ON THE BOARDS
by GEORGE PATTERSON, New Orleans

AMERICAN ROAD
Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., Bank One Theatre, 504.528.3800.
Kate Hoffman & Ron Flagge present four one-act plays by William S. Leavengood which are a "collection of four tales of fleeting personal encounters involving a mish-mash of individuals while traveling U.S. highways." Directed by Harold Evans, Kate Hoffman and Susan Parker, it features Julian Dalcour, Ron Flagge, Larry Gray, Randy Maggiore & Lynn Toal. Thurs. - Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2pm, thru Dec. 14.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.
This third year reprise of Rickey Graham's quick change adaptation of Dickens' much loved seasonal tale of love and compassion triumphant stars writer/director Graham with Gavin Mahlie and Kim Patterson as his able accomplices in sleight of hand theatrical magic. Dec. 17, 18 & 19, 8pm; Dec. 20 & 21, 12pm & 2pm.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - The Whole Story
Movie Pitchers, 3941 Bienville St., 504.488.4925.
This is the 6th edition of this skewered take on the Charles Dickens classic, as only Rene J. F. Piazza, as writer and director, can skewer. Starring Mr. Piazza himself as Scrooge, it features Mario Taormina, Rebecca Taliancich, April Babin, Rebecca Hale, Daryl Cade, Nick Roye, Gwen Chevalier and Gene Desroches as Tiny Tim. Fri. & Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2:30pm, thru Dec. 21.

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR
Theatre Marigny, 616 Frenchmen St., 504.944.2653.
Lillian Hellman's play concerning two teachers in an all girls' school accused of lesbianism by one of the students, features Jennifer Carriere, Tracy Hernandez, Angie Ree, George Kelly, Nancy Hammons, Erik Simon, Corinna Bohren, Kimberly Ormiston, Misty Ormiston & Lee Prevost. Dane Rhodes directs. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm (no performance Sat., Dec. 13), thru Dec. 20.

CINDERELLA BATTISTELLA
Nord Theatre, Gallier Hall, 705 Lafayette St., 504.565.7860.
Director Ty Tracy presents another staging of this original localized treatment of the classic fairy tale written by Bob Bruce and David Cuthbert with music by the late great Fred Palmisano. This edition stars Brennan Manale as Cinderella, with Givonna Joseph, Helen Blanke, Lawana Menendez, Ellen Flohberger and David Tringali. Fri. & Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm, thru Dec. 14.

HANDAL'S MESSIAH
Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Place, 504.523.6530; 504.522.1314.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Robert Page, along with the Symphony Chorus, soprano Amy Lawrence, mezzo-soprano Suzanne DuPlantis, tenor Wei Long Tao and bass Alfred Walker III, present Handel's spiritual masterpiece for one performance only, Thurs., Dec. 18, 8pm.

LAKME
Theatre Of The Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart, 504.529.2278.
Leo Delibes' opera set in India is the gentle tale of the love of a young Indian girl for a British officer. Klauspeter Seibel conducts the Louisiana Philharmonic. David Morelock directs Elizabeth Futral as Lakme, Daniel Hendrick as Gerald, the officer, with James Maddalena, Kathleen Heggierski and local singing sensation Melissa Marshal. Wed., Dec. 10, & Sat., Dec. 13, at 7:30pm.

LOST IN YONKERS
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081.
Keith Briggs recreates this Neil Simon award-winning autobiographical play, with the same cast from his Rivertown Rep Big Easy award winning production; namely, E. J. Killeen, Yvette Hargis, Lois W. Crandell, Chad Keller & Kathy Riess, with Jay Buller and Joey Bullock playing the two precocious siblings. Wed. - Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm; thru Dec. 20.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 504.525.2490; 504.522.5555; in Baton Rouge: 504.761.8400, or 800.488.5252.
For groups of 20 or more: 504.569.1520. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical behemoth returns for a five week run. Directed by Harold Prince, and in its ninth year in New York and its tenth in London, this third national tour reunites the original London creative team. It starsBrad Little as the Phantom, Kimilee Bryant as Christine and Jason Pebworth as Raoul, with Julie Schmidt, David Cryer, Richard Reardon, Mary Setrakian, Steven Stein-Grainger and Betina Hershey. Opens Dec. 17. Tues.-Sat., 8pm; Sat. & Sun., 2pm, Sun., 7:30pm, with additional performances on Thurs., Dec. 18, 2pm; Mon., Dec. 22, 8pm; Mon., Dec. 29, 8pm; Thurs., Jan. 8, 2pm; Mon., Jan. 12, 8pm; and, Thurs., Jan. 15, 2pm. No performances Dec. 24 & Jan 1.

TWELVE ANGRY MEN
True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.
Reginald Rose's 1957 teleplay made into a Sidney Lumet film starring Henry Fonda (inspired by the McCarthy era), recently re-filmed by Showtime, should be retitled in this Fred Nuccio directed production as "Twelve Angry Jurors", featuring as it does, both men and women. It's about the trial of a young Hispanic accused of murder. This production features Gavin Mahlie, Tom Dugger, Tari Hohn Lagasse, Michael Arata, Stocker Fontelieu, Roy Dumont, Barbara Tasker, Linda Hubchine, Kim Patterson, Joe Iuzzolino, Kathleen Turner and Marc Belloni. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm, thru Dec. 13.

IN THE WINGS

THE AMOROUS FLEA
Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., 504.468.7221.
Elliot Keener directs this musical adaptation of Moliere's French farce, School For Wives, with book by Jerry Devine and music and lyrics by Bruce Montgomery, about an old goat who raises a young orphan girl to be his wife, with disastrous results-for him. Jan. 15 thru Feb. 8, 1998.

NOEL AND GERTIE
Southern Repertory Theatre, 3rd level, One Canal Place, 504.861.8163.
Rickey Graham directs and plays the lead in this Sheridan Morley entertainment devised of the words and music of Noel Coward which tells the story of the professional and personal relationship between two of this century's greatest stage personalities: Gertrude Lawrence (Liz Argus)and Noel Coward (Mr. Graham). Dane Evans is musical director. Jan. 9 thru 25.