Theater Openings

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Alice in Wonderland Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm. Dance. Ballet Fantasque of the Monterey Peninsula presents its madcap pop ballet Alice in Wonderland, along with The Cat Cafe and variations from Sleeping Beauty. Also, San Jose Symphony cellist Nick Dargahi performs short works of Bach. Advance tickets at Bookmark, 307 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove Pacific Grove Art Center, Lighthouse and Forest avenues, Pacific Grove. $12/General; $8/Children; $10/Seniors. 372-0388. Through: 8/29.

The Flower Drum Song Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. Musical. This Rodgers and Hammerstein musical presents the dilemma of Wang Ta, a young resident of San Francisco's Chinatown, who is torn between his wealthy father's traditions and the lure of American pop culture. His father arranges a wedding with an unknown Chinese "picture bride," but Ta is smitten with Chinese-American nightclub singer Linda Low, who represents for him all the glamour and class of his adopted country. The Western Stage Mainstage at Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. $20/General; $10/Children; $18/Seniors. 755-6816. Through: 9/11.

The Sound of Music Previews Friday, 8pm; Opens Saturday and Sunday, 8pm. Musical. The hills are alive, etc., with the true, if dramatized, story of Maria, the convent novice sent as governess to the Von Trapp family in pre-WWII Austria. (Hey, didn't this just close last weekend at the Wharf Theater? Now it's Pacific Repertory Theater trying their hand.) Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. Sat. prices: $20/General; $12/Seniors & children. Fri. preview, half-price. 622-0700. Through: 9/26.

Now Playing

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Fortinbras Thursday-Saturday, 7:30pm. Comedic Drama. It's best if you know Hamlet, but even if you don't, the strong writing (by Lee Blessing), wonderful staging and uniformly excellent performances of this clever take-off of the original Shakespeare tragedy will have you in stitches. John Farmanesh-Bocca is a delight as Fortinbras, a character who, in Hamlet, comes on at the very end of the play for a couple of thankless lines, but who here becomes the central figure in a "what-if" comedy that pokes fun mercilessly at the tale of the Depressed Dane. Circle Theater at the Golden Bough, Monteverde Street at 8th Avenue, Carmel. Thurs.-Fri. ticket prices: $18/General, $10/Students & seniors; Saturday prices, $20/General, $12/Students & seniors. 622-0100. Through: 10/16.

The Road to Frisco Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 8pm. Melodrama. This 19th-century melodrama set in the Old West follows the tale of a purloined map of the Golden Dream mine, which is lifted from its rightful owner, our young heroine. California's First Theatre, Scott and Pacific streets, Monterey. $10/General; $5/Children; $8/Seniors. 375-4916. Through: 10/2.

Closing

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Carousel Thursday-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm. Musical. Monterey Peninsula College presents the well-known Rodgers & Hammerstein song-and-dance bonbon of young lovers at a New England coastal town in the late 19th century. Moody young Julie falls for flirtatious Billy Bigelow, the barker at the local carousel; their marriage, travails, and Billy's eventual redemption make, in the right hands, a powerful morality tale. Directed by Tom McKenzie, with choreography by Susan Cable. MPC's Morgan Stock Theater, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $15/General; $11/Children; $11/Seniors. 646-4213. Through: 8/29.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 3pm. Comedic Drama. Carmel Valley Village's new Magic Circle Center for the Arts presents Ken Kesey's outrageous One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the story of Randall Patrick McMurphy, a rebellious party guy who checks into a mental hospital on a lark. There he meets his match in Nurse Ratched, a starched, big-breasted terror who rules her charges with tyrannical precision, and embarks on a pranks-filled struggle for the souls of the men whose fates she controls. Magic Circle Center for the Arts, 8 El Caminito, Carmel Valley. $12/General; $10/Children; $10/Seniors. 659-1108. Through: 8/29.

Auditions

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Nutcracker Saturday. Dance. Open auditions are held Saturday for Salinas Performing Arts' Thanksgiving production of Nutcracker. Dance auditions for children from age 5 and up begin at 12:30--call for specific schedule. Children's leads audition at 3:45pm; ages 12 to adult intermediate pointe at 4:30pm; advanced pointe at 5:15pm. Callbacks Sunday at 3pm; adults at 3:30pm. Hartnell College Auxiliary Gym, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. Call 480-9179 or 684-1265.

Leaving Will Tuesday, 7:30pm. Open readings for Staff Players' production of this original Lee Brady comedy about hopeless love, scheduled for Oct.21-Nov.21 performances. A dozen women of all ages are needed. Indoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. Call for information: 624-1531.

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