LOS ANGELES -- The Geffen Playhouse has announced its 1998-99 season. Noteworthy in the announcement was the news that producing director Gilbert Cates will be directing his first Geffen show, Donald Margulies'Collected Stories, opening Jan. 20.

"Until now I have not had the time," Cates said. "When we started, I didn't realize how much work there would be in terms of theatre operating and fund-raising."

Cates recently stepped down as Dean of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television, but he is presently directing a miniseries for ABC TV and will once again produce the Oscars for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "if asked."

Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan; David Mamet's The Cryptogram and The Old Neighborhood; and Kaufman & Connelly's Merton of the Movies are the other plays on the Geffen's slate.

Former Abbey Theatre head Joe Dowling directs the opening show, Inishmaan , on Wed. Oct. 28. Call (310) 208-5454 for further details.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent