Debbie Allen plays Underground Railroad heroine Harriet Tubman in the Washington D.C. premiere of Karen Jones Meadows' Harriet's Return: A Tale Based Upon the Life of Harriet Tubman, April 13-20 at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre.

Human rights champion Tubman is played by Allen, the actress director choreographer remembered for "Fame." Various stages of Tubman's life are represented by voices of performers Seraiah Carol, LeRoi Freeman, McKenzie Frye and Stephen Smith. Ken Gash directs the production, part of The Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration, a program focused on young theatregoers. The work was developed and first produced at Crossroads Theatre Company and made its West Coast premiere at Geffen Playhouse. This is a Kennedy Center-commissioned version of the play.

Designers are Paul Tazewell (costumes), Tony Fanning (set), William H. Grant (lighting). James Ingram provides a new musical score.

Tickets are $25. For more information call (202) 467 4600.

— By Kenneth Jones