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, and final six weeks (to close Sun., June 8, 1997),this comic, award-winning 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. Original cast members Becky Allen, Yvette Hargis and Kiel Junius return, with costumes and wigs by Roy Haylock. Produced by Trish Denmark and Fred Nuccio. Fri. & Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 3 pm.

COMEDY OF ERRORS

Southern Repertory Theater, 3rd Level, One Canal Place, 504.899.0055.

New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), in its third collaboration with Southern Rep, presents Dr. Henry Hoffman's adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy of mistaken identity in a whirlwind 90 minute commedia dell arte version that will feature the NOCCA Theater Ensemble comprised of advanced theater students, theater faculty and guest artists from the community. Thurs., May 8 - Sat., May 10, 8 pm; Sun., May 11, Mother's Day matinee, 2 pm.

COMEDY SHOW WITH SANDRA BERNHARD

State Palace Theater, 1108 Canal St., 504.524.3381; 504.522.6160.

Comedian Sandra Bernhard will present a Comedy Show as a benefit for the T.A.L.K. Foundation, Inc. (Teaching And Loving Kids). Local talent will also be included. Thurs., May 1, 8 pm.

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. nights, 10:30 pm.

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Orpheum Theater, 120 University Place, 504.523.6530.

Klauspeter Seibel conducts, with soprano Amy Lawrence, tenor Gerald Stroup, baritone Philip Frohnmayher and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, Copland's Old American Songs and Orff's Carmina Burana. Thurs., May 1, 7:30 pm; Sat., May 3, 8 pm.

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Orpheum Theater, 120 University Place, 504.523.6530.

Klauspeter Seibel conducts Schubert's Symphony No. 8 ("Unfinished") and Mahler's Symphony No. 1. Thurs., May 8, 7:30 pm; Sat., May 10, 8 pm.

MISS SAIGON

Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 504.522.5555; 800.488.5252; for groups of 20 or more, 504.569.1520.

The Broadway Series at the Saenger Theater 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 Theater 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 7-26. Tues.-Sat., 8 pm; Thurs., Sat. & Sun., 2 pm. Additional performances on Sun., May 11, 7:30 pm, Mon., May 26, 8 pm.

ON GOLDEN POND

Rivertown Repertory Theater, Fourth & Minor Sts., Kenner, 504.468.7221.

Written by Ernest Thompson and directed by Joe Warfield, this bittersweet tale of the resolution of a semi-dysfunctional family stars Charlotte Schully and Roy Dumont with Danon Dastugue, Michael Cahill & Justin Scalese. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm (buffet seating for optional dinner from 6 pm); Sun., 2:320 pm (buffet seating for optional dinner from 12:30 pm) thru May 4.

RIVER PARISH GHOST STORY

Oak Alley Plantation Outdoor Dinner Theater, 3645 Louisiana Highway #18, Vacherie, LA, 504.265.2151; 1.800.442.5539.

This new comedy by John Doucet (which won the 1996 Louisiana Native Voices & Visioins Playwrighting award) and directed by Perry Martin, is a humorous amalgam of ghosts and folk legends from Louisiana's river parishes, featuring specters of privateer Jean Lafitte & Gov. Michael Hahn. Sat. Evenings from 6 pm, May 3; Sun. Mat. From 12 noon, May 4.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

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

Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical about the Trapp Family Singers ends the current theater season. Brandt Blocker is both musical and stage director, Holly Smith choreographs and Flo Presti is the vocal direcftor, with Liz Argus as Maria, Lance Spellerberg as Capt. Von Trapp and Barbara Bernard as the Mother Abbess. The children are: Julie Tolivar, Taylor Miller, Keeley Tieperman, Alan Brockhoeft, Savanah Wise, Jenny Collins, Stephanie Gill, Meghann Mehrtens and Rachel Nusbaum. Also in the large cast are Peggy Sweeney and Phil Blunt. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 2 pm, thru May 11.

THE TRIAL OF THE BIG, BAD WOLF

NORD Theater, Gallier Hall, St., Charles Ave., 504.565.7860.

Ty Tracy revives the award-winning family musical of 1989, with book and lyrics by Bob Bruce and David Cuthbert and music by Danny Rubio. David Tringali recreates the role of B.B. Wolf in this campy musical romp with Regina Bourgeois playing Granny Gabor, while Casey Cammatte, Ellen Flohberger & Lisa Moran are the three no-so-little pigs. Christopher Wecklein, Jeff Lukas, Bryan Wager, Steve Carter and Chris Melohn are also featured. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 2 pm, thru May 11.

IN THE WINGS

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

True Brew Theater, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.

Written by Ricky Graham & David Cuthbert, with original music by Harry Mayronne, Jr. & choreography by Karen Hebert, this is a "slightly skewed tribute to the Saturday matinee serials....In two episodes!-the first, Commando Cody or Flash Gordon; the second, very Sheena, Queen of the Jungle..." Starring Becky Allen, the show, opening in late June, will play in tandem with ...And The Ball And All.

PAGEANT

CAC's Freeport MacMaRon Theater, 900 Camp St., 504.523.1216 or 504.522.5252.

This was a rousing Off-Broadway musical comedy hit of several years ago, in which the audience gets to pick the winner of a nightly beauty pageant with men playing the beauty contestants. Written by Bill Russell, Frank Kelly & Robert Langbottom, with music by Albert Evans, Carl Walker will helm this local edition, with musical direction by Michael Howard, costumes by Roy Haylock, sets by Keith Christopher, lights by Martin Sachs and sound by Jeffery Talbolt. Wess Hughes plays emcee Frankie Cavalier, presenting Brooks Braselman as Miss Deep South, Russell Hodgkinson as Miss Great Plains, Douglas Park as Miss Bible Belt, Steve Sherman as Miss Texas, Paul Soileau as Miss Industrial Northeast and Ken Weatherup as Miss West Coast. Thurs.-Sat., 8 pm; Sun., 2 pm, May 23-June 15. The Krewe of Petronius (504.525.4498) will sponsor two previews, May 21 & 22.