SEATTLE-- She's been Sylvia the pooch, blind Molly Sweeney, and haughty Amanda in in some of her more recent Seattle theatre roles. Now popular actress Barbara Dirickson takes on a fascinating real life character, in the Seattle premiere of Full Gallop, Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson's off-Broadway hit about the flamboyant and colorful Diana Vreeland, the former Vogue and Harper's Bazaar editor, which launches Intiman Theatre's 26th season on May 27. One very unique thing about this Intiman show is that it will be performed at the Seattle Repertory Theatre's Leo K. Theatre, next door to Intiman, at 155 Mercer St.. Intiman has undergone renovations, including new seats, carpeting, a reconfigured lobby and new concession area, which will be unveiled June 6, in time for the opening of Intiman's production of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde.

Full Gallopstarts previews this Fri. May 22, opens May 27, and runs Tues.-Sun through July 12. For tickets call (206) 269-1900.

--David-Edward Hughes
Seattle Correspondent