LOS ANGELES -- PBS' anchorman Jim Lehrer will plunge into the local theatre waters when his black comedy Chili Queen has its West Coast premiere at the Coronet Theatre on Feb. 20.

Lehrer, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist and executive editor of PBS Newshour, has written two previous plays, Church Key Charlie Blue and The Will and Bart Show . as well as 12 books, including "Viva Max," the basis for a feature film starring Peter Ustinov.

Chili Queen deals with an unemployed gas station attendant who becomes embroiled in a dispute with a waitress in a chili-burger joint which escalates into a hostage crisis.

The cast includes Brad Meter, Margot Hartman, Neal Mayer and Peter Ratray.

Del Tenney co-produces and directs. He recently directed Angel Street in New York and Florida. The set design is by Eldon Elder, lighting by Daniel Gordon, costumes by Erik Bruce. Performances through March 8 at the Coronet Theatre, 366 N. LaCienaga Blvd. Call Ticketmaster or (310) 657-7377.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent