Kicking off the New Conservatory Theatre Center's Pride Season VI: Body & Soul, is the west coast premiere of the popular Jeff Baron play Visiting Mr. Green, opening at the venue Aug. 19. Performances began Aug. 10 for a run through Sept. 10.

In Mr. Green, the title character, an elderly, retired gentleman is run down by 29-year-old gay executive, Ross Gardiner. As punishment, Gardiner is forced to serve community service with the old man for six months. In that time, the two move from comically hating one another to a deep and loving friendship.

Dean Goodman stars as Mr. Green. In his 63rd year as a professional actor, he has worked in San Francisco since 1955, appearing in many productions including The Alchemist, The Zoo Story, Dance of Death and his 1996 Bay Area Critics Circle Award-winning role in I Never Sang For My Father. New Conservatory Theatre Center vet Aaron Brace (The Lisbon Traviata, My Night With Reg) plays Ross Gardiner.

Tickets are $25-$15. The New Conservatory Theatre Center is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue near Market Street. For tickets, call (415) 861-8972. The New Conservatory Theatre Center is on the web at http://www.nctcsf.org.

-- By Christine Ehren