Set in straight-laced 1950's Hollywood when Rock Hudson and Doris Day reigned as the King and Queen of filmdom, Straight-Jacket, a new comedy, opens tonight at Playhouse 91 (316 East 91st Street). Written and directed by Richard Day, three-time Emmy nominated producer of Spin City, Straight-Jacket is produced by Mike Sullo.

Straight-Jacket focuses on a leading man who marries a studio owner's secretary in order to conceal his sexual identity and retain his starring role in the upcoming film Ben Hur. As they move hilariously through a world of Hollywood glamour, homophobia, and the red scare, the characters joust in a play for power, fame and public reputation.

The seven-member performing company will include Broadway actors Stevie Ray Dallimore (Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Rainmaker), Carrie Preston (Antony & Cleopatra, The Tempest, Indiscretions) and Paul Michael Valley (Thomas Jefferson from 1776); Regional actors Adam Greer (Guthrie Theater) and Ron Mathews (The Shakespeare Theatre, Signature Theatre); film and television actress Jackie Hoffman (Dilbert, Freaky Friday); and professional stand-up comedian and Broadway actor Mal Z. Lawrence (Candide, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Catskills on Broadway).

Richard Day is the Executive Producer of Spin City and was the co-Executive Producer of the Drew Carey Show, The Larry Sanders Show and Mad About You.

Straight-Jacket will feature sets by Ray Recht, costumes by Gail Brassard, lighting design by F. Mitch Dana and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald.

Performances are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM and 7 PM. Tickets are $47.50, with student rush available for $20, and can be charged by calling Ticketmaster (212) 307-4100.

Sounds like my kind of show!

Tidbits:

• I loved the new photo ad of Kiss Me, Kate in Sunday's New York Times...until I realized it was for The Taming of the Shrew at American Ballet Theatre. Nevermind.

• Just when you thought the Web was inundated with theatre Websites, add one more, and it's quite good. James Marino of the Car-Jam label has opened Broadway Stars. He compiles the news from various resources and gives you the links. As a result, you'll save tons of surfing time. Pay a visit to this attractively designed new site.

• In a ceremony tomorrow the Broadway Archive will be donating 300 films to the New York Museum of Television and Radio. The historic televised theatrical films were restored and digitalized and will be available to students and researchers for viewing at the musuem. You can also purchase them by visiting the Broadway Archive's Website.

• Last two weeks to catch the great cast in A Moon For The Misbegotten at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The show must close July 2nd. Cherry Jones, Gabriel Byrne and Roy Dotrice star.

• You can only imagine my embarrassment during the intermission of The Music Man recently. I was yakking with Craig Rubano about act one curtain numbers and was telling him about this CD that I like that has nothing but Act One closing numbers on it, and it's quite good. He just smiled at me. Why? It's his CD. Yikes! Where was my mind? Anyhow, it's a great CD called Finishing The Act and he does some wonderful renditions of 20 of the most popular numbers from Broadway Musicals. My personal favorite? Anything Goes. Visit Craig's Website for more info. Sorry bout that faux pas Craig. :)

• Now, if you think that takes the cake, here's a better one. While rushing out of Radio City Music Hall the minute Contact was announced as Best Musical, I was stopped on the street by a young fella.

  "Who won?"

  "Contact", says I.

  "Great. Did that actor win for Death of a Salesman?" (Brian Dennehy)

  "Well, uh, well, um, yes, he did. Gotta run."

See you Thursday!

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