THEATER SEASON HAS LOT TO OFFER : World Premieres, Oldies Compete on the Fall Menu

Who says there are no seasons in Southern California? Nature may not cooperate by turning the leaves rust and gold, but there are other reliable signposts to announce the arrival of fall. Look no further than the start of the new theater season.

This year, Orange County theaters and colleges will be offering the traditional mix of dramas, comedies and musicals, supplementing the familiar with a number of world, American and West Coast premieres.

South Coast Repertory audiences will get the first look anywhere at “Prelude to a Kiss,” the latest work by Craig Lucas, whose “Three Postcards” premiered at the Costa Mesa theater last year. Also at SCR, “V & V Only” by Jim Leonard Jr. will make its world premiere, “Golden Girls” by Louise Page will make its American premiere and “Haut Gout” by Allan Havis will make its West Coast premiere. Stop-Gap will stage the world premiere of a new drama confronting the AIDS crisis, “Listen to the Dreaming,” in Laguna Beach, and new student scripts will make their debuts at Cal State Fullerton and two community colleges.

Other promising productions include two recent comedies dealing with the experience of being female in America, “Mrs. California” by Doris Baizley (opening at the Gem Theatre in Garden Grove in February and at Cal State Fullerton in March) and “Isn’t It Romantic” by Wendy Wasserstein (at the Newport Theatre Arts Center in November).

The musical that seems to have at least nine lives of its own, “Cats,” will arrive in Orange County this season, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. And wedged among the expected Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe revivals are two musical revues: “Hot Tkts!,” a look at contemporary Broadway that will premiere at UC Irvine, and “No Mother but Jazz,” a tribute to Cole Porter, at Newport Theatre Arts Center.

Here is an overview of what will play Orange County stages this season:

PROFESSIONAL

Grove Theatre Company: “Sherlock’s Last Case,” Oct. 2-31; “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” Nov. 20-Dec. 19; “Vikings,” Jan. 15-Feb. 13; “Mrs. California,” Feb. 26-March 26; “The Night of the Iguana,” April 8-May 7; “Pump Boys and Dinettes” (subject to availability), May 20-June 25. (Gem Theatre, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove, (714( 636-7213.)

Orange County Performing Arts Center: “My One and Only,” Oct. 21-25; “South Pacific,” Jan. 5-10; “Me and My Girl,” May 3-8; “Can Can,” July 26-31; “Cats,” dates to be announced. (600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 556-ARTS)

South Coast Repertory: On the Mainstage, “Misalliance,” Sept. 11-Oct. 15; “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Oct. 30-Dec. 3; “Prelude to a Kiss” (world premiere), Jan. 15-Feb. 18; “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” March 4-April 7; “The School for Scandal,” April 22-May 29; “Golden Girls” (American premiere), June 10-July 14. On the Second Stage, “Haut Gout” (West Coast premiere), Sept. 25-Oct. 25; “Benefactors,” Nov. 13-Dec. 13; “V & V Only” (world premiere), March 18-April 17, and two new plays to be announced, Jan. 19-Feb. 28 and May 6-June 5. “A Christmas Carol,” offered separately from season subscriptions, will play the Mainstage Dec. 10-27. (655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 957-4033.)

COLLEGE

Cal State Fullerton: “Bus Stop,” Oct. 2-11; “On the Town,” Oct. 30-Nov. 8; a new work by a CSUF theater student, “Never on a Holiday,” Dec. 4-13; “The Rivals,” March 4-13; “Mrs. California,” March 17-20; “Look Homeward, Angel,” April 22-May 1; “Cloud 9,” May 13-22. (800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 773-3371.)

Chapman College: “Once in a Lifetime,” Nov. 4-15. (333 N. Glassell St., Orange, (714) 997-6856.)

Cypress College: “West Side Story,” Oct. 9-18; and two new plays, “Amelia,” Oct. 30-Nov. 7, and “Tainted Love,” Dec. 4-12. (9200 Valley View St., Cypress, (714) 821-6320.)

Fullerton College: “Amadeus,” Oct. 8-11; “Quilters,” Nov. 5-15; “Terra Nova,” Dec. 3-13; “Company,” March 10-20; a new murder mystery to be announced, May 5-15. (321 E. Chapman, Fullerton, (714) 871-8101.)

Golden West College: “Ladyhouse Blues,” Sept. 25-Oct. 4; “The Little Foxes,” Nov. 13-22; “Jesus Christ Superstar,” March 18-27; “Arsenic and Old Lace,” May 6-15. (15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach, (714) 895-8378.)

Orange Coast College: In the Studio Theatre, “An Evening of Lanford Wilson One-Act Plays,” through Sept. 27; “Equus,” Oct. 16-25; “24 Hours P.M.,” Nov. 19-22; “The Lutz Radio Theatre Christmas Show of 1947,” Dec. 3-13; “Seascape with Shark and Dancer,” Jan. 22-24; two one-act plays by Pinter and Ionesco, Jan. 29-Feb. 7; “Tom Jones,” April 22-May 1; Student One-Act Festival, May 6-8. In the Drama Lab, “House of Blue Leaves,” Oct. 1-11; “Merchant of Venice,” Nov. 5-15; “The Odd Couple,” Feb. 25-March 6; “Death of a Salesman,” May 12-22. (2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, (714) 432-5880.)

Rancho Santiago College: “Sugar,” Oct. 9-18; three shows to be announced, presented in repertory by the Professional Actors Conservatory, Jan. 22-Feb. 14; “Measure for Measure,” March 11-20; a new work to be announced, developed through the New Plays and Players Workshop (debut), April 15-23; and “The Boyfriend” and an evening of one-acts, presented in repertory by the Professional Actors Conservatory, May 6-21. (17th at Bristol streets, Santa Ana, (714) 667-3163.)

Saddleback College: “Oh, Coward!,” Oct. 9-25; “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Nov. 6-15; “Gypsy,” Feb. 12-21; “Come Back, Little Sheba,” April 8-17. (28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (714) 582-4656.)

UC Irvine: “Paradise Lost,” Nov. 12-21; a new musical revue, “Hot Tkts!,” Feb. 10-20; “Hay Fever,” May 5-14. (Fine Arts Village, Mesa and Bridge roads, Irvine, (714) 856-6616.)

COMMUNITY

Alternative Repertory Theatre: “No Exit,” opening Oct. 23 for an indefinite run. (1636 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 836-7929.)

Ana-Modjeska Players: A new work, “Hyur Edukashun,” Nov. 6-28; “The Gazebo,” Jan. 8-30; “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” March 4-27; “All My Sons,” May 6-28. (Anaheim Cultural Arts Center, 931 N. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, (714) 634-9238.)

Brea Theatre League: “The Robber Bridegroom,” Oct. 1-17; “Don’t Drink the Water,” Feb. 25-March 12; “Alone Together,” June 9-25; “The Pirates of Penzance,” Oct. 6-22. (Brea Civic Cultural Center, 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, (714) 524-6653.)

Buena Park Civic Theatre: “Man of La Mancha,” Oct. 2-24; “Once Upon a Mattress,” Feb. 5-27; the annual Theatre Under the Stars summer production at the Buena Park Community Recreation Center, “The Pirates of Penzance,” Aug. 5-Sept. 3. (Buena Park High School Performing Arts Center, Magnolia Street at Academy Way, Buena Park, (714) 821-1394.)

Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse: “Lover’s Leap,” through Oct. 3; “Pack of Lies,” Nov. 5-29; “Night Must Fall,” Jan. 21-Feb. 14; “Harvey,” June 2-26. (661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa, (714) 650-5269.)

Cypress Civic Theatre Guild: “Grease,” Oct. 16-31; “Front Row Center,” Jan. 15-16;”The Creature Creeps,” Feb. 5-20; “Catch Me if You Can,” April 22-May 7; “The White Liars/Black Comedy,” June 10-25. (5172 Orange Ave., Cypress, (714) 821-6320.)

Fullerton Civic Light Opera: “George M!,” Oct. 16-Nov. 1; “My Fair Lady,” Feb. 19-March 6; “Naughty Marietta,” May 13-29. (Plummer Auditorium, Chapman and Lemon streets, Fullerton, (714) 879-1732.)

Garden Grove Community Theatre: “Murder Among Friends,” Oct. 2-24; “An Evening of Christmas Magic,” Nov. 27-Dec. 19; “The Fantasticks,” Feb. 5-27; “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” April 1-23; “P.S. Your Cat Is Dead” July 8-30. (Eastgate Park, 12001 St. Mark St., Garden Grove, (714) 897-5122.)

Huntington Beach Playhouse: “The Sunshine Boys,” Oct. 2-24; “Bloody Jack,” Jan. 15-Feb. 6; “Agatha Christie Made Me Do It,” March 4-26; “Playing Doctor,” April 29-May 21; “Of Thee I Sing,” July 15-Aug. 13. (Gisler School, 21141 Strathmore Lane, Huntington Beach, (714) 832-1405.).

Irvine Community Theater: “Never Too Late,” Oct. 2-24; “The Period of Adjustment,” Feb. 19-March 12; “The Oldest Living Graduate,” April 15-May 7; “Picnic,” Aug. 5-27. (Turtle Rock Community Park, 1 Sunnyhill Road, Irvine, (714) 857-5496.)

Laguna Moulton Playhouse: “1776,” through Oct. 4; “The Foreigner,” Oct. 29-Nov. 22; “Tribute,” Jan. 14-Feb. 7; “The Lion in Winter,” March 3-27; a musical to be announced, May 26-June 19. (606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (714) 494-0744.)

La Habra Depot Playhouse: “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Sept. 25-Oct. 17; “Annie,” Nov. 13-Dec. 5; “You Can’t Take It With You,” April 15-May 7; “The Importance of Being Earnest,” June 3-25. (311 S. Euclid Ave., La Habra, (213) 905-9708.)

Newport Theatre Arts Center: “Working,” through Oct. 11; “Isn’t It Romantic,” Nov. 6-Dec. 6; “No Mother but Jazz,” Jan. 15-Feb. 21; “Look Homeward, Angel,” March 25-April 24; “H.M.S. Pinafore,” May 27-June 26. (2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach, (714) 631-0288.)

Orange County Black Actors Theatre: “Six Pieces of Black Theater,” with selections from “Evergreen,” “Purlie Victoria,” “Zooman and the Sign,” “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope,” “Young, Gifted and Black” and “The Colored Museum,” Feb. 19-28; productions of “Movin’ On” and “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf” will tour statewide. (Santa Ana City Annex, Ross Street at Santa Ana Boulevard, Building 23, Santa Ana, (714) 667-7090.)

Orange Repertory Theater: “Golden Boy,” through Sept. 27. (Cypress Cultural Arts Center, 5172 Orange Ave., Cypress, (714) 229-6796.)

San Clemente Community Theatre: “It’s a Scream,” through Oct. 3; “Send Me No Flowers,” Oct. 29-Nov. 21; “The Supporting Cast,” Jan. 7-30; “Blythe Spirit,” Feb. 25-March 19; “The Foreigner,” April 14-May 7; “I Do, I Do,” June 2-25. (Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, (714) 492-0465.)

South Coast Musical Theatre: “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” Oct. 9-Nov. 1; “The Revenge of the Space Pandas,” Feb. 18-28; “Oliver!,” July 8-31. (University High School, Culver and Campus drives, Irvine, (714) 640-6306.)

Stanton Community Theatre: “Wait Until Dark,” Feb. 5-20; “Personal Appearance,” Sept. 2-17, 1988. (Stanton Cultural Arts Building, 7800 Katella Ave., Stanton, (714) 220-2220.)

Stop-Gap: A new work, “Listen to the Dreaming,” Oct. 15-24. (Forum Theatre, Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (714) 722-7727.)

Westminster Community Theatre: “The Wizard of Oz,” Nov. 6-Dec. 5; “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” Jan. 8-Feb. 6; “1940 Radio Hour,” March 4-April 2; “Dracula the Musical,” May 6-June 4. (7272 Maple St., Westminster, (714) 995-4113.)

Yorba Linda Musical Theatre: “Showboat,” Oct. 2-18; “Damn Yankees,” Feb. 26-March 13; “Bye Bye Birdie,” June 3-19. (Forum Theater, 4175 Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 779-1932.)

DINNER THEATER

Elizabeth Howard’s Curtain Call Dinner Theatre: “Fiddler on the Roof,” opens Oct. 15 for an indefinite run. (690 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 838-1540.)

The Grand Dinner Theatre: “42nd Street,” opens Sept. 29 for an indefinite run. (1 Hotel Way, Anaheim, (714) 772-7710.)

Harlequin Dinner Playhouse: “Paint Your Wagon,” through Nov. 22; “Can Can,” Nov. 24-Feb. 7. (3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 979-5511.)

Southampton Dinner Theatre: “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” through Nov. 8; “You Must Remember This,” Nov. 11-Jan.10. (140 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente, (714) 498-7576.)