Blair Fell's new comedy, Naked Will will be read at 6:30 PM March 9 at the John Houseman Theatre. Plans are to either continue with a summer workshop of the play with an Off-Broadway opening this fall or to take the play directly Off-Broadway, according to producer David Sumrak.

Based on an Oscar Wilde story/essay, "The Portrait of W.H.", Naked Will examines the relationship between William Shakespeare and a boy-player in his troupe. Wilde argued that Shakespeare wrote some of his greatest female roles for the boy, as well as the Sonnets. Fell, writer-director of Burning Habits and The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun, uses Will to re-create the Sonnet's love story.

Reading the play are Marc Geller (Erskine), Greg Felden (Willie Hughes), Effie Johnson (the Dark Lady), Jason Little (Oscar Wilde) and Terence Flynn (William Shakespeare).

For reservations, call (212) 664-1592. The John Houseman is located at 450 West 42nd Street.

-- By Christine Ehren