Much as the Public Theatre made it a mission to produce all of William Shakespeare's plays, the Playwrights Theatre of New York has embarked upon a reading series of all of Eugene O'Neill's plays. Not only that, the company is doing them in chronological order.

Born out of a study group at the Actors Studio, the Playwrights Theatre anticipates the 50+ play series will take several years to complete. Artistic director Stephen Kennedy Murphy spent a year as a playwright-in residence at the Monte Cristo Cottage, O'Neill's boyhood home.

Murphy will direct the next reading (sixth in the series), Fog, which will feature Baakari Wilder, current star of Broadway's Bring In `Da Noise, Bring In `Da Funk. The reading will take place Nov. 17 at New York University's Loeb Student Center on LaGuardia Place.

Also appearing in the two-character show is John Schmerling (Three Sisters at La MaMa).

After Fog, March 1998 Playwrights Theatre will read O'Neill's never-produced Bread And Butter. Kennedy told Playbill On-Line (Nov. 11) he also hopes to produce that show at the Provincetown Playhouse sometime in 1998. Previous O'Neill plays read at Playwrights Theatre of NY inclue A Wife For A Life, The Web, Thirst, Recklessness and Warnings.

For tickets ($5 suggested donation) and information on the one-act Fog, call (212) 714-7700.

-- By David Lefkowitz