The Spring Summer 2000 Season of L.A. Theatre Works' "The Play's The Thing" radio theatre season kicks off March 15 and continues through July 9 at the Skirball Cultural Center. The seven-play season includes the West Coast premiere of Just Between Ourselves, the first of Alan Ayckbourn's dark comedies; the adult fairy tale, Prelude to a Kiss, by Craig Lucas; the world premiere of Monticello, a new American opera by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Leroy Aarons and composer Glenn Paxton; the West Coat premiere of Ronald Harwood's drama Another Time; Stop Kiss by Diana Son, with members of the original Off-Broadway cast; Neat, the memory piece written and performed by Charlayne Woodard; and the world premiere of Nicholas Olcott's adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' bestselling novel, American Appetites.

Such actors as Alfred Molina, Caroline Aaron, Charles Durning, Arye Gross, Jeffrey Jones, Stacy Keach, Jessica Hecht and Sandra Oh (the last two in Stop Kiss) are scheduled to appear in the series. The directors include Waris Hussen and Nancy Malone, among others.

Molina (Molly Sweeney) will star in the Ayckbourn piece, March 15-19, directed by Waris Hussein. Also in the cast are Gia Carides, Ken Danziger, Caroline Goodall and Miriam Margolyes.

"The Play's The Thing" is produced in association with Santa Monica College's KCRW FM. All performances are recorded live before Skirball audiences and become part of L.A. Theatre Works' archive of classic and contemporary plays on tape.

Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Pre-theatre dining is available at Zeidler's Cafe, the Skirball's full-service restaurant (310) 440-4515. For tickets and information call (310) 827-0889. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent