Times Leader

Starting Wednesday, with ‘Pay What You Want Night,’ The Northeast Theatre, which performs at Scranton’s Hotel Jermyn, will present ‘The Key,’ the story of a man who creates puppets from castoff material.

A poet (Paul Winarski) is just one of the suitors trying to woo a young German hausfrau (Dawn Winarski) away from her husband in Bracken Theatre’s production of the satire ‘The Underpants,’ which continues in Exeter this weekend.

THIS WEEK: SEPT. 22 to 28, 2006

La Cage aux Folles, the theatrical inspiration for the hit movie “The Birdcage,” about a gay couple whose domestic tranquility is shattered when a son, fathered during a one-night fling, decides to marry the daughter of a bigoted politician. Corner Bistro Dinner Theater, 76-78 S. Main St., Carbondale. Tonight and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. $26 includes dinner and show. 282-7499.

Lust, Lugers and Larceny, a takeoff on the pulp detective novels of the 1940s and ’50s with hard-boiled detectives and gangsters. Performed by the Endless Mountains Theatre Company and written by troupe member David Schmidt. Montrose Area High School, 50 High School Road, Montrose. Tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 278-7828 or 4emtc.org.

Steel Magnolias, comedy-drama about a close-knit circle of female friends who gather at Truvy’s Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana. Performed by the Applause Theatre Company, 409 Main St., Duryea. Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m. $12. 457-41 15.

The Underpants, a farce by Steve Martin, set in 1910 Germany. Performed by the Bracken Theatre Company at the Showcase Theatre, 54 Tunkhannock Ave., Exeter. Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. $12. 654-2555

Nunsense, the original comedy about the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Through Oct. 8. Performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Dinner served 90 minutes before showtime. 283-2195 or musicbox.org.

A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams’ memorable drama about the fragile Southern beauty Blanche DuBois and her crudely sensual brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski. Presented by the newly formed regional troupe the Off-Broadway Forum. F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Saturday at 7:30 p.m. $21. 826-1 100.

Yo Soy Latina! A journey into the anecdotes of six Latina women who justify their differences and discover their obvious similarities. Burke Auditorium, William G. McGowan School of Business, West Union and North River streets, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. Monday at 6 p.m. 208-5900.

The Key, a monodrama created and performed by Richard Grunn and presented by the Northeast Theatre. About a mysterious Italian puppeteer who creates puppets out of garbage and prompts others to encounter something revealing about their lives as they retrieve lost luggage from a train station’s Lost and Found. Hotel Jermyn, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. Wednesday (“Pay What You Can Night”) and Thursday ($5) at 7 p.m. Performances continue Sept. 29-30 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. $15, $10 seniors, $5 students. 558-1515 or thenortheasttheatre.us.

The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare’s bawdy comedy about the volatile courtship between the shrewish Katharina and the canny Petruchio. Performed by the King’s Players at the King’s College Theater, Administration Building, 133 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Sept. 29-30 and Oct. 2-3 at 7:30 p.m. $7, $4 seniors and students. 208-5900.

Jesus Christ Superstar, a performance by the national touring company with Ted Neeley as Jesus and Corey Glover as Judas. Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport. Thursday at 7 p.m. $60, $50, $40. 800-432-9382.

The Laramie Project, drama about the town of Laramie, its citizens and their reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay university student. Presented by the Wilkes University Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, West South Street at South River Street, Wilkes-Barre. Opens Thursday at 8 p.m. Performances continue Sept. 29-30 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. 408-4450.

Eight Short Plays, selected from submissions to the Northeast Pennsylvania Writers Competition in Lackawanna County. Included: “Nixon’s Last 15 Minutes” by Tom Flannery; “My Hands” by Arnine Weiss and “If You Go into the Woods” by Loretta Mestishen. Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. Opens Thursday at 8 p.m. Performances continue Sept. 29-30 at 8 p.m. $3. 342-9707 or actorscircle.org.

On the Verge, a comedy by Eric Overmyer about three Victorian female explorers setting out on a mirthful safari to darkest Africa, Himalaya and Terra Incognita, spinning into time travel to modern times. Performed by the University of Scranton Players at the McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts on campus. Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. 941-3218.

Moon Over Buffalo. Hilarious misunderstandings and madcap misadventures accompany an acting couple on tour in 1953 Buffalo, where famed director Frank Capra is en route to catch one of their performances. Shawnee Playhouse, 1 River Road, Shawnee on Delaware. Sept. 29 to Oct. 29. Performances Thursdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. $22, $14 children. 800-742-9633 or shawneeinn.com.

Much Ado About Nothing. Will deception ambush the youthful romance of Hero and Claudio? Can Cupid’s arrows pierce the anti-amorous armor of Beatrice and Benedick? It’s up to a bumbling crew of constables to sort the out the pranks in Shakespeare’s evergreen comedy. Performed by the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St., Bloomsburg. Oct. 7 to 29 with previews Oct. 5-6 at 7 p.m. Performances Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. $22, $14 seniors, $9 students and children; $8 previews. 800-282-0283 or bte.org.

Mid-Life Crisis Comedy Tour. Four comedians – Buzz Nutley, Brad Upton, Jimmy Brogan and Cathy Ladman – celebrate the years between 40 and 60 with hilarious results. Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington St., Scranton. Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. $22. 344-1 1 1 1.

The History of the Devil, Clive Barker’s play in which an unhappy Satan, missing God and heaven, submits to a trial during which he must face a judge and jury to account for eons of crimes that may be the fault of the devil – or mankind. Performed by Bracken Theatre Company at the Showcase Theatre, 54 Tunkhannock Ave., Exeter. Oct. 13-14 and 20-21 at 8 p.m. 239-0857.

The Rat Pack Encore, a tribute to the Las Vegas antics of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. as the look-alike performers sing, clown, smoke, drink and carouse in the inimitable style of the original trio. Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport. Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. $35, $25, $15. 800-432-9382.

Beauty and the Beast, national tour of the Broadway musical hit, based on the popular fairy tale and spun with pure Disney magic. Hershey Theatre, 15 E. Caracas St., Hershey. Oct. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 21 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 22 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. $30 to $65. 717-534-3405 or hersheytheatre.com.

Boston Marriage, David Mamet’s droll comedy of manners about two unmarried Victorian “women of fashion” – one who is the scheming mistress of a wealthy man. Oct. 18 to 29. Performed by the Northeast Theatre at the Hotel Jermyn, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. Performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. “Pay what you want” on Wednesdays; $5 Thursdays, all other days $20, $15 seniors, $5 students. 558-1515 or thenortheasttheatre.us.

The Cemetery Club, Ivan Mitchell’s funny and sweet-tempered play about three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before visiting their husbands’ graves. Performed by Actors Circle at the Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. Opens with a preview performance Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ($8, $6). Continues Oct. 20 to 29 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. $12, $10 seniors, $8 students. 342-9707 or actorscircle.org.

Close Encounters of the Murdered Kind, an audience-participation murder mystery, written and directed by Billy Joe Herbert. Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Oct. 20-21 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. Buffet served 90 minutes before showtime. $27. 283-2195 or musicbox.org.

Love Letters, A.R. Gurney’s comedy-drama about two childhood friends who go their separate ways yet continue to share confidences through letters. Starring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman. F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. $70, $55, $45, $35. 826-1 100.

A Night of Super Illusion, a complete theatrical experience with digital music and comedy surrounding feats of magic and illusion performed by Mike Super. Haas Center for the Arts, Mitrani Hall, Bloomsburg University, 200 E. 2nd St., Bloomsburg. Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. $20, $10 children. 389-4409.

Trouble at the Tropicabana, an audience-participation murder mystery with “I Love Lucy” characters Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel. Performed by the Lakeside Players at the Seventh Avenue Center, 431 N. Seventh Ave., Scranton. Oct. 21 with doors at 5 p.m. and buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by the show. 348-6484.

Mamma Mia! Three love stories woven around the hit songs of Swedish pop group ABBA. Presented by the Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania and performed by a national touring company at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. Oct. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 28 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Oct. 29 at 2 and 7 p.m. $65, $62, $55, $52, $35, $32. 342-7784 or broadwayscranton.com.

A Number, Caryl Churchill’s two-man play about the interplay between a father and son as they have a 50-minute conversation while relaxing on a couch. Performed by the University of Scranton Players at the McDade Center for the Literary and Performing Arts on campus. Oct. 26-28 at 8 p.m.; Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. $8, $5 seniors. 941-4318.

The Rocky Horror Show, the creepy cult classic accompanied by a live rock band. Performed by the Pennsylvania Theatre of Performing Arts at the Strand Roller Rink, 1 10 W. Blaine St., McAdoo. Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 3-4 at 10 p.m. 454-5451 or ptpashows.org.

Dracula, a melodramatic reading of the vampire tale by the American Readers Theatre Company. Grey Towers National Historic Site, Route 6, Milford. Oct. 28 at 6 and 8 p.m. $10 advance, $15 at the door. 296-9630.

Carmen Jones, an updating of Bizet’s opera “Carmen” with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein Jr. Set in an all-black army camp, the story follows the tempestuous parachute-maker as she pursues a young military officer who is engaged to another. Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport. Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. $40, $30, $20. 800-432-9382.

Auditions for the Music Box Players’ production of “Close Encounters of the Murdered Kind,” an audience-participation murder mystery. Needed: adults age 16 and older. Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. 283-2195.

Auditions for the Music Box Players’ production of “A Christmas Carol,” scheduled for Nov. 25 to Dec. 17. Needed: adults age 16 and older and children age 8 to 15. Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Oct. 23 and 24 with children at 7 p.m. and adults at 8 p.m. 283-2195.

Auditions for performing and visual artists and volunteers for the October 6 Arts Madness in the Mansion event at Arts YOUniverse, 156 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Local musicians, writers, actors, dancers, comedians and visual artists are welcome to showcase new works. Information: 709-6709.

Auditions for the Gaslight Theatre Company’s January production of Michael Hollinger’s dark comedy “Incorruptible.” Burke Auditorium, McGowan School of Business, North River and West Union streets, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. Nov. 20-21 at 6:30 p.m. All roles open. 824-8266 or gaslight-theatre.org.