Commissioned in 1995, a new translation and adaptation of Calderon de la Barca's Life Is a Dream opens at CT's Hartford Stage, Feb. 20. Previews began Feb. 14 for a run through March 21.

Lisa Peterson directs Sueno, Jose Rivera's new adaptation of the work by 17th century Spanish playwright, Calderon. In Sueno a prince, imprisoned since birth, is returned to civilization where he must face reality and destiny.

Director Peterson is currently a resident director at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum and is the winner of an Obie and Drama Desk Award. Rivera's Marisol was produced at Hartford Stage in 1993; his Cloud Tectonics played at Playwrights Horizons last season.

Starring in the show are Yusef Bulos (NYSF's A Dybbuk)s, Anele Dawson, Ken Parker, Geno Silva, Sam Wellington, Damian Young, Darin Dunston, John Socas and Obie-award winning actress Jan Leslie Harding (Sincerity Forever, My Head Was A Sledgehammer).

Designing Sueno are Michael Yeargan (set), Meg Neville (costumes) and Christopher Akerlind (lighting). To get the Hispanic community more involved in the show and in CT theatre, Hartford Stage has formed the Sueno Honorary Committee, comprising Latino community leaders. Said Hartford Stage managing director Stephen J. Albert, "We are excited about the promise of finding a meaningful way to reach the Latino audience."

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Hartford Stage's current, 34th season has been featuring fresh takes on classic plays. Managing director Albert called the season line-up, "vintage Hartford Stage."

The season opened with a revival of Moss Hart's Light Up the Sky (Sept. 27 - Nov. 1, 1997), followed by resident director (and former artistic director) Mark Lamos staging Shakespeare's Cymbeline (Jan. 3 - Feb.7). Lamos will close the season by directing Edward Albee's rarely produced Tiny Alice (May 16 - June 21). Albee's work has enjoyed many recent revivals including a 1996 Tony Award winning production of A Delicate Balance and this year's highly acclaimed production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in London. Tiny Alice, a mystery of passion, violence and symbols, tells of millionairess Miss Alice's seduction of Brother Julian and his eventual sacrifice.

Following Sueno will be a revival of the Tony-nominated musical Tintypes (March 28-May 2). Featuring more than 50 songs from the turn of the century, Tintypes is a combination of historical figures, vaudeville and the American Dream.

For more information or to order a subscription call the Hartford Stage Box Office at (860) 527-5151.

-- By David Lefkowitz and Laura MacDonald