Chino Community Theatre presents the heavenly musical comedy Nunsense, written by Dan Goggin and directed by Christopher Diehl. 

Performances run May 9-31, 2008, on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm at the Seventh Street Theater, located at 13123 7th St. in Chino.

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors, and students with proper ID. Call 909-590-1149 for reservations.

Special Reception for Opening Night Patrons of Nunsense:  Following the performance, take your theater ticket one block to Royalty Cakes for complimentary coffee and baked treats!  Address is 5236 D Street in Chino.  Phone: 909-628-8840.

Nunsense is the first in a long line of musicals featuring the Little Sisters of Hoboken from the Mount St. Helen’s School: budding ballerina Sister Mary Leo, soulful Sister Mary Hubert, streetwise Sister Robert Anne, stern but spirited Sister Mary Regina, and scatterbrained Sister Mary Amnesia (who lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head).   When some tainted vichyssoise soup takes the lives of 52 sisters, the remaining nuns put on a benefit to pay for their burial.  The resulting show is a hilarious and tuneful extravaganza, as only the twisted Catholic mind of Dan Goggin could (immaculately) conceive.

The wonderfully talented ensemble consists of Gracie Arvizu as Hubert, Susan Gutierrez as Robert Anne, Gabriella La Susa as Leo, Kimberly Patten as Amnesia and Joyce Warhop as Regina, with musical direction by Nathaniel Brown and choreography by Juan Luis Torres and Derek Macumber.

Riverside Community Players will present Something in the Air, a comedy written by Richard Dresser and directed by Adam Demerath.

In a nameless American city, a man named Walker has hit rock bottom. Seeking help, he finds himself in the office of Neville, a man he believes is a psychoanalyst. However, Neville is actually a financial analyst who offers Walker a sure fire investment: buying the life insurance policy of a dying man. It is a diabolically brilliant plan!  But what happens if the dying man doesn’t die?

For reservations and information call: (951) 686-4030.

Tickets - $15.00
NO LATE SEATING
No children under 5 years of age admitted
 
Box Office - Opens on May 12th and will be open Monday-Saturday 6pm-8pm and Sunday 12pm-2pm through the run of the show. On the day of the show, the hour prior to curtain time is reserved for business pertaining to that performance only.

Riverside Community Players is located at 4026 14th Street in Riverside.  Take the 14th Street exit off the 91 Freeway. Head west on 14th past the Riverside Community Hospital. Turn left into the driveway marked 4000 for the hospital. The theater will be immediately to your left.

Heartland Players Theatre Company presents Broadway, Our Way! Join us for a wonderful evening filled with laughter and timeless music featuring hit songs from Broadway’s greatest musicals. Two nights only.

Broadway, Our Way is a special fund-raising event and a portion of the ticket sales will benefit Yucaipa’s Kid’s Club. because at Heartland Players Theater we believe in giving back to the community and we believe in creating a better future.

Tickets:
All Seats $10 on the day of the event.
No reservations required.

For more information visit www.heartlandplayers.org or call (909) 838-4356.

The Riverside City College Off Broadway Play Series presents The Triangle Factory Fire Project, written by Christopher Piehler in collabortation with Scott Alan Evans and directed by Bill Mittler.

For tickets call (951) 222-8100 or go online at www.landispac.com. (Read on …)

Theater Arts guild  presents The Owl and the  Pussy Cat written by Bill Manhoff and featuring Michael Barrett and Sheila Fares.

• $12 Adults
• $10 Senior and students

From a San Francisco loft, a stuffy author observes a prostitute plying her trade. He has her evicted, but she comes
knocking with a vengeance. She figures he owes her a pad for the night, an arrangement that leads to hilarity.

Performances will be held at the High Desert Center for the Arts located at the corner 8th and “C” in Old Town Victorville.  Call 760-243-7493 for more information.
 

Redlands Footlighters final production of the regular season, Everybody Loves Opal, opens Thursday, May 1 and runs through May 18.

This hilariously funny play, written by John Patrick and directed by Teresa Dolan, features Shirley Johnson Lamb as Opal, the naive and kindhearted bag lady;  Michael Annis (as Sol) and Cash Morgan (as Brad), con men out to scam the poor lady;  Jennifer Blanck (as Gloria), their cohort in crime;  Bob Miller as the doctor;  and Jeremy Kruizenga as the policeman.

Through all the mayhem, Opal radiates kindness, affection and, strangely enough, gratitude.  Labeled “goofy, extravagant and enjoyable” by the New York Daily News, this show is suitable for all ages.

Tickets for this show are $14 ($10 students) and can be reserved by calling the box office at 909-793-2909.  Evening shows start at 8:00pm and Sunday matinees are at 2:00pm.  Group rates are available.  The theater is located at 1810 Barton Road, between Alabama and California Streets.

Riverside Youth Theatre is proud to be the first community theatre in the Riverside area to present Aida!  Debbie Wolgemuth directs our musical production of Aida, with choreography by Marcus S. Daniels (straight off from performing in the West Coast Tour of Disney’s High School Musical), and music direction by Steve Wolgemuth.

Aida will be performed at the Wallace Theater, on the campus of California Baptist University, at 8432 Magnolia Avenue (between Adams and Monroe Streets) in Riverside.

Seating is reserved with tickets at $12.00 for all ages. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $10 each. Riverside Youth Theatre performances are not suitable for any children under 4 years, including babes in arms. (Read on …)

Murrieta Repertory Theatre presents Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, directed by Jim Marbury, April 25-May 17. 

View flyer (PDF) with details for MRT’s production of The Crucible

For tickets and reservations, contact the box office at (951) 600-7273.  Performances will be held at the Murrieta Community Center located at 41810 Juniper Street in Murrieta. 

This exciting drama based on real-life events of the Puritan purge of witchcraft in 1692 Salem is both a gripping historical play and an allegory for our contemporary society.  The story focuses upon a young farmer, his wife, and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft.  The farmer brings the girl to court to admit the lie – and it is here that the spellbinding course of hypocritical bigotry and monstrous deceit is devastatingly depicted.  The farmer, instead of saving his wife, finds himself also accused of witchcraft and ultimately condemned with a host of others. (Read on …)

Act One Theater Arts proudly presents Into the Woods.  

Once upon a time, a baker and his wife journey into the woods on a quest to lift a witch’s curse.  On the way they cross paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and a menagerie of other fairy tale characters.   They pursue individual wishes until their stories become entangled in unexpected ways - revealing what happens “happily ever after”. 

Steven Sondheim’s wickedly witty score weaves a magical spell, and two separate yet very talented casts perform this surprising and entertaining show.  

Shows run at two venues over three weekends.  For tickets call Act One Theater Arts at (951) 304-1010 or (800) 977-ACT1.    (Read on …)

RCC’s Off Broadway Play Series will present  Six Degrees of Separation, written by John Guare and directed by Gary Krinke, this weekend only.  For tickets call (951) 222-8100.

Performances wil take place at Landis Performing Arts Center, located on the Riverside City College Campus.

This project contains nudity and is for mature audiences only.  (Read on …)

Rialto Community Players proudly presents Little Women the Musical to the Inland Empire. This is a spectacular show premiering only at RCP this season.  From the novel by Louisa May Alcott and directed by James Griffin, the show runs May 2nd through June 1, 2008.

Tickets: $15.00 for adults, $12.00 for students & seniors
Reservations/Box Office: (909) 873-8514

Production Synopsis
Based on Louisa May Alcott’s own family experiences (and novel), Little Women follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues relevant today as when they were written. Now, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting of the spirit. This powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice. In years to come, we are sure that hundreds of productions by schools and theatres throughout the world will make this stage adaptation of the American classic novel a classic musical theatre treasure in its own right. (Read on …)

LifeHouse Theater proudly presents Charlotte Bronte’s most beloved novel with the world premiere musical Jane Eyre.

Performances begin Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 7:30 PM and will continue on weekends through June 8, 2008.  Performances are Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2:15 PM and 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:15 PM.  In addition to the weekend performances, there will be a special Thursday performance on June 5 at 7:30 PM.  The performances on Saturday, June 7 will also feature an interpreted presentation for the hearing impaired.

Advance ticket prices are $12 or $17 for adults and $6 or $9 for children ages 3-11 (no children under 3 are admitted) and can be purchased over the phone with a Visa or MasterCard by calling 335-3037, ext. 21.  Checks can also be mailed to LifeHouse, provided reservations are made far enough in advance.  Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office, which is open Fridays from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and one hour prior to performance times on the weekends.  Tickets are $1 more the day of the performance.  Group rates are available for groups of ten or more.  Guests are encouraged to reserve seats early as most performances usually sell out.

Jane Eyre is directed by Debby Race with the musical score for the production by Jana Smith and Brad Roseborough.  Dustin Ceithamer serves as choreographer.  Set design is by Tim Mahoney. (Read on …)

Riverside Children’s Theatre will present William R. Dixon’s Alice in Wonderland at the UCR Theatre in Riverside Fridays May 2nd and 9th at 7:00pm and Saturdays May 3rd and 10th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm.

Tickets: 
10.00 Pre-sale,  12.00 at the Door
Tickets may be purchased at the following ticket outlets:  Capezio Dance - Tyler, Imagine That! - Canyon Crest, Alin Party Supply -Magnolia, and Mr.D’s - Corona, or through or website at www.riversidechildrenstheatre.org.

Temecula Valley Players are presenting Steel Magnolias at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, opening on May 2nd.

Directed by Terri Miller Schmidt, who also directed last years TVP production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. Revolving around a small Louisianan beauty parlor, Steel Magnolias is a story of a close knit circle of friends whose lives come together in humor and heartbreak.

Tickets: $17; Group rates are available.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.temeculatheater.org or by phone at 1.866.653.8696.

Old Town Community Theater
42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590

For more information please go to www.temeculavalleyplayers.com

LifeHouse Theater is presenting a special performance of The Promised Land, an original rock opera based on the Old Testament books of the Bible.  This powerful musical experience will be presented the evening of Sunday, April 20, at 7:30 PM.  All seats are $10.00. (Read on …)

Play with Your Food Productions will present Funny Money, written by Ray Cooney. Lunch shows at 1:15 pm on May 17, 18, 24, and 25. Dinner shows at 6:30 pm on May 16, 17, 23, and 24.

Henry A. Perkins, a mild mannered C.P.A, accidentally picks up the wrong briefcase- one full of money. Henry assumes it is illicit cash and he decides to keep it. Knowing that the former owner must have his briefcase, he rushes home to book one-way fares to Barcelona. He tells his confused wife to leave everything behind; if she doesn’t like Barcelona, they can go to Bali. In fact, they can buy Bali! The doorbell rings as they wait for their taxi. (Read on …)

Norco Theatre Conservatory presents Grease May 2 through May 10.  For more information or to make reservations, call 951-372-7000 ext 5400.

Performances will be held at the RCC-Norco campus located at 2001 Third St. in Norco.

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Chicago opens at the Mount San Jacinto College Campus Theatre on Friday, April 11 for six performances only.

From the award-winning directors of the MSJC Performing Arts productions Kiss of the Spider Woman, Wonderful Town, Cabaret, and others, comes this razzle-dazzle tale of corruption and sin, in the prohibition jazz-age of Chicago. Featuring knock-out dancing and musical numbers, this musical satire of the “celebrity criminal” will thrill all.

Reservations recommended: 951-487-3790
General Admission: $15
ASB/Child: $8

MSJC Campus Theater is located at 1499 N. State Street in San Jacinto. 

Fontana Community Players will present Steel Magnolias, directed by Lisa Lanier, April 11 through April 20 at the Fontana Community Theater located at 8443 Nuevo Ave. in Fontana.

Tickets: General admission $10, Students & Seniors $8, under 12 $6 
Reservation call 909-822-4052

The action centers around Truvy’s beauty parlor and some women who regularly gather there. The drama begins on the morning of Shelby’s wedding to Jackson and covers events over the next year, including Shelby’s decision to have a child despite having Type 1 diabetes and the complications that result from the decision. We also get a glimpse of the unlikely friendship between Claire and Ouiser; Annelle’s transformation from a shy, anxious newcomer in town, to a partying woman, then to a religious fundamentalist; and Truvy’s relationships with the men in her family. Although the main storyline involves Shelby, her mother, and Shelby’s medical battles, the underlying group-friendship among all six women is prominent throughout the drama.

FTC Inland Theatre Works presents the 3D Theatre Festival: a 3-night short-play competition with great prizes, including cash, where each night has a different theme: Deception, Disorder, and Dirt.

Performances will be held  at Arroyo Valley High School Theatre in San Bernardino (1881 W. Baseline St.).

Tickets are $10, students $5

• April 11th at 7pm: Deception
  Performance competition of published plays
• April 12th at 7pm: Disorder
  Performance competition of original plays
• April 13th at 5pm: Dirt
  6 finalists (3 each from the first two nights) will compete in their own category for 1st – 3rd places. While judges tabulate,  original “dirty” monologues will be performed.  The twist? You can throw sponges and rags at the actors! 

Questions? Email info@ftcsb.org or call 909-954-4540.