In a rare cultural treat for audiences in California's Silicon Valley, members of the Abbey Theatre of Dublin will perform the U.S. premiere of Hugh Leonard's Love in the Title at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, March 11-April 9, 2000.

The play, which was staged in May 1999 at the Abbey, is about Katie, a successful novelist (her books have "love" in their titles) who converses with and gains inspiration from her mother and grandmother, seen as younger women (aged 30 and 20, respectively). Leonard's best-known work may be Da.

Dublin and San Jose are sister cities. There is hope that a staging by San Jose Rep, where Timothy Near is artistic director, will play the Abbey in the future, according to a Rep spokesperson.

Patrick Mason, Abbey artistic director and the Tony Award-winning director of Dancing at Lughnasa, will stage Love in the Title with Irish actresses. The staging will travel to the Massachusetts International Theatre Festival for a week after San Jose.

Opening night at the Rep is March 17, 2000, St. Patrick's Day. Also in the 1999-2000 San Jose Rep season: Over the Tavern (closed Oct. 10); Desire Under the Elms (through Nov. 21); The Matchmaker (Dec. 3-Jan. 2, 2000); Sons of Don Juan (Jan. 29 Feb. 27, 2000); and Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years (May 13-June 11, 2000).

For San Jose Rep information, call (408) 367-7255.

-- By Kenneth Jones