Directed by Gloucester Stage artistic director Eric C. Engel, Last Week is billed as "a dark, delicious and mysterious love story set in a Long Island cemetery where not all secrets are underground."

The cast includes Timothy John Smith, seen as Joe in Gloucester Stage's recent The Most Happy Fella; Francisco Solorzano, last seen at Gloucester Stage in Israel Horovitz's award-winning Gloucester-set play Sins of the Mother; and Gloucester Stage newcomer Therese Plaehn.

Gloucester Stage previously produced Vetere's The Marriage Fool, Three Sisters from Queens, Gangster Apparel and First Love. His novel, "The Third Miracle," was published by Simon & Schuster. He co-wrote the screenplay adaptation produced by Francis Ford Coppola starring Ed Harris and Anne Heche. Vetere wrote the teleplay adaptation of his stage play The Marriage Fool starring Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett. His other stage plays include The Vows of Penelope Corelli; The Engagement; One Shot, One Kill; Machiavelli; and Caravaggio. Vetere has written several books to musicals including A Hundred Years Into the Heart and Lanza: The Mario Lanza Story.

Gloucester Stage Company's home is at 267 East Main Street, in Gloucester, MA, on Cape Ann.

Ticket prices are $37 for all performances. Senior citizen and student tickets are $32 for all performances. For reservations or further information, call the Gloucester Stage Box Office at (978) 281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org. *

The Gloucester Stage Company's mission "is to present the highest quality professional theatrical productions and thus contribute to the cultural, economic and educational development of Cape Ann." The Gloucester Stage Company was co-founded in 1979 by Geoff Richon, Denny Blodgett, and award-winning playwright Israel Horovitz as a "safe harbor for playwrights and new plays."

During its first 20 seasons the GSC successfully realized its mission with the production of more than 35 world premieres, 15 American premieres, and 25 New England premieres.

Horovitz stepped down as artistic director after the 2006 season but continues as a prominent member of the artistic company. In 2007, Eric Engel became the company's second artistic director.