New Jersey's George Street Playhouse opens its 2002-03 season Sept. 17 with Regina Taylor's new play-with-music, A Night in Tunisia.

The musical, which tells the story of four vibrant women, stars Broadway actresses Suzzanne Douglas and Cheryl Freeman. Douglas, last season as Billie Holiday in George Street's production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, has starred on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera, Into the Woods, The Tap Dance Kid, Sophisticated Ladies and A Grand Night for Singing. Freeman has performed in such Broadway musicals as The Civil War and Play On!, and she originated the role of the Acid Queen in the musical version of The Who's Tommy.

Playwright Regina Taylor is the author of Oo-Bla-Dee, Urban Zulu Mambo, Escape from Paradise, Watermelon Rinds, Inside the Belly of the Beast, Mudtracks, Between the Lines and Behind Every Good Man. Also an accomplished actress, Taylor won an NAACP Image Award for her role on "I'll Fly Away." Her role as Lily Harper on that television program also garnered her a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination. Currently, she can be seen on "The Education of Max Bixford," and her play Crowns will premiere at the McCarter Theatre this season.

Directed by Ted Sod, A Night in Tunisia features music by Timothy Graphenreed, who will also serve as the show's musical director and orchestrator. The remainder of the creative team comprises Ted Simpson (set designer), Mike Clark (projections), Toni Leslie James (costume designer), Victor En Yu Tan (lighting designer), Christopher J. Bailey (sound designer), Regan Kimmel (production manager) and Tom Clewell (production stage manager).

The uplifting mix of hip-hop, blues and jazz will play the George Street Playhouse — located at 9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey — Sept. 17 through Oct. 20. Tickets, priced between $26 and $45, are available by calling the theatre's box office at (732) 246-7717. For more information, go to www.georgestplayhouse.org. —By Andrew Gans