The Attic Theatre Centre in Los Angeles, has been celebrating its 10th anniversary season, with a Joyce Carol Oates Festival premiering her "Collage Play Trilogy". American Holiday, the third play in the trilogy opens July 17.

The "Collage Play Trilogy" consists of three plays running in repertory: American Holiday, I Stand Before You Naked, and Secret Mirror. All focus on aspects of American life. Naked explores the roles of women in our society, Secret Mirror deals with issues of self identity, and American Holiday reveals the true rituals beneath traditional annual gatherings.

This production marks the first time the trilogy plays have been presented together. Each play is directed by Tom Jackson, long-time collaborator with Joyce. Jackson said, "Joyce is thrilled to finally have the 'Collage Plays' done in a festival setting. They have all been done individually but you see the deeper themes when you bring all three together."

Jackson has directed Oates' plays in NYC and recently directed . . .Naked at the Wooden-O Theatre in Los Angeles.

The Attic recently wrapped up it's fifth annual One-Act Marathon, in which it presented 12 plays in four days. The Attic has been acclaimed for productions such as David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room (1989); Moby Dick Rehearsed by Orson Welles (1990) and a controversial, modern-day version of Arthur Miller's The Crucible (1994). Attic Artistic Director James Carey says of Oates, "We're really excited, because she is well known for her literature (being one of the great writers of the century), but her plays are very exiciting, rich and extremely theatrical. . . A lot of novelists don't adapt themselves well. Her characters are well drawn, deep, a little off-center...they always have a real heart and real humanity."

For tickets to the party, Festival, or more information, please call (213) 469-3786, or refer to the Attic Theatre regional listing on Playbill On-Line.

-- By Blair Glaser