No Cowards Here

They don't produce much, but when those folks from the Antaeus Company get together, it's usually some kinda shindig.

Check out the lineup for "Tonight at Eight-Thirty", a series of 10 Noel Coward one-acts running Oct. 18 to Dec. 23 at Deaf West Theatre:

Rhonda Aldrich, John Apicella, Gigi Bermingham, Bill Brochtrup, Anne Gee Byrd, Emily Chase, Josh Clark, JD Cullum, Ramon DeOcampo, Dawn Didawick, Francia DiMase, Nike Doukas, Emily Eiden, Angela Goethals, Harry Groener, Jeanie Hackett, Shannon Holt, Tamara Krinsky, Dakin Matthews, Adam Meyer, Lynn Milgrim, Jeffrey Nordling, Angela Paton, Melinda Peterson, Christina Pickles, Ray Porter, Kirsten Potter, Lawrence Pressman, Philip Proctor, John Prosky, Raphael Sbarge, Ned Schmidtke, Devon Sorvari, Susan Sullivan, Kitty Swink, Peter Van Norden, Geoffrey Wade, Laura Wernette, Amelia White, Mirron Willis, and Alicia Wollerton.

Now, admittedly, none of these folks will necessarily be pulling down an Oscar anytime soon, but they're all stage vets locally and back east. The Antaeus brand -- membership -- means they know their stuff.

Apparently, the first nine haven't been performed together like this in L.A. since 1940, and the 10th, "The Star Chamber," Coward pulled after one performance, and it hasn't been staged since.

Yes, I know, you're burning up the phone lines for tickets.

Now, heaven knows how many people in this town -- no matter how highbrow -- will actually sit through 10 Noel Coward one acts. Still, if December dries up, and I find myself sitting around with nothing else to review, I may catch the seven or eight that I've missed.

Just joshing. You go, Anteaus. Here's hoping you find another permanent home soon, too.

Previews for Part 1 begin Oct. 18. Part 2 starts previews Nov. 5.

Info: www.Theatermania.com or by calling (866)-811-4111, www.antaeus.org.