The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder will continue its fourth annual Working Stages series on Monday, July 26, with the third in its series of four staged readings. Scheduled for that day (7:30 PM) is a reading of Andrew Case's play, Universal Grammar. Dramaturg Gretchen Haley and director Robin McKee (the Festival's Merry Wives of Windsor) have worked closely with the playwright on this work, described as a "poetic and evocative look at people whose lives have been crystallized by disaster."

The fourth and final presentation for this year will be on Aug. 9 at 7:30 PM, with Telluride: The Musical. Battles between long-time residents and wealthy newer ones highlight this bluegrass and folk-style musical by Gerald Martin. Robin McKee will direct this production as well.

The first two works highlighted this season, The Tragedy of Miggillicutty by Adam Chanzit and Edward III, a historical drama some scholars credit to a young William Shakespeare, were presented on July 19.

Working Stages was created by the Festival as a way of combining the talents of some of the many actors, directors and playwrights in the southwestern region of the country. Says Working Stages coordinator and dramaturg Gretchen Haley, "We hope to be an oasis for emerging southwestern playwrights and a laboratory for new scripts." Following the reading of each new script, the audience will take part in a talk-back session in which they can respond constructively to the work-in-progress, rehearsal-style productions.

Tickets to any one of these four readings are $10 for General Admission and $5 for the Colorado Shakespeare Guild and subscribers. For tickets call (303) 492-0554. -- Doug Nevin