While the summer season is over for most theaters, the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse still has one more show opening this week.

“Church Basement Ladies” has run for more than two years in Minneapolis and has enjoyed rave reviews and packed houses across the country. The regional professional premier of this musical comedy is family fare and combines the charm and humor of “Prairie Home Companion” with the giddy lunacy of “Nunsense.” Originally scheduled to run through Sept. 30, tickets are going so well that the theater has added matinee performances for Oct. 1 and 2. To order tickets, call the MGR box office at 255-1785.

The Auburn Players open this weekend with its Youth Theater production of “Willy Wonka Jr.” Under the direction of Elisa Hunt the family musical runs this weekend in the Irene A. Bisgrove Theater at Cayuga Community College.

The Players are also hosting the second annual Short Play Festival Sept. 26 through Oct. 5 at the APT.

Meanwhile, APT is continuing its own series of weekend films. New this week is “Orlando,” Sally Potter's adaptation of the Virginia Woolf novel about a young nobleman who stays young through several centuries of British history. In addition, co-founder Carey Eidel will be offering acting workshops for children 11 through 18 in November. For information, contact Janie MicGlire by e-mail at janie@auburnpublictheater.com or at 253-6669.

Absolute Dance Company is holding auditions Sept. 13 at its studio at 53 Genesee St., Auburn. Auditions for the company will be from 1 to 3 p.m. for 11- to 15-year-olds and at 3 p.m. for ages 16 and up. For more information, call Yvonne Hassett at 253-0067.

The Port Byron Drama Club is planning a fall production of the non-musical version of “Peter Pan” and is seeking financial help to ensure a safe flying experience for the cast. Contributions may be made to the Drama Club and sent to Dana L West Jr. Sr. High School, 30 Maple Ave., Port Byron, NY 13140 attn: Drama Club.

Around the region:

• Appleseed opened its season with the comedy “Goodbye Charlie,” which will play through Sept. 27, at Atonement Stage, 116 Glken Ave., Syracuse. Call 492-9766.

• “Agnes of God” comes to Simply New Theatre from Sept. 20 through 28. Performances are in the Bevard Studio, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. Call 558-9124.

• The Kitchen Theatre, 116 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, opens its season with the premier of Brian Dykstra's “The Two of You.” Call (607) 273-4497.

• Syracuse Stage has opened its new season as well, with August Wilson's “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” running through Oct. 6. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office at 820 E. Genesee St., by telephone at 443-3275 or online at SyracuseStage.org.

And, finally, a fond farewell to Audrey Squires, longtime member of the Auburn Players and once a reviewer for The Citizen. Audrey passed away among family in Kentucky last week. Those of us who knew her will miss her.

Play nice.

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