Founded in 1978 by artistic director Julia Miles, Women's Project & Productions will offer three mainstage shows this-coming year, beginning with a co-production (with Playwrights Horizons) of Wendy MacLeod's The Water Children, directed by David Petrarca.

Opening Nov. 2 and running to Nov. 16, The Water Children shows what happens when pro-choice Megan stars in a television commercial for a pro-life movement. The piece, which began previews Oct. 22, grew out of a Playwrights Horizons/Amblin DreamWorks commission.

Starring in the comedy/drama are Elizabeth Bunche, Kevin Isola, Deirdre Lovejoy, Wendy Makkena, Michael Mastro, Joyce Reehling, Robert Sella and Jonathan Walker. Designing Children are Michael Philippi (set, lighting), Therese Bruck (costumes).

A New Dramatists alumna, MacLeod wrote the screenplay for the new film, The House Of Yes, based on her play of the same name. Her previous works for the stage include Sin (also staged Off-Broadway by Petrarca) and Apocalyptic Butterflies.

Director Petrarca works ubiquitously in Chicago, at such venues as the Goodman, Northlight and Remains Theatres. New York productions include Marvin's Room and the David Cale piece, Deep In A Dream Of You. For tickets and information on to The Water Children at Playwrights Horizons' Studio Theatre, 416 West 42nd St., call (212) 279-4200.

Also coming up for WPP this season is a co-production (with Classic Stage Company) of Susan Yankowitz's Phaedra In Delirium, directed by Alison Summers, starring Kathleen Chalfant, Jan. 20-Feb. 15, 1998.

Women's Project & Productions is also sponsoring a conference on "Women In Theatre: Mapping The Sources Of Power," Nov. 7-8. For more information on that event, please see the Playbill On-Line news story, "Women in Theatre: Major Conference in NY, Nov. 7-8."

--By David Lefkowitz