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Katie Bower is the lovestruck Rosemary, John Kennedy is the hero and Dane Bower is the boss’s spoiled nephew, Frump, in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,’ set to open May 4 at the Music Box Dinner Theatre in Swoyersville.

THIS WEEK: APRIL 27 to May 3, 2007

The Molly Maguires Musical, the tale of the secret society of immigrant Irish mine workers who fight against prejudice and injustice in the mining industry. Starring a Broadway cast lead by Ciaran Sheehan (“Phantom of the Opera”). F.M. Kirby Center, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. Tonight at 7; Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. $65, $55, $40. 826-1100.

Sabrina Fair, a romantic comedy by Samuel A. Taylor about a bright young woman who returns after five years in Paris to the Long Island estate where her father works as a chauffeur. Performed by Actors Circle at the Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. Through May 6 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. $12, $10 seniors, $8 students. 342-9707.

Arsenic and Old Lace, the classic black comedy about two elderly aunts who find an unorthodox way to help lonely visitors. Presented by the Wyoming Seminary Players at the Buckingham Performing Arts Center, North Sprague Avenue, Kingston. Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. $3 advance, $4 at the door. 270-2190.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy, playwright Lauren Wilson’s comedic take on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale about good and evil. Performed by the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble at the Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St., Bloomsburg. Through May 13 with 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. 800-282-0283 or bte.org.

Jesus Christ Superstar, the Broadway hit about the last days of Christ and the first musical collaboration of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Starring Ted Neeley and Corey Glover. Presented by the Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. Tonight at 8; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. $30.50 to $55.50. 342-7784 or broadwayscranton.com.

Catch 22, a dramatization of Joseph Heller’s novel spoofing war and those who make a profit from it — including Capt. Yossarian, who strives to live forever or die trying. Showcase Theatre, 54 Tunkhannock Ave., Exeter. Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. $12. 654-2555.

Bus Stop, a drama by 1950s playwright William Inge about eight lost souls stranded during a blizzard at Grace’s roadside diner outside Kansas City where Cherie the flashy nightclub singer is pursued by Bo Decker, a lusty cowboy. Performed by the University of Scranton Players at the Royal Theatre, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts on campus. Tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. $8, $5 seniors, students and children. 941-4318.

The Sleeping Beauty, the annual ballet performance by the Joan Harris Dancers. James M. Coughlin High School, 80 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. Saturday at 1 and 5 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.; $10. Call 287-7977.

Live from the Met. Experience the excitement of the Metropolitan Opera live in high definition on the big screen. Jealousy, murder, suicide, religious rapture, intrigue and young love are found in the triple-bill of one-act operas that make up Puccini’s “Il Trittico.” Cinemark Movie Theater, 40 Glenmaura National Blvd., Moosic. Saturday at 1:30 p.m. $18, $15 seniors and children. 961-5922.

Dance Performance, presented by the Wilkes University Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, West South Street at South River Street, Wilkes-Barre. Saturday at 8 p.m. 408-4437.

Man of La Mancha. Dream the impossible dream in this musical adaptation of the Miguel Cervantes novel about the mad nobleman Don Quixote who fights windmills and defends his “perfect lady” Dulcinea. Community Arts Center, 220 W. Fourth St., Williamsport. Sunday at 7:30 p.m. $45, $35, $20. 800-432-9382.

New Director’s Workshop, various 10-minute scenes from a variety of plays performed by the University of Scranton Players. Studio Theater, McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts on campus. Opens Thursday and continues through Saturday (May 5) at 8 p.m. Free. 941-4318.
FUTURE

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Armed with a “How to …” manual, an ambitious young window washer seeks to climb the corporate ladder in this musical comedy. Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. May 4 to 20 with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Dinner served 90 minutes before showtime. Tickets, $25 to $35; 283-2195 or musicbox.org.

Lackawanna Rails: The Welding Torch, two new radio plays by Ed Simpson: “Orbiting Scranton” and “Nuts and Bolts,” both part of the series “The Electric City Suite.” Performed live with sound effects and music by Coleman Smith and Kazzrie Jaxen for later radio broadcast. Northeast Theatre, Hotel Jermyn, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. May 4 at 9 p.m.; May 5, 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. $15, $5 students. 558-1515 or thenortheasttheatre.us.

Urban Cowboy, the Broadway musical based on the 1980 hit movie about a new breed of cowboy played out against a landscape of trailer parks, oil fields and sawdust-covered dance floors. F.M. Kirby Center, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. May 5 at 8 p.m. $39.50, $29.50, $20. 826-1100 or kirbycenter.org.

Plays for a New Century, a reading of “In Divisiblunder,” a new script by Dick Sewell. Followed by a meeting with the playwright along with a discussion. The Century Club, 612 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. May 6 at 2 p.m. 558-1515.

The Little Mermaid, a family musical production presented by the Northeast Youth Theater. Walsh Auditorium, College Misericordia, 301 Lake St., Dallas. May 6 at 6 p.m.; May 7 at 9:30 a.m.; May 8 at 10 a.m.; $9, $7 teens, $6 children. Call 675-4333.

Singin’ in the Rain, the celebrated musical that humorously satirizes and parodies the panic surrounding the troubling transitional period from silents to talkies in the dream factory of Hollywood of the late 1920s. Performed by the Nuremberg Community Players at the Factory Theater, School and Apple streets, Nuremberg. May 11, 12 and 19 at 7:30 p.m.; May 13 and 20 at 4 p.m. $10; $22 with pre-show dinner. 788-4264.

Just Dance! The annual dance performance by the Wyoming Seminary Dance Company including tap, ballet and jazz set to music ranging from Bach to the Bee Gees. Buckingham Performing Arts Center, North Sprague Avenue, Kingston. May 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. Free. 270-2190.

Wicked West, a modern wild-west fairy tale about a new-age witch and a B-movie screen queen. Written by K.K. Gordon and performed by the Diva Theatre. Performance Space at the Hotel Jermyn, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. May 17 at 7 p.m.; May 18 and 19 at 8 p.m. and May 20 at 3 p.m. $10. 558-1515.

Forever Tango, the award-winning Broadway production tracing the history of the tango through music, dance and dramatic vignettes, performed by a troupe of Argentinean dancers, accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra. F.M. Kirby Center, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. May 19 at 8 p.m. $39.50, $31.50, $20. 826-1100 or kirbycenter.org.

Young Dancers’ Repertory Performances, performed by Ballet Northeast at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, South River Street at West South Street, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre June 2 at 7:30 p.m.; June 3 at 3 p.m. 287-5802.

The Fantastiks, the long-running Broadway musical about two young lovers who learn about life as their meddling fathers plot their relationship. Little Theatre, 537 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre. June 1-2, 8-9 at 8 p.m.; June 3 and 10 at 3 p.m. 823-1875 or ltwb.org

The Foreigner, a romantic comedy by Larry Shue about a morose Englishman masquerading as a foreigner who cannot speak English. Shawnee Playhouse, One River Road, Shawnee on Delaware. June 2, 9, 13 and 23 at 8 p.m.; June 3, 10, 14, 17, 28; July 1, 6 and 8 at 2 p.m.; July 6, 20, 22 and 27 at 2 and 8 p.m. $25, $14 children. 421-5093 or theshawneeplayhouse.com.

Silent Lives, a revival of the 2005 hit about the characters and stars of the silent-film era – in Italy. Performed by Zuppa del Giorno, the commedia dell’arte troupe of the Northeast Theater. Hotel Jermyn, 326 Spruce St., Scranton. June 6 to 17. Performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. $20, $15 seniors, $5 students. 558-1515 or thenortheasttheatre.us.

The Pajama Game, musical comedy about labor troubles in a pajama factory where workers demand a raise led by feisty Babe Williams who meets her match when she comes up against the new superintendent Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. June 15 to July 1 with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Dinner served 90 minutes before showtime. 283-2195 or musicbox.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Auditions for the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s summer production of “Hans Upon a Time: The Emperor’s New Clothes and Other Stories of Hans Christian Andersen.” Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St., Bloomsburg. Saturday at 10 a.m. Roles available for girls and boys ages 12 and older, teens and adults plus a non-speaking role for a girl age 10 or 11. 784-5530.

Theater Trip to the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in Clinton, N.J., for a production of the mystery comedy “Catch Me If You Can.” Sponsored by the Women of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre. Leaves 8:30 a.m. on May 7 from the Sears parking lot at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township. $70. Reservations: 674-2331 or 655-8345.

Theater Trip to the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in Clinton, N.J., for a production of “Branson 2007: The Texas Edition,” a musical paying tribute to Texas musicians including Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Clint Black, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter and many more. Sponsored by St. Paul’s Happy Group. May 25. $70. Reservations: 868-1072.

Theater Trip to the Sight & Sound Millennium Theatre in Lancaster for the new epic musical production of “In the Beginning,” a biblical account of creation. Sept 29 and Oct. 20 with departures from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre’s Wyoming Valley Mall and Hazleton’s Laurel Mall. $125 includes transportation, show and a stop at Shady Maple Smorgasbord. 457-2808.