Cool My Tongue, a new comedy by Tom Jacobson, based on an original concept by Jeffrey R. Coates, will open June 9 at the Celebration Theatre, directed by Todd Nielsen. The limited engagement is through July 30 only.

Jacobson is best known to local audiences for his play Cyberqueer, which enjoyed two sold-out engagements at Celebration Theatre in 1996 and 1998. Cool My Tongue deals with the timely issue of gay healing ministries. A gay ex-seminarian launches an attack on the hypocrisy of an ex-gay ministry, only to fall in love with the group's charming and charismatic leader. Alliances shift and hearts are broken and then mended in this madcap comedy of love, faith, desire and salvation.

Nielsen's cast includes Nic Arnzen, Michael Bonnabel, Nick DeGruccio, Alex Kaufman, Maura M. Knowles and Ed F. Martin.

Cool My Tongue will be the last Celebration production under Richard Israel's artistic direction; he has announced his departure to pursue other directing and performing opportunities.

Celebration Theatre is located at 7051 Santa Monica Blvd. For tickets and information call (310) 289-2999 or visit the Tiffany Theatre box office at 8532 Sunset Blvd. -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent