A Demon, a Spirit and a Playboy are all on tap for the Guthrie Theatre's 1997-98 season, announced Jan. 22 by artistic director Joe Dowling. Seven mainstage plays and one lab production will comprise the Minneapolis theatre's July-May schedule.

Also new to the Guthrie will be Dianne Brennan, who, on April 21, became the theatre's Director of Development. Brennan will oversee all fundraising activities and be responsible for staff and volunteers in that area. Pacific Northwest Ballet and the University of Washington's College of Engineering were Brennan's previous homes as development director.

Here's the 1997-98 Guthrie season schedule:

You Can't Take It With You (July 11-Aug. 17)
Douglas Wager directs George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart's comedy about the Sycamore family's eccentricities.

Blithe Spirit (in rep, Sept. 7-Nov. 2)
Joe Dowling directs Noel Coward's "improbable farce" about a seance that brings back an author's first wife. Racing Demon (in rep, Sept. 7-Nov. 2)
David Hare's drama asks "How do you live with faith in a fallen world?"

A Christmas Carol (Nov. 21-Dec. 28)
Barbara Field's adaptation, with music and dance, of Charles Dickens' fable, directed by Sari Ketter.

The Playboy Of The Western World (Jan. 23-Feb. 21, 1998) ýto a broken-down pub wanders Christy Mahon, who claims murdered his father with a turf blade -- and becomes a hero for it. Joe Dowling directs John Millington Synge's classic.

Thunder Knocking On The Door (Feb. 27-March 28)
Marion McClinton directs Keith Glover's rhythm-n'-blues play, about a family transformed by a mysterious, musical stranger.

Much Ado About Nothing (April 3-May 10)
Joe Dowling stages William Shakespeare's comedy about the war of wits between Beatrice and Benedick.

Also, running at the Lab (dates not yet announced), will be a world premiere by local playwright Syl Jones. The satire, Black No More, was commissioned by the Guthrie and is adapted from George Schuyler's 1931 novel (considered the first book-length novel written by a black American). Tazewell Thompson directs the comedy, which is co-produced with Washington DC's Arena Stage in association with Mixed Blood Theatre.

In other Guthrie news, the theatre has announced that their May 1997 show will be August Wilson's Fences, in a Penumbra Theatre production directed by Claude Purdy. This joint venture betwen Guthrie and Penumbra is (according to Dowling) "part of a long-term goal to work closely...to strengthen both organizations."

Tickets for Guthrie shows are $15-$36, while season subscriptions are $81-$192. For information call (612) 377-2224.

--By David Lefkowitz