Once again, variety is the spice of life on community-theater stages in the next several days. Student productions and the venerable Manoa Valley Theatre and Army Community Theatre offer Beijing opera, musicals and a murder mystery — plus there's a new take on love at The ARTS at Marks Garage.

'JIA DE HOUZI: THE FALSE MONKEY'

The Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts presents an original production based on the Chinese classic "Journey to the West," the story of a Tang Dynasty-era monk who travels to India. With him are three servants — a sand demon, a god/pig and the king of the monkeys. "Jia de Houzi," performed in Beijing-opera style with 29 students taking part, is about an imposter who tries to take the place of the monkey king, and the chaos that ensues.

The show has been invited to Scotland in August as part of the Edinburgh Fringe theater festival.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, and May 11-12; 2 p.m. Sunday and May 13 at Mid-Pacific's Kawaiaha'o Recital Hall. Reserved seats are $20; open seats are $10; $5 seniors and students. 973-5066.

'SEUSSICAL'

Some of Dr. Seuss' most recognizable characters come to life in this musical directed by Meagan Olson and starring Channing Weir as the narrator Cat in the Hat.

Vocal direction is by Angela Morales, of the popular Island trio Na Leo. The show is a presentation of the Performing Arts Center of Kapolei, a nonprofit after-school theater program for students 6 to 18.

Premiering at 7 p.m. Saturday, repeating at 7 p.m. May 11-12, 18-19 and 3 p.m. May 20 at the Kapolei High School cafeteria. Tickets are $5 advance, $7 at the door. 258-7313.

'OVER MY DEAD BODY'

Three venerable founders of the Murder League, a British club of mystery writers, plan a real murder to revitalize interest in their classy style of storytelling. But complications set in, and there's a real murderer lurking about.

The tale by Michael Sutton and Anthony Fingleton is guest- directed by Lolly Susi, who has worked in London theater for three decades. The cast includes Gerald Altweis, Peter Clark, Walter Eccles, Tom Holowach, Elizabeth May, Stephen Mead, Jo Pruden and Elitei Tatafu Jr.

Premiering at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, repeating at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, through May 27 at Manoa Valley Theatre. Tickets are $25 general, $20 seniors and military, $15 for those 25 and younger. 988-6131, http://manoavalleytheatre.com.

'GREASE'

It's yesterday once more as the gang from Rydell High School, 1950s vintage, hit the stage in this Army Community Theatre production. The musical about new-girl-in-town Sandy and kinda-bad-boy-in-town Danny and their pals features songs such as "Summer Nights," "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee," "Beauty School Dropout" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

TV viewers and Broadway fans also know that a new Great White Way production is to be launched this summer, with leads chosen in the recently completed NBC show "Grease: You're the One That I Want."

CoCo Wiel directs a cast that includes Shawna Masuda a Sandy and Kekoa Young as Danny.

Premiering at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, repeating at 7:30 p.m. May 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Tickets are $15 and $20 general, $12 and $15 children. 438-4480, www.squareone.org/ACT.

'LOVE, LIFE AND OTHER 4-LETTER WORDS'

Two one-act plays by Alan Shepard, a theater student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa with more than a decade of writing, directing and acting in his credits, will be presented by The Lizard Loft, an organization devoted to original and experimental theater pieces. "Love, Life" explores man's search for identity, and the vices that affect our lives.

Premiering at 8 p.m. Thursday, repeating at 8 p.m. May 11-13 and 18-20 at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Tickets are $15 general, $10 students. 550-8457, http://honoluluboxoffice.com.