European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Frankfurt dinner theater makes a Good move director Ardell John san Reg hit checks the playbill with stagehand Jason Petus at the dinner theater. Sets Anita Goschy Anita Gosch staff writer the draw Down and related budget cuts have brought about some changes for local theater programs a not All of them bad. With Drake Cavern in Frankfurt Germany scheduled to be partially closed the candlelight dinner theater has moved from the base s no club to the Terrace club on Abrams Complex. Theater director Ardell Johnson says the difference Between the old theater and the new one is Quot like night and Day Quot the stage and backstage area Are larger the sound and lighting systems Are improved and the theater has a greater capacity seating up to 200 people compared to about 90 at Drake. The new theater is also More centrally located. But there s a drawback says Johnson the theater is less cozy. Because the room at Drake was Small and the tables close together Quot it created a certain intimate atmosphere that in a Large room won t  Johnson says he Hopes to improve the situation by adding More candles to reduce overhead Light and by pushing the tables closer to the stage. Jim Sohre Frankfurt entertainment director does t see the size of the new room As a disadvantage. Quot it s a lot More elegant Here Quot he says. T think people have a lot More fun. They like to dress up and go out on the  Sohre says that the move to a larger room attests to the Frankfurt Community s appreciation of dinner theater. Quot i think the title of the show does t make As much difference with dinner theater where it does at a regular theater Quot he says. Quot when you re dealing with dinner theater you re really buying a whole evening  Johnson who has been the theater s director for More than 1 i years adds that dinner theater patrons appreciate the value they get for their Money. Quot our average Price is $19.50. For $19.50 on the Economy especially Here in Germany there s Little to be gained a a schnitzel maybe a Beer Quot he says. Quot so this is a value and i think the people realize it. They Don t have to do anything. They just have to come they re served and  the theater is currently staging closer than Ever a musical about love and relationships. Remaining performance dates Are feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15. The next production is the Heidi chronicles a play about women in the baby Boom generation and the feminist movement. Performances Are set for late March. This will be followed by other people s Money about corporate raiders and once on an Island a musical by a Caribbean writer. Johnson says he tries to choose a menu that fits in with the theme of the production. For the recent British show Shirley Valentine for instance he offered corned beef and terrine of vegetables. Johnson admits that the menu for closer than Ever a pork me Dillons in mushroom sauce with noodles a does t quite fit in with the musical s theme. But the theater is offering a special Valentine s Day dinner Choice of shrimp Creole or Pepper Steak with a salad of Artichoke hearts. The Cost for closer than Ever to $23.50. Reservations Are recommended he says Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 069-151-5835. The candlelight dinner theater began As a touring theater in 1986, says Sohre. When the touring schedule proved to be too demanding it became a permanent dinner theater on Drake Cavern in 1987.in the Wing compiled by Anita Gosc theater Germany Stuttgart entertainment presents Willy Russell s comedy Shirley Valentine feb. 7 Anc 8 at 8 . At the Stuttgart theater Center 5th general Hospital bad carry state. Tickets Are $6. The theater needs backstage help of All kinds including lighting technicians stage constructors set painters and make up artists. Call ets 420-61 48 or civilian u711 -81 9-6148. A Schaffenburg a soldiers theater presents the Glass menagerie and Indian summer feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 7 to . Tickets Are $3 for adults and $ 1 for children 1 2 and under. Call ets 323-7316 or civilian 06021 -98569. Hanau s five pfennig playhouse on old Argonne Cavern presents the comedy bullshit Drummund feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at b . The theater presents a group of one act plays including talking with. March 1.3, 20 and 27 at 8 . Tickets Are $5. Call ets 322-8031 or civilian 06181 -88-8031. Frankfurt s candlelight dinner theater in the Terrace club on Abrams Complex presents the Valentine musical closer than Ler feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15. Cocktails begin at 6 30 ., dinner is at 7 . Tickets Are $23.50, Call efs 320-5835 or civilian 069151-5835. Kaiserslautern entertainment presents Neil Simon s comedy Bare mgt to in the Park. Wine and cheese evenings Are feb. 7 and 1 5 at 7 15 . Tickets Are $10. Regular performances Are feb. 8 at 8 . And feb. 9 and 16 at 7 . Tickets Are $7. Dinner theater performances Are feb. 14, 21 and 22 at 7 . Tickets Are $17. J performances Are at the performing arts Center Mannheimer Strasse ib-17across from Danner Cavern Call ets 48 i 81 19 or civilian 0631-41 1 -81 39. Giessen s Keller theater presents the my sit Al Ain t Atsbeha in feb. 6-8 at 7 10 . The farce lend me a tenons March 6-7, 12-14 and 19-21 at 7 to . Tickets Are $5 Tor adults $4 for students and $3 for children 6-12. Children under 6 Are not admitted. The theater is in Miller Hall Grunberger Strasse 14 1 Call ets 343-651 5 or civilian 0641 -402-651 5. Kirch guns top of he Rock club on Ayers c astern presents a Valentine s Day dinner theater production of the musical Romance Romance feb. 14 at 6 i . Tit sets Are $40 per i it Tuple and include a bottle of Champagne a three course dinner the musical and a do for after show dancing. Dress is casual jeans Are not permitted. Reservations Are required. Call ets 346-7169 or civilian 06033-81-7169. The Wiesbaden theater Center presents William Shakespeare s twelfth night or what you will feb. 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 7 . And feb. 16 and 23 Al 5 . Tickets Are $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Children under 6 Are not admitted. The theater is in the Community Headquarters building Pauline Strasse 7. Call ets 337-5060 or civilian 061 i -705-5060. The Frankfurt playhouse at 150 Hansa Allee presents August Wilson s humorous pulitzer prize winning tale the Plano lesson feb. 21-22 and 28-29 and March 6-7 7 30 . Call ets 3205835 or civilian 069-151-5835. Nair Sherg s stage 13 in building 13, w o. Darby Cavern presents Arthur Miller s death of a Salesman feb. 21-22 and 2729 and March 5-7 at 8 . Tickets Are $6 Lor adults and $4 for students. Call ets 460-6609 or civilian 0911-700-6609. Ramstein theatre works presents the comedy bullshit Drummond feb. 28-29 and March 6-7 at 7 30 . At the Ramstein Community recreation Center. Tickets Are $5 for general admission and $10 for fruit and cheese. Cail ets 4806600/7187. Bremerhaven entertainment presents the Man who came to dinner March 13-15 and 20-22 at 8 . In the port City theater building 105. Tickets Are $4.50 for adults and $ 3 for children Call ets 342-8370 or civilian 0471 -891 -0370. Darmstadt entertainment presents he musical Ain f misbehaving March 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 . At the performing arts Center on Ernst Ludwig Cavern. Tickets Are $8 t All ets 348-7336 or civilian 06151-69-7336. Frankfurt s English theater at kaisers Trusse 52 presents Willy Russell s musical blood Brothers daily except mondays at 8 . Through feb. 22. Anthony Shaffer s thriller Sleuth runs daily except mondays Al 8 . Feb. 28 to March 31. Tit sets Are j5 and 40 Marks Tor adults and 1 5 Marks for students. Call i Ilian 069-24ju620.  Germany Hahn a s theater Guild and i flight ret Center have auditions for the suspenseful drama the haunting of Dill House let. 6 8 at 7 . Parts Are available for four women and three men. Backstage help is also needed. Performances Are in april t All e is 450-6224 or civilian 06543-51-6224. Kaiserslautern entertainment has auditions for the farce noises Oft feb. 10 and i i at 7 . At the perform my arts Center  Are available for five men and four women. Call ets 48181 39 or civilian 0631-41 1 -81 39. Giessen s Keller theater has auditions for the musical South Pacific feb. 11 -13 at 7 . Parts Are available for 22 men 15 women and two children. Call ets 343-651 5 or civilian 0641402-6515. The Frankfurt playhouse has auditions for nine based on Fellini s film b i feb. 1 7 and 18 at 7 . The cast requires 22 women one Man and four boys. Call ets 320-5835 or civilian 069-151-5835. Aschaffenbur s soldiers theater has auditions for the easter musical the seven last words of Christ feb 20 at 7 . Call ets 123-7316 or civilian 06021-98569. Niernberg s stage 13 has auditions for the musical South i Pacific March 16 and 17 at 7 . Parts Are available for 15 women 22 men and two children Ages 8-11. Call ets 460-6609 or civilian 0911-700-6609. Hanau s five pfennig playhouse has auditions for Tennessee Williams drama a Streetcar named desire March 16-18 at 7 . Performances Are in May Call ets 122-8011 or civilian 06181-88-8031.variety Germany Stuttgart entertainment presents the Black history month variety Snow Block cold 92f Wilh singers dancers bands musicians and variety acts feb. 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 8 . Al the Stuttgart theater Center. Tickets Are $7 for adults and $5 for students and children 4-18. Children under 4 Are not admitted. C All ets 420-6148 or civilian 0711-819-6148. Giessen entertainment is taking applications for its 1992 Star search Competition. Id card holding singers bands musicians dancers specially acts and lip Sancers can apply. Winners go to the All Europe Competition. Deadline for application is feb. 15 t Ost is $5. The contest takes place at the Alpine club feb. 22. Admission is $.3. Call ets 343-6400 or civilian 0641-402-6400. Comr in ties and English language Heaters in Europe May submit on a Heater and music activities Tor publication in this column in Aga Ine of each month. Information for the March column by feb. 26. Items must include performance dates times and a est Lack a to phone numbers to Caldor More information. Items mat do not include this information can be run on a space available basis Only please seito the information to stars and stripes entertainment. Apo a Yzu or stars and stripes. Entertainment Postrach 11 14 37, 6100 Darmstadt 11,  Magazine february 6, 1992