In 2001, San Jose Repertory Theatre hosted Oscar winner Holly Hunter in By the Bog of Cats. In 2003, two-time Oscar nominee Mary McDonell will star as Lady in Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending. McDonell, recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures for roles in "Dances With Wolves" and "Passion Fish," won an Obie Award alongside San Jose Rep's artistic director Timothy Near in Still Life. Her New York credits include Summer and Smoke, The Heidi Chronicles, The Vagina Monologues and Buried Child. She recently filmed the pilot of "The Corsairs,' the first television show by Larry Gelbart in 19 years.

Orpheus Descending focuses on the relationship that develops between a wandering guitar player named Val and Lady Torrance, a shopkeeper's wife in a small Southern town. Those around them make no attempt to understand their friendship, turning violently against them instead. Williams is best known for his plays A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie.

Orpheus Descending will play May 24-June 22, 2003, closing the Rep's season. Also set for 2002-2003 are The Drawer Boy (Aug. 31-Sept. 29, 2002), the world premiere of Philip Kan Gotanda's The Wind Cries Mary (Oc.t 19-Nov. 17, 2002), Two Gentlemen of Verona (Dec. 7-Jan. 12, 2003), Culture Clash in Americca (Feb. 1-March 2, 2003), and Eric Bogosian's Humpty Dumpty (March 22-April 20, 2003).

San Jose Repertory Theatre is located at 101 Paseo de San Antonio between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. For reservations, call (408) 367-7255. San Jose Repertory Theatre is on the web at http://www.sjrep.com.

— By Christine Ehren