Seattle's Printer's Devil will kick off its fourth season with the world premiere of Aaron Thomas' North Street , Feb. 18-Mar. 13, with an official opening Feb. 19.

First-time playwright Thomas tells the story of a downtrodden man fighting violence and betrayal while braving the harsh outdoor elements of winter in Vermont. North Street was first workshopped in 1998 in The Devil's annual New Play Bonanza.

Speak of the devil, the 1999 Bonanza will take place Mar. 1-May 18 at Seattle's Speakeasy Cafe. Curated by company members Deron Bos and Tricia Rodley, the annual event allows the artists to experiment with their work, creating a environment free of critical or financial pressure. Past Bonanzas have included Erik Ehn's Angel uh God , The Saint Plays The Year of My Mother's Birth , and Lawrence Krauser's Horrible Child.

Also included in The Printer's Devil season are two new looks at two classic plays: Chekhov's The Seagull and Ibsen's Hedda Gabler . The Seagull, scheduled for early summer '99, will be adapted and directed by Kip Fagan with the goal of "retaining the immediacy and potency which made The Seagull one of the most startlingly original plays in recent history." In tandem with Seagull , the company will produce Fagan's expressionistic divergence, gleaned from Chekhov's script: A Flock of Seagulls.

Paul Willis' original adaptation of Hedda , scheduled for fall '99, also re-investigates Ibsen's drama in at attempt to recapture the flame of a piece now tarnished by its "classic" status. For tickets ($10 for all full productions) or more information on Printer's Devil, call (206) 860-7163.

-- By Sean McGrath