ON THE BOARDS
by GEORGE PATTERSON, New Orleans

A CLOSER WALK WITH PATSY CLINE

North Star Theatre, 347 Gerard St., Mandeville, 504.626.1500; 1.800.924.5538.
Another, and far superior, look at the ill-fated country singer written by Dean Regan and directed by Lori Bennett now in its fifth month. It stars Mari (Serpas) Vigueira with her band, The Instigators. This long-running musical tribute (now in its fifth month) also features Michael Bennett playing a number of roles ala Greater Tuna with Ms. Vigueira's husband, Ed, serving as musical director. Fri., 8:30pm, Sat. 5:30pm & 8:30pm.

...AND THE BALL AND ALL

Tony Mandina's Westbank Theatre Banquet Room, 1915 Pratt St., Gretna, 504.362.4451.
Ricky Graham's award-winning comedy about the members of an all-female krewe trying to put on a Mardi Gras ball returns to the boards in this special dinner theatre production. Mr. Graham directs Sandi Bravender, Amanda Hebert, Renee Maxwell, Jo Ann Testa, Jennifer Breedlove, Denise Ponce & Roy Haylock as Ernesto, the costume designer. Fri. & Sat., dinner at 7:15pm, curtain at 8:15pm; Sun., Oct. 12, 19 & 26, buffet at 12noon, curtain at 1:15pm, thru Oct. 26.

ANNE & UNCLE WAYNE

True Brew Cabaret, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907, 504.443.4276.
Uncle Wayne Daigrepont teams up with singer comedienne Anne Decareaux in a new cabaret act built around naughty material cushioned with the cachet of Gershwin and Broadway melodies. 7pm, every Sun. night in Oct.

COMPOSING TCHAIKOVSKY

Tulane University's Lupin Theatre, 504.865.5106.
Tulane University Theatre begins the 97- 98 season with the world premiere of a new play by Laura Edmondson which gives Tchaikovksy's estranged and socially shunned wife back her voice-only to come face-to-face with her rich rival, Nadezdha von Meck, the reclusive widow whose wealth and letters fuel the famous Russian composer's creativity. Directed by new faculty member Lisa Jo Epstien, the cast includes Heather Hollingsworth, Alice Johnson, Brandon Voss, Leslie Gastineau, Scott Gastavson, Isaac Colunga and Ryan Flaherty. Wed. -Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm (no performance Thurs., Oct. 23), Sat., Oct. 18, 2pm., thru Oct. 26.

DARYL'S PERILS: DEMON DOMINATRIX OF THE MOON MEETS THE AMAZON QUEEN OF THE LOST LAGOON

TrueBrew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.
Written by Ricky Graham & David Cuthbert, directed by Mr. Graham, with music by Harry Mayronne, Jr. & choreography by Karen Hebert, scenery by Ron Williams, costumes by Debbie Simeon & Roy Haylock & starring Becky Allen (as the Demon Dominatrix & the Amazon Queen), Gavin Mahlie (as Dash Daryl) & Jorinda Junius, this is an outrageous new musical comedy homage to Hollywood cliff-hangar serials. Others in the cast are: Kerry Mendelson, Sean Michael Patterson, Stephen Rizzo, Brian Rosenberg & Mandy Zirkenbach. Fri., 8pm; Sat., 6 & 9pm; Sun., 3 pm, thru Oct. 19.

IL TROVATORE

Theatre Of The Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart, 504.529.2278.
The New Orleans Opera Association begins the season with this operatic warhorse set in 15th century Spain, amid a stirring tale of jealousy, ill-fated love and a mother's shocking revenge; this Giuseppe Verdi masterpiece is opera at its grandest. Directed by David Morelock, Ruth Falcon stars as Leonora, with Irina Mishura, Eduardo Villa, Yalun Zhang and Mark S. Doss. Semyon Vekshtein conducts the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Wed., Oct. 15 & Sat., Oct. 18, 7:30pm.

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 504.468.7221.
This fantasy/adventure for children of all ages adapted by Richard R. George from the book by Roald Dahl about a Magical peach, an imprisoned boy and his insect friends is directed by Wayne Daigrepont and features Gary "Buddy" Boe alternating with Bryan Wagner as James with Bonnie Knowles, Mary Lee Gibbons, John Lovett, Wayne Blankenship, Susan Domangue & Gary Rucker. Sat. & Sun. at 2pm, thru Oct. 26.

MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA!

CAC's Bank One Theatre, 900 Camp St., 504.528.3800.
Matt Borel, The Friends of NOCCA and the Contemporary Arts Performance Support Program presents the New Orleans premiere of Athol Fugard's contemporary drama about a black South African teacher and how he deals with the violence and chaos of apartheid. Directed by Raymond Vrazel, Jr., the cast includes Chicago actor Ron Dortch, Laren Levy and Lloyd Joseph Martin. Thurs. - Sat., 8:30pm, Sun., 3pm, thru Nov. 2.

PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE

Theatre of the Performing Arts, 504.522.0996.
Classical ballet returns for the New Orleans Ballet Association's second offering of the new season. One of the world's leading ballet companies will present a mixed repertory Fri. Oct. 24, 7:30pm with works by Balanchine, Jiri Kylian and Peter Pucci. Sat., Oct. 25, 7:30pm will feature the grand, imperial ballet of Balanchine's rarely performed Jewels in three acts (Emeralds, Rubies & Diamonds), inspired by jeweler Claude Arpels and set to the music of Faure, Stravinsky & Tchaikovsky.

SKYLIGHT

Claude L. Shver Theatre, Music & Dramatic Arts Bldg., LSU, Baton Rouge, 504.388.3570 or 504.388.3533.
Swine Palace Productions presents David Hare's award-winning drama, about a man and an extraordinary woman, huge concern about the children, great love and suffering, directed by Barry Kyle. Oct. 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 at 7:30pm; Oct. 18 & 19, 2pm.

TWELFTH NIGHT

UNO Theatre East, 504.280.6317.
Peter Carver directs Shakespeare's pessimistic comedy, setting it in a "posh California beach house during the roaring 20's" and featuring an original jazz score by Daniel M. Lopez. Brad Harper, Robert M. Montgomery, Bill Richmond, Glenda Swetman, Bill Ponsetti, Matthew Freeman Borden & Veronica Oliver comprise the cast with Heather Rae Miller designing the costumes and Jason Foreman the sets. Oct.12, 2:30pm; Oct. 15, 16, 17, 18, 8pm.

SONIA RUTSTEIN OF disappear fear

Mid-City Lanes, 4135 S. Carrollton Ave.
Toot Your Horn Productions, a new company dedicated to offering women's music to the New Orleans community and comprised of Jeanne Duplantier, Erika Knott & Leigh Scardina, presents Sonia Rutstein of disappear fear for one performance, Sat., Oct. 25, at Rock N' Bowl's "Bowl Me Under." Doors open 8pm; show, 8:30pm.

IN THE WINGS

THE PASSION OF DRACULA

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081.
Not to be confused with the classic Hilton Dean/John Balderston adaptation of the 19th century Bram Stoker novel which made a star of Bela Lagosi, Stocker Fontelieu directs the local premiere of this version by Bob Hall & David Richmpond, set in 1911, which will feature Butch Benit as the blood-thirsty vampire with Paul Arceneaux, Garth Currie, John Hammons, Kimberly Patterson, Kathy Taaffe, Peter Gabb, Jeffrey Mortorell and Lance Spellerberg. Bill Walker does sets; Julie Winn, costumes; and, Dan Zimmer, lights. Opens Oct. 31.