD, that includes songs from such legendary composers as Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Cy Coleman and Stephen Sondheim.

Later in the fall, Peter Gallagher (Broadway's Guys and Dolls and TV's The OC) performs on Oct. 16, and Valarie Pettiford (The Wiz, The Cotton Club, and UPN's Half and Half), takes over the lobby on Dec. 4.

The Actors' Fund Concert Series takes place Sept. 25, Oct. 16 and Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd. Tickets are $150 per show or $375 for all three. For tickets and information, call (323) 933-9244 ext. 54, or visit www.actorsfund.org.

Alec Mapa's New Solo Show at the Renberg

Alec Mapa knows how to hold the stage by himself. A few years ago, before the Center Theater Group took over the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Mapa performed two original, autobiographical solo shows—Drama and I Remember Mapa—in rotating rep at the Ivy Substation as part of CTG's new works series. He proved himself an engaging, versatile and hilarious performer. For one weekend only, he takes his latest work, An Evening with Alec Mapa, to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Renberg Theatre Sept. 29-30.

Although best-known now for his hilarious turn as the bitter and underappreciated secretary on UPN's Half and Half, Mapa first came to fame for replacing B.D. Wong in the original Broadway production of M. Butterfly. He has also appeared on dozens of TV shows and won an L.A. Drama Critics Award, an Ovation Award and special citations from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and L.A.'s Center for his portrayals of openly gay characters.

An Evening with Alec Mapa runs Sept. 29-30 at the Renberg Theatre at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood. For tickets ($20) and information, call (323) 860-7300 or visit www.lagaycenter.org/boxoffice.

Brian Evans Starts Weekly Derby Gig

The old Hollywood cliché for actors is that “What I really want to do is direct.” In the case of former child actor Brian Evans, that would be adapted to, “What I really want to do is croon.” After a successful television and film career, Evans launched his singing career with a CD of standards recorded to karaoke backing tracks. When the homemade disc climbed to No. 1 on Canada's HMV Music charts for independent musicians, he knew he was off and running.

While in Los Angeles recording his latest album, Evans sets up shop at the legendary Derby for weekly gigs starting Sept. 7. The Massachusetts native will croon classics as well as his reinterpretations of such '80s faves as “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Jump” every Thursday at 9 p.m. For tickets and information, call (323) 663-8979 or learn more about Evans at www.brianevans.com.