Another premiere in 2006 season

Having successfully launched one world-premiere musical -- the recently closed “Golden Dream” -- the Huntington Beach Playhouse will follow it with another next season.

Like “Golden Dream,” which was written by Huntington Beach resident Joe Syiek, this one also will have a strong local flavor. It’s called “Surf City USA,” which has been the city’s unofficial nickname since long before George Maharias shot the pier in an episode of TV’s “Route 66.”

With book, music and lyrics by Shirley Orlando, “Surf City USA” promises to take playgoers back to the days of the Beach Boys and Gidget. Noted musical theater actress and director Roberta Kay has been signed to stage the production, which will run Aug. 4 to 20, 2006.

The playhouse’s seasons follow a calendar year rather than spanning the September-to-June time frame. Next season will be the 43rd for the community theater group, which was organized in 1962.

The closing production of the 2005 slate, “Let Him Sleep Till It’s Time for His Funeral,” opens Friday.

The 2006 season will kick off Jan. 13 with “A Grand Night for Singing,” an evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs from such shows as “Oklahoma,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.” It’ll run through Jan. 29.

Next up will be “Alone Together,” Lawrence Roman’s comedy about an empty nest that fills up again as a couple’s three adult children return home. Performance dates are Feb. 24 through March 12.

“Moon Over Buffalo,” Ken Ludwig’s backstage farce, focuses on a squabbling acting couple taking their last shot at fame and fortune but encountering a plethora of diversions. This rib-tickler by the author of “Lend Me a Tenor” and “Twentieth Century” will play from April 28 to May 14.

George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart may be long gone, but their large-cast, character-rich comedies live on and on. The playhouse will resurrect the duo’s most famous, “You Can’t Take It with You,” for a June 23 to July 9 revival, complete with the requisite fireworks.

“Surf City USA” follows in the August slot, while the Sept. 22 to Oct. 8 position will be filled by a British farce, Michael Cooney’s “Cash on Delivery,” the only other unfamiliar entry in the playhouse’s lineup. It focuses on a con artist who invents imaginary boarders to reap generous tax benefits.

“Life is a banquet, and most poor [suckers] are starving to death.” Most playgoers will recall that slightly sanitized line from the musical “Mame,” but actually it was preceded by the straight version, “Auntie Mame.” The playhouse will present the original from Nov. 3 to 19.

The Huntington Beach Playhouse presents its productions in the Library Theater, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. Ticket information, as well as details on auditions, may be obtained at (714) 375-0696.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.

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