LOS ANGELES -- New York's famed Circle Rep company will be reincarnated on the West Coast, in a sense, when John Bishop's The Great, Great Grandson of Jedediah Kohler opens at 2100 Square Feet on Oct. 17 for a six-week run.

Bishop is a former Circle Rep member who is now artistic director of Circle West, which will produce 3-4 plays a year at 2100 Square Feet in conjunction with that venue's co-owners, Diana Castle and Steve Tietsort.

Jedediah was previously produced at Circle Rep. Another ex-Circle Rep member, Lanford Wilson, will have the West Coast premiere of his new play Book of Days , directed by Marshall Mason, at 2100 Square Feet next year.

The newly-established Circle West, with Lisa Bishop as producing director, has a 50-member company including performers, writers, directors and designers. Jedediah cast members include a number of Circle Rep alumni including Conchata ("L.A. Law") Ferrell, L.L. Ginter, Ben Siegler, Pamela Dunlop and Lionel Mark Smith.

Jedediah can be described as "a part pop culture, part surreal satire and part mock tribute to the men who made the West (as created by Hollywood). It explores the nature of heroism with the character of Death acting as host of the show," said a company spokesperson. John Bishop is a successful screenwriter with such credits as "The Package" and "Wildfire" to his name. His plays include Cabin Twelve and Confluence .

Jedebiah will have an alternating A & B cast. Performances are Thurs.-Sat. at 8 PM; Sun. at 7 PM. The theatre is at 5615 San Vicente Blvd. Call (323) 660-TKTS.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent