After extending for an extra two weeks,the Magic Theatre of San Francisco will close the world premiere of Michelle Carter's comedy, Hillary and Soon-Yi Shop For Ties, Dec. 12.

The original run was scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 21 with an opening Nov. 5. Hillary and Soon-Yi ceased performances Nov. 21 to begin again Dec. 1.

Subtitled "a vaudeville for the new millennium," Hillary and Soon-Yi takes two controversial women with controversial spouses shopping. Cameo appearances by other famous women include Marilyn Monroe, Persephone and the Virgin Mary. Lorri Holt portrays Hillary Clinton with Amy Tung as Soon-Yi Previn. Joan Mankin directs.

For tickets ($15-$30) and information, call the Magic at (415) 441-8822. The Magic Theatre is located at the Fort Mason Center in Building D and on the internet at http://www.magictheatre.org.

* Jan. 12-23, 2000, the Magic will host its first Festival of Lesbian Playwrights. Included among the new works to be presented is the world premiere of Five Women on a Hill in Spain by Claire Chafee (Why We Have a Body, Even Among These Rocks). Other playwrights under consideration are Sarah Felder, Nicola Harwood, Bayla Travis, Karen Hartman, Naomi Wallace and Kate Moira Ryan.

Playwright-actor-director John O'Keefe premieres Bronte, the product of his seven year obsession with the sisters and their writing, Feb. 11-March 5. Three-time Tony nominee Barbara Damashek directs.

Playwrights in Danger will be the subject of the Magic festival April 20 30. Playwrights under consideration include Ken Saro Wiwa, the Nigerian playwright executed by his government in 1995, Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka and the Indonesian writer Ratna Sarumpaet.

To fill the final three slots (April 8-30, June 2-25 and June 30 July 30), the Magic is considering Out From Under by Gary Leon Hill, By the Bog of Cats by Marina Carr and Summertime by Charles Mee, Jr. The theatre also hopes to present Doug Wright's Quills, if the author will be available to direct.

-- By Christine Ehren