It's well known that Capital Stage co-founder Jonathan Rhys Williams is a handy chap to have around the theater – there's little involved with putting on a show that he can't do. What many in Sacramento don't know about Williams is that he sings a little bit, too.

At the moment, Williams stars down the road at San Jose Stage in the cheeky new rock musical "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." With music and lyrics written by Michael Friedman and a book by Alex Timbers, who directed the off-Broadway and Broadway productions, the musical plays like a comedic Wild West show. It casts Jackson (Williams), America's controversial seventh president, as a misunderstood emo rock star who founded the Democratic Party and used questionable methods and morals in acquiring Indian-held land.

"Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" runs 7:30 Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through July 29. San Jose Stage is at 490 S. First St., San Jose. Tickets, ranging from $25 to $50, are available at www.thestage.org or (408) 283-7142.

Epic epic event

Just in case you were wondering when the next all-night reading of one of the world's great epic poems will take place – wonder no more. Tonight from dusk until dawn (or however long it takes) the Readers of Homer will read aloud "The Odyssey" on the Mother Goose Stage at Fairytale Town. More than 200 people are expected to participate reading pre-assigned passages of "The Odyssey," which tells the story of Odysseus and his 10-year struggle to reach home after the Trojan War.

Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs, tents, snacks and beverages to enjoy in the park. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the reading begins at 7:30 p.m. Day-of tickets are $25 for adults. The reading is free for veterans, active military, students, and children 12 and younger.

Ticket holders can sign up to read by calling the Readers of Homer at (916) 455-4271 or by emailing khohlwein@gmail.com.

Two for one at B Street

B Street Theatre throws a summer curveball with a pair of one-act comedies on the main stage. The bill is called "Looks & Money" and features "The Ugly One" by Marius von Mayenburg and "The New Tenant" by Eugene Ionesco. Buck Busfield directs, with Peter Story, Jason Kuykendall, Stephanie McVay and Greg Alexander. The show previews at 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Regular run times are 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 5. On the B Street Theatre Mainstage, 2711 B St., Sacramento.

For information, call (916) 443-5300 or go to www.bstreettheatre.org.

Some like it funny

Should you simply require a good laugh, then head up to Folsom for Ken Ludwig's "Leading Ladies," now at the Sutter Street Theatre. Ludwig seems to have nicked the plot of "Some Like It Hot," but no matter, since it means the redoubtable Mikey Coleman wears a dress, and what more can you say? At 717 Sutter St. in Historic Folsom, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $23 adults, $21 seniors, $18 students and $15 kids. For more information, call (916) 353-1001 or go to www.garbeaus.com.

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