As part of an ongoing outreach program, the Mark Taper Forum's special Pay What You Can Tickets will be available the Sept. 3 and Sept 7 performances of The First Picture Show, which is the final production of the Taper's 1998-99 season.

A limited number of Pay What You Can Tickets will go on sale the day of the performances. They can be purchased in person at the Center Theatre Group box office for that evening's performance and are sold on a cash-only basis with a limit of two per person. Tickets are subject to availability.

The First Picture Show, a new play with music, features book and lyrics by Ain Gordon and David Gordon with music by Jeanine Tesori. Directed and choreographed by David Gordon, the show (which was originally commissioned and developed by the Taper) is a co-production with American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco.

The Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 N. Grand Ave. (box office at the Ahmanson Theatre). Call CTG audience services at (213) 628-2772. The deaf community should call TDD (213) 680- 4017.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent