Only days after Milwaukee Repertory ended its run of Angels In America -- Millennium Approaches, a major and controversial choice, on Oct. 23 they began previews of their next show, Tom Dudzick's Over The Tavern, about a 12-year-old boy locking horns with a no-nonsense, elderly nun. A comedy/drama of Catholic life, the show follows wisecracking young Rudy as he "devises Ed Sullivan comedy routines and engages in prayerful negotiations with Jesus." The play opened Oct. 24 and ends its scheduled run Nov. 23.

Tavern was staged in 1994 at Buffalo NY's Studio Arena Theatre, directed there by Terence Lamude, who repeats those duties here. Dudzick's Greetings was staged by Off-Broadway's Barrow Group in 1991.

Starring in Tavern are Jamie Bennett, Lynn Brass, Judith K. Hart, Celia Howard and Christopher McHale, alongside young performers Ryan Dance and Brett Ryback. Designing the show are Gary M. English (set), Martha Hally (costumes), John McLain (lighting) and Tom Gould (sound). Darci Brown Wutz serves as choreographer.

Up next at the theatre will be Having Our Say, Emily Mann's bio based on the lives of two black, southern sisters who shared their entire lives together -- more than 100 years. The show begins previews Dec. 3 and opens Dec. 5.

For tickets and information on shows at Milwaukee Repertory on East Wells St. call (414) 224-9490. -- By David Lefkowitz