LOS ANGELES -- The Ahmanson Theatre announced its 1998-99 season, which kicks off Sept. 9 with a subscription-bonus production of Barrymore starring Christopher Plummer. The regular subscription season starts on Oct. 14 with Fosse: A Celebration in Song and Dance, a Broadway-bound musical conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Chet Walker.

Other forthcoming shows include Titanic, the Peter Stone-Maury Yeston musical (Jan. 10); Mathew Bourne's Cinderella (April 2, 1999); and either Measure for Measure or A Midsummer's Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Hall (June 9).

"Next season is a wonderful combination of art and artists representing all stages of the creative process," said Gordon Davidson, Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre's artistic director/producer. "From the development of a new musical...to presenting the one and only United States engagement of last season's sensational Swan Lake and providing the opportunity for Peter Hall to direct an American company in Shakespeare, the Ahmanson's dedication to providing the finest entertainment possible continues with our 23rd year.

"All of these works utilize the flexibility of our Ahmanson's reconfigured seating capacity to its best advantage, allowing us to present some of the most exciting and challenging work in theatre today," Davidson said.

The bonus presentation of Barrymore is produced by Livent (U.S.) Inc. Gene Saks is the director. Featuring the choreography of Fosse, as recreated and directed by Chet Walker, who served as one of Fosse's dance captains on both Dancin' and the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity, Fosse will have Gwen Verdon as its artistic advisor.

The Ahmanson Theatre is at 135 N. Grand Ave. For subscriptions and information, call (213) 628-2772.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent