Southern Baptist Sissies, the fifth installment of Del Shores' Texas-based comedies, checked into Los Angeles' Zephyr Theatre Sep. 21. Now, that run enjoys not only its 100th performance but another extension—this time through April 29. Shores' latest is an exploration into the lives of four gay men raised in the church.

Sissies is narrated by Mark, who wants to try and change the world, but how? He is conflicted because he knows that hate, preached in the name of the Lord, is sometimes spread by good people who mistakenly think they are doing the right thing. The other "sissies" also seek to resolve internal and external conflicts within the arena of the church, which is led by a rambunctious preacher.

Shores directs the play, whose musical director is Joe Patrick Ward. The cast members are Leslie Jordan, Ann Walker, Rosemary Alexander, Newell Alexander, Sam A. McConkey, Tate Taylor, Michael Taylor Gray and Robert Lewis Stephenson.

Shores' other plays include Daughters of the Long Star State, Daddy's Dyin'...Who's Got the Will? and Cheatin'. He is currently writing (and attached to direct) a movie for Showtime starring Olivia Newton-John, the star of the movie version of his play Sordid Lives.

The Zephyr Theatre is located at 7456 Melrose Ave. For tickets and information call (310) 289-2999 or visit www.southernbaptistsissies.com — by Ernio Hernandez
and Willard Manus