As previously announced, the Guthrie commission of Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures will be part of the upcoming season (on the McGuire Proscenium Stage). In addition to the new work, the Guthrie will also present Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's award-winning musical Caroline, or Change (on the Wurtele Thrust Stage) as well as a collection of Kushner's short plays (in the Dowling Studio).

The three works will be presented simultaneously and will join a "series of speakers, scholars and other special events designed to fully examine and celebrate Kushner's body of work," according to the Guthrie.

In a statement Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling said, "Tony is one of the most important voices in American theatre today and it's appropriate and exciting to be able to devote the Guthrie's talent and resources to producing three of his plays simultaneously. We're particularly pleased to be able to complement the productions with a series of events that will provide insight into Tony's work."

Playwright Kushner added, "The Guthrie is truly legendary, one of the cradles of the serious residential theatre movement that revolutionized American drama. And the new building is what theatres look like in Heaven. I'd be thrilled and honored to have just one play on at the Guthrie, but three? I'm triply thrilled and honored!"

The University of Minnesota will also offer a spring-semester course focusing on the works of the playwright, and the University Theatre will stage a production of Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day. The Guthrie plans to host a full calendar of "pre- and post-play discussions, Inside Look workshops, Saturday morning gatherings featuring local artists and University faculty, major speaking engagements and a series of other education and outreach programs."

Production and ticket information for the Kushner celebration will be announced March 24.

Kushner won back-to-back Tony Awards for the two-part epic Angels in America. The first half, Millennium Approaches, won the 1993 Best Play Tony and the second, Perestroika, was awarded the 1994 Best Play prize. His other works include A Bright Room Called Day, Slavs!: Thinking About the Longstanding Problems of Virtue and Happiness, Henry Box Brown and The Mirror of Slavery.

For more information about the Guthrie visit www.guthrietheater.org.