Before Three Tall Women, before A Delicate Balance, even before Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? came two Edward Albee one acts: The American Dream (1961) and the much-revived The Zoo Story (1959). Now those seminal Albee one-acts are receiving a production at Houston, TX's Alley Theatre -- directed by the playwright himself.

The comedic and creepy Zoo Story has become a favorite of one-act fests and acting workshops for its simple set-up: two men on a park bench. The American Dream, about the dilemma of putting Grandma in a nursing home, tells of "middle-class morality and murder," as the Alley press release describes it.

The 40th anniversary mounting occurs on the Alley's Neuhaus Stage, opening Mar. 10 after starting previews March 5 for a run through March 28. Albee has been an associate artist of the Alley Theatre since 1989. He took part in a panel discussion about the plays, March 27.

It's been quite a year for the Alley, what with the company's world premiere of the Broadway-bound Frank Wildhorn-Gregory Boyd musical, The Civil War, and the U.S. premiere of the UK-import, Not About Nightingales, now playing to acclaim at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre.

Other Albee plays include Seascape, The Sandbox, Tiny Alice, The Man Who Had Three Arms and Fam And Yam. For tickets and information on The Zoo Story & The American Dream call (713) 228-8421.

-- By David Lefkowitz