Long Beach Playhouse keeps its 33rd season going with readings from playwrights in its new works festival. After sorting through more than 65 possible selections, four featured playwrights are having their play staged at a reading, which is videotaped for their keeping.

At the end of each reading comes a discussion on each topic covered with a panel of three professional theatre critics, the actors, director and writer of the play.

The first play, Spinelli by Dan Riley, was read March 27. Following that is Stephen Ludwig's Accidental Dancers, (April 24); Betterland by David Lohrey (May 22); and Gary Page's Murderat the Black Bear Tavern (June 26).

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Long Beach kicked off its 33rd season with Jest a Second by James Sherman (the sequel to his popular Off-Broadway hit, Beau Jest) that ran through April 17 on the mainstage. The season continues with Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama A Soldier's Play; Bernard Slade's Tribute; Donald Margulies' Sight Unseen; Lillian Garrett-Groag's play about Eleonora Duse and Sarah Bernhardt, The Ladies of the Camellias; Terrence McNally's The Lisbon Traviata; Alan Ayckbourn's A Chorus of Disapproval; and Karoline Leach's Edwardian thriller-romance, The Mysterious Mr. Love. All readings are in the Studio Theatre and are free of charge. The Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St. Call (562) 494-1014 for information.

-- By Willard Manus and Angelica Roderick