The Simon Gray comedy set to be helmed by Huntington's artistic director Nicholas Martin (Observe the Sons of Ulster...) was announced for a Jan. 2-Feb. 1, 2004 run. If negotiations with Lane and Producers co-star Matthew Broderick succeed, the Boston company will reschedule the work within the season. Official word is expected by next week.

The busy Lane, who is next set to reprise the role of blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in Christopher Trumbo's new play Trumbo Aug. 26-Sept. 21, will also be part of the upcoming Lincoln Center Theater season. In June of 2004, he will star in — and has done some rewriting for — a staging of the Burt Shevelove adaptation of Aristophanes' comedy The Frogs — featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim with choreography and direction by Susan Stroman.

Lane, who recently made secret guest appearances on Broadway in The Play What I Wrote, won Tony Awards for his turns in The Producers and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Other credits include The Man Who Came to Dinner, Guys and Dolls, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Laughter on the 23rd Floor.

In Butley, Lane will play the title role as a literary professor who loses his wife and lover in the same day. The dark comedy set in a London university opened at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway Oct. 31, 1972. British thespian Alan Bates (Fortune's Fool), who originated the title role in the Harold Pinter-directed London production (for which he won the Evening Standard Best Actor Award) reprised his portrayal to Tony Award-winning success.

The Lane Butley was previously mentioned — about a decade ago — for the Roundabout Theatre Company. Subscriptions to the Huntington upcoming season are available by calling (617) 266 0800 or online at www.huntingtontheatre.org.