Ohio's Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park begins its 1998-99 season Sept. 8 with Oscar Wilde's most famous comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. The play opens Sept. 10 and runs through Oct. 9.

Directed by John Going, who staged the Playhouse's Sylvia and Harvey, Earnest recounts the romantic misadventures of two bored high society gentleman, Alegernon and Jack, as they attempt to woo the women they love -- both men using the pseudonym Ernest.

Other staff includes James Wolk (set), Elizabeth Covey (costume), Dennis Parichy (lighting), Bruce E. Coyle (production stage manager), and Suann Pollock (stage manager).

The Playhouse production stars Jay Russell (Algernon), Bob Kirsh (Jack), Delphi Harrington (Lady Bracknell), Melissa King (Gwendolen), Tara Falk (Cecily), Dale Hodges (Mrs. Prism), and Philip Pleasents (Rev. Canon Chasuble).

Tickets range from $38-26 and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at (513) 421-3888 or toll free at (800) 582-3208. Any unreserved tickets are half price day of performance at the box office, purchasable between 11 AM and 5 PM. As Earnest runs on the main stage, the Playhouse's Thompson Shelterhouse Theatre features the regional premiere of Moises Kaufman's play, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, running Sept. 29-Oct. 25.

Gross Indecency chronicles the arrest, judgement, and sentencing of Oscar Wilde, accused and convicted of committing the crime of "gross indecency" with men, a turn-of-the-century legal term for homosexuality.