Diablo Actors' Ensemble opened "6 Rms Riv Vu" last week with a cast of local favorites. Written by Bob Randall, this urban romantic comedy derives its title from the shorthand used by realtors in classified advertising.

A six-room apartment on Manhattan's Riverside Drive with a view of the Hudson River sets the stage for romance as two strangers (Matt Lai and Beth Bermis) find themselves locked in the apartment by the hapless building superintendent (Jerry Motta). Although both are happily married to others (portrayed by Bill Schneider and Rhonda Taylor), they discover a mutual attraction as they share the details of their lives.

Although I haven't had an opportunity to see the show yet, I can't imagine it not being a fun, entertaining evening with this more than capable cast. "6 Rms Riv Vu" runs weekends through Sept. 1, at Diablo Actors' Ensemble Theatre, 1345 Locust St., Walnut Creek. Tickets may be ordered online at www.diabloactors.com.

DAE may be loosing its lovely, intimate theater space on Locust Street. The building, which houses the theater and a now-closed frame shop, is being sold. While the company hopes to continue in this space, it all depends upon the new owner. In the meantime, the company is on the lookout for available alternative spaces.

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    Nancy Carlin has long been a performer I love to watch on stage. I never thought, however, that I would

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    see her convincingly and nonstereotypically portray an ape. But she does with an intelligent sensitivity in Shotgun Players production of "Precious Little" playing through Sept. 16, at Berkeley's Ashby Stage.

    The equally talented Zehra Berkman and Rami Margron join Carlin, who plays a total of four characters in Madeleine George's intriguing play. While Berkman anchors the play as Brodie, Margron also portrays a plethora of contrasting characters, including a mother and son arguing with one another and a group of young students on a field trip to the zoo.

    George uses Brodie, a brilliant yet driven linguist, to show how quickly even the most controlled life can be thrown into chaos. After achieving success in her career field, Brodie decides she now has time to have a child.

    She carefully selects an appropriate sperm donor only to find out through amniocentesis that she may give birth to a special-needs child. Her world turns upside down as she struggles with one of the toughest decisions she'll ever make only to discover the power of nonverbal communication.

    Director Marissa Wolf fearlessly explores the playwright's use of language and how it shapes our relationships, culture and thinking processes with the help of Martin Flynn's faux industrial set and Stephanie Buchner's transformative lighting.

    For tickets to this compelling work (90 minutes with no intermission), call 510-841-6500 or go to www.shotgunplayers.org.

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    Bay Area Stages presents "Oklahoma" Sept. 7—23, at the Bay Terrace Theatre, 51 Daniels Ave. in Vallejo. Director Jeff Lowe promises a "bold new design that builds on the show's raw power and emotion to create a fresh experience."

    The company is also holding auditions for "Scrooge! The Musical" at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Performers should prepare one song, bring sheet music and be prepared to read from the script. Rehearsals begin Oct. 8 with performances scheduled Nov. 30—Dec. 16.

    For tickets to "Oklahoma" or information on auditions for "Scrooge," call 707-561-1882 or go to www.bayareastage.org.

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    Contra Costa Children's Chorus will hold placement auditions from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 4, and 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5, at Lafayette's Our Savior's Lutheran Church. For more information, go to www.childrenschorus.org.

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    Just through the Caldecott Tunnel, Berkeley Rep presents the West Coast premiere of the bilingual Broadway comedy "Chinglish," running now through Oct. 7.

    Written by David Henry Hwang ("M. Butterfly" and "FOB"), the play is co-produced with South Coast Rep. The comedy of cross-cultural errors will travel to Hong Kong following its East Bay run.

    "I'm so excited we're now bringing this play to its natural home on the West Coast, which has long understood the often hilarious mishaps that can occur when East and West meet," says Hwang.

    Tickets are selling fast, so if you're interested, call 510-647-2949 or go to www.berkeleyrep.org.

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    Pop culture and political correctness become satirical fodder for Kristoffer Diaz's play, "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity," playing at Berkeley's Aurora Theatre through Sept. 30.

    Set in the world of professional wrestling, the show received the 2011 Obie Award for Best New American Play and was a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. For tickets, call 510-843-4822 or go to www.auroratheatre.org.

    Contact Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com.