ON THE BOARDS
by GEORGE PATTERSON, New Orleans

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 North Labarre Rd., at Airline Drive, Metairie, 504.838.9906.
Richard Maltby, Jr.'s Tony winning musical revue of the music, life and times of Fats Waller, is the premiere production of this new dinner theatre. Directed by Sonny Borey, with choreography by Karen Hebert, costumes by Debby Simeon, sets by Bill Walker, vocal direction by Derek Franklin and conducted by M. Joseph Caluda, it features Anthony Bailey, Troi Bechet, Heidi Jensen, Larry McDonald, Patrick Mendelson, Lawana Menendez, Danon Smith and Chris Wecklein. Thurs. - Sat., dinner from 6pm, curtain at 8pm; Sun., buffet at 11:30am, curtain at 2pm. Thru Jan. 25.

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 (Randy Cheramie)who raises a young orphan girl (Amanda Norman-Rucker) to be his wife, with disastrous results-for him. Others in the cast include Adriano Mulino, John Joly, eter Gabb, Claire Conti, Gary Rucker and Wayne Blankenship.Now thru Feb. 8, Thurs. - Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm, with optional buffet available from 6pm, Thurs. - Fri.; 12am Sun.

ANNIE
Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 504.525.2490 or 504.522.5555.
The post-Broadway touring edition of this Tony winning musical with book by Thomas Meehan (based on the comic strip, "Little Orphan Annie"), music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin ("The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow") visits New Orleans Feb. 3-8. Tues. - Sat., 8pm; Wed., Sat. & Sun., 2pm.

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081.
Joseph Kesslring's 1940's comedy about the crazy Brewster family, sisters Abbie (Abby Lake) and Martha (Pauline Prelutsky) who poison homeless men; Teddie (Mark Burton) who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt digging the Panama Canal in the basement, and NOT graves. Also in the large cast are: Leon Contavesprie, Ralph Lister, Kim Patterson, Earl Scioneaux, Walter Bost, Chase White, Robert McDowell, Stocker Fontelieu and Stephen Shapiro. Kris Shaw directs; Chris Jones designs the sets, Julie Winn does the costumes, with lighting by Daniel Zimmer. Jan. 31, Feb. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 at 8pm; Feb. 1 & 8, 2pm.

COMPLEXIONS
Theatre Of The Performing Arts, 801 N. Rampart, 504.522.0996.
The New Orleans Ballet Association presents this "concept in dance" which has received critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience response ever since its creation in 1993 by its artistic directors Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, a partnership which began while they were members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Sat., Jan. 24, 8pm.

LSU PRESENTS THE WILD MAGNOLIAS MARDI GRAS INDIANS
LSU Union Theatre., LSU, Baton Rouge, 504.388.5128.
LSU Performing Arts Series kicks the carnival season into high gear, Redstick style, with a one night stand of the mighty Mardi Gras Indians who are part Latin, part African-American & 100% soul-unmistakenly New Orleans. Fri., Jan. 30, 8pm.

NOEL AND GERTIE
Southern Repertory Theatre, 3rd level, One Canal Place, 504.861.8163.
Rickey Graham directs himself as Noel (Coward) and Liz Argus as Gertie (Lawrence) in the New Orleans premiere of this 1985 musical comedy revue devised by Sheridan Morley from the songs, plays, letters, poems, films and diaries of Noel Coward. Dane Evans is musical director; Robert Self, set designer; with choreography by Amanda Zirkenbach and lighting by Chris Jones. Fri. & Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm, thru Sun., Feb. 1.

PSYCHO BEACH PARTY
True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 504.522.2907.
Carl Walker revives this campy, zany Charles Busch gender-bender farce about a perky 60's era valley "girl" who suffers from Mulitple Personality Disorder, her butch beach bum friends and her mommie from hell, with a Hollywood starlet (think MM) thrown in, with Becky Allen as the Mom (think of Joan Crawford swallowing Bette Davis), Brian Rosenberg as the perky Chiclet and Kerry Mendelson as MM. Don't miss this one. Performances are Fri., 8pm; Sat., 6pm & 9:30pm; and, Sun., 6pm.

SHOW STOPPERS
Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 North Labarre Rd., at Airline Drive, Metairie, 504.832.1540.
Miguel Malespin & Carlone's Dinner Theatre, in association with Angels Love, present a one-night revue of Broadway showstoppers to benefit Boys Town of New Orleans. Produced, directed, choreographed and featuring Miguel Malespin, the show also features Kim Prevost, Eric Haston, Eva Earls, Anne Marie Guidry, Suzuane Yee McKamey, Susan Domangue and Debbie Ledet performing showstoppers from Gypsy, Sweet Charity, Chicago, Anything Goes, Nine, Damn Yankees, A Chorus Line, etc. Uncle Wayne Daigrepont serves as MC. Wed., Jan. 28; hors d'oeuvre @7pm; show @ 8pm. All tickets: $20.

IN THE WINGS

JOEY n' MARY'S IRISH ITALIAN COMEDY WEDDING
Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 North Labarre Rd., at Airline Drive, Metairie, 504.362.4451.
Sandi Bravender presents an interactive theater piece modeled after the highly successful Tony n' Tina's Wedding. The audience becomes members of the wedding party that witnesses the marriage of Joey (Dane Rhodes) and Mary (Julia Lawshue) and then attends the reception where everyone becomes giddier and giddier as the liquor flows. Feb. 6 - March 21. Fri. and Sat., doors open at 6:30pm, wedding at 7:30pm, reception at 8pm. Sun., doors open at 12noon.