Kim Hunter, the original Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, will make a rare stage appearance Aug. 18-20, at the White Barn Theatre, in Westport, CT, where she will take part in a concert reading of The Gospel According to Saint Luke. Reading alongside her will be Michael Allinson, Jennifer Chudy and Jack Stehlin. Stuart Vaughan will direct.

Saint Luke's Gospel, which has been adapted by Vaughan, tells the story of Jesus Christ, from his birth to his death and resurrection. The production will be accompanied by original music by Larry Spivach.

Hunter made her Broadway debut in Streetcar and has since acquired legendary status as an actress. Other Broadway credits include The Tender Trap, The Women, The Children's Hour and, most recently, Wilde's An Ideal Husband.

Allinson has worked with many of the giant talents of the stage, including The Lunts (Quadrille), Paul Scofield (Hamlet) and Ingrid Bergman (The Constant Wife). He may be best known, however, for playing Henry Higgins on Broadway for two and a half years.

Vaughan has directed in the theatre for over 40 years. He was founding artistic director of the New York Shakespeare Festival, has headed the Seattle Repertory Theatre and served as artistic director of New York's Phoenix Theatre. The rest of the White Barn season goes as follows:

• A concert reading of the musical Sadie Thompson by Vernon Duke and Howard Dietz, and narrated by June Havoc, Aug. 25-27.
• Colette starring Leslie Caron as the French novelist, Sept. 1 3.

Tickets are $27-$30. The White Barn is located on the Newtown Turnpike in Westport, CT. For more information, call (203-227-3768.

--By Robert Simonson