Forget "Hooked on Phonics," the Irondale Ensemble Project seems to be hooked on Epics, or at least the father of Epic Theatre, as they present Bertolt Brecht's In The Jungle of the City. The production will end its scheduled run Off-Broadway May 26 at Theater for the New City in downtown Manhattan. Performances began April 25, and the show opened May 2.

Having started off their season with Brecht on Brecht (Nov. 29-Dec. 23, 2000), Irondale now presents a new translation of Brecht's Jungle by Philip Boehm. In 1912, a family leave the serenity of their Midwestern plains to venture into the growing metropolis of Chicago.

Artistic director Jim Niesen directs the Irondale presentation with a cast that includes Sarah Adams, Christian Brandjes, Carolyn Fischer, Michael-David Gordon, Terry Greiss, Jack Lush, Sven Miller, Patrena Murray and Damen Scranton. The show features original music composed by Walter Thompson that will be performed live by members of the Walter Thompson Orchestra.

The design team includes Christianne Myers (costumes), Randy Glickman (lighting) and Ken Rothchild (set). Choreography is handled by Sarah Adams.

To make a reservation to Jungle, at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (between 9th And 10th Street), call (718) 488-9233. For more information on this and other Irondale projects, visit www.irondale.org. — by Ernio Hernandez