San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre has the priviledge of premiering the national tour of Urinetown, but theatregoers, aside from subscribers, won't be able to get their hands on tickets until Feb. 2, 2003. The rest of season, which includes several classics, a rarely revived Tom Stoppard play and Ruben Santiago-Hudson in his solo drama Lackawanna Blues, opens for single ticket sales Aug. 25.

Night and Day, in its first major revival since its premiere 25 years ago, is Stoppard's examination of international journalism and the price truth pays in it. Two Western journalists and a photographer are in Africa reporting on a country's attempts at revolution, when they meet a beautiful woman who may be hiding the scoop of a lifetime. ACT core company actors Rene Augesen, Marco Barricelli, Steven Anthony Jones and Gregory Wallace will star with Carey Perloff directing. Night and Day plays Sept. 19-Oct. 20.

Santiago-Hudson, known for his TV appearances on "NYPD Blue" and "Michael Hayes" and his Tony win for Seven Guitars, plays over twenty characters in Lackwanna Blues, set in his home town of Lackawanna, New York in 1956. The Obie-winning drama centers on Miss Rachel's boarding house, where a parade of eccentric, dreaming and lost souls come to stay. Original blues music is composed and performed live by guitarist Bill Sims.

Since its premiere at the Public Theatre, Santiago-Hudson has traveled with Lackawanna to Seattle, Philadelphia and Princeton. Lackawanna Blues plays ACT Oct. 27-Dec. 1.

The classic offerings include David Mamet's American Buffalo with Barricelli and Richard E.T. White directing (Jan. 10-Feb. 9, 2003); Richard Greenberg's The Dazzle with Wallace and Jones (Feb. 20-March 23, 2003); and Anton Chekhov's The Three Sisters, directed by Perloff with Augesen, Barricelli, Jones and Wallace (May 8-June 8, 2003). American Conservatory Theatre is located at 415 Geary Street. For ticket information, call (415) 749-2250. American Conservatory Theatre is on the web at http://www.act-sfbay.org.