Fairchild, the lean blonde actress from soaps of the 1980s ("Flamingo Road") will star as Mrs. Robinson, who seduces her daughter's boyfriend. Fairchild's stage credits include High Infidelity and Geniuses in New York. Other recent stage appearances have included productions of Good-bye Charlie and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her TV career began with a stint as paranoid murderess Jennifer Pace Phillips in the CBS-TV daytime series "Search for Tomorrow."

Fairchild will open the newly cast and directed production Oct. 29 in Fayetteville, AR, and continue through Feb. 27, 2005 (to the end of a Washington, DC engagement). The tour will continue into 2005.

The rest of the cast will be announced early fall. Peter Lawrence, who helmed the touring production that launched in summer 2003, is unavailable and will not direct the fall company. A director will be announced. The earlier tour closed June 27 in Ottawa, with Kelly McGillis as Mrs. Robinson.

The Graduate is adapted by Terry Johnson, from the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, and is produced by Jon B. Platt.

Production design is by Rob Howell (sets and costumes), Hugh Vanstone (lighting) and Christopher Cronin (sound).

The play features songs by Paul Simon, performed by Simon and Garfunkel, and original music composed and arranged by Barrington Pheloung.