Cheers" fans, if you've been wondering where George Wendt went after the show, look no further than Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre. The actor has written a short play (no title announced yet) that will debut there May 1.

The company will bring back its annual "Chicago Stories" series, featuring short plays by notables who aren't playwrights by trade. This year's one night-only event, May 1, will offer short, as-yet-untitled plays by art auctioneer Leslie Hindman, sports marketing consultant Stedman Graham, and TV star Wendt, who played Norm in "Cheers."

In the previous seven seasons of "Stories," writers have included Roger Ebert, John Mahoney and former Chicago Bear Dan Jiggets. For tickets ($175) and information on the special benefit call (773) 549-5788.

For information on View of the Dome at Victory Gardens, 2257 North Lincoln Ave., call (773) 549-5788.

* The season's fifth show will be Jeffrey Sweet's drama, Flyovers, starring stage and film actor William Petersen (May 15-June 28, opening May 21). Sweet's other works include With and Without, The Value Of Names and American Enterprise.

In other recent Victory Gardens news, the search is on for a new managing director, since John Walker resigned, Oct. 24, 1997, to take a position with Warner Brothers. VG has formed transition committee to seek a new managing director. Meanwhile, general manager Elizabeth Auman and development director Marcelle McVay are handling Walker's duties. Under Walker's aegis, Victory Gardens added the Body Politic mainstage and studio theatres (1995) to become a four-theatre complex.

Founded in 1974, the not-for-profit Equity theatre has produced nearly 200 plays.

-- By David Lefkowitz -- By Lawrence Bommer
Chicago Correspondent