OPENING

"The Buck Stops Where?": Joe Moore's satire of the White House's Oval Office starring Moore, Gary Burghoff, Jo Pruden, Terence Knapp, Bob Sevey, George O'Hanlon, Bob Whiting and Gena Gale Burghoff. Directed by Gary Burghoff. At 7:30 p.m. April 17-19, and 4 p.m. April 20, Hawaii Theatre. Tickets: $17.50-$35. Reservations at 528-0506 or 545-4000.

"Suddenly Last Summer": Kapiolani Community College presents Tennessee Williams' story of a young woman's attempt to face the traumatic events and terrible secrets that led to her cousin's death. Tickets: $4-$5. At 8 p.m. April 17-19, and 6 p.m. April 20, Maile Theatre. Call 734-9225.

"Don't Drink the Water": Woody Allen farce about innocent American tourists who are accused of spying while being stranded behind the Iron Curtain. The Academy of the Pacific drama students will also serve a pasta dinner at 6 p.m. Cost: $10. Play begins at 7 p.m. April 18, Mary Mills Damon Student Activities Center. Parking available on campus at 913 Alewa Drive. Call 595-6359.

"South Pacific": Pulitzer prize winning romantic musical performed by the Castle Performing Arts Center. Love affair between a Navy nurse (Kathleen Stuart and Emile de Becque) and an exiled Frenchman (Jordan Shanahan) who become closely attached despite their age difference. Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Tickets: $12-$15. Tickets available at Harry's Music, Fly Away Holidays or the Bright Theatre in Kaneohe. At 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through May 3; and 2 p.m. April 27, Castle High School. Reservations at 524-0807 or 233-5626.

"Border": Play by Elizabeth Wray focuses on the use of sound by the actors and on the nomadic themes of American life, 11:10 p.m., April 19, 25, 26 and May 2-3, UH-Manoa, Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Presented by UH-Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance. Cost: $5-$3. Call 956-7655.

"Getting Somewheres": Drama about three working women in the mid-twentieth century in Hawaii. One is a Polish sugar cane worker who becomes a nurse on Kauai, another is a Hawaiian Hana Sugar Plantation worker, and the final woman is a former Japanese plantation field worker who opens a tofu shop. Written by Victoria Kneubuhl and directed by Jackie Pualani and Johnson Debus. Free. At 7 p.m. April 22, Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, Okada Education Center. Information at 677-0110.

"Angels in America": 1993 Pulitzer prize winning drama about the breakup of a married Mormon couple and a "married" gay couple. Tickets: $28-$30. At 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays, Manoa Valley Theatre. Play runs from April 23 to May 11. Reservations at 988-6131.

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CONTINUING

"Midsummer Night's Dream": William Shakespeare's comedy about four sets of "lovers" and the antics they fall into, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April 19, Mililani High School Cafeteria. Mililani and Leilehua High School students make up the cast and crew. Part of the proceeds will go toward a trip that the Tri-School students are taking in June to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Tickets: $7 adults; $5 students. Call 621-7559.

Hawaii Pacific University Theatre: Also presenting "Midsummer Night's Dream," 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays through May 4, Hawaii Pacific University Theatre, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway. Additional showing 8 p.m. May 1. Tickets: $10. Reservations required. Call 254-0853 or 233-3167.

"The Good Woman of Setzuan": Directed by Ben Moffat, the play tells of a woman's struggle to be kind-hearted in a world that rewards selfishness. At 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April 25. Cost: $6-$8. Reservations at 235-0077, ext. 446, or 235-7446.

"Brainstormers": By "Loose Screws," an improvisational theatre troupe, 8 p.m. April 24-26, Leeward Community College Lab Theatre. Every show will be different based on audience input. Features Michelle de la Cruz, R. Kevin Doyle, Julia Gilman, Sean T.C. O'Malley, Tony Pisculli, Stephanie Sanchez and Shannon Wingpenny under the direction of Sean T.C. O'Malley. Tickets: $8-$10. Call 536-2416.

"Laughter on the 23rd Floor": Asatad presents a play by Neil Simon that recreates the mayhem and non-stop gags of a team of comedy writers as they hammer out a weekly TV show. Simon gives insight into the creative process of people like Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Steve Allen. At 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, through May 3, Church of the Crossroads, Weaver Hall. Tickets: $10-$15. Call 247-6939.

"Wishes & Wings": An animated musical adventure for the whole family. The production will introduce several of Hawaii's endangered species including the monk seal, green sea turtle and Pu'eo. At 6 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through June 15, Ala Moana Center's New Makai Market Pavilion. Free. Call 672-9585.

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DANCE

Spring dance concert: Jazz, modern, ballet and hula will be performed by students from the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, 7 p.m. April 18, Gates Performing Center. Honoka'a Dance Collective will also perform. Free. Call 885-8270.

Dance festival: Leeward Community College's ninth annual festival, 8 p.m. April 18-19, Leeward Community College theatre. Featuring over 40 dancers performing a variety of dances. Tickets: $7-$9. Reservations at 455-0385.

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SPECIAL

"Theatre du Petit Miroir": Shadow puppet workshop and performance, April 19. Workshop begins at 9 a.m. and performance at 2 p.m., Honolulu Academy of Arts. Cost: $2-$5. Call 532-8700.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth Workshops: Helen White and Chris Vine host two workshops, April 26-27. "Playbuilding With Youth...An Introduction to Strategies for Creating Original Theatre for Young People" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26; and "Teaching Through Drama...A Practical Introduction to the Use of Drama As A Teaching Tool Across the Curriculum" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27. Recommended for classroom and drama teachers and theatre artists who have an interest in working with young people. Cost: $20 per workshop or $30 for both. Reservations at 839-9885.

Original play festival: The Aloha Performing Arts Center are accepting scripts for their fourth annual original play festival. Entries can be on any subject and any length but they should not have been produced before. Plays selected will be given royalty-free staged readings in August at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu. The selected plays will also be publicized as part of the festival. To enter, submit two typewritten copies of each entry with name, address and phone number clearly visible on the first page of each entry. Send entries to: APAC Original Paly Festival, P.O. Box 794, Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750. Deadline: June 13. Call (808) 322-9924 (Big Island).