Philadelphia's Arden Theater Company has announced its 1999-2000 season, the twelfth for the company and the first to include seven productions. Among this year's offerings are the world premiere of Michael Hollinger's Red Herring, revivals of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Much Ado About Nothing and Into the Woods and two children's shows, The Snow Queen and And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank.

First up for Arden will be Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winner, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, running Sept. 16-Oct. 17 on the F. Otto Haas Stage. Three Barrymore winners will take the leads: Grace Gonglewski as Maggie, Greg Wood as Brick and Tom McCarthy as Big Daddy. Arden Theater Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen will direct.

Following Cat is the Philadelphia premiere of Richard Greenberg's Three Days of Rain on the Arcadia Stage. In the play -- a Pulitzer Prize finalist -- a famous architect's will prompts his children and their best friend to speculate about their families' history. Arden Resident Director Aaron Posner directs the run from Oct. 14-Nov. 28.

The Snow Queen, an adaption of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fable, will run on the F. Otto Haas Stage Nov. 24-Jan. 2, 2000. A co production with the Pig Iron Theater Company, Snow Queen will be directed by Pig Iron co-Artistic Director Dan Rothenberg.

Philadelphia playwright Michael Hollinger's Red Herring, a "comedy noir" set in 1952 America, is the fourth Hollinger play to receive its world premiere with Arden, following his An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boef, Incorruptible and Tiny Island. Directed by Nolen, Herring will run from Jan. 27-March 12, 2000 on the Arcadia Stage. William Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing follows Herring, beginning performances March 2 for a run through April 2, 2000, on the F. Otto Haas Stage. Posner directs.

A second children's theater production, And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, runs April 5-May 14, 2000, on the Arcadia Stage. Written by James Still, the multi-media play tells the story of two of Anne Frank's childhood friends, both of whom survived the Holocaust. Rikiki Production co-founder Kilkenny Tremblay directs.

The Arden Theatre Company closes its '99-00 season with the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine fairy tale musical, Into the Woods. Nolen will direct, this his sixth Sondheim show for Arden, following productions of Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park With George, A Little Night Music, Company and Merrily We Roll Along. Woods runs on the F. Otto Haas Stage May 11-June 11, 2000.

Subscriptions ($155-$95) and single tickets ($32-$10) are available by calling (215) 922-1122. The Arden Theater Company is located at 40 N. 2nd Street.

-- By Sean McGrath
and Christine Ehren