Tennessee Williams' celebrated drama Summer and Smoke will open May 14 at the Fountain Theatre, starring Tracy Middendorf as the shy, fluttery Miss Alma. Middendorf was just seen in in the hit Lincoln Center production of O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness directed by Daniel Sullivan.

Cameron Dye, who co-starred as Val, the drifter, in the Fountain's Orpheus Descending, plays the handsome, passionate Dr. John Buchanan.

Simon Levy directs. Levy, the Fountain Theatre's producing director and dramaturg, recently won Back Stage West Garland Awards for his direction and adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Last Tycoon.

Also featured in the cast are Brenda Ballard, Gary Ballard, Abigail Caro, Linda Cevallos, Chris Flanders, Chet Grissom, Art Kempf, Delaine Mitchell, Jack Newalu, Linnea Pynn, Paul Renteria and Cynthia Sanders.

Summer and Smoke flopped in its l948 Broadway premiere but was successfully revived in 1952 in a legendary production starring Geraldine Page, who also won an Oscar nomination for the l961 screen adaptation.The Fountain Theatre is at 5060 Fountain Ave. in Hollywood. Call (323) 663-1525 for information.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent