LA Theatre Works' The Play's The Thing series of live radio theatre opens this year with Wendy Wasserstein's An American Daughter at 8 PM, Oct. 6. Performances continue through Oct. 11.

The play concerns a doctor nominated for U.S. Surgeon General, but when a minor infraction involving jury duty snowballs into a media circus, her political life is shattered. The situation somewhat resembles the story of real-life Attorney General nominee Zoe Baird. Daughter ran for a short time on Broadway in 1997 with a cast that featured Kate Nelligan, Hal Holbrook, Peter Riegert and Lynne Thigpen.

Beth Milles directs a cast including Mary McDonnell (Summer And Smoke, Academy Award-nominated for the films "Dances With Wolves" and "Passion Fish"). The voices of Susan Stamberg (NPR) and Michael Kinsley (Slate) will be featured as radio and TV commentators.

Tickets are $32-$28 and available by calling (310) 827-0889. The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. All performances are taped for future broadcast on KCRW 89.9 FM.

--By Robert Simonson and Christine Ehren