ON THE BOARDS
by GEORGE PATTERSON, New Orleans

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. 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 and direction by Martin Charnin ("The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow") and starring Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan, Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks and Brittny Kissinger as Annie, continues through Sun., Feb 8. 8pm Wed., Thurs., Fri. & Sat.; matinees Thurs., 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.

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. Others in the cast of 19 are Rene Piazza, Gary Rucker, Anne Decareaux, Sandy Bravender, Michael Sullivan, Terrell Robertson, Phil Blunt, Doris Methe and John Russo. Fri. and Sat., doors open at 6:30pm, wedding at 7:30pm, reception at 8pm, for twelve performances only.

LOVE LETTERS
Dixon Annex Recital Hall, Tulane University, 504.865.5269.
A. R. Gurney's epistolary play which chronicles the lives of two wealthy, over-privileged people from childhood to middle age serves as a fund raiser for Tulane's Summer Lyric Theater and stars local TV veteran and children's book writer Linda Mintz and movie and TV star Ed Nelson. Sat., Feb. 14, 8pm; Sun., Feb. 15, 2pm.

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 Chicklet and Kerry Mendelson as MM. Don't miss this one. Performances are Thurs. & Fri., 8pm; Sat., 6:30pm & 9pm.

SLEEPWALKING
Freeport McMoRan Theater, CAC, 900 Camp St., 504.528.3800.
Directed and designed by John Grimsley and produced by his Dog & Pony Theater Company and the CAC, this is a "community healing ritual," a "company developed theatrical experience based on that deepest of human needs: the primal search for family, belonging and community....Sleepwalking is being created by a large ensemble of actor/writers through a technique developed by Grimsley and Artistic Associate, Kenneth C. Raphael. Artists include: Michael Arata, Luis Q. Barroso, David Dahlgren, Eva Earls, Harold Evans, Anthony Favre, Adella Gautier, Nancy Hammons, Kate Hoffman, Claire Noe, Tony Molina, Jr., Robert Pavlovich, Kenneth C. Raphael, Carol Sutton and Philip Tracy. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm; Sun., 3pm, thru Feb. 15.

SUMMER AND SMOKE
Claude L. Shaver Theater, Music and Dramatic Arts Bldg., Dalyrmple Dr., LSU, 504.388.5128 or 504.336.5000.
Tennessee Williams' sultry play about another societal outcast (and purportedly his favorite character, Alma Winemiller) kicks off LSU Theater's Spring season. It is directed by second year MFA directing candidate Richele Pitalo with Tony Marble playing the failed doctor John Buchanan, Jr., and Jennifer Joyner the sexually hungry Miss Alma. Feb. 12-21; 7:30pm; Sun., Feb. 15, 1:30pm.

IN THE WINGS

MARDI GRAS, February 24!!!