LOS ANGELES -- "The Wing: New Theatre Taking Off ," a four-month festival of work from the Mark Taper Forum's play development division, will be held weekly at the Falcon Theatre through June 27.

A mixture of play readings, showcases of works-in-progress and performances of spoken word, dance, poetry and music is being offered free of charge to the public.

The Asian Theatre Workshop, Blacksmyths, Latino Theatre Initiative and The Other Voices Project are the groups involved.

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis one hour before curtain at the Falcon Theatre box office. All of the performances are at 8 PM, unless otherwise noted.

On Mar. 17, as part of the Asian Pacific American Friends Reading Series, Stop Kiss, by Diana Son, and May, by Doris Baizley, will be featured. In the spirit of the Festival, Cornerstone Theatre will present (in association with ATW and East West Players) A Beautiful Country, by Chay Yew and directed by Bill Rauch, May 28-June 14, at a venue to be announced.

Blacksmyth's 4th Annual Juneteenth will take place June 19-21 with a series of six readings including plays by Ken Cosby, Thurman Matthiesen and Kim Dunbar, among others.

The Other Voices Project is dedicated to the empowerment of new voices of the disability culture, both professional and community-based. In recent years, the Project has drawn on the model of the tent-show Chautauqua to create multidisciplinary events that are popular, entertaining and educational. Victoria Lewis is the director.

"The Wing" is made possible, in part, by support from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, and the Music Center Unified Fund.

For further information about "The Wing," call (213) 972- 7389. The Falcon Theatre is at 4252 Riverside Dr. in Burbank.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent