Librettist and playwright William M. Hoffman, known to theatre audiences for his Tony-nominated 1985 play, As Is and his 1991 opera with composer John Corigliano, The Ghosts of Versailles, tells Playbill On-Line that he is coming close to completing his play, Riga. The show's development was first reported on by Playbill On-Line in Jan. 1999.

"Riga is a normal, gay interracial holocaust play," Hoffman told Playbill On-Line (March 27). "It's virtually done. We've presented it as a workshop in Los Angeles and New York and now we are planning a few more workshops."

Hoffman said he is collaborating with director Marshal W. Mason on Riga and that they are looking for a production in the New York region. Director Mason helmed Hoffman's As Is on its premiere run at New York's Circle Repertory Theatre.

Riga was originally scheduled to run at Circle Rep, but as that Off Broadway theatre began to struggle in its final years, the play became a casualty as well.

-- By Murdoch McBride