In the tradition of John Leguizamo, Danny Hoch, Richard Hoehler and Eric Bogosian comes Johnathan [sic] F. McClain, whose acclaimed one-man show performed in Chicago, Like It Is, opens in New York Feb. 7 at the John Houseman Studio Theatre. With nine ethnically diverse characters, McClain "takes the audience to the center of the lives of ordinary New Yorkers who are connected by everyday events -- the passing of a coin, a comment on the street, a phone call." Characters include an Indian bus driver (who is proud not to be a cabdriver), a subway platform poet, a black muslim fundamentalist and a gambler trying to succeed on Wall Street.

As an actor, McClain has appeared in Chicago productions of The Sisters Rosensweig, Three Tall Women and Silence, Cunning, Exile.

Directing Like It Is is Holly Deer, who has worked with PlayMakers Rep and The Williamstown Theatre Festival. Presenting the show is SKT, Inc., a new theatre company dedicated to "providing new artists and young theatre professionals with the opportunity to practice their craft." Lighting is by Paul Jones.

For tickets ($10-$15) and information on Like It Is, which runs to Feb. 23, call (212) 352-4299.

--By David Lefkowitz