Marlo Thomas previews July 22 and opens July 23 in Woman In Mind at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, MA.

Thomas plays Susan, a disillusioned housewife, in this dark comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Susan longs for the life and family of her fantasies. A gardening accident makes her dreams a reality but her dream becomes a nightmare with her real family and fantasy family appearing and disappearing, as Susan loses her grasp of reality.

Early in her theatre career Thomas was cast as the lead in the London production of Barefoot In The Park. Since then she has played on Broadway in Thieves, Social Security and a revival of The Shadow Box at Circle in the Square. Thomas appeared in the national tour of Six Degrees of Separation and has also worked in regional theatre.

Mark Blum plays Susan's doctor, Bill. Blum originated roles on Broadway in Lost In Yonkers and My Thing of Love. Frank Converse returns to BTF as Susan's fantasy husband Andy. Converse appeared in New York in First One Asleep Whistle and Brothers. Richard Venture plays Susan's actual husband Gerald. Venture's Broadway credits include The Sum Of Us, Coriolanus and King John. Tony-nominated for Brighton Beach Memoirs and an original cast member of Broadway Bound, Elizabeth Franz plays Muriel, Susan's sister-in-law. Jay Goede returns to BTF to play Susan's fantasy brother Tony. He appeared on Broadway in Sex and Longing, Angels in American and The Play's The Thing. Sean Arbuckle plays Susan's imagined son Rick and Sarah Rafferty plays her actual daughter.

Gordon Edelstein returns to BTF to direct Woman In Mind. Edelstein is Associate Artistic Director at the Long Wharf Theatre and was recently named Resident Director of the Connecticut Grand Opera. He has directed on and Off-Broadway, regionally and for television. Also at BTF
Ron Silver will participate in a reading of the one man show, work in progress Bill Graham Presents..., about the life of the late rock concert promoter. Written by Robert Greenfield and directed by Ethan Silverman, the reading is being held, a festival spokesperson said, "to see if it's something they want to pursue." The reading was originally scheduled to run July 24-Aug. 2, but will now run for only three performances, July 31-Aug. 2.

For more information or tickets to the Berkshire Theatre festival call (413) 298-5576.

--By Laura MacDonald