The New Jersey Repertory Company, the resident nonprofit professional company in Long Branch, NJ, opened the world premiere of In Search of Red River Dog, by Sandra Perlman Oct. 12. The production will close as scheduled Nov. 5

Rob Reese directs the drama, set in 1978 in Deerfield, OH, where a young couple, Paulette and Denny, are drifting apart after the death of their child. Paulette is convinced illegal dumping is responsible for the death of her baby, and Denny, who has been laid off and cannot relocate his family, faces guilt about not being able to protect his family from harm.

The cast features Dana Benningfield and Jeff Farkash as Paulette and Denny, and Betty Hudson and Ross Haines as Paulette's parents, Bertie and John. Designers are Bryan Higgason (set), Michael Reese (lights), Patricia E. Doherty (costumes), Merek Royce Press (sound) and Deede Ulanet (props).

Tickets are $25-$36. For information, call the Lumia Theatre, 179 Broadway, in Long Branch at (732) 229-3166. Visit NJ Rep's website at www.njrep.org.

* NJ Rep presents new and forgotten work on its mainstage and 20-30 staged readings per year — offering playwrights a chance to hear their works read before an audience, and to get feedback, if desired.

NJ Rep has taken some of those readings to full production: Ends, A World I Never Made, North Fork, Octet, The Girl With the High Rouge, Panama, Unhappy Woman and In Search of Red River Dog itself.

— By Kenneth Jones