John Guare's latest, Chaucer in Rome, enjoying its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival since July 28, will end its run there Aug. 8. Nicholas Martin, who successfully mounted Guare's Bosoms and Neglect at New York's Signature Theatre Company last winter, pilots the new work.

Polly Holliday, Bruce Norris, Lee Wilkof and B.D. Wong head a cast of six. Holliday, Norris and Wong are all veterans of the Signature's 1998-99 season, which was dedicated to Guare's work. Holliday and Norris starred in the company's revival of Marco Polo Sings a Solo, and Wong replaced David Aaron Baker in the last several performances of Bosoms and Neglect.

Also in the cast are Kali Rocha and Jerry Hardin.

Chaucer in Rome boasts a typically theatrical, absurdist Guare plot, in which the story of a painter trying to find himself in the Eternal City is matched with the tale of a Queens family searching for their son.

The remaining season schedule, which runs June 16-Aug. 29, runs as follows:
The Main Stage:
As You Like It (Aug. 4-15), starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Rosalind, Mark Linn-Baker as Touchstone, Michael Cumpsty as Jaques and Alessandra Navola as Orlando. The Price (Aug. 18-29), Arthur Miller's play about family loyalty and responsibility, directed by James Naughton (WTF's 1997 Johnny on the Spot), starring Harris Yulin and Jeffrey DeMunn.

Nikos Stage:
The Waverly Gallery (Aug. 11-22), Kenneth Lonergan's new play about an 85-year-old Greenwich Village gallery owner who, while failing mentally, refuses to retire, directed by Scott Ellis (Steel Pier), starring Josh Hamilton and Eileen Heckart.

WTF will also present several cabaret acts and play readings.

For information, call (413) 597-3399.

--By Robert Simonson