Joan Holden's adaptation of Barbara Ehrenreich's New York Times bestseller, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America" will replace Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum this fall. Nickel and Dimed, currently playing in its world premiere at Seattle's Intiman Theatre through Aug. 25, will open the Taper season Sept. 19 and run through Oct. 27.

Time magazine essayist Ehrenreich gave up her writing job to work as a waitress, then a maid and finally at Wal-Mart and the result was the New York Times bestseller, "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America." In the opening chapter of her book, she figures out her necessary wage ($7 an hour), a living space (she aspires to afford something as "good" as a trailer in Key West, Florida) and a job (waitressing the dinner shift at the Hearthside for $2.43 an hour plus tips). Through her contacts , she realizes how physically, emotionally and economically hard it is to work for what is considered a living wage. Adaptor Holden was the principal playwright for the Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe from 1970 to 2000.

Homebody will be revised in its September, 2003 bow at the Taper. Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati will helm the Afganistan-set drama in its Los Angeles' premiere, following a July, 2003 stint at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

For ticket information, call (213) 628-2772. The Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 N. Grand Ave. and on the web at http://www.taperahmanson.com.

— By Christine Ehren