Madison Repertory Theatre opens its 1999-2000 season with the musical revue, A...My Name Will Always Be Alice, running at the Civic Center's Isthmus Playhouse July 23-Aug. 28. Pam Kriger directs and choreographs.

Always Be Alice is the combination of 1984's A...My Name is Alice and its 1992 sequel, A...My Name is Still Alice featuring music by Stephanie Lawrence, Lucy Simon, and Amanda McBroom and writing by Richard LaGravanese and Anne Meara, among others.

Always follows Alice through the 1980s and 90s, beginning with her marriage to Albert and her professional life as an apple seller in Alabama. Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd conceived and directed the original productions.

Starring as Alice and friends are Colleen Burns, Laurie Birmingham, Carrie Hitchcock, Robyn Payne and Sarah Sokolovich.

Nanya Ramey designed the sets, Mary Waldhart, the costumes; John Frautschy, the lighting; and Jack Sayre, the sound. Tickets ($25-$20) are available by calling the Civic Center Ticket Office at (608) 266-9055. The Civic Center is located at 211 State Street.

-- By Christine Ehren