Buzz Radio Theatre presents two performances of Jerry Mayer's play, Aspirin & Elephants, at San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla July 16-17. William Schallert ("The Patty Duke Show") stars in the piece, which is being recorded for radio broadcast.

According to Buzz Radio spokesman Jake Schmidt, several local and regional National Public Radio stations are being considered for broadcast. As well as giving seldom-produced plays a chance to be heard, Schmidt favors the live radio format's unique presentation without set, lighting or costumes. "I like the purity of it -- the author's words and the actors' interpretations...You imagine it in your head."

Aspirin is the romantic comedy tale of two parents who take their daughters and sons-in-law on an anniversary cruise to Leningrad and find themselves surrounded by their family's stormy relationships. Aspirin premiered at the Santa Monica Playhouse in 1989 with Schallert as Junior. Playwright Mayer, a successful sitcom scribe, has written for such television shows as "M*A*S*H," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "All in the Family" and "The Bob Newhart Show."

Schallert is best known for playing the fathers of Patty Duke, "Nancy Drew," "The New Gidget" and Wendy Malik on "Dream On." Recent stage credits include On Golden Pond and the Geffen's Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

Also starring in Aspirins are Alice Hirson ("Ellen," "Murphy Brown"), Ron Campbell (The Thousandth Night) and Deborah Van Valkenburgh ("Too Close For Comfort"). Tickets to view the live recording are $20 and available by calling Ticketmaster at (619) 220-TIXS or by visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art box office three hours before the performance.

-- By Christine Ehren