Chicago's American Theater Company will place their hands on their hearts and present the Chicago premiere of Pledge of Allegiance Mar. 8- Apr. 4.

Allegiance, which started previews at the ATC since Mar. 4, is the story of the neutralists during the Revolutionary war. If history is written by the victors, Allegiance tells the stories the history books neglect: tales seen by those who were viewed as enemies of both the rebels and loyalists.

In its original run Off-Broadway, writer Mark Giesser won the David Library of the American Revolution's Award of Excellence for the piece.

Some of Giesser's other Off-Broadway pieces include The Night They Burned Washington and Code of the West

Michael Halberstam, founder of Writers' Theatre Chicago and director of Candida, directs the premiers production of this revolutionary piece. Cast members include Joe Dempsey, Tom Geraty, Marguerite Hammersley, Natasha Lowe and ACT founding member Jim Leaming.

Technical designers include Geoffrey M. Curley (scenic), B.Emil Boulos (light) and Lindsay Jones (sound).

Tickets are currently on sale: $18.50 for Thursday and Friday performances, $24.50 for Saturday and Sunday performances, plus discounts for students, senior citizen and groups. For more information call (773) 929-1031.

-- Becki Heller