Playwright Romulus Linney will be the keynote speaker for the 1996 North Carolina Theatre Conference Convention, Nov. 7-10, 1996.

Linney's plays include The Sorrows Of Frederick, Holy Ghosts, Childe Byron and 2. His adaptation and director of his 1962 novel, "Heathen Valley," won the National Critics Award and was selected for the 1987-88 edition of "Best Plays."

Among the 75 other events offered will be a roundtable discussion on "Developing Relationships Between Playwrights, Universities And Producing Theatres" (chaired by North Carolina Arts Council Theatre Director June Guralnick); "Changing Copyright Laws And Other Legal Issues For Playwrights" (co-hosted by Volunteer Lawyers For The Arts); "The Musical - The Ultimate Collaboration" (on how to keep communication open and flowing between director, choreographer and the designers); "Selecting And Preparing Auditions;" "New Products In Technical Theatre;" and "Mask Making - Monsters, Medea And Other Merry Creatures."

The Convention will even offer participants an option to "Create-A Session." During registration, people can sign up with a topic, which will then be posted at the registration desk throughout the convention. Those who choose this option should be prepared to host the session and advertise it (by word of mouth).

North Carolina Theatre Conference's mission is "to improve and enhance the environment for quality theatre in North Carolina." NCTC will be going online shortly, at the website http://www.nctc.org. For more information about the Conference's convention, call (919) 832 9171.

-- By David Lefkowitz