THEATER PREVIEW:Vanguard season lineup

They’re bursting at the seams in Vanguard University’s Lyceum Theater, so much so that an ambitious expansion project is on the drawing boards, allowing playgoers and actors a good deal more elbow room.

Meanwhile, the theater department staff is busy making plans for the 2007-08 season at the Costa Mesa college, a slate of productions that touches the comedy, drama and musical genres.

The new season will get under way in September with “America’s Broadway,” a collection of Broadway musical favorites with an emphasis on Americana. The retrospective — which includes numbers from “1776,” “West Side Story,” “Oklahoma” and “The Music Man” — will be on view from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6 under the direction of Marianne Savell.

Shakespeare is a familiar presence at Vanguard, which has presented tragedies such as “Macbeth” and “Othello” in past seasons. This time around, the accent is on comedy as “Twelfth Night” takes the Lyceum Theater stage from Oct. 26 to Nov. 4, with a special Equity guest artist in the role of Malvolio. Susan K. Berkompas will direct.

You’ve all seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life;” now get ready to experience it live. The stage version of the Christmas favorite will be presented from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9 with Amick Byram in the director’s chair.

Also going back a few years is the classic Kaufman-Hart comedy “You Can’t Take It With You,” as familiar to theatergoers as “Wonderful Life” is to movie fans. Vanda Eggington will stage this wacky adventure, which will be on stage from Jan. 25 through Feb. 3.

Arthur Miller’s soul-searing drama “The Crucible” is ticketed for Feb. 22 through March 2, with Berkompas at the helm. Miller employed religious hysteria in 17th century Salem, Mass., as a metaphor for America’s McCarthyism period.

Vanguard traditionally winds up each season with a musical comedy, and next season “Thoroughly Modern Millie” will fill that bill. Byram returns to stage the tribute to the Roaring ‘20s, which will be on stage from March 28 to April 13.

Ticket prices are $10 for non-musical plays and $15 for musicals, and season tickets are available for $50.

The Lyceum Theater is located on the Vanguard University campus, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, and further information may be obtained by calling the box office at (714) 668-6145.