Pompeii: A Staged Reading at Theatre 40

Pompeii is a staged reading of a new comedy, and the volcano in the title is mostly a metaphor. Written by Christopher Franciosa and directed by Randy Brenner, it plays one night only at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. If you are building a list of upcoming events Los Angeles theater fans can actually afford, this one costs about the price of a coffee and a pastry.

When: Monday, November 16, 2026, 7:00 PM Where: Theatre 40, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills Price: $10 at the door

What the play is about

The play follows a typical Westside L.A. family working through typical problems. In this house, that means race riots, a run for the Senate, white privilege, a liver transplant and feng shui, all in the same evening. The writer bills it plainly as a comedy, which tells you the tone: the family is stretched thin, and the laughs come from how seriously everyone takes each crisis.

A staged reading is different from a full production. The actors work from scripts, with little or no set, so the focus lands on the writing, the timing and the performances. That makes it a good fit for a new play. You hear the words as the playwright wrote them, and the room often feels closer and more informal than a standard run.

Who is in it

The cast includes Marissa Burgoyne, Christopher Franciosa, Lilli Passero, Meagan Prahl, John Shartzer and Kristin Towers-Rowles. Franciosa is both the playwright and a member of the cast, so you may see the author in the room reading his own lines. Randy Brenner directs.

Planning your night

The event listing says tickets are $10 at the door, with no online ticket sales. The event poster calls it a suggested donation, so bring cash or a card and plan to arrive a little early. The listing does not give a door time, an age limit or parking details, so check with Theatre 40 through its own site if you need them.

Theatre 40 sits on S. Moreno Dr. in Beverly Hills, a short drive from the center of the Westside. The poster lists the ZIP as 90212. The reading is set for a Monday evening, with the listing showing a 7:00 PM start and an approximate 9:00 PM finish.

Readings like this are one of the quieter ways to catch new work before it goes anywhere else. If you like small rooms and new writing, it belongs on your list of things happening in Los Angeles this month. You can browse more shows in the arts and culture section.