LOS ANGELES -- Two local Equity-waver plays have made the journey to Chicago.

In both cases, the plays have been contracted by Equity companies in the Windy City.

Sweet Nothing in My Ear, Stephen Sachs' drama about a dispute over a deaf child, was seen in L.A. at the 99-seat Fountain Theatre last year. It recently opened at Chicago's Victory Gardens to generally positive reviews. Sachs is now working on a screenplay adaptation for Barbra Streisand's production company.

Pot Mom by Justin Tanner, one of L.A.'s longest-running plays ever, will debut in Chicago at the Steppenwolf's second space, the 150-seat Studio Theatre June 28-26.

This is the first time playwright-director Tanner has allowed one of his plays to be presented outside of Los Angeles. His nine-year residency at the Cast Theatre in Hollywood has been so successful that the theatre produces only his plays on both of its stages. On May 29 the Cast will present Tanner's latest play, Coyote Woman. Because Tanner hates to leave his plays until they've been open for at least six weeks, he will not see the Chicago production of Pot Mom until July.

The link between Tanner and Steppenwolf is actress Laurie Metcalf, the Steppenwolf veteran who became famous as Roseanne's sister on TV. A year ago, she took one of the roles in Pot Mom during a benefit run at the Cast. She will reprise the role in Chicago. Joining her in the cast will be her 14-year-old daughter Zoe Perry. Wilson Milam directs.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent