NewsWire?

Santa Monica Playhouse Receives Grant

Cammy Truong, director of education for the Santa Monica Playhouse, has announced that the theatre's Diversity-in-Education Program was awarded a grant from the city of Santa Monica's Community Arts Grant Program. The funds will help support the company's Theatre Field Trip program for the 2004-05 school year. Under the program, students in the Santa Monica?Malibu United School District will participate in interactive professional musical productions, post-show discussions, language arts workshops, and hands-on experience in theatre design crafts. Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. (310) 394-9779, ext. 623.

Off the Wire?

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?Wordtheatre and Dani Klein present a star-studded reading of Life After Birth: Musings on Parenthood. Actors participating are Enrico Colantoni, Gary Dourdan, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, Lucinda Jenney, Craig Shoemaker, Margaret Smith, and Klein. Readings of original stories about the life-changing moments of being a parent are preceded by a buffet dinner. M Bar, 1253 Vine St., L.A. Sat. 7 p.m. Dec. 4. www.wordtheatre.com. (310) 398-9999, ext. 1?

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts launches a new series for young audiences with an appearance by Red Grammer, popular children's performer. This tenor sings and plays the guitar, featuring songs tailored for young audiences. Grammer has starred in a concert special for the Disney Channel, and has made guest appearances on Nickel-odeon, Fox's Kid's Club, and NBC's Today Show. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Sun. Dec. 5. 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. $8. www.lamiradatheatre.com. (562) 944-9801?

An encore performance is scheduled for Jonna Tomases' autobiographical solo play, Jonna's Body, Please Hold, nominated for two 2004 Ovation Awards. The story of Tomases' battle against cancer, directed by Randy Schulman, played last year at the Odyssey Theatre. ACME Theatre, 135 N. La Brea Ave., L.A. Tue. 8 p.m. Dec. 7. $10-15. www.jonnasbody .com?

L.A. Theatre Works presents a new adaptation of the classic Ben Hecht/ Charles MacArthur screwball comedy Twentieth Century, to be recorded for subsequent radio broadcasts. Ken Ludwig has penned a new adaptation of the raucous 1930s comedy. This is part of the ongoing The Play's the Thing series. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sun. 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10 & 12. $20-45. www.latw.org. (310) 827-0889?

UCLA Live presents a standup comedy show, starring underground filmmaker John Waters, master of the cult film. A John Waters Christmas features Waters and his guests Marga Gomez, Extreme Elvis, and lesbian folksinger Phranc. This is part of UCLA Live's Spoken Word series. Royce Hall, UCLA campus. Thu. 8 p.m. Dec. 9. $15-40. For meet-and-greet pre-show, at 6:30 p.m., add $35. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster outlets and at www.uclalive.org?

Broderick Miller's musical comedy The Community Producers is offered by the Silverlake Children's Theatre Group. It's about a group of volunteers who have spent too many years doing children's plays. With an unofficial nod to Mel Brooks, the volunteers decide to produce the most tasteless and offensive children's show possible so they will be fired. Assistance League Playhouse, 1367 N. St. Andrews Pl., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Dec. 10-12. $10. (323) 634-2595.

?Les Spindle