Paris? Britney? Lindsay? Who can't do better than that?

Here are some stars who are actually worth watching coming up on CinStages in the next few weeks:

Anthony Darnell in "After Ashley" at Know Theatre, starting April 19. Love him. Same with Angel Zachel in the title role. Actually, we're pretty fond of the whole cast, including Chris Guthrie, Liz Holt and Derek Snow. We hear Angel is leaving the stage for another performance arena -- she's been accepted into law school. Everybody wants to make a living.

The week after that, New Stage Collective has snagged Amy Warner and Cincinnati Shakespeare's Brian Isaac Phillips for its Main Street debut. Watch Warner sink her teeth into the role of an unstrung wife. Move over, Medea. And that elementary Dr. Watson in Playhouse's "Sherlock Holmes" is Cincinnati homeboy Howard Kaye, whose first appearance there was in "Oliver" in 1977.

Shakespeare isn't slouching with the extraordinary Bruce Cromer as Prospero in "The Tempest" opening May 3. If this man is on a stage, buy the ticket.