On Theater: New year rings in theatrical promise

The arrival of a new year means, among other things, a smattering of new local stage productions, and that parade gets underway this weekend.

South Coast Repertory is starting 2016 off and running with “The Madwoman in the Volvo,” a celebration of menopausal women written by NPR radio hostess Sandra Tsing Loh. Lisa Peterson directs the farcical fable, which will occupy the Julianne Argyros Stage through Jan. 24

Sharing the opening weekend with SCR is another newcomer, “Act 3” with playhouse neighbor Rita Rudner and Charles Shaughnessy. The world premiere by David Ambrose and Claudia Nellens focuses on a long marriage that quickly unravels after hidden secrets are revealed. Martin Bergmann is directing the comedy, which runs through Jan. 31.

Also arriving this weekend is “Fabulous Divas of Hollywood,” written and directed by Alan Palmer, at the Huntington Beach Playhouse. This comedic tribute to Tinseltown’s legendary females will be on stage weekends through Jan. 30.

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts launches the new year with “If / Then,” a musical headlined by Idina Menzel of “Wicked” fame. The show is booked for just a single week’s engagement, closing Jan.24.

Bowing in Jan. 22 will be an old favorite, Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias,” at the Newport Theatre Arts Center. This dramatic comedy about Southern women, one of Orange County’s more popular plays, will be on the Newport stage weekends through Feb. 21 under the direction of David Motroni.

South Coast Rep opens its Segerstrom Stage on Jan. 22 with “Red” by John Logan, a play focusing on modern art, directed by SCR co-founder David Emmes. The Tony Award winner will run through Feb. 21.

A new romantic comedy, “Almost, Maine,” bows in Feb. 12 at the Westminster Community Playhouse under the direction of Karla Franklin. The story about love and loss on a chilly night in the Northeast will be on stage through Feb. 21.

The musical “Nine,” based on the Federico Fellini movie “8½,” about an Italian film director plagued by a creative block and a web of romantic difficulties, is next up at the Costa Mesa Playhouse. David Blair is directing the show, which will run from Feb. 13 through March 13.

Then comes “Wicked,” in a third return visit to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This popular musical about the witches of Oz before Dorothy arrived will play through March 6.

“Louis and Keely: Live at the Sahara” examines the personal and professional lives of Louis Prima and Keely Smith. The new musical will be performed at the Laguna Playhouse from Feb. 27 through March 26 under the direction of Taylor Hackford, who wrote the show with Vanessa Stewart and Jake Broder.

Vanguard University also checks in at the end of February to present “The Winter’s Tale,” a romantic drama, for two weekends through March 4.

That’s just the lineup for the first two months of the new year, one that promises a blend of oldies and new attractions on the local theater scene.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater.