The George Street Playhouse's five-week "Next Stage Festival" continues its New Play Series of readings, April 30-May 1, with Mark Hampton's Paper Doll. Leonard Foglia (Master Class) will direct this bio of best-selling populist author, Jacqueline Susann.

Veteran performers Kelly Bishop (Six Degrees of Separation) and Jonathan Hadary (Angels in America, As Is) join younger players Randy Becker (Love! Valour! Compassion!) and Fredi Walker (Rent) in the cast.

Upcoming in the New Jersey theatre's reading series will be David Auburn's Proof, directed by Wendy Liscow (May 14-16). That show tells of a woman trying to understand her late father, a brilliant but eccentric mathematician.

Dedicated to offering "alternative entertainment, new playwrights and rising stars," the George Street Playhouse's "Next Stage Festival" has also been presenting "The Diva Project," with a host of solo women performers. Recent gigs were done by Penny Arcade, Reno and Trazana Beverly. Next up will be Denny Dillon (Clue), best known from HBO's "Dream On" series (April 30-May 1), Lauren Weedman teamed with Queen Esther (May 7-8), and Linda Mancini (May 14-15).

For tickets and information on the "Next Stage Festival" at George Street Playhouse call (732) 246-7717. -- By David Lefkowitz