The rags-to-riches story of pop novelist Jacqueline Susann, who penned "Valley of the Dolls," is exposed in a new play, Paper Doll, getting its world premiere by Pittsburgh Public Theater Nov. 8-Dec. 9.

Leonard Foglia (Master Class) helms the staging, which is presented by special arrangement with New York producer Randall Wreghitt, who would take the show on to a commercial future.

Mark Hampton and Barbara J. Zitwer wrote the four-actor script about the gutsy, earthy, glitter-dazed author. Susann's story was recently told in the film, "Isn't She Great," starring Bette Midler.

Pittsburgh Public Theater announced its 2001-2002 season April 4. The slate under the eye of artistic director Ted Pappas begins Sept. 27-Oct. 28 with the nonprofit's first-ever staging of a classical Greek tragedy, Euripides' Medea, with Lisa Harrow in the title roles. Pappas will direct. Harrow appeared in Wit Off-Broadway and at Pittsburgh Public.

Gilbert and Sullivan's musical romp, H.M.S. Pinafore, follows Jan. 31-March 3, 2002. Pappas directs. Donald Margulies' Off-Broadway hit, Dinner With Friends, gets its Pittsburgh premiere March 14-April 14, 2002. The Public is in negotiations for the rights to the Pulitzer Prize-winner.

Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!, the drama of gritty urban family life in the Great Depression, plays April 25-May 26, 2002.

The hit Off-Broadway comedy, Fully Committed, Becky Mode's distillation of the New York restaurant community, with one actor playing 40 roles, is served June 6 July 7, 2002.

Subscribers to Pittsburgh Public's season get first crack at tickets for special repertory stagings of works by The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Dec. 14-30. Expect the comic condensed pieces, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged).

All performances are at the O'Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, in downtown Pittsburgh. For season information call (412) 316-1600 or visit www.ppt.org.

— By Kenneth Jones