The season will open with the North Carolina premiere of "Orson's Shadow," Austin Pendleton's off-Broadway hit about a clash of two theatrical titans, which will run from Aug. 24 through Sept. 16.

"The Exonerated," the acclaimed docu-drama about people wrongly sentenced to death, will play Oct. 26-Nov. 18, followed by Richard Brinsley Sheridan's classic courtship comedy, "The Rivals," playing Feb. 15-March 10. The season will conclude with the world premiere of "The Gratitude of Wasps," a new play about the consequences of marriage and divorce, playing April 26-May 19.

The new season will also inaugurate the theater's refurbished auditorium, which has recently been outfitted with padded seats to replace the folding metal chairs of the past five years. Performances are Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Each production will also feature two Sunday post-show conversations, a book discussion group, and a special 7:30 performance on the final Wednesday of the run. Tickets for all performances are $16, $14 for seniors and $12 for students, except for the second Thursday of each run, the theater's traditional "Cheap Dish Night" when all tickets are $7. For information and reservations, call the Deep Dish Theater box office at 968-1515.

"While we're very proud of all we've accomplished in the five years we've been in existence, this season will be all about looking forward and building on what's gone before," says Frellick. "It's going to be an exciting year of adventure and discovery for us and for our audience. If you've never been to Deep Dish, or if you haven't been recently, this will be the year to come and check us out."

For more information, call 919-968-1515 or visit the Deep Dish Web site at www.deepdishtheater.org.