A minor hit in New York, John C. Russell's Stupid Kids is also doing well in its first regional production. The current Chicago mounting, which opened at Victory Gardens Studio, May 15, has been extended to July 3, past a previously-announced June 19 close. The final play or Roadworks Productions' 1998-99 season, Stupid Kids began previews May 13. Stupid Kids, a comic dissection of four suburban teenagers who escape the reality of their lives through their favorite movies and a "Rebel Without A Cause" fantasy life, is the only surviving completed work of John C. Russell, who died of AIDS in 1994. Its 1998 Off Broadway debut happened partially thanks to director Michael Mayer (Side Man, Lion In Winter), who worked on Roadworks's 1995 adaptation of WAS. Mayer had made a promise to Russell that the show would be done.

Shade Murray (Roadworks' The Santaland Diaries) directs Joey Honsa, Halena Kays, Ned Noyes and Armando Riesco.

Tickets are $20-$10 and available by calling the box office at (773) 871 3000. The Victory Gardens Studio is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Roadworks is on the web at www.roadworks.org.

-- By Christine Ehren and David Lefkowitz