What if Frankenstein and Dr. Seuss met Marilyn Monroe?

Clayton Theatre Company opens its 8th season with the East Bay premiere of “The Mel Brooks’ Musical Young Frankenstein,” starring Chip Renner in the title role.

With its silliness, sexual innuendo and physical comedy, this electrifying adaptation runs through Nov. 2. 925-222-9106 or claytontheatrecompany.com.

Imagine if Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein met for one night only in a hotel room. What would they talk about? And what if they were interrupted by the two Joes (McCarthy and DiMaggio)?

“Insignificance” is the intriguing, hilarious and heartbreaking story of four icons of American history meeting in one night, in one hotel room in New York City. Read The Pioneer review of “Insignificance.”

Shellie nominated actress Jennifer Brown Peabody stars as Marilyn Monroe, alongside Jerry Motta, Randy Anger and Ryan Terry. The show is directed by Edwin Peabody, Onstage’s new associate artistic director. The play opens tonight and runs through Oct. 26 at the Campbell Theater in Martinez. 925-350-9970 or campbelltheater.com.

Lisa Drummond directs Diablo Valley College Theatre’s “Seussical, the Musical” at the Performing Arts Center, opening tonight and running through Nov. 3. The musical is a celebration of the classic characters created by Dr. Seuss. 925-969-2358 or dvcdrama.net.

Center REPertory Company opens tonight with “Native Gardens,” a hilarious new comedy of good intentions and bad manners by Karen Zacarías and directed by Michael Butler. This hot comedy is the place where gardens and cultures clash, turning friendly neighbors into feuding with good intentions, bad manners and humor. It runs through Nov. 16 at the Lesher Center. 925-943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.

There’s one night left to catch Town Hall Theatre’s “The Legend of Georgia McBride.” Andrew Mondello stars in this gender-bending, campy and heartfelt celebration of divas. Cindy Goldfield directs the comedy about a young Elvis impersonator who transforms himself into a drag queen. It plays through Oct. 19 in Lafayette. 925-283-1557 or townhalltheatre.com.

Contra Costa Musical Theatre brings us an entertaining story of two drag queens and a transgender woman who contract to perform at a resort town in a remote Australian desert in “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical.” It’s a flamboyant, funny, heart-warming and disco-fueled story of self-discovery, sassiness and acceptance. The score features a hit parade of dance floor favorites. This campy musical runs through Nov. 9 in Walnut Creek. 925-943-SHOW or lesherartscenter.org.

Role Players Ensemble Theatre opens “Ripcord” this weekend at the Village Theatre in Danville. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, “Ripcord” features two senior citizen roommates who make a bet– agreeing that the winner can force the other one out of the retirement home and gain a private room. It plays through Nov. 3. roleplayersensemble.com or 925-820-1278.

The sun comes out tomorrow for Pittsburg Community Theatre, which opens the classic musical “Annie” on Nov. 9. It’s the story of a plucky orphan on a mission to find her parents in 1930s New York City.

Annie escapes the orphanages and experiences adventure in the Big Apple beyond her wildest dreams. Performances are Nov. 9-24 at the California Theatre. 925-427-1611 or pittsburgcaliforniatheatre.com.

Ghostlight Theatre Company is requesting 10-minute plays from local writers for its One-Act Festival, March 27-29 at the Brentwood Community Center. Deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The plays must be original, unpublished works. They will need minimal set and prop requirements and will be performed in the round. Contact Helen Dixon at helen@ghostlightte.org.

Randall Nott’s final bow

Playwright, director, photographer, lighting designer and actor Randall Nott has gone to that big theater to take his final bow in the sky. A celebration of life will be held at the Martinez Campbell Theater in November.

A friend to many, he was a founding member of the Onstage Repertory Company – his passion for more than 40 years. He celebrated his 60th birthday in September.

I had the opportunity of working with him many time through the two decades I knew him. I shared the stage last year with Randy in “You Can’t Take It With You” and in “On Golden Pond” in 2009. I also wrote and directed him as Mr. Biondi in “Rivets” and an Uncle in “Maids and Matrons.” He was a joy to be around.

I was mesmerized by his one-man show, “I Am My Own Wife,” which was due to be reprised this fall by Onstage. He is nominated for a Shellie award for his incredible work in this production.

He is loved by many in the arts community and will be missed.

Kathryn G. McCarty is well-known around the Bay Area as an educator, playwright and journalist. Send comments to KGMcCarty@gmail.com.