East Indian goddesses and mathematical icons meet in Ira Hauptman's biographical drama Partition, debuting in the 2002-03 season at Berkeley's Aurora Theatre. Also planned is a revival of Eugene Ionesco's The Chairs, Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things and Emile Zola's own theatrical adaptation of Therese Raquin.

Partition, playing April 11-May 20, 2003, is the story of India's great mathmatician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Blending mystical religion with details from the turn-of-the-century genuis' thoughts, the play recounts Ramanujan's quest into analytical number theory. Hauptman is also the author of Moon Over Manhattan, Monument Valley and Private Messiah.

The Shape of Things opens the season Sept. 13-Oct. 20, 2002 with The Chairs to follow Jan. 31-March 9, 2003. Therese Raquin closes the season June 20-July 27, 2003. One more slot is left to be filled.

Single tickets to Aurora productions are $26-$30. The new Aurora Theare is located at 2081 Addison Street. For tickets, call (510) 843-4822. The Aurora Theatre Company is on the web at http://auroratheatre.org.

— By Christine Ehren