“Since its opening in the fall of 1997, the stage at the new South Whidbey High School auditorium has hosted a steady procession of theater, dance and musical performances. This tradition continues in the new year of 2000.First up on Saturday, Jan. 8 is “A Slice of Life,” a collection of 16 playlets revolving around the teenage experience. Friendship, dating, dreams, breakups, and breakdowns are all explored in sometimes humorous and sometimes poignant sketches featuring two to 10 actors from Drama 1 classes, who take the main stage for this one-night-only show. Performances are at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; admission by donation.“Night of January Sixteenth” by Ayn Rand is a courtroom comedy-drama written in 1933. In the story, corporate giant Bjorn Faulkner is dead. His longtime lover and secretary Karen Andre is on trial for his murder. A team of prosecutors and a team of defense attorneys battle it out before a jury of audience members who will determine Andre’s guilt or innocence and thereby determine which final scene the actors play. The drama comes from a well-written plotline, while the comedy is provided by a series of larger-than-life witnesses, each with his or her unique testimony and accent. The students in director Michael McInerney’s advanced drama class present this classic on Jan. 12, 13 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. in the High School Little Theatre, which McInerney’s students have effectively turned into a courtroom. Only 50 seats are available for each show, at $3 each. Tickets will be presold through cast and crew members.The season’s musical theatre presentation is the 1930s production “Babes in Arms,” seldom produced but noted for its famous Rodgers and Hart tunes, among them “Where or When,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “(That’s Why) The Lady is a Tramp.” Co-directors Diana Lindsay and Michael McInerney team up for their seventh collaborative effort with the services of respected local choreographers Charlene Brown, Susan Vanderwood and Amy Windecker. SWHS music director Brent Purvis directs the pit orchestra; set design and construction duties fall to Lon Peterman (of “Hello, Dolly” fame) and Jean Shaw once again steps into the role of producer. “Babes in Arms” runs Feb. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13. The production is in need of clothes from the late ‘40s for costuming; contact Shaw at 221-5159 if you have some to lend.”