‘Lisbon Traviata’ at Taper? It’s Not Booked Yet : Theater: Sources say McNally’s work will play in L.A., but Taper aides say it’s not definite.

Is Terrence McNally’s “The Lisbon Traviata” headed for the Mark Taper Forum?

Manhattan Theatre Club managing director Barry Grove announced at a gala benefit Monday that his theater’s production of the play, about two opera fanatics and the domestic entanglements of one of them, would head west, running at San Francisco’s Marines Memorial Theatre in the late summer or fall, followed by a Mark Taper Forum engagement.

Nov. 29 will be the opening date at the Taper, according to a representative of McNally’s agent. A spokeswoman for the San Francisco producer confirmed “Lisbon” would play there in a Sept. 25-Nov. 4 slot. The anticipated cast for the West Coast productions includes Richard Thomas and three members of the New York cast, including the much-acclaimed Nathan Lane, though contracts have not yet been signed.

Yet the Taper’s publicists said only that “Lisbon” was on a list of 12 plays under consideration for the six slots in the upcoming season. Through a spokeswoman, Taper artistic director Gordon Davidson said “Lisbon” is “a definite possibility,” but he is “doing a lot of juggling” with the season schedule and isn’t ready to talk about it.

By telephone from New York, Grove added that, unlike the San Francisco booking, the Taper deal has not been signed.

McNally’s “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” played the Taper in 1988.

GURNEY AGAIN: A.R. Gurney is turning his 1984 novel “The Snow Ball” into a play to open at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in January, reports the Times’ Nancy Churnin. It’s the story of Kitty and Jack, two people who try to revive a romance which they shared at the Snow Ball 40 years ago. Old Globe artistic director Jack O’Brien will direct, and Graciela Daniele (“Dangerous Games”) will choreograph the Snow Ball scenes. Gurney is currently represented in Los Angeles by “The Cocktail Hour” and “Love Letters.”

WINDMILL TILTER: Geoff Hoyle will portray “Don Quixote de La Jolla” in a show of the same name at La Jolla Playhouse Aug. 12-Sept. 16. The script is by Eric Overmyer, best known for his “On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning.” Stan Wojewodski, Jr., artistic director of Baltimore’s Center Stage, will direct a five-person troupe in a story that is set in “17th century Spain, but with anachronisms,” said a spokeswoman. Hoyle is remembered by La Jolla audiences for his “The Fool Show” in 1988 .

“OTHER PEOPLE’S” DATES: The national tour of the Jerry Sterner Wall Street comedy, “Other People’s Money,” has postponed its San Diego and Los Angeles stops from the previously released July dates until sometime in the fall, said a spokesman for the tour. He cited a scheduling problem in San Francisco and the desire to book the show into three consecutive California cities as the reason. No new dates were announced.

A TROJAN HORSE?: The cover of the program for “Deep Ground,” at the Tiffany Theatre, says nothing but “USC DRAMA.” On the title page, we’re told that the producing organization, The New American Company, “is the Pro/Am of the University of Southern California Division of Drama.” The back page includes a litany of accomplishments by USC’s drama division. Members of the company’s staff hold jobs at USC, and press releases are on USC stationery.

Sounds like a USC-supported project? In fact, as an institution USC has nothing to do with the company. It’s completely underwritten by manufacturer Martin Massman (who also has given money to USC’s drama division).

The new company didn’t have its own logo ready when the programs were printed, explained Ellen Ketchum, managing director of the company, but it will be ready by the time of their next production. Informed of the new company, a USC spokesman investigated and then responded: “The university has no problem with it.”

“TAMARA” ITALIAN STYLE: “Tamara” will open a production in Italy, the country where the “Tamara” story is set, on Wednesday, at Lake Como. The show is currently celebrating its seventh anniversary in Hollywood.

AND FINALLY: Beau Bridges will host a benefit for Theatre West May 12 at the Mulholland Tennis Club. Information: (213) 851-1514 . . . Theatre’s L.A.’s May 14 seminar “Future Stages: Will L.A. Theatre Survive the 90s?” will be free of charge to everyone who reserves a seat, thanks to an American Express grant. Information: (213) 614-0556.