Alan Ayckbourn's Communicating Doors is set to open at the Laguna Playhouse in Southern California on Feb. 24 for a one-month run, directed by the Playhouse's artistic director Andrew Barnicle. Ayckbourn, who has written 57 plays, combines bedroom farce with mystery this time around. Doors is set in the year 2014 and deals with a call girl who answers a summons at a London hotel, only to stumble onto a murder plot and find herself hurtling back and forth in time.

The Playhouse, which turns 60 years old this fall, will celebrate the date with a Gala Fundraising Ball on Oct. 21 at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast. Serving as honorary chair is pop singer Toni Tennille, who starred in productions at the Playhouse early in her career. This is the first major black-tie affair sponsored by the Playhouse in many years. The theatre plans to mark its 60th birthday in various other ways throughout the season.

The night before the Gala, Tennille will attend a private cocktail party recognizing the theatre's major donors and will also take part in formal celebrations on Sun. Oct. 22.

Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Rd. For tickets and information call (949) 497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. For Gala information call Bernadine Griffin at (949) 497-2787, ex.-215.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent