Doug Finlayson will direct Kevin Kling's tragi-comedy, The Ice-Fishing Play, for Chicago's Next Theatre Company, Jan. 10-Feb. 8. The show officially opens Jan. 14. The setting is an ice-fishing shack on a frozen Minnesota lake, where Ron retreats from the quirky characters in his life -- who manage to visit him anyway.

Other plays by Kling include Home And Away and Lloyd's Prayer. Ice-Fishing premiered at the Actors' Theatre Of Louisville's 1993 Humana Festival and later played at the Jungle Theatre of Minneapolis, the playwright's home base.

Appearing in Ice-Fishing is Next managing director Peter Rybolt (Ron), who played the original Ellard when Larry Shue's The Foreigner world-premiered at Milwaukee Rep. Also starring are Daniel Ruben, Randy Colborn, Mary Chaisson, Brendan Hutt, Guy Massey and Pepper Stebbins. Rebecca Hamlin designed the set, Andrew Meyers the lighting, Kristine Knanishu the costumes, and Barry G. Funderburg the sound.

For tickets ($18-$22) and information on The Ice-Fishing Play, call (847) 475-1875.

--By David Lefkowitz