Directed by Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick, the play will run from Thursday, Aug. 24, through Saturday, Sept. 16.

Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, located on Estes Drive and U.S. 15-501. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

There will also be a special early show at 7:30 on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

For reservations and information, call 968-1515.

Tickets for all performances are $16, $14 for seniors, and $12 for students.

The toast of last year's off-Broadway season, "Orson's Shadow," is based on an actual event -- the 1960 English language premiere of Ionesco's Absurdist masterpiece, "Rhinoceros," which brought together Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier and Olivier's future wife, Joan Plowright, at a crucial juncture in each of their lives.

Instigated in the play by England's leading theater critic, Kenneth Tynan, the rehearsal soon spins out of control, becoming a dizzying exploration of art and celebrity which is further fueled when the current Mrs. Olivier, Vivien Leigh, comes to visit.

The Deep Dish cast includes Derrick Ivey as Welles, Mark Filiaci as Olivier, Katja Hill as Ms. Plowright, Jeffrey Detwiler as Tynan, Jeri Lynn Schulke as Ms. Leigh, and Hampton Rowe as the stagehand who witnesses it all. Gene Gurlitz is designing the sets, Laura Hauser is the costumer, Scott Marlow is the lighting designer, Deborah Coclanis is the sound designer and Tracey Broome will create the properties. Rachel Zielinski is the stage manager.

For more information on Deep Dish Theater Company, call 968-1515 or visit the Deep Dish website at www.deepdishtheater. org.