Laguna Playhouse schedules ‘Morrie’

The worlds of art and education provide the backdrops to four plays, all of them new to Southern California, that the Laguna Playhouse has announced for its 2004-05 season.

“Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays With Morrie” (Sept. 11 to Oct. 10) is Jeffrey Hatcher’s stage adaptation, with Albom, of the journalist’s book about the life lessons he learned from his old college professor, Morrie Schwartz, during weekly visits while Schwartz was dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease. The book was previously adapted for a TV movie.

“Vincent in Brixton” (Jan. 1 to Jan. 30, 2005), by Nicholas Wright, speculates on an episode from Vincent Van Gogh’s youth, imagining his transformation into an artist through a relationship that formed during his stay in a London rooming house. It won the 2003 Olivier Award for best new play in London’s West End.

In Eric Coble’s satiric comedy “Bright Ideas” (Feb. 19 to March 20, 2005), a Manhattan couple, convinced that their 3-year-old’s future hinges on getting into the right preschool, determines not to stop at anything, including murder, to ensure his admission.

“36 Views” (April 2 to May 1, 2005) is Los Angeles playwright Naomi Iizuka’s drama-mystery about a dealer in Asian antiquities and the buzz that erupts among scholars of Japanese painting and literature when he introduces what appears to be a startling new find.

Two other shows will be announced later. The season begins with a summer production of “Forever Plaid” (July 10 to Aug. 29), the familiar musical about an ill-fated 1950s harmony-singing group that gets to return from the dead for a night to live its dreams.

Information: (949) 497-2787.