Theatregoers know about the latter lives (and sometimes deaths) of Ophelia, Lady Macbeth and Miranda, but what were their childhoods like? Don Nigro explores the possibilities in the comedy The Girlhood of Shakespeare's Heroines, playing Aug. 17-Sept. 1 at San Jose's Northside Theatre Company. Richard t. Orlando directs.

In a series of vignettes featuring only Shakespeare's heroines, Nigro looks at what it's like to be a minor character amongst the poet's great male creations. He is also the author of Ravenscroft, Seascape with Pussycat and The Transylvanian Clockwork.

Tickets are $12. The Olinder Theatre is located at 848 E. William Street. For reservations, call (408) 288-7820. The Northside Theatre Company is on the web at http://www.northsidetheatre.com.

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The rest of the Northinside Theatre seasons follows: Little Women, dramatized by Kristin Laurence, Oct. 11-28
K2, Feb. 14-March 3, 2002
Winne the Pooh by Kristin Segel, April 11-28
The Tempest, June 13-30

— By Christine Ehren