THEATER REVIEW:

Golden West College expanded its theater program in 2007, opening the long-dark Stage West (formerly known as the Actors’ Playbox) and presenting some high quality student productions.

Topping the Huntington Beach college’s list for the year was the military drama “A Few Good Men,” directed (as were three of the five GWC shows) by Tom Amen. This column noted that playwright Aaron Sorkin’s characters “are given indelible life on stage in the GWC production.”

Martie Ramm, Golden West’s other director, placed her staging of the musical “The Secret Garden” in second position, labeled “a fascinating experience” in this columnist’s review, which added the show “is calculated to charm audiences of all ages.”

“Moon Over Buffalo,” Amen’s “gleefully amusing” production of the Ken Ludwig farcical backstage comedy, ranks third among the five 2007 entries.

Individually, two performances stood out in terms of sheer impact. A.K. Zeller electrified the production of “A Few Good Men” as the Guantanamo base commander and young Madison McPheeters excelled as the viciously calculating girl in “The Children’s Hour.” Lawrence Hemingway, an ex-marine in real life, also enriched “A Few Good Men” as one of the men accused of murder.

Other interpretations ranking high during 2007 were those of Michael Bielitz and David Steen, both for “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” Sarah Sommers in “The Secret Garden,” Ray Lynch in “Moon Over Buffalo” and Lauren King in “The Children’s Hour.”

Completing the honor roll are Patrick Rowley and Roxana Sorooshian, “The Secret Garden”; David Chorley, “Moon Over Buffalo”; Kimberly Woodridge and Valerie Speaks, “The Children’s Hour,” and Davien Xavier Johnson and Brian Sipkovich, “A Few Good Men.”

Speaking of Golden West, the college has announced auditions for its first production of 2008, the stage version of the vintage movie “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”

Director Tom Amen will have tryouts at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23 in the college’s Mainstage Theater. Backstage assistance is also being sought.

“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” will be presented from March 7-16. For more information call (714) 895-8150 or going online to www.gwctheater.com.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.