Thrice extended at Chicago's Goodman Studio Theatre, Rebecca Gilman's comedy Spinning Into Butter now gets to melt the hearts of New Yorkers. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, the show arrives at Lincoln Center Theatre's Off-Broadway venue, the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre, June 29. According to a New York Times advertisement, tickets go onsale May 20 at the theatre or via Tele-Charge: (212) 239 6200. The last Newhouse tenant was a revival of Arthur Laurents' The Time of the Cuckoo.

Spinning Into Butter exposes the cosmetic and sometimes destructive political correctness that erupts on a small Vermont college campus when an African-American student finds several racist notes pinned to his door. Gilman, the author of The Glory of Living, was commissioned by the Goodman for this play through a 1997 Scott McPherson Award.

Matt DeCaro (Northlight's The Old Neighborhood) is the sole Chicago cast-member in the New York company, which features Hope Davis (The Food Chain, filmdom's "Next Stop, Wonderland") and Wrong Mountain's Daniel Jenkins. Also in the cast are Steven Pasquale, Jai Rodriguez, Henry Strozier and Brenda Wehle.

Designing the Newhouse mounting are John Lee Beatty (sets), Brian MacDevitt (lighting), Jess Goldstein (costumes) and Dan Moses Schreier (sound). Schreier also contributes original music to the piece.

For information on Spinning Into Butter at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre, 150 West 65th Street, call (212) 239-6200.

-- By David Lefkowitz
and Christine Ehren