Award-winning director Lisa James will direct Justin Tanner's comedy Bitter Women -- the first time in L.A. a Tanner play has been directed by someone other than Tanner himself. The play opens Oct. 8 at the CAST Theatre and will run through Nov. 23. The cast includes Julia Campbell, Susan Dalian, Matthew Glave, Jenny O'Hara, Dana Schwartz and Sarah Zinsser.

Tanner has had a dozen plays produced at the CAST, among them The Mom, Zombie Attack and Party Mix. The CAST received a special L.A. Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award in 1994 for presenting eight of Tanner's plays in repertory.

James has won an award from LADCC herself for Palladium is Moving. She received an L.A. Weekly Award for her direction of Heartstopper.

The CAST is located at 804 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood. For tickets and information call (323) 462-0265.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent