Cologne, or The Ways Evil Enters the World, Tony Abatemarco's latest one-man show, will be unveiled April 17 at the Tiffany Theatre in Los Angeles and will run on Monday nights only through May 22. David Schweizer, a longtime collaborator, directs.

Abatemarco is an actor, writer and director who has won numerous L.A. Weekly and Drama-Logue awards, a Drama Critics Circle nomination for his work in Camaralena, and an Ovation Award nomination for his lead role in La Bete. In 1998 he co- starred with John Fleck in the prize-winning production of The Mystery of Irma Vep. He is the author of five plays (four of which have been produced in Los Angeles) as well as 14 short stories.

Cologne is based on one of those stories. It tells the story of a teenaged boy's search for sexual identity during the years 1965-1969 in a rural community on Long Island. A secret affair with his best friend's older brother has dire consequences for all three. Upon leaving for college in Boston, the historical coming-out melee known as Stonewall provides an eleventh hour solution to one boy's dilemma. A reading of this new work was performed at Highways in Dec. of 1999.

Schweizer is a Joseph Papp protege whose many L.A. directing credits include The Waiting Room at the Mark Taper Forum and Salome at Actors' Gang.

Tiffany Theatre is located at 8532 Sunset Blvd. For tickets and information call (310) 289-2999. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent