While New York enjoys Repertorio Espanol's mounting of Federico Garcia Lorca's drama, Yerma, Cleveland Playhouse is readying its own production of the classic, running March 3-29 and opening March 6.

In Yerma, a woman in a loveless marriage obsesses over having a baby. When she takes matters into her own hands, the marriage collapses - as does her status in the village.

Director Pavel Dobrusky notes that "at the time Lorca wrote Yerma, most women dedicated their lives to having children and building and maintaining a family. Women today choose independence...having children later in life after establishing a career. Although Yerma pines for children of her own, she rejects `old world' rules by forging her own identity."

Translator Chris Martin adds that the play's title comes from the Spanish phrase "tierra yerma," meaning "barren, uncultivated land." The show is part of a Lorca trilogy, alongside Blood Wedding and The House of Bernarda Alba.

Augmenting the poetic nature of Yerma will be guitar pieces composed by Larry Delinger and choreography by Gary Abbott. Director Dobrusky is also designing the piece. Starring is Miriam A. Laube, alongside Arthur T. Acuna, Christopher Mattox, Jennifer Reagan, Lin Tucci, Christa Scott-Reed, Evangelia Costantakos and Angel Desai.

For tickets ($29-$36) to Yerma at the Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave., call (216) 795-7000.

-- By David Lefkowitz