King Levine, Richard Krevolin's take on the King Lear story, opens Feb. 20 at the Odyssey Theatre starring Sammy Shore and Bari Hochwald. Joe Bologna directs. Previews began Feb. 11 for a run through April 4.

In Krevolin's version, Moishe "King" Levine, who made a million bucks out of bagels and bialys, decides to leave his bakery to his three daughters, only to have them try to ship him off to an old folks' home. His struggle to keep his freedom -- and some of his hard-earned dough -- provides many comic twists.

Krevolin is a playwright, screenwriter, poet and teacher. His one-man play Yahrzeit was a hit in Los Angeles and New York in 1997 and is now touring the country. He is professor of screenwriting at USC Film School.

Shore founded the Comedy Store in Hollywood in 1972. A well known stand-up comic, he has opened for such stars as Frank Sinatra, Bop Hope and Barbra Streisand. His 1993 solo show The Warm-Up Man was a hit at the Santa Monica Playhouse.

Hochwald has appeared locally at such theatres as the Tiffany, Ventura Court and Met. Bologna's most recent theatrical venture was the long running comedy Bermuda Avenue Triangle, in which he co-starred with wife Renee Taylor and Bea Arthur (Nanette Fabray in New York). The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda. Call (310) 477 2055.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent