The premiere of Micah Schraft's new play, The Propaganda Plays, begins performances at Off-Off-Broadway's Dixon Place on Aug. 30, and opens Sept. 9. It runs through Sept. 23.

The play looks at the conflict between instinct and intellect, between what people think is right and what they feel in their hearts to be true. Propaganda is written in three parts and spans 25 years. It follows a group of characters whose stories are interwoven throughout the years. It includes a high school teacher and his female student; a stepson and his new stepmother; a world-renowned genetics professor and the female journalist assigned to interview him. They all must deal with their conflicts between intellect and emotion .

The cast includes Sheri Graubert, who was seen in Hamlet at HERE; and David Hornsby and Adrian La Tourelle. They are directed Trip Culluman. Other staff members include Sandra Goldmark (scenic design), Georgia Lee (costume design), Matt Richards (lighting design) and Fitz Patton (sound design).

Schraft's other writing credits are Amusing Tempest, Atom & Devorah, and The Principal's Office. Schraft is a graduate of Columbia University's MFA Writing Program. He won the 1998 John Golden Writing competition. Culluman directed the premiers of Schraft's plays.

Dixon place is at 309 E. 26 Street. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at (212) 532-1546. -- Daniel Fischer