Last Chance to catch Old Wicked Songs, the first show of the Geffen Playhouse's second season. Jon Marans' drama started previews Sept. 30, opened Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 2.

A 1996 Pulitzer Prize finalist, Old Wicked Songs is the story of an arrogant piano prodigy from America who travels to Vienna to study with a distinguished voice teacher. The two men become close friends, but not without first enduring a fierce power struggle between teacher and student.

Coming directly from its successful Off-Broadway run at the Promenade Theatre, Songs features two original New York cast-members, Justin Kirk (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Any Given Day) and Hal Robinson (Grand Hotel, Nick and Nora). Seth Barrish, Co- Artistic Director of New York's The Barrow Group which staged the New York premiere of Songs, directs the Los Angeles production.

Marans is also the author of Child Child, which won a Preston Jones New Play Award.

Next up at the Geffen (prev. Dec. 2, opens Dec. 4, ends Dec. 28) will be a visit from Mabou Mines with their stunning Peter And Wendy, a puppet version of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan story. As she did at Off Broadway's New Victory Theatre, Karen Kandel stars as the sole human (who provides all the voices) in the piece. Debbie Allen (TV's "Fame;" Sweet Charity) will then star in Harriet's Return, a solo (by Karen Jones Meadow) about Harriet Tubman beginning previews Jan. 27, 1998, opening Feb. 4 and running to Feb. 22.

In April 1998 Frank Langella will bring his acclaimed performance in Strindberg's The Father to the Geffen. He played the role at NY's Roundabout two seasons ago and is currenty in rehearsals at that theatre with his adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac.

For tickets or more information on Geffen shows, call (310) 208-5454, or refer to the Geffen Playhouse regional listing on Playbill On-Line.

-- By Jackie Mastropolo and David Lefkowitz