Absurdist master Eugene Ionesco's The Picture will receive its belated New York City premiere on May 17 in a production by the Sanctuary Theatre Workshop. The show, staged at chashama @ 111 [sic], will be a family affair. The Sanctuary was founded by actor Rip Torn in 1977 and The Picture will feature Rip's son Tony Torn in the cast.

Also acting in the play are Tom Pearl, Laura Kachergus and Anita Durst. Ian Burton will direct a new translation by Abigail Saunders. Performances run until June 4.

The Picture is one of the more obscure works by the author of The Bald Soprano, The Chairs and Rhinoceros. In the drama, a "Large Gentleman" wants to buy an artist's painting, but not at the asking price of $400,000. After much bartering, the artist ends up paying the gentleman money, rather than the other way around.

Tony Torn has appeared in Richard Foreman's The Universe and Paradise Hotel, as well as John Jahnke's Lola Montez in Bavaria. He first acted at the Sanctuary at age 15 in The Drunkard. Past Sanctuary productions include Two by Synge (1998) and Strangers in the Land of Canaan (1996), directed by Rip Torn and starring Angelica Torn (Side Man).

Tickets are $12. chashama @ 111 is located at 111 W. 42nd Street in Manhattan. For more information, call (212) 206-7188. --By Robert Simonson