Long Beach Playhouse has kicked off its 33rd season with a production of James Sherman's Just A Second, which will run through April 17 on the theatre's mainstage.

Directed by Warren Davis, the comedy deals a young man, Joel, trying to explain to his very Jewish family that the new girlfriend he is bringing home is really his boyfriend.

The following plays are on the Playhouse's 1999-2000 season: Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize drama A Soldier's Play (April 23-June 5); Bernard Slade's Tribute (June 11-July 17); Donald Margulies' Sight Unseen (July 23-Aug. 28); Lillian Garrett-Groag's play about Eleonora Duse and Sarah Bernhardt, The Ladies of the Camellias (Sept. 5-Oct. 9); Terrence McNally's The Lisbon Traviata (Oct. 15-Nov. 27); Alan Ayckbourn's A Chorus of Disapproval (Dec. 3, 1999-Jan. 22, 2000); and Karoline Leach's Edwardian thriller-romance, The Mysterious Mr. Love (Jan. 28 March 4, 2000).

LBP also announced that it will present staged readings of four new works selected from more than 65 submissions by southern California playwrights, commencing March 27 with Spinelli, a "comedy of biblical proportions" by Dan Riley.

The other readings include Accidental Dancers by Stephen Ludwig (April 24); Betterland by David Lohrey (May 22); and Gary Page's Murder at the Black Bear Tavern (June 26). All readings are in the Studio Theatre and are free of charge. A panel of three professional critics will critique the plays and take part in a discussion conducted at the conclusion of each performance.

The Long Beach Playhouse is at 5021 E. Anaheim St. Call (562) 494-1014 for information.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent