Trinity Repertory Company of Rhode Island continues is downstairs theatre season with Shaw's take on the Joan of Arc legend, St. Joan (Dec. 4, 1998-Jan. 17, 1999), directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production officially opens Dec. 7.

Jennifer Mudge Tucker plays the martyr. Supporting her are Brian McEleney, William Damkoehler, Eric Tucker, Ed Shea and Algernon D'Ammassa.

Also on the schedule for the downstairs theatre are: A Preface to the Alien Garden (Feb. 26 Apr. 3, 1999), a new play about inner-city, "gangsta" life by playwright Robert Alexander; and Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (May 7-Jun. 20, 1999), one of the better known works of 1997 Nobel Prize-winning Italian dramatist Dario Fo.

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Next in the upstairs theatre is Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It (Jan. 29-Mar. 7, 1999), directed by Trinity Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, followed by veteran Trinity actress Barbara Meek's portrayal of Maria Callas in McNally's Master Class (Apr. 9-May 16, 1999). Meek played one of the Delany sisters in last year's Trinity production of Having Our Say, and her appearance in Master Class is thought to be the first time an African-American actress has played Callas. For tickets or more information, about Trinity Rep's production of Nine Armenians, call (401) 351-4242.

-- By Robert Simonson