COSTA MESA, CA -- South Coast Repertory opens its mounting of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness Sept. 11 on the mainstage.

The production, which began previews Sept. 4 and runs to Oct. 11, is directed by Martin Benson and features Rona Benson, Raye Birk, Richard Doyle, Kevin Matthew Gregg, Jennifer Griffin, Art Koustik, Hal Landon Jr., Martha McFarland, Marilyn McIntyre, Michael Reisz, Karen Stapleton, Don Took, Jason Low and Brenda Kenworthy.

Other O'Neill works include Hughie, Desire Under The Elms and Long Day's Journey Into Night.

The final two productions of the theatre's 1998-99 mainstage season will switch slots, moving the world premiere of John Glore's On the Jump to May 28-June 27, 1999. Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests will vacate that spot and play April 16-May 16, 1999 instead.

The SCR is now accepting play submissions for its 14th Annual Hispanic Playwrights Project.Playwrights of Latin ancestry are invited to submit full-length, unproduced, non-musical scripts in English. Plays must be received by Jan 15, 1999 and early submissions are highly encouraged.

Writers chosen to participate will be notified by April 1, 1999 and will participate in a pre-conference tentatively scheduled for spring 1999. During the June workshop they will work with directors, dramaturgs and actors to evaluate and rehearse their scripts for public readings.

To receive contest guidelines call (714) 708-5500, ext 5405.

The SCR's box office number is (714) 708-5555.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent