Because Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke extended a full two months past its intended June 13 close at L.A.'s Fountain Theatre, the company had to bump its previously scheduled mounting of David Ives' comedy-drama, Ancient History. The latter play will now begin the Fountain's new season, starting previews Sept. 9 for a Sept. 17 opening. Summer and Smoke, which opened May 14, runs to Aug. 15.

Directed by Simon Levy, the revival of Tennessee Williams' drama stars Tracy Middendorf as the shy, sexually repressed Miss Alma and Cameron Dye as the earthy Dr. John Buchanan. Also starring are Brenda Ballard, Gary Ballard, Abigail Caro, Linda Cevallos, Chris Flanders, Chet Grissom, Art Kempf, Delaina Mitchell, Jack Newalu, Linnea Pyne, Paul Renferia and Cynthia Sanders.

Randee Trabitz directs Ancient History, in which a happy young couple tries to overcome its divisions -- she's Jewish, he's not -- before taking the plunge into matrimony.

Ives' previous credits include the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning All in the Timing, which became the most performed play nationally during the 1995-96 theatre season. He recently completed a new version of the musical Flahooley for Broadway, as well as "Snowball," a screenplay for Disney Films.

Trabitz staged the 1998 hit The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Tiffany Theatre, for which she received an L.A. Weekly Award for best director. The Fountain Theatre is at 5060 Fountain Ave. Call (323) 663-1525 for information.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent
and David Lefkowitz