Academy Award-winning actress Holly Hunter will play Hester Swane in the California premiere of the Irish drama, By the Bog of Cats in September, 2001.

Hunter won her Oscar. Other film work includes "Jesus' Son," "Crash," "Copycat," "Raiding Arizona," "Broadcast News" and "The Firm." On Broadway she is known for bringing to life Beth Henley's work with her star-making turn in Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest, The Wake of Jamie Foster and, most recently, An Impossible Marriage.

Hester Swane was born By the Bog of Cats like her mother before her and, like her mother before her, she too gave birth to an illegitimate daughter there. Now her daughter Josie's successful farmer father wants to have a real marriage with a respectable woman, leaving Hester and Josie to care for themselves. Unable to handle the loss, Hester rises like a modern Irish Medea to destroy those around her.

Carr is the author of Low in the Dark, The Mai and Portia Coughlan. Her most recent play, On Raftery's Hill, played both the Gate Theatre in Dublin and the Royal Court Theatre in London.

For more information on San Jose Repertory, visit the theatre on the web at http://www.sjrep.com. * The addition of Hunter has caused a shift in San Jose Repertory's season schedule with August Wilson's The Piano Lesson replacing Bog of Cats in the March 24-April 22, 2001 slot. The Piano Lesson will be directed by Alliance Theatre's former artistic director Kenny Leon, who helmed the Rep's 1989 production of Fences.

Before the schedule shift, Bog of Cats would have had its American premiere in San Jose. Now, however, Chicago's Irish Repertory Theatre will have that honor with a production beginning May 17, 2001.

— By Christine Ehren