Theater groups stage a slew of new shows

Here's a roundup of new shows by local performing arts groups that open this weekend:

*"Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter" opens at 8 p.m. tonight in the Dennis & Cheryl Woods Arena Theatre in the California State University, Fresno, Speech Arts Building. Performances, scheduled to run through Nov. 7, are at 8 p.m. except Sundays, when they are at 2 p.m.

It's the story of a 30-year-old Marine who is the single mother of two daughters. Sutter is ashamed to face her daughters because of the emotional and physical toll the war has taken on her. It is directed by Kathleen McKinley.

Tickets cost $10 for students; $15 for faculty, alumni or seniors; $17 general admission. They are available at www.csufresno.edu/theatrearts/performances/current_season.shtml or by calling (559) 278-2216.

*Fresno City College Opera Workshop will present Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7 plus 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Fresno City College Theatre, 1101 E. University Ave.

"The Mikado," directed by Melissa Wolfmann, is set in the fictional Japanese town of Titipu. Nanki-Poo has banished himself from town because he has fallen in love with Yum-Yum. The bad news: Yum-Yum is engaged to Ko-Ko. The opera is a satire about love, life and politics.

Tickets cost $10 general admission, $7 students and seniors and $4 for groups of 10 and more. They are available through the Fresno City College Theatre Box Office by calling (559) 442-8221.

* Artists' Repertory Theatre's "All In The Timing" opens at 8 p.m. tonight at the Cal Arts Academy-Severance Theater, 1401 N. Wishon Ave.

The show runs through Nov. 29 with showtimes 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

"All in the Timing" played to full houses at this year's Fresno's Rogue Performance Festival.

The show features two acts of comedy divided into eight short plays written by David Ives, including "Variations on the Death of Trotsky" and "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread."

Tickets cost $12 in advance; $15 the day of the show. Student and senior tickets cost $10 and $13.

Go to www.brownpaper tickets.com/event/80911 or call (559) 222-6539 for tickets.

-- The Fresno Bee