Five new plays are being developed by New York City's Cherry Lane Alternative, an organization devoted to helping up-and-coming theatre artists. Tony Kushner, A.R. Gurney and Wendy Wasserstein are among the established playwrights serving as mentors to authors of these new plays, which are receiving brief but full productions in September and October.

Here's the remaining schedule:

Wendy Wasserstein is the mentor for Saint Lucy's Eyes (Oct. 12-16), Bridgette Wimberly's look at two women forced to deal with a changing world around them. Israel Hicks directs Lisa Roberts Gillan, Cara Buono, Linda Larkin and Yul Vazquez  

Last on the schedule, Heather Hill's Notes From The Confederacy tells of three sisters faced with "history's hand-me-downs." Eduardo Machado directs and A.R. Gurney (Far East) serves as mentor.

* Christopher Shinn's Four began the series, Sept. 14-18. Charles Fuller served as mentor for this tale of a 16-year-old boy who uses the internet to make a July 4 date with a married man. Frank Pugliese (Aven'U Boys) directed Angel David, Stacy Highsmith, Keith Nobbs (Stupid Kids), Isiah [sic] Whitlock. Peter Buchman's Crockerland followed, Sept. 28-Oct. 2. Michael Weller served as mentor.

Though affiliated with the Cherry Lane Theater on Commerce Street (where the Alternative staged a series of staged readings in May 1998), the five Mentor Project plays will be staged at the Kaufman Theatre on 42nd Street. The playwrights and mentors have worked on the pieces for the past year through readings and script evaluations.

For tickets ($12 each) and information on the Mentor Project production series call (212) 279-1434.

-- By David Lefkowitz