Sam Shepard, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and James Gammon are set to perform in the MET Theatre's 2001 Great Writers Season. Gammon is a co-founder of the MET. The others named above recently performed with him in the new play written and directed by Shepard in San Francisco, The Late Henry Moss.

Dates for the reading performances will be scheduled throughout the year at intervals which accommodate the performers' schedules. Shepard is also one of the series' featured writers, with a selection from his collection of short stories, "Cruising Paradise." It will feature musical accompaniment by T- Bone Burnett.

The other writers to be read include Jane Smiley, Tim O'Brien, Dagoberto Gilb, Thom Jones, Denis Johnson and Denise Chavez. The series director is Tom Grimes. His novels include "A Stone Of the Heart" and "Season's End." His play New World will be produced at the MET. Book signings will be coordinated with Barnes & Noble.

MET Theatre is located at 1089 N. Oxford Ave. For tickets and information call (323) 957-1152.

— By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent