Local residents to appear in production

Five women and one guy "bare their souls in song and dance" in "The Damsel Dialogues," a new musical revue with book, music and lyrics by Dick De Benedictis that premieres at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks on March 3, with a preview performance on March 2.

"Damsels" has 24 original songs and four monologues that cover such topics as love, motherhood, divorce, work, therapy, plastic surgery, relationships and sex.

De Benedictis is the recipient of 10 Emmy nominations for his work on "Dear Detective," "Police Story," "Perry Mason," "Matlock," "Diagnosis Murder" and others. Other television credits include "Quincy," "Murder She Wrote," "Hawaii FiveO," "Rockford Files," "Columbo," three MTM comedies and numerous pilots and series. He has received a number of ASCAP awards for mostperformed themes and underscore.

De Benedictis lives in the Thousand Oaks area, as do three of the actors in "Dialogues": Rena Petrello (Moorpark), Catrina Quintanilla (Westlake Village) and Michael Falcone (Newbury Park). Miriam Nelson directs and choreographs.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., March 3 through April 7. A preview performance will be Fri., March 2 at 8 p.m.

Tickets range from $15 to $25; preview tickets are $10.

The Whitefire Theatre is at 13500 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. For reservations and information, call (818) 991-1485 or visit www.whitefiretheatre.com.