Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt's Enigma Variations, the two-hander psychological thriller starring Donald Sutherland, which recently played the Mark Taper Forum, will reach Broadway in April 2000. No specific theatre has been announced.

The production will mark movie actor Sutherland's first Broadway appearance since acting in Edward Albee's ill-fated Lolita in 1981. Sutherland became a movie star following his portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce in the Robert Altman movie "M*A*S*H." He went on to become one of the leading film actors of the early 70s, delivering performances in such off beat films as "Klute," "Kelly's Heroes," and "Little Murders." In recent years, he has taken to playing villains and supporting character roles, in film including "Backdraft," "JFK" and "A Time to Kill." He most recently played the coach in Robert Towne's "Without Limits."

Schmitt's drama focuses on a reclusive Nobel Prize-winning writer Abel Znorko (Sutherland) who gives an interview to a small-town journalist, Erik Larsen (played by Jamie Sheridan at the Taper), that leads to a life and-death battle of wits.

The creative team behind the Taper production includes director Daniel Roussel, Ming Cho Lee (sets), Candice Cain (costumes), Robert Wierzel (lighting), Jon Gottleib (sound), Marc I. Rosenthal (projections) and Karl Fredrick Lundeberg (music). The production stage manager is Mark K. Klinger.

The Taper show began previews April 24 and officially opened May 6 for a limited run through June 13. Schmitt is fast becoming a popular playwright in America. Last spring, the Shuberts planned a Broadway engagement of his play The Visitor, starring Eli Wallach. (The production was subsequently postponed, owing to the lack of an appropriate theatre.)

For tickets to Enigma Variations call (213) 628-2772 or visit www.TaperAhmanson.com.

-- By Robert Simonson