Get a taste of tyranny with ‘Miss Margarida’s Way’

Much of the time, Smith Center audiences will find Annette Houlihan Verdolino offstage, assisting them as a patron services representative.

Starting Thursday, however, she has a new (temporary) identity as the sole cast member in "Miss Margarida's Way," which opens a five-performance run in The Smith Center's Troesh Studio Theater.

It's hardly Verdolino's first Las Vegas role; for six years, she played "Menopause the Musical's" Iowa housewife and toured with that show for more than two years.

But portraying Miss Margarida is something else entirely.

The dark comedy, by Brazil's Roberto Athayde, transports audiences back to eighth grade, where the tyrannical title character resorts to charm, intimidation and manipulation to assert her power over her unsuspecting "students."

Troy Heard, who heads the Onyx Theatre, directs "Miss Margarida's Way" under his Table 8 Productions banner; Verdolino represents Table 8's first contract with Actors Equity, the union representing professional stage actors.

"Miss Margarida's Way" will be staged at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Troesh Studio Theater at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave.

Tickets are $39 and may be purchased by phone (702-749-2000) or online (www.thesmithcenter.com).