A spokesperson for Playwrights Horizons confirmed a Variety report that the Off-Broadway company is in discussions with James Lapine to stage his new play, Who's On Top, perhaps for the second slot of not-for profit's 1999-2000 season.

It was also confirmed that Playwrights is in discussions with Daniel Sullivan (Far East) to direct the play. The work is described as a kind of roman a clef with characters loosely based on New York City arts figures.

The source of the Variety story was Tim Sanford, artistic director of Playwrights Horizons.

The slate of works for the new Playwrights Horizons season is currently under consideration.

Lapine's past work includes writing the libretti to Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park With George and Falsettos, and the play, Twelve Dreams. He recently directed Golden Child, The Diary of Anne Frank and the upcoming Hunchback of Notre Dame, for Disney.

Variety reported that Who's On Top "centers on a young man who is a book designer with artistic aspirations and the unexpected changes that life brings to his relationships with two women."

-- By Kenneth Jones