2009-10 Southern Nevada theater schedule

SEPTEMBER
Sept 10-Sept. 26: Jade Productions/Super Summer Theatre presents Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso’s adaptation of Studs Terkel’s “Working,” a musical that offers a varied look at America’s labor force; at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, about 15 miles west of Las Vegas off Charleston Boulevard (594-7529).

Sept. 11-Sept. 19: The Katherine Gianaclis Park for the Arts presents three original plays by local Sean Critchfield: “Headlights,” a comedy about a tested friendship; “King’s Corridor,” about a man trying to communicate with his late father; and “Waiting,” an exploration of what makes a hero. All take place in the park’s indoor and outdoor venue, at 5690 S. Boulder Highway (erniecurcio@hotmail.com).

Sept. 11-Sept. 27: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap,” about a man who will stop at nothing to have a hit play; on LVLT’s mainstage, 3920 Schiff Drive (362-7996).

Sept. 11-Sept. 20: LVLT presents Craig Wright’s “Recent Tragic Events,” about a woman’s personal connection to the World Trade Center disaster (it’s a comedy believe it or not); at LVLT’s Fischer Black Box, 3920 Schiff Drive (362-7996).

Sept. 16-Sept. 25: The British National Theatre of America presents an original physical theater piece, “Durty Nelly’s Lullaby,” a love story set in a Northern Irish pub; at McMullan’s Irish Pub, 4650 W. Tropicana Ave. (497-0159).

Sept. 17-Oct. 11: The Onyx Theatre presents Jamie Morris’ “Mommie Queerest” — not the dearest tribute to Joan Crawford, but one that reveals what may have been the movie queen’s deep dark secret; at the Onyx, 953 E. Sahara Ave., No. 16 (732-7225).

Sept. 18-27: The Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Neil LaBute’s “Reasons to Be Pretty,” about how a young man’s comments about his girlfriend’s physical imperfections affect their relationship; at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Black Box Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway (895-3143).

Sept. 18-Oct. 4: Atlas Theatre and the College of Southern Nevada present Dan Studney and Kevin Murphy’s 1999 adaptation of the 1936 cult film classic “Reefer Madness,” about the horrible consequences of smoking even just a puff of marijuana. This time out it’s called “Reefer Madness — the Musical”; at CSN’s BackStage Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas (651-5483).

Sept.19-Oct. 17: The Utah Shakespearean Festival presents, in repertory, Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield’s “The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged),” featuring all 37 of the Bard’s plays in a 97-minute comic adaptation; Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s novel “The Woman in Black,” about a ghost sighting; and Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie,” about a dying old man who teaches a middle-age former student of his some lessons about life. All three are at the Randall L. Jones Theatre, 351 W. Center St. in Cedar City, Utah (800-752-9849).

OCTOBER
Oct. 2-3: Theatre in the Valley presents William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” about a bounty hunter’s determination to make a woman fall in love with him; at the Henderson Amphitheater, 200 S. Water St.

Oct. 2-4: The Onyx Theatre presents Kurt Koehler and Oscar Quintero’s “Chico’s Angels No. 2: Love Boat Chicas,” about three Latina detectives who failed the police academy; at the Onyx, 953 E. Sahara Ave., No. 16.

Oct. 2-11: Rainbow Company presents David Wood’s version of Roald Dahl’s children’s story “The Witches,” about a spirited battle to rub out all the children of England; at Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Oct. 2-11: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical “Company,” about a 35-year-old bachelor exploring the benefits and drawbacks of marriage; at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

Oct. 8-17: Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts renders a version of Celeste Raspanti’s “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” about children in a concentration camp; at the school’s Black Box, 10th Street and Lewis Avenue.

Oct. 22-Nov. 21: Signature Productions presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The King and I,” about a British nanny and the bald-headed King of Siam; at the Summerlin Library Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive.

Oct. 23-Nov. 1: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents David Mamet’s “The Shawl,” about an amateur psychic who might be trying to swindle a woman who has just lost her mother; at LVLT’s Fischer Black Box, 3920 Schiff Drive.

NOVEMBER
Nov. 4-8: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents “Pink Champagne,” an original master of fine arts candidate play by Neil Haven, about an older gay man suddenly forced to deal with his estranged family; at UNLV’s Paul Harris Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.

Nov. 5-14: Las Vegas Academy presents John Cariani’s “Almost, Maine,” about mystical happenings in a remote, mythical town; at the school’s Lowden Theatre, Ninth Street and Clark Avenue.

Nov. 6-22: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents David Ives’ interpretation of Mark Twain’s “Is He Dead?” a fictional account of a clever scheme painter Jean Francois Millet uses to get out of debt; on LVLT’s mainstage, 3920 Schiff Drive.

Nov. 6-22: College of Southern Nevada mounts Maurice Valency’s adaptation of Jean Giraudoux’s “The Madwoman Of Chaillot,” about an elderly Parisian woman who invents a unique sort of vengeance on society; at CSN’s BackStage Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas.

Nov. 11-15: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents master of fine arts candidate Jeremiah Munsey’s “The Way It Has To Be,” about a young woman trying to stop her family’s cycle of violence; at UNLV’s Paul Harris Theatre.

Nov. 12-21: Test Market presents a Beckett Festival; check Web site (thebeckettfestival.com) and box office on show dates to confirm productions, times and locations.

Nov. 13-22: Theatre in the Valley presents Joe DiPietro’s comedy “Over the River and Through the Woods,” about a man who has to weigh a job opportunity with separation from family; at various Henderson locations.

Nov. 17-25: British National Theatre of America offers an original Las Vegas version of the pantomime “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” about a stage manager stuck working with her famous stepmother; at College of Southern Nevada’s Nicholas Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas

Nov. 18-22: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents master of fine arts candidate Elizabeth Leavitt’s “Whales, Save Us!” about an eclectic group — a celebrity, a former rodeo queen, whales and Girl Scouts — clashing on the shores of British Columbia; at UNLV’s Paul Harris Theatre.

Nov. 27-Dec. 13: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Israel Horvitz’s “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley,” an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic that turns Marley into a major character; at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre.

DECEMBER
Dec. 4-13: Rainbow Company presents the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” about a boy blessed with prophetic dreams and a nice singing voice; at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

Dec. 4-13: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Wonder of the World,” about an eccentric woman who leaves her marriage to find herself; at LVLT’s Fischer Black Box, 3920 Schiff Drive.

Dec. 9-10: Signature Productions presents “A Signature Christmas,” a holiday songfest; at the Summerlin Library.

Dec. 10-19: Las Vegas Academy creates its annual original dance concert, “Expectations,” by Jeneane Gallo Huggins, which combines music, poetry and movement; at the school’s Black Box.

JANUARY
Jan. 8-24: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Marc Carmoletti’s French comedy “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” about the entanglements that ensue following an affair; on LVLT’s mainstage.

Jan. 28-Feb. 6: Las Vegas Academy presents Richard Welsbacher’s version of Sophocles’ “Antigone,” a modernized retelling of a family’s struggle for survival; at LVA’s Black Box.

Jan. 29-Feb. 7: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Clare Booth Luce’s “The Women,” about a group of cunning sophisticates looking for love and happiness; at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre.

FEBRUARY
Feb. 5-6: The Utah Shakespearean Festival Touring Company comes to town with “The Taming of the Shrew,” about a woman who learns how to please her man; at College of Southern Nevada’s Nicholas Horn Theatre.

Feb. 5-14: Rainbow Company presents an original minimusical, “Unsung Characters of Nevada’s Past,” prior to its tour of local elementary schools; at Reed Whipple Cultural Center.

Feb. 12-21: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Tracey Letts’ “Bug,” about a couple tormented by each other, metaphors and crawling critters; at LVLT’s Fisher Black Box.

Feb.19-28: College of Southern Nevada presents Mark Medoff’s “When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder?” about a deranged Vietnam vet who holds hostage a roomful of diners; at CSN’s BackStage.

Feb. 19-March 7: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Michael Cristofer’s “The Shadow Box,” about a group of terminally ill patients living in a cabin setting; on LVLT’s mainstage.

Feb. 26-March 7: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Douglas Carter Beane’s “The Little Dog Laughed,” about a Hollywood agent trying to keep her star client’s homosexuality in the closet and out of the press; at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre.

MARCH
March 2-10: British National Theatre of America presents Matt Charman’s “A Night at the Dogs,” a black comedy about five men hoping for a sudden change in fortune; at College of Southern Nevada’s BackStage.

March 4-20: Las Vegas Academy mounts the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents’ musical “West Side Story,” about a bunch of young hoodlums who love to sing and dance; at the school’s Lowden Theatre.

March 12-21: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell’s “The Musical of Musicals,” a satire of the form, with five musical styles telling a single story; at UNLV’s Black Box.

March 22-April 24: Signature Productions presents the Joe DiPietro story told to Elvis Presley music “All Shook Up,” about a 1950s pelvis-swirling bad boy whose wild music infuriates the small-town menfolk and excites the women; at the Summerlin Library.

APRIL
April 2-11: Rainbow Company presents Aurand Harris’ “The Orphan Train,” based on true stories from 1854 to 1929 New York about a group of youngsters made to travel throughout the Midwest looking for homes to take them in; at Reed Whipple Cultural Center.

April 2-11: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents William Mastrosimone’s “Extremities,” about a woman who takes revenge on a rapist; at LVLT’s Fischer Black Box.

April 2-18: Las Vegas Little Theatre offers Paul Rudnick’s “Regrets Only,” a comedy about how gay politics affects a platonic friendship; on LVLT’s mainstage.

April 16-25: College of Southern Nevada pulls out the stops for the comic spectacle “The Ruling Class,” by Peter Barnes, about a wealthy British family trying to hold on to their riches; at CSN’s Nicholas Horn Theatre.

April 23-May 2: Nevada Conservatory Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” about love and lust in the woods; at NCT’s Judy Bayley Theatre.

April 29-May 8: Las Vegas Academy presents James Valcq and Fred Alley’s musical version of David Ziotoff’s “The Spitfire Grill,” about a young woman who tries to keep her business going in a depressed Wisconsin small town; at LVA’s Lowden Theatre.

MAY
May 7-16: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents a production of the winner of its new works competition; at LVLT’s Fischer Black Box.

May 7-23: Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Neil Simon’s “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” about a young woman who reunites with her long-lost father in Hollywood to try to jump-start her acting career; on LVLT’s mainstage.

JUNE
June 9-26: P.S. Productions/Super Summer Theatre present “Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka,” by Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley and Tim McDonald, based on the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” about a poor boy who discovers paradise in a candy factory; at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, about 15 miles west of Las Vegas off Charleston Blvd.

June 4-13: Rainbow Company presents an original version of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” developed by Tom Dyer for Rainbow, based on the classical tale; at the Charleston Heights Arts Center.

June 28-Aug. 28: Utah Shakespearean Festival presents in repertory: William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” about a man who makes a big mistake in listening to his wife; Shakespeare’s controversial “The Merchant of Venice,” about mercy, justice and a mean Jewish money lender; Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” about a couple who argue their way into a passionate relationship; a spoof of “The 39 Steps” by Nobby Dimon and Simon Carble that has fun with the original John Buchan novel and the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film; an original musical adaptation of Charles’ Dickens “Great Expectations,” by Margaret Hoorrneman, Brian VanDerWilt and others, about a young man struggling to find his place in the world; and an adaptation by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” about how passion derides a parents’ plan to marry off their five daughters into the right families. Productions are at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre and the Randall L. Jones Theatre, both at 351 W. Center St., Cedar City, Utah.

JULY
July 7-24: Stage Door/Super Summer Theatre present the musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” featuring the songs of Fats Waller; at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

AUGUST
Aug. 11: Signature/Super Summer Theatre present the Jerry Adler/Jerry Ross musical, “Damn Yankees,” about a middle-age man who sells his soul to the devil to become a great baseball player; at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.