While the Orangeburg Part-Time Players prepare to wrap its 2008 season, the troupe is already gearing up for what promises to be a fabulous year of entertainment in 2009.

"I'm extremely excited about the new season," said OPTP President Daryl Cate, adding that the season will offer something for everyone. The OPTP's 29th year of community theater will begin with the contemporary musical offering "Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Revue," followed by the drama "A Streetcar Named Desire," the comedy "Murder in the Magnolias" and "South Pacific," a traditional musical now enjoying an astonishing Broadway revival.

"Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Revue," the sixth show in Dan Goggin's "Nunsense" series, takes the sisters into the heart of "Sin City" after their school is offered a $10,000 donation if they agree to perform in Las Vegas. All sorts of hilarity ensues as the ladies experience show business like never before while performing in the Pump Room Lounge of the Mystique Motor Lodge. There, the audience will meet Sin-City Sue, find out who's Black and White with Her Money on Red and try to win a new car with the Holy Rollers Giant Slot Machine.

"Nunsensations! The Nunsense Vegas Revue" will play at the BlueBird Theatre in downtown Orangeburg on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 13-22. Tony DeAloia will direct the production, with musical direction by Kay Crawford.

The Players will take on one of the greatest American playwrights of all time when it produces "A Streetcar Named Desire," June 4-13 at the BlueBird Theatre. Tennessee Williams' drama was first produced in 1947 and tells the story of Blanche DuBois, a disillusioned woman who finds herself living in a tiny flat with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley Kowalski following a series of tragic personal events. Blanche's life has been undermined by romantic illusions that lead her to reject the realities of the life with which she is faced but constantly ignores. Her cover of snobbery and sexual propriety is blown by Stanley, who sees through her act and seeks the truth about Blanche's past, chipping away at her sanity along the way. In the end, Blanche is driven mad. Long-time OPTP director Jacqueline Skubal will lead the production.

From Aug. 14-22, have your funny bone tickled with "Murder in the Magnolias," a parody of Southern plays penned by Tim Kelly. "Murder in the Magnolias," a spoof on what was once

called the "Southern School of Writing," includes a madcap cast of characters who have gathered at the deceased Col. Chickenwing's estate to discover the secret behind his buried treasure. But soon, there's another murder to solve. Can this hodgepodge of demented relatives solve it? Find out as director Tony Drawdy leads a dozen misfits on a hilarious trail complete with murderous vines, voodoo curses and a hurricane.

Wrapping up the 2009 season will be "South Pacific," the hit Broadway musical written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, with lyrics by Hammerstein and Richard Rogers. This year, "South Pacific" was awarded seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

Set in an island paradise during World War II, two love stories are threatened by prejudice and war. Nellie, a nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with Emile, a French planter. But when Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native, prejudice leads her to refuse Emile's marriage proposal. Meanwhile, Lt. Joe Cable denies himself a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl with whom he's fallen in love out of the same fears. But when Emile accompanies Joe on a mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness.

"South Pacific," directed by Michael Crawford, with musical direction by Kay Crawford, will be staged at the BlueBird Theatre Nov. 13-22.

A JrOPTP production, to be announced, is set for summer 2009. That show is not included in the season ticket price.

Season tickets for the 2009 line-up are $54 for adults and $46 for children 16 years of age and younger and seniors 55 years of age and older. Individual ticket prices are $10 for children and seniors and $12 for adults for nonmusicals and $15 for children and seniors and $17 for adults for musicals.

"To make sure you get your choice tickets, you need to get season tickets," Cate said. "If you don't get season tickets, you may not get your first choice."

He added, "They make wonderful Christmas presents."

For more information or tickets, call the BlueBird Theatre at 803-536-5454.

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