THEATER PREVIEW:

If the Huntington Beach Playhouse depended on ticket sales alone to fund its operation at the Library Theater each year, it would be a tight squeeze indeed.

Thus, during the dog days of summer, the playhouse has a pair of fundraising events planned during the next two weeks that hopefully will sweeten the coffers of Huntington Beach’s 46-year-old community theater group.

First up will be the playhouse’s first annual Comedy Night fundraiser and pre-show champagne reception ticketed for one night only, Aug. 1, at the Library Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach.

Brian Mann, who headed the mystery dinner theater troupe known as 3M Productions, will be the emcee for the program, with standup comics from the Los Angeles Laugh Factory and Comedy Store, and the New York Comic Strip lending their talents.

The champagne reception will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by the comedy program at 7:30.

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students or senior citizens.

A few days later, Aug. 4 – 8, the Library Theater stage will light up again with a visit from the popular comic strip heroine Luann.

Called “Luann: Scenes in a Teen’s Life,” the show was written by Greg Evans and is based on his comic strip of the same name.

It’s billed as “a hugely entertaining show for the entire family.”

Playing the title role of the teenage “girl next door” will be Megan Moylan, who’s headlined as “Annie” at the Westminster Community Theater and Cypress College.

She’s also bent gender a bit to play the title role in “Oliver” for Starlight Productions, as well as Baby Louise in “Gypsy” with the Kentwood Players in Westchester.

On television, Moylan, a high school sophomore, has appeared with Geena Davis in “Commander in Chief” and has been featured on Wal-Mart’s Earth Month campaign.

“Luann,” according to the show’s director, Avis Rueweler, “is an amusing look at the ordinary girl with two great friends who help her through unrequited love and deal with the self-esteem issues that frequently challenge teenage girls. It’s full of laughs, a few tears and lots of fun and funny musical moments.”

The show will be presented at 7 p.m. Aug. 4-8 and tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and senior citizens and $7 for children 12 and younger.

For reservations for either event call (714) 323-7686 or visit www.hbph.com.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.