San Jose Repertory Theatre opens its season with a comic California story, Jon Robin Baitz's Mizlansky/Zilinsky or "schmucks," previewing from Sept. 11, opening Sept. 18.

Set in L.A. in 1984, Mizlansky/Zilinsky concerns B-movie producers Davis Mizlansky and Sam Zilinsky and their world of amoral Hollywood deal-making. M/Z received its Off-Broadway premiere at the Manhattan Theatre Club's mainstage Feb. 17, 1998 where it ran until May 10. Nathan Lane and Lewis J. Stadlen starred as the title characters. Before its New York premiere, the play had a radio incarnation (that also starred Lane), as well as a production in 1985 at L.A. Theatre Works.

Associate artistic director John McCluggage directs Larry Block (who substituted for Lane in the MTC production) as Mizlansky and Peter Van Norden as Zilinsky. Others in the cast include J. Michael Flynn, Jim Friedman, Jackson Davis, Dominique Lozano, Vidal Perez, and Bruce French.

The design team features Eric Stone (scenic), B. Modern (costumes), Rick Paulsen (lighting), and Jeff Mockus (sound). Bruce Elsperger stage manages.

Other Baitz plays include Three Hotels and The Film Society. Tickets are $32-$16 and are available by calling (408) 291-2255. San Jose Reperatory performs at the Sobrato Auditorium at 101 Paseo de San Antonio between 2nd and 3rd streets in downtown San Jose.

-- By Christine Ehren