ON THE BOARDS
by GEORGE PATTERSON, New Orleans

...AND THE BALL AND ALL

True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.

Now in its second year, this comic masterpiece, written and directed by Ricky Graham, concerns the problems of the members of the fictitious all-female Krewe of Terpsichore, when the treasurer absconds with the ball money. The cast includes local favorites, led by the indomitable Becky Allen as the dominating ball captain, with costumes and wigs by Roy Haylock. Produced by Trish Denmark and Fred Nuccio, it will have an open-ended run. Fri., 8 pm; Sat., 6 & 9 pm; Sun., 3 & 7 pm.

A WALK IN THE WOODS

CAC, 900 Camp St., 504.523.1216 or 504.522.5252.

The CAC and Bright Star Productions present Lee Blessing's play about two nuclear arms negotiators, directed by Perry Martin and starring Randy Cheramie and Scott Jefferson. Thur.-Sat., 7:30 pm, Sun, 3 pm, Feb. 27-Mar. 23.

HOT STUFF -NEW ORLEANS STYLE!

True Brew Cabaret, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.

The fast-paced, New Orleans satirical revue starring and written by New Orleans' premiere musical comedy couple, Becky Allen and Ricky Graham. Fri., 10:30 pm. I DO! I DO! Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Fourth & Minor Streets, Kenner, 504.468.7221. Kris Shaw and Terri Gervais make up the entire cast of the Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical version of The Fourposter, about the entire life of a marriage. Stocker Fontelieu directs. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 2:30 pm, thru Mar. 16. Optional pre-show buffet available.

JACKIE O

Wortham Center, 510 Preston, Houston, TX, 713.227.ARTS; 1.800.828.ARTS

Houston Grand Opera's Houston Opera Studio presents the world premiere of a new two act chamber opera by Michael Daugherty and Wayne Koestenbaum and directed by Nicholas Muni with musical direction by Christopher Larkin.Mar. 14, 8 pm, Mar. 16, 2 pm.

LOUISIANA PHILARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Orpheum Theatre, 120 University Place, 504.523.6530.

Klauspeter Seibel conducts the orchestra in the world premiere of Dankner's Hurricane; also, Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, with guest cellist Maria Kliegel, and Sibelius' Symphony No. 1. Thurs., Mar. 20, 7:30 pm & Sat., Mar. 22, 8 pm.

MAN OF LA MANCHA

Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 504.522.5555 or 800.488.5252.

Broadway Series at the Saenger presents Robert Goulet as the Errant Knight with the Impossible Dream, Don Quixote de la Mancha, in the musical written by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion. March 11-16; Tues.-Sat., 8 pm; Thurs., Sat., & Sun., 2 pm.

OUT AT SEA & SLAPSTICK

Theatre Marigny, 616 Frenchmen St., 504.944.2653. Tandra Dykes directs two one act plays by Polish playwright Slawomir Mrozek. OUT AT SEA concerns three men lost in a lifeboat deciding which one to eat, while SLAPSTICK features two individuals terrorized and held captive by a giant imaginary hand. With Richard Scheidt, Michael Ernst, Malcolm Burn, Jeff Burnett, Linda Cherry, Stephanie McDaniel & Sherice Hill, the production plays Mon.-Wed., 8 pm, thru Apr. 2.

RIGOLETTO

The of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 504.529.2278.

The New Orleans Opera Association presents Verdi's classic opera starring Mark Rucker as the jester, Constance Hauman as his daughter, Gilda. Arthur Fagen conducts the LPO and David Gately directs. Wed., Mar 12 & Sat., Mar. 15, 7:30 pm.

SHE LOVES ME

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081.

Keith Briggs directs this charming musicalization of The Shop Around The Corner, with songs by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock (the creators of Fiddler On The Roof). Musical direction is by Jon J. Dendinger; choreography, Jorinda Junius. It features Ashley Smetherman, Chad Keller, Kerry Mendelson, Steve Coenen, Roy Dumont, Kelly A. Keegan, Griff Midkiff and Garth Currie. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 2 pm. thru Mar. 15.

THE THREE SISTERS

CAC, 900 Camp St., 504.523.1216 or 504.522.5252.

The CAC and Raven Productions present Anton Chekhov's 1901 comedy directed by Aimee Hayes and featuring Bert Pigg, Adele Leas, Sheila Chimento, Jenine Peirce, Tim Daley, Fermin Ramos, Philip Tracy, Kelvin Tsao, Gbrian Maher, Lenny Feller, John Baehr and Jim Fitzmorris. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm, thru March 15.

IN THE WINGS

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Orpheum Theatre, 120 University Place, 504.523.6530.

Klauspeter Seibel conduts Brahms' Tragic Overture, Clara Schumann's Concerto for Piano & Orchestra and Robert Schumann's Shymphony No. 3 ("Rhenish") with guest artist pianist Angela Cheng. Thurs., Apr. 3, 7:30 pm, Sat., April 5, 8 pm.

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Orpheum Theatre, 120 University Place, 504.523.6530.

Robert Spano conducts Stravinsky's Petroushka and Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1 in g minor (orchestrated by A. Schoenberg). Thurs., Apr. 10, 7:30 pm, Sat., Apr. 12, 8 pm.

ON GOLDEN POND

Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Fourth & Minor Streets, Kenner, 504.468.7221.

Written by Ernest Thompson and directed by Joe Warfield, this is yet another study of a marriage. April 17-May 4.

MISS SAIGON

Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Square, 504.522.5555; 800.488.5252.

The Broadway Series at the Saenger Theatre presents the Louisiana premiere of producer Cameron Mackintosh's London and New York blockbuster musical, with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics and book by Alain Boublil (creators of Les Miserables and Martin Guerre) and Richard Maltby, Jr., directed by Nicholas Hytner, at the Theatre of the Performing Arts, since the Saenger's stage facilities are not large enough to house, among other things, the show's famous helicopter. With musical staging by Bob Avian, Miss Saigon reunites members of the Les Miserables design team: John Napier on sets, David Hersey on lights and Andreane Neofitou and Suzy Benzinger on costumes. May 7 - 25.

THE SECRET GARDEN

Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart St., 504.522.0996.

The New Orleans Ballet Association presents the Oakland Ballet s production of Frances Hodgson Burnett's children's classic created by Artistic Director Ronn Guidi. Sat., March 22, 7:30 pm.

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS FESTIVAL

Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.581.1144; http://www.gnofin.org/twfest

Ten theatrical productions coordinated by Festival board member Elizabeth Barron include Three Mortal Ladies Possessed, a new theatrical production of stories by Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Eudora Welty; two Williams one-acts, The Two Character Play and The Purification; Mr. Williams and Miss Wood, a one-act about the relationship between the playwright and his agent Audrey Wood; Scenes from Tennessee with excerpts from The Glass Menagerie, Sweet Bird of Youth, and The Night of the Iguana; Submerged, a play about six men trapped in a submarine, written by another famous New Orleanian, Clay Shaw; improvisation theater from Festival favorites, The Free Associates; and more. Mar. 20-23.