Multi-award winner Hal Holbrook and indie filmdom's Rick Stear are an experienced actor and a naive newcomer in David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre, playing at the Pasadena Playhouse Sept. 7-Oct. 21. Ovation Award winner Michael Michetti (A Midsummer NIght's Dream) directs the play, opening Sept. 16.

A Life in the Theatre is the story of two thespians, the disillusioned Robert (Holbrook) and an anxious young beginner, John (Stear). The youngster meets Robert with excitement but soon finds that his mentor has found nothing in the art but meaninglessness. Mamet's best-known works are Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross and Oleanna.

Holbrook won the 1966 Tony Award and an Obie for his portrayl of Mark Twain in Mark Twain Tonight!, a production he still takes across the country. His other Broadway credits include The Glass Menagerie, I Never Sang for My Father, Man of La Mancha and Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?. Stear recently appeared in the independent film "Went to Coney Island on a Misson from God...Be Back in Five" and "Astoria," although his background includes Broadway's Twelfth Night and Off-Broadway's A Madhouse in Goa.

Designing A Life in the Theatre are Gary Wissmann (sets), Scott Lane (costumes), Michael Gilliam (lighting) and Mitch Greenhill (sound, original music).

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue. For reservations, call (800) 233 3123. The Pasadena Playhouse is on the web at http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org. — By Christine Ehren