Three plays will comprise Theatre Forty's 8th annual One-Act Play Festival, opening tonight, Jan. 9, at the playhouse on Moreno Drive in Beverly Hills. Andre Barron serves as executive director of the festival, which runs to Feb. 9.

Garry Williams, closely associated with NY's Ensemble Studio Theatre, will have two plays up: A Death In Bethany and A Blooming Of Ivy. Death, directed by Barron, looks at an urban couple's failing marriage; Ivy, a comedy about losing love, will be directed by Ann Giselle Spiegler.

The Festival also offers the world premiere of Theatre 40 member Jill Remez's The Magic Feather, which features two waitresses debating the nature of miracles. Roger Kern, artistic director of The Powerhouse Theatre, directs.

Originally announced but then pulled from the schedule was a fourth play, David Babcock's Intelligent Life, to be directed by Clark Lewis. The comedy was about two of of America's finest astronauts out to conquer Venus, only to discover they've landed on the planet Arlene.

Performers in the festival are Linde Gibb, Bill Gratton, Kenna James, Ed Martin, Stacey Stone, Amy Beth Cohn, Ed Martin and Rae Ruff. Dave Row designed the sets, Susan Diamond the lighting, Mary Kay Jensen the costumes and Julie Ferris the sound. For tickets ($12) and information on Theatre 40's one-act Festival, call "Theatix" at (213) 466-1767.

--By David Lefkowitz