Small but essential schedule changes have become familiar fare for the upcoming Urban Stages run of Bruce Graham's Coyote on a Fence at the Blue Heron Arts Center. The limited engagement begin previews March 26, opens officially March 29 and runs through April 22.

The last round of changes, reported March 21, has now been revised, less than a day after being posted.

As of March 22, production sources say that the first preview performance on March 26 has been changed to a 3 PM matinee followed by the 8 PM evening show already planned. Accordingly, the additional performance planned for March 27 at 8 PM is canceled. There will, however be a new additional performance on April 18 at 8 PM.

As reported earlier, director Lou Jacob will helm this new play about prisoners on death row, where a political activist encounters a white power racist. Much of the action surrounds the activist, who agitates for more intellectual fare on the prison media menu and publishes a newspaper from his cell called "The Death Row Advocate."

Playwright Graham is the author of Belmont Avenue Social Club and Minor Demons, which was first produced by Urban Stages and subsequently moved to the Century Theater. Graham's film credits include "Dunston Checks In" and the upcoming Abbie Hoffman biopic "Steal This Movie." The cast for Coyote on a Fence comprises Tom Stechschulte (Inherit the Wind and Voices in the Dark), Paul Sparks ("Law & Order"), Pam Hart ("Pi") and David Letwin (Much Ado About Nothing).

The production team includes lighting designer Jeff Nellis, sound designer Marc Gwinn and costume designer Ilona Somogyi.

Tickets are $15.00 for all seats. The Blue Heron Arts Center is located at 123 East 24th Street in Manhattan. For tickets call the box office at (212) 755-0541. For information visit www.mint.net/urbanstages.

-- By Murdoch McBride