The magic of Disney and Rap will dazzle local audiences

Among the highlights of the 2007-08 theater season will be the return of Rap Reiplinger's comedy to the local stage as Honolulu Theatre for Youth "Rap's Hawaii," revamped for family-friendly consumption, plus one event that's not so local, the debut of "Disney's The Lion King," running 13 weeks at the Blaisdell Center Concert Hall.

The late Reiplinger, an Emmy-winning local comedy legend, spent some of the earliest days of his theatrical career at HTY in the 1970s, and his hilarious insights are bound to bring laughter to a new generation.

Local flavor also figures into the fast-paced pidgin comedy, "Ala Wai," about two buddies who find themselves jobless and homeless, but may find a solution in one's ability to heal.

Humor is just one part of the equation that will see a fair share of dramas and musicals including the one-two-three punch of David Henry Hwang's updated version of "Flower Drum Song," "The Producers" and "The Wizard of Oz," to be staged by Diamond Head Theatre next spring and summer.

Manoa Valley Theatre celebrates the musical to start the season by delivering "The Musical of Musicals -- The Musical," a hilarious, loving spoof of musical theater that borrows the style of several masters of the form, including Rodgers and Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

MVT will close the season with that classic piece of interactive theater, "The Rocky Horror Show." Stock up on t.p. in advance.

On a more serious note, MVT will also present the 2005 Pulitzer and Tony-winning "Doubt," about paranoia and pedophilia in the Catholic Church, beginning next January. And for murder mystery fans, Agatha Christie's whodunit, "And Then There Were None," will be staged next May.

For the youngest theater audience, HTY will also present the magic of "The Little Mermaid," a unique take on the classic underwater adventure originally created by Hans Christian Andersen, while closing its season with Spanish flair in the staging of the musical "Ferdinand the Bull."

New this season, HTY will launch its "Onstage Series," an interactive drama education program. Workshops will be held after designated performances of five different shows in the season. Each is designed as a participatory experience building on themes in the show. Workshops are $10 per participant (season ticket holders will receive a 50 percent discount); see show descriptions below for details.

And, curtain ...

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Army Community Theatre

Performances at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Season tickets are $75, available at the ACT box office at Richardson Theatre. Call 438-4480 or go online at www.squareone.org/ACT. All performances start at 7:30 p.m.
"Once Upon a Mattress": This musical rendition of the fairy tale of "the Princess and the Pea," rocketed Carol Burnett to stardom due to its outrageous comedic antics. The production will star Renee Garcia Hartenstein as Princess Winnifred, with Tina Shelton and Lenny Klompus as her royal parents. Runs Sept. 6 to 22.
"Fiddler on the Roof": Shari Lynn will star in this musical classic surrounding young love in Czarist Russia. Runs Nov. 15 to Dec. 1. Auditions Sept. 10-12.
"Aida": The Elton John-Tim Rice version of the Egyptian opera will come to life with choreography by Grace Bell Humerickhouse and musical direction by Peter Rucci. Runs Feb. 28 to March 15, 2008. Auditions Nov. 26 to 28.
"Bye Bye Birdie": The rock 'n' roll musical is about a star being inducted, Elvis Presley-style, into the U.S. Army. Katherine Jones will choreograph. Runs May 8 to 24. Auditions March 10 to 12.

ACT Readers Theatre

Performances at 2 p.m. Sundays at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Call 438-4480 or go online at www. squareone.org/ACT.
"The Three Sisters": In Anton Chekhov's classic drama, love lies untapped in the Prozorov girls, until a garrison arrives in their remote town. Can the newcomers bring the sisters the happiness they crave?
"The Wild Duck": This dramatic work marked a departure for Henrik Ibsen, blending the naturalism of his middle dramas with the symbolism of his late period. The play explores the world of the Ekdals, a family whose peaceful existence is fragmented and destroyed in the name of "truth."
"The Great God Brown": Dion Anthony and William Brown are high school friends in love with a girl named Margaret. Anthony wins the girl but messes up his life while Brown becomes a driven and successful architect. Brown eventually gets everything he wanted, but wish fulfillment drives him insane.
"The Visit": In Friedrich Durrenmatt's dark comic tale, billionaire Claire Zachanassian returns to the destitute town she left in disgrace eons ago, bent on exacting retribution on the true love who betrayed her.

Diamond Head Theatre

Performances at 520 Makapuu Ave. Six-show season subscription runs $49 to $196. Five-show subscription is $44 to $132. Single tickets are $12 to $42. Sunday performances scheduled for post-show discussions also staged for the hearing impaired. Call 733-0274 for tickets.
"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas": In this happy-go-lucky musical, governors, senators, mayors and even college football teams frequent Miss Mona's cozy Chicken Ranch bordello, until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his TV cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution. Runs Sept. 21 to Oct. 7. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. Sept. 20.
"Meet Me in St. Louis": A family anticipates the wonders of the 1904 World's Fair in this heartwarming musical. But before the Fair arrives, the father is offered a promotion requiring a move to New York City. Everyone has reasons for not wanting to leave St. Louis, especially the youngest, Tootie. Runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 16. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. Dec. 9.
"Barefoot in the Park": After a six-day honeymoon, a new lawyer and his young bride move into a high-rent apartment that she has chosen and which requires climbing six wheezing flights. The apartment is bare of furniture, the paint job is wrong, the skylight leaks snow, and there isn't room for a double bed, which is too much for the lawyer to bear. Runs Feb. 1 to 17, 2008. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. Feb. 10.
"Flower Drum Song": Revived and rewritten for Broadway in 2002, the David Henry Hwang version of the 1960s musical maintains its beloved songs, but updates the story line, about a Chinese opera singer who arrives for a new life in America, with delightful results. Musical highlights: "A Hundred Million Miracles," "I Am Going to Like It Here" and "I Enjoy Being a Girl." Runs March 21 to April 6. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. March 30.
"The Producers": A down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the biggest flop in history, thereby bilking their backers. Only one thing goes awry: The show is a hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way through the theater process is a lesson in broad comedy. Runs May 16 to June 1. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. May 25.
"The Wizard of Oz": When a twister hits Dorothy Gale's Kansas farm, she and her dog Toto are carried over the rainbow to another world. Things in Oz are strange and beautiful, but Dorothy, eager to get home, travels to the Emerald City to see a wizard who may be able to help her. En route, she meets a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart and a Cowardly Lion in need of courage. Runs July 11 to 27. Post-show discussion 4 p.m. July 20.

Hawaii Pacific University

Performances at the Paul and Vi Loo Theatre on campus, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe. Tickets are $20 general; $15 for students, seniors and military; and $3 for HPU students. Call 375-1282.
"The Imaginary Invalid": Jean Baptiste Moliere's classic comedy centers around an eccentric, wealthy hypochondriac, who tries to marry his daughter to a physician, ensuring he will always have a doctor in the family. The cast of dysfunctional characters feels as modern as "The Simpsons." Runs Nov. 9 to Dec. 9.
"The Constant Wife": When Constance Middleton learns of her husband's indiscretion with her best friend, she challenges perceptions of love and marriage with a surprising course of action in this witty 1926 comedy by W. Somerset Maugham. Runs March 28 to April 27, 2008.

The Actors Group

To order season tickets go to www.honoluluboxoffice.com, call 550-TIKS (8457), visit www. taghawaii.net or email info@ taghawaii.net.
"The Baltimore Waltz": A giddy, fleet Obie Award-winning fantasy based on the love and adventures of a brother and sister, one of whom has a fatal disease that sends the two of them spinning off to Europe to find romance and a cure before the final crashing scenes where reality sets in. Runs Aug. 24 to Sept. 23.
"Fences": This play is part of August Wilson's majestic cycle of plays chronicling the 20th century African-American experience. A former Negro Baseball Leagues star has become an embittered garbage collector. He spends his days building a picket fence around his yard, while the playwright explores boundaries, both actual and figurative within society, personal relationships and ourselves. Winner of every major award, including Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, New York Drama Critics, Tony and Pulitzer Prizes. Runs Oct. 26 to Nov. 25.
"Merry Christmas Roberta (A Chinatown Story)": This original work by Jon Brekke and Eric Nemoto, directed by Jon Brekke, is about owners of a small convenience store in Honolulu's Chinatown, who notice that items are disappearing from their inventory. Meanwhile, their 9-year-old daughter is giving fruits and her school lunch money to a homeless person every morning. This heartwarming story about friendship, forgiveness and family is perfect holiday fare. Runs Dec. 14, 2007 to Jan. 6, 2008.
"Mass Appeal": Father Farley drinks, goes to the races, is bad with names and tells "little lies" to get out of tricky situations. But his parish loves him. Then, he is assigned to look after a passionate young deacon who challenges him to step out of his blissful rut. Runs Jan. 25 to Feb. 24.
"Shadowlands": This West End and Broadway hit is the love story of C.S. Lewis, author of "The Chronicles of Narnia," and American poet Joy Davidson. Jack Lewis is smug in his convictions about God and His plan for the world until Joy and her young son enter his life and the bewildered theoretician of love in the abstract finally confronts its direct presence. Runs April 17 to May 11.
Two One-Act Plays: In "A Kind Of Alaska," a woman suffering from encephalitis lethargica wakes after 29 years, convinced she's still 16. A doctor and her sister delicately introduce her to an alien world but she's mentally stranded. Playwright Harold Pinter was inspired by Oliver Sacks' "Awakenings." Also, David Mamet's "Reunion," about a woman who searches for her father, who she hasn't seen since her parents' divorce 20 years before. As a recovering alcoholic who has spent much of his life itinerantly, he isn't what she hoped for. Runs June 13 to July 13.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth

Performances at Tenney Theatre, St. Andrews Cathedral, 229 Queen Emma Square. Season tickets are $60 for adults, and $30 for youth (18 and younger) and seniors (60-plus). Single tickets are $16 and $8, respectively. Call HTY at 839-9885 or order at www.htyweb.org.
"The Little Mermaid": This classic tale promises laughter and tears as the littlest mermaid leaves the waters of the Sea King's palace to learn about life far away. The stage will be transformed into gigantic sea galleons, a royal ballroom and the ocean as the story unfolds. For ages 4 and up. Opens 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31, running 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays from Sept. 1 to Oct. 6. American Sign Language-interpreted show at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Onstage series workshop for ages 4 to 8, at 2:45 p.m. Sept. 1.
"Obake": David Furumoto, the artist behind HTY's "Wondrous Tales of Old Japan" returns to both stage and star in this spooky collection of ghost stories from Japan and Hawaii. An expert of Kabuki techniques, Furumoto promises a beautifully stylized production. For ages 7 and up. Opens 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19, running 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10 and 17. ASL-interpreted show at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Onstage series workshop for ages 8 to 12, at 2:45 p.m. Oct. 20.
"The Very Best of Christmas Talk Story": After eight years celebrating the holiday season with local stories by professional writers, HTY's Christmas format is changing. Before it does, it will go out with a bang in this show, a mix of the most popular stories, music and favorite HTY actors for holiday cheer. For 5 and up. Opens 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30, running 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays from Dec. 1 to 22. ASL-interpreted show at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Onstage series workshop for ages 6 to 12, at 2:45 p.m. Dec. 1.
"Maui vs. Hercules": Maui fishes up a new island where he can be king, but just as he is getting settled, Hercules arrives looking for an island to rule. What follows is a hilarious competition filled with dangerous quests, surprising twists and a visit from a mysterious woman who knows a little too much about them. For 5 and up. Opens 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18, then runs 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 19 to Feb. 23, 2008. ASL-interpreted show at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 16. Onstage series workshop for ages 8 to 12, at 2:45 p.m. Jan. 19.
"Rap's Hawaii": Hawaii's late comic genius Rap Reiplinger is honored for his insightful humor capturing and celebrating the diverse humanity of Hawaii. For 10 and up. Runs 7:30 p.m. March 7 and 14, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 15. ASL-interpreted show at 4:30 p.m. March 8.
"Maui's Kite: Another Tale of Old Hawaii": BullDog's story tells how the Hawaiian kite was invented. Only the right amount of wind will allow Maui's kite to soar. This show's participatory journey is for the youngest theatergoers, 3 and up. Runs 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. March 1, 15 and 29.
"Ferdinand the Bull": Award-winning flamenco-tinged musical by Karen Zacarias transports audiences to Madrid, where Ferdinand is a bull who loves flowers. Young Duquito Danilo dreams of being a dancer but his father wants him to be a bullfighter, linking his destiny with Ferdinand's. With dramatic dancing, costumes and an introduction to Spanish. For 4 and up. Runs 7:30 p.m. April 4; 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. April 5 to May 10. ASL-interpreted show 1:30 p.m. May 10. Onstage series workshop for ages 4 to 8 at 2:45 p.m. April 5.

Kumu Kahua

Performances at 46 Merchant St. Performances 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets $16 general; $13 for seniors and groups of 10 or more buying at one time; and $10 for students Fridays to Sundays. On Thursdays, the prices are $13 general, $11 for seniors, and $5 for students and unemployed. Last Sunday shows are ASL interpreted. Call 536-4441.
"Ala Wai": Bertram and Ernesto are two roommates who find themselves jobless and homeless. Ernesto has a drug habit and Bertram has an irrational fear of tilapia. This fast-paced pidgin comedy turns surrealistic when Bert is stung by a Portuguese man-o-war and miraculously acquires the ability to heal wounds and clean the canal's foul water. Will Bert use his new powers for good or greed? Runs 8 p.m. Aug. 23 to 25, 30 to Sept. 1, 6 to 8, 13 to 15, 20 to 22, and 2 p.m. Aug. 26, Sept. 2, 9, 16 and 23.
"Ola Na Iwi (The Bones Live)": Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl's play was first produced during Kumu Kahua's 1994-95 season, but remains topical, about the treatment of indigenous human remains. A Honolulu theater group returns from an international tour with a set of Hawaiian bones reclaimed from a German museum. Several characters appear in pursuit of the bones, including the enigmatic Nanea, who may have the deepest connection and most important motivation of all. Runs 8 p.m. Nov. 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 15 to 17, 23, 24, 29, 30 and Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Dec. 2.
"Pele Ma": Based on the book "Pele Ma: Legends of Pele from Kaua'i" (Bamboo Ridge Press, 2001) by Frederick Wichman, these tales remind us that Pele legends usually associated with the Big Island also have a strong link to the Garden Isle. Tales begin with the arrival of the volcano goddess on Kauai, pursued by her angry sister, Namakaokaha'i, goddess of the sea. The second act focuses on the love triangle involving Pele, her sister Hi'iaka and Kauai chief Lohiau. Runs 8 p.m. Jan. 10 to 12, 17 to 19, 24 to 26, 31, Feb. 1 to 2, 7 to 9, and 2 p.m. Jan. 13, 20, 27 and Feb. 10.
"Magno Rubio": Hawaii premiere of an award-winning play based on a short story by Carlos Bulosan, a Depression-era California migrant worker who became a respected writer and activist. Magno pursues a long-distance courtship (via letters) of an Arkansas woman he meets via a lonely hearts magazine. The play poses questions of love and happiness while dealing with larger political issues of labor and racism. Parts are written in rhyming verse and set to music. Runs 8 p.m. March 13 to 15, 20 to 22, 27 to 29, April 3 to 5, 10 to 12, and 2 p.m. March 16, 30, April 6 and 13.
"Hostage Wife": Kumu Kahua world premiere tells of Dee Fernandez, whose husband works as a private-sector security guard watching over a power station in Iraq. When her husband is taken hostage, a government agent offers Dee comfort, companionship and, as they grow closer and when it is revealed that Dee's husband is violent, racist and abusive, the possibility of a new, brighter future. Runs 8 p.m. May 15 to 17, 22 to 24, 29 to 31, June 5 to 7, 12 to 14, and 2 p.m. May 18, 25, June 1, 8 and 15.

Leeward Community College

Mainstage

Performances at 96-045 Ala 'Ike, Pearl City. Varied discounts for groups of 8 or more, and 20 or more. Call 455-0380 or visit LCCTheatre.hawaii. edu.
"The Odyssey": Homer's tale of Odysseus' attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is presented in an adaptation by Mary Zimmerman. Runs 8 p.m. Nov. 9 to 10, 15 to 17, and 4 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets $15 adults and $13 students.

LCC -- Lab Theatre

LCC Ten Minute Play Festival: Annual program of student-produced short plays, with strong language and adult themes. Runs 4 and 8 p.m. Feb. 8 and 9. Tickets are $5.
"The Power of Desire: A Midsummer Nightmare": "A Midsummer Night's Dream" meets the "Sopranos" in this re-imagination of Shakespeare by local playwright Reb Beau Allen. The work contains everything magical from its predecessor, only much darker. Strong language and adult themes. Runs 8 p.m. April 3 to 5 and 10 to 12. Tickets $10.

Manoa Valley Theatre

Performances at 2833 E. Manoa Road. Season tickets are $145, for one ticket per play. A $150 flex pass allows five admissions for any combination of plays during the season. Call 988-6131 or go online at www.manoavalleytheatre.com. Showtimes at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays.
"The Musical of Musicals -- The Musical": The story of an ingenue who can't pay the rent and is threatened by her evil landlord becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a different master of the form: Rodgers and Hammerstein ("Oklahoma"), Stephen Sondheim ("Sweeney Todd"), Jerry Herman ("Hello, Dolly"), Andrew Lloyd Webber ("Phantom of the Opera") and Kander and Ebb ("Chicago"). Runs Sept. 5 to 23. Tickets, including one beverage, are $35 adults; $30 senior/military; $20 for 25 and younger.
"Plaid Tidings": In this holiday sequel to "Forever Plaid," the four-part 1950s harmony group tunes up on holiday songs and carols, along with a hilarious tribute to "The Ed Sullivan Christmas Spectaculars" featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and the Vienna Boys Choir. Perfect family entertainment! Runs Nov. 7 to 25. Tickets, including one beverage, are $35 adults; $30 senior/military; $20 for 25 and younger.
"Doubt": Set in a parochial school in the Bronx in 1964, the play -- winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for drama and 2005 Tony Award for Best Play -- is shaped as a battle of wills between the severe, absolutist Sister Aloysius and the more doctrinally flexible Father Flynn. As Sister pursues her intuition that the priest is molesting a boy in her school, the play presents conflicting viewpoints in examining the tenuous nature of faith and justice. Runs Jan. 16 to Feb. 3, 2008. Tickets are $25 adults; $20 senior/military; $15 for 25 and younger.
"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change": This celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as "the relationship." Act I explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. Runs March 5 to 23. Tickets are $30 adults; $25 senior/military; $15 for 25 and younger.
"And Then There Were None": Agatha Christie's mystery comedy whodunit (originally "Ten Little Indians") is about 10 people, each with something to hide and something to fear, lured to a lonely island mansion by a host who fails to appear. There, they are cut off from everything but each other. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts and succumb to a diabolical avenger. Runs May 14 to 25. Tickets are $25 adults; $20 senior/military; $15 for 25 and younger.
"Rocky Horror Show": The biggest, baddest rock 'n' roll musical ever, in which two clean-cut kids run into car trouble and seek help from Dr. Frank N. Furter, who is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments. What follows is a night of fun, frolics and frivolity with that sweet transvestite and his motley crew of misfits, complete with sass from the audience, cascading toilet paper and an array of other audience-participation props. Runs June 25 to July 13. Tickets, including one beverage, are $35 adults; $30 senior/military; $20 for 25 and younger.

University of Hawaii

Main Stage

Performances at Kennedy Theatre Main Stage. Call 956-7655, or visit http://www.hawaii.edu/kennedy.
"Kraken Ka, The Komodo Dragon" and other Pacific Rim Dragon Tales: Komodo dragons, weedy and leafy sea dragons, and starry dragons will be brought to life with actors, puppets, music and magic in this world-premiere production adapted from the new children's book "Kraken-Ka, The Komodo Dragon" by Jodi Parry Belknap and Tamara Montgomery. Runs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 22 and 29, and 2 p.m. Sept. 23 and 30. Ticket prices: $12 regular, $11 senior, military, UH faculty/staff, $10 children/student, $5 UHM student.
"Man of La Mancha": Don Quixote tilts at windmills and "dreams the impossible dream" in this musical version of Cervantes' classic story. UHM music professor John Mount plays the irrepressible knight who is joined in his quest by his "Dulcinea" and sidekick Sancho Panza. Directed by Glenn Cannon. Runs 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 10 and 14 to 17, and 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Tickets: are $16 regular; $14 senior, military, UH fac/staff; $11 student; $5 UHM student with valid Fall '07 ID.
"A (Balinese) Tempest": In an unusual adaptation of Shakespeare's most musical and magical play, guest artist Larry Reed, artistic director of ShadowLight Productions in San Francisco, fuses Balinese and Elizabethan elements with shadowcasting, utilizing a giant screen and live performers to create a shadow theater performance with musical accompaniment by the UH Balinese Gamelan Ensemble. I Nyoman Sumandhi of Bali is musical director. Runs 8 p.m. Jan. 25, 26, 31, Feb. 1 and 2, and 2 p.m. Feb. 3. Tickets $16 regular; $14 senior, military, UH fac/staff; $11 student; $5 UHM student with valid Spring '08 ID.
"The Servant of Many Masters": This newly worked twist on Goldoni's "The Servant of Two Masters" tells of a servant mistakenly employed by more than one master, so spends all his time avoiding getting caught. Added to the mix are a fiancé returned from the dead, girls dressed as guys, guys dressed as girls, a play within a play, commedia dell 'arte and guest improvisers to keep things funny and fresh! Runs 8 p.m. April 11, 12 and 17 to 19, and 2 p.m. April 20. Tickets $16 regular; $14 senior, military, UH fac/staff; $11 student; $5 UHM student with valid Spring '08 ID.

UH - Earle Ernst Lab Theatre

"Wild Man": Nobel Prize Laureate Gao Xingjian tells of a small town lost between tradition and modernity, where forest is being destroyed by logging and a group of newly arrived reporters get caught up in a search for the yeti. Runs 8 p.m. Aug. 29 to 31 and Sept. 1, and 2 p.m. Sept. 2. Tickets $12 regular; $10 senior, military, UH fac/staff, student; $4 UHM student with valid Fall '08 ID.
"Rejoice in the Lamb": Two women's lives run a parallel course of constraint and self-discover -- but one inhabits the world of 1900, the other the world of 2000. This eerie and challenging play by UHM playwriting candidate DeMoville contains adult themes and is recommended for mature audiences only. Runs 8 p.m. Nov. 28 to 30 and Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Dec. 2. Tickets $12 regular; $10 senior, military, UH fac/staff, student; $4 UHM student with valid Fall '08 ID.

UH - Late Night Productions

All performances are at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
"Mercury: Science Fiction Theatre": Three fantastical one-acts written by Terry Bisson and James Patrick-Kelley, two of the greatest living science fiction writers. This is not your "Captain Kirk" style sci-fi, but a quirky demented combination akin to "The Twilight Zone" meets David Lynch! Runs 11 p.m. Sept. 22, 28, 29, and 8 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets $10 regular; $8 senior, military, UH faculty/staff, student; $4 UHM student.
"Steve Martin's Naughty Bits": An evening of scathing hilarity as Late Night presents "Wasp" and other lesser known works by one of America's favorite funnymen. Runs 11 p.m. Nov. 10, 16 and 17, and 8 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets $10 regular; $8 senior, military, UH faculty/staff, student; $4 UHM student with Fall '07 I.D.
"Late Night: TBA": The third installment in this season's Late Night Series. Spring '08 shows are chosen in early winter '07 so keep an eye out for what's to come. March 1 through 8, and April 12 through 19. Tickets $10 regular; $8 senior, military, UH faculty/staff, student; $4 UHM student with Spring '08 I.D.

Windward Community College

Performances at Paliku Theatre on campus, 45-720 Keaahala Road, Kaneohe. Tickets are $26 adults; $22 for 65-plus, active military and UH faculty and staff; and $18 for students and children. Call 235-7310 or visit www.eTicketHawaii.com.
"The Pajama Game": Ron Bright directs this musical about labor troubles at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, where worker demands for a 7-and-a-half-cent raise go unheeded, while love blossoms between the head of the complaint committee and new factory superintendent. Runs 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays Aug. 24 to Sept. 16.
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz": A new take on the classic story, using author L. Frank Baum himself as the narrator of the story. Runs 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, and 2 p.m. Feb. 10. Tickets $12 adults, and $9 children and students.

Dance

Ballet Hawaii

"The Nutcracker": The magic of the holidays springs to life on stage. Runs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at Maui Cultural Arts Center, 808-242-7469. Tickets $25 to $45, go on sale Oct. 6. Oahu performances at Blaisdell Concert Hall 8 p.m. Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22, and 2 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets $25 to $75 ($150 opening night prima package). Call 521-8600.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: The world's foremsot all-male comic ballet company makes their Honolulu return. Runs Feb. 16 and 17 at Hawaii Theatre.
Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago: The dynamic jazz company shows their creativity in movement. Runs March 16 at Hawaii Theatre.

Leeward Community College

"The Nutcracker": Classic holiday ballet presented by Hawaii Ballet Theater, with tickets available through HBT only. Runs 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15, and 4 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16.
Doug Varone and Dancers: Longtime company member and Hilo native Eddie Taketa returns to dance in an evening that will feature a new piece set to Jake Shimabukuro's music. Also planned is a piece called "Castles" that invokes the romances of fairy tale characters. Runs 8 p.m. Jan. 19, 2008. Tickets $23 adults, and $19 for students, seniors and military.
"Kahekili": Said to be Kamehameha the Great's father, Kahekili was a warrior and crafty politician who became the de facto ruler of all but the Big Island. Kumu hula Hokulani Holt and four Maui halau have collaborated to create a hula drama about Kahekili employing traditional styling and formats that existed during the Maui chief's lifetime, including marriage, awa ceremonies and chiefly practices. Runs 8 p.m. March 15. Tickets $25 adult and $21 students, seniors and military.
LCC Dance Festival: Members of local dance companies and schools join the LCC Dance program to exhibit the best creativity in movement. Runs 7:30 p.m. April 25 and 26. Tickets $12 adults, and $10 students, seniors and military.

University of Hawaii

"Fall Footholds": UHM dance program kicks off the year with new work by UHM student choreographers and performers. Features the MFA thesis project of Beth Elliott and the BFA senior project of Maryann L. Peterson. At Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Runs: 8 p.m. Oct. 17 to 20, and 2 p.m. Oct. 21. Tickets $12 regular; $10 senior, military, UH fac/staff, student; $4 UHM student with valid Fall '07 ID.
Atamira Dance Collective: Maori Contemporary Dance Theatre works reflect history, legends, contemporary issues, personal stories and whakapapa (genealogy/tribal links). The company encourages innovation in contemporary dance and choreography, while still respecting the Maori heritage. At the Kennedy Theatre main stage. Runs 4 p.m. Feb. 10. Tickets $20 regular; $15 senior, mlitary, UH fac/staff; $10 students and UHM students with valid ID. Add $5 per ticket at the door.
Annual dance concert: Features choreography by UHM faculty and guest artists, with students performing. At Kennedy Theatre main stage. Runs 8 p.m. Feb. 29, March 1, 7 and 8, and 2 p.m. March 9.
"Spring Footholds": Thesis projects from MFA candidates Becky Helfert and Amy Redmond, and the senior project from graduating BFA candidate Sarah Hartley. At Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Runs 8 p.m. April 30, May 1, 2, and 3; and 2 p.m. May 4. Tickets $12 regular; $10 senior, military, UH fac/staff; student, $4 UHM student with valid Spring '08 ID.

Special

Blaisdell Center concert Hall

"Disney's The Lion King": Julie Taymor's stage vision of the Disney animated film, with music, dance, puppetry and stilts makes its Honolulu debut, presented by West Coast Entertainment. Runs Sept. 15 to Dec. 9. Tickets are $30 to $150. Call 591-2211.

Leeward Community College

"I-Land": Semiautobiographical performance by Keo Woolford, who dances and talks story about his awkward transition from a cocky disco-dancing kid to a disciplined member of Robert Cazimero's Halau Na Kamalei, to membership in the boy band Brownskin, while discovering his identity as a Hawaiian. His onstage transformation from street clothes to dance in lei po'o, kupe'e and hau pa'u has been hailed as stunning in L.A. and NYC performances. Runs 8 p.m. Oct. 19. Tickets $23 adults, $19 for students, seniors and military.

"Paul Zaloom -- Mother of All Enemies": As the zany title character on TV's "Beakman's World," Zaloom has a long history of using found objects and puppetry to satirize social issues. Here, Zaloom races around the stage employing shadow puppetry, drawings and his voice to reflect on "the consequences of being on the fringes of society." Runs 8 p.m. Feb. 1, 2008. Tickets $23 adults, and $19 students, seniors and military.

University of Hawaii

"Peter and the Wolf": Jim Gamble and His Puppets return to present this classic tale of how Peter saves the town from a wolf, using rod puppets and performing to Prokofiev's famous score at the Kennedy Theatre Main Stage. Runs 2 p.m. Jan. 13. Ticket $12 regular; $11 senior, military, UH fac/staff; $10 children/student; $5 UHM student with valid Fall '07 or Spring '08 ID.

Auditions

"Fences": The Actors' Group is looking for four African-American male actors, from teens to 60s, and two African-American female actors, from teens to 40s. Auditions take place at the Yellow Brick Studio, 625 Keawe St., from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 25 and 26. Readings will be from the script. Call director Derrick Brown at 387-5798 or visit www.taghawaii.net.
"The Imaginary Invalid": At Hawaii Pacific University Paul and Vi Loo Theatre, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, at 7 p.m. Sept. 7, noon Sept. 8, and noon Sept. 9. Scripts available at the Windward and Downtown campus libraries. Call 254-0853.
"Fiddler on the Roof": Auditions Sept. 10 to 12 for the Army Community Theatre production.
"The Odyssey": At Leeward Community College Theatre Mainstage, 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21 and 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 22. Perusal copies of the play will be available from Sept. 4. Call Paul Cravath at 455-0549 for information.
"The Constant Wife": At Hawaii Pacific University Paul and Vi Loo Theatre, Jan. 25 to 27, 2008. Call 254-0853.