Area community theaters will strut their stuff Friday and Saturday. First comes the Southwest Regional Octafest (OCTA is Ohio Community Theatre Association) with 15 companies presenting excerpts in competition Friday evening and all day Saturday. Winners will go on to statewide competition.

        Then ACT-Greater Cincinnati (ACT is Association of Community Theatres) will celebrate the 2001-02 season with its annual banquet and bestowing of Orchids (the award for a job well done, not the flower.)

        Excerpts are performed at Parrish Auditorium on the Miami University Hamilton Campus. Pictured: Tony Wright in The Civil War (Showbiz Players), Dee Anne Bryll in Rumors (Village Players), . Tickets will be available at the door ($15).

        The excerpt schedule: Friday (beginning at 7 p.m.): Showbiz Players, Sunset Players, Footlighters, Tri-County Players and Milford Theatre Guild. Saturday (beginning at 8:30 a.m.): Falcon Players, Village Players, Stagecrafters, Loveland Stage Company, Mariemont Players, Beechmont Players, Firebird Theater, the Drama Workshop, Playhouse South (from Dayton) and Landen Deerfield Theatre Company.

        For more information e-mail Laurie Schneider at laschneider@hotmail.com.

— Jackie Demaline

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