Willa Cather's O Pioneers!, already settled into a musical production at the Producer's Club, now begins a second play-with-music version at Women's Project Theatre. A co-production between the Acting Company and Women's Project and Productions, O Pioneers! plays May 2-13. O Pioneers! centers on Alexandra Bergson, a Swede who travels with her family out into 1890's Nebraska. There she faces the challenges of farming life as well as the frontier's harsh attitude towards women.

O Pioneers! was written by Darrah Cloud with music by Kim D. Sherman. Sherman composed Leaving Queens,which premiered earlier in 2001 with Women's Project & Productions. Their version of O, Pioneers! was seen on PBS' American Playhouse with Mary McDonnell as Alexandra.

Pioneers! features Beth Bartley, Corey Behnke, Todd Cerveris, Elliot Dash, Joe Domencic, Michael Thomas Holmes, Matt Hoverman, Grace Hsu, Gregory Jackson, Royden Mills, Evan Robertson, Erika Rolfsrud, Michele Tauber and Jonathan Uffelman.

Designing the Acting Company production are Broadway designer Loy Arcenas (sets), Murell Dean Horton (costumes), Dennis Parichy (lights) and David A. Arnold (sound). Kimberly Grigsby is the musical director.

For tickets ($40) to the Women's Project Pioneers!, call (212) 239 6200. Women's Project Theatre is at 424 West 55th Street.

— By Christine Ehren