New York's Repertorio Espanol, the U.S's oldest Spanish language theatre company, celebrates its 30th anniversary series with encore presentations and two New York premieres.

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) will feature two remountings. The Barber Shop (La Barberia), opens Sept. 15, directed by Repertorio artistic director Rene Buch. Candido Tirado's comedy follows four young professionals who return to their old neighborhood to help an old friend. The play was developed under the Repertorio's New Voices (Voces Nuevas) series, which nurtures new plays exploring the Nuyorican (Puerto Rican born and/or raised in New York City) experience.

Adolfo Vasquez directs and choreographs Afro-Caribbean Tales (Cuentos Afro Caribenos), adapted from Lydia Cabrera's documentation of Afro-Caribbean tales with music by Reynaldo Fernandez. This musical explores the musical and spiritual traditions of the African diaspora in the Caribbean. It opens Oct. 1.

Oct. 15 Federico Garcia Lorca's Yerma rejoins the revolving repertory, directed by artistic director Buch. This tragedy tells the story of the imprisonment of a young woman's soul by her traditional society.

Also being performed in revolving repertory are Carmen Rivera's comedy La Gringa (performances begin Nov. 19, Puerto Rico Discovery Day), Louis Delgado's The Blond Man (El Cano), Dominican Serenade (Serenata Dominicana), a salute to the music of the Dominican Republic, Gloria Gonzalez' family comedy Coffee With Milk (Cafe Con Leche) and Dolores Prida's Botanica. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Federico Garcia Lorca's birth in the Spring of 1998, the Repertorio will present the New York premieres of two posthumously published plays. El Publico was recently premiered in Spain and Asi Que Pasen Cinco Anos (That's How Five Years Pass), was first produced in 1979. The company has almost always had a Lorca play in its repertory, the playwright is currently represented by Blood Wedding.

Spanish dancer Pilar Rioja will return to the Repertorio in the Spring for her annual season, and will present several world premiere dances.

Tickets for Repertorio Espanol performances are $20-$35 with discounts for groups, seniors, students and children. Tickets are available at the box office at the Repertorio's home, the Gramercy Arts Theatre, 138 E. 27th St. or by calling (212) 889-2850.

--By Laura MacDonald