Three-time Drama-Logue winner and soap opera star Stephen Nichols will continue on as a priest accused of sexual impropriety with a young runaway under his care in The Dead Boy, extending its U.S. premiere two weeks, through Oct. 14 at Los Angeles' Laurelgrove Theatre. Performances began Aug. 10. Company artistic director Jack Heller directs this second production for the fledgling theatre.

Nichols currently plays Stefan Cassadine on "General Hospital" after a five- year stint as Steve "Patch" Johnson on "Days of Our Lives." The actor portrayed Jim Morrison in the last 36 hours of his life in The Lizard King, a psychopathic killer in Pieces of Time and a starring role in Delirious, all of which garnered Nichols Drama-Logue Awards. Other credits include the musicals Reunion and Leader of the Pack in Canada.

The Dead Boy by Joe Pintauro chronicles the aftermath of a scandal in the Catholic Church, when a Cardinal finds his diocese and ministry to thousands of runaways turned upside down by one boy's accusation that the charismatic Father Sheridan (Nichols) sexually abused him.

Pintauro's work includes My Name is Alice, Cacciatore, Snow Orchid, Raft of Medusa and the trilogy By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea, written with Terrence McNally and Lanford Wilson.

Derek Sitter plays Will Draper, the abused teenage boy, with Travis Michael Holder (Nasty Little Secrets) as the Cardinal and Cyril O'Reilly (Delirious, The Boys in the Band) as Tony McGuire, a journalist who wants to expose Sheridan in order to excorcise his own demons. Also in the cast is Lorry Goldman (Father Angelo Rosetti). Designing The Dead Boy are Scott Cheek (sets) and Gregory Von Dare (lighting).

Tickets are $20. The Laurelgrove Theatre is located at 12265 Ventura Boulevard. For reservations, call (818) 760-8368.

— By Christine Ehren