The Auburn Players Community Theater is behind a pair of theater events this month away from their traditional home at Cayuga Community College.

This weekend they stage a Reader's Theater production at the Morgan Opera House in Aurora of “Henry's Wives,” the play that won last year's Gloria Ann Barnell Peter playwrighting contest, which Morgan sponsored. The wives of the title are those of Henry VIII. Deadline for submissions for this year's contest is Nov. 30. Direct inquiries by e-mailing CCross@aol.com or calling

364-9832.

The Players' Second Stage will also be presenting nine original short plays at its first “Original Short Play Festival” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25, 26 and 27, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Auburn Public Theater. Auburn playwrights include: Lesley Kennedy, Frank Netti, Joe Sarnicola, Jamie Bruno, Lance Walter and Bourke Kennedy. In addition there will be a play by Rochester playwright Ed Scutt and one each by Ithaca area playwrights William Cordeiro and Kathleen Kramer. Fifteen actors will perform in works that touch on such themes as fear, hope, pride, wonder, power and illusion.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for seniors and students. For more information, call 253-4315.

Seneca Community Players concludes its 35th season with “When the Cat's Away,” a farce by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke, Oct. 11 through 14, in the Main Street School, 202 W. Main St., Waterloo. For tickets, call 568-9364.

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” closes this weekend at Syracuse Stage, as does Syracuse University's Drama's production of “Lucky Stiff.” An adaptation of Stephen King's “Misery” continues the Stage season beginning Oct. 24. For tickets or information on all three, call 443-3275.

Ithaca's Kitchen Theatre opens Brian Dykstra's “Strangerhorse” Oct. 18; it is an edgy comedy about homophobia, racism, assimilation and trust. For tickets, call (607) 273-4497.

Fulton's Port City Theatre ends its run of “Anne Frank and Me” this weekend. To learn more, call 598-8812. Baldwinsville Theatre Guild is staging a mystery dessert theater production of “A Part to Murder.” For details, call 635-1404. Salt City Center for the Performing Arts closes “Michael and Elizabeth, Vivian and Pete,” an original musical by Pat Lolito, this weekend. For more, call 446-6798.

Geneva Theatre Guild presents three performances of “The Queen of Bingo” Oct. 19 and 20 at The Sons of Italy Lodge in Geneva. For information, call 789-1209.

“A Man For All Seasons” runs Oct. 19 through 28, at Simply New Theater. To learn more, call 558-9124.

And lastly, Syracuse Civic Theatre (329-0080) stages “Twelve Angry Men,” Rarely Done Production (546-3224) puts up “Baby With the Bathwater,” and Appleseed (492-9766) mounts “Playing With Fire (After Frankenstein.)” All three productions run from Oct. 19 through Nov. 3.

Now, go see some theater.

Play nice.

Tom Woods writes monthly on local and regional theater news. E-mail him at thewoodhead@yahoo.com